Dive ~ me ~ nuts: Diving Malapascua - Evolution Dive Centre

Evolution Dive Centre & Resort

Stayed at the native fan room right in front of the restaurant and the first room from the beach, I enjoyed the strong breeze day in day out and during the late hours, the windows are almost shut. Everywhere within the resort can be reached within steps with lots of walking and breathing space in between, hammocks and settees to relax, have a drink, read or chill out while waiting for your next dive. With a few steps more, you may like to get a massage by the beach or sunbathe. The dive centre is well-equipped and is popular for technical diving. On the wall outside the office are nicely handwritten diving rules and prices on black boards. You may write your name on the white board for the daily dive schedule. Please follow the same format of writing and inform the divemaster or instructor.The rinse buckets are sufficient with clean water. Ample space to hang your wet stuffs and separate tanks to rinse your camera and equipment. The classroom is a hut on its own furnished with a white board, a big table and chairs with writing facility.

Diving Monad Shoal

Most divers around the world come here for the regular sightings of the thresher sharks. The Monad Shoal is where you need to descend at 6 am to be on time to see the sharks. You got to get up as early as 4.30 am to get ready to set off before 5.30 am. The boat ride take s about 30 minutes not forgetting you have to transfer from the small tug boat to the outrigger boat (banca). Well It was still dark at 5.30 am but by 6 am the sun has risen. So no need to worry that you will be setting up your equipment in darkness.

The boat ride to Monad Shoal was unforgettable watching the beautiful sun rise while anticipating meeting the threshers. Feelings of excitement and the adrenaline rushes each morning as the boat approaches Monad Shoal.

As I was there on the first week of February, it was still winter season and water was about 25 degrees celsius throughout. But it feels like 23 to 24 degrees after 45 minutes of bottom time with another 30 minutes with 100 bar before we ascend. Th average depth was about 27m and my maximum depth was about 31m.

On my three days diving at Monad Shoal, the thresher sightings added up to about 20 with an average of 6 to 7 sharks each dive. My first dive had the best sightings. Watching the long-tailed, cute-looking round eyes, shy and harmless shark swam by and one even came towards me and turned around right before my eyes and my camera left behind a spectacular experience and a memory I would never forget. Today, I am still missing the threshers and sometimes would wonder when I would go back again.

Critter Diving

Lacy Scorpion FIsh

The other dive sites are more for spotting critters. My favourite is the Lighthouse where I did 2 day dives and 1 night dive. The other popular dive sites are Lapus-Lapus, North Point and while at Deep Rock, I found my favourite pygmy seahorse. I saw many nudibranch, different type crabs, pipefish, porcupine fish, puffer fish, snow-flake moray, shrimps and the flamboyant cuttlefish. The Lacy Scorpion fish was my best finding on this trip.

Gato Island

Pygmy Seahorse

Take a day trip to Gato and swim through the tunnel coming out the other side. Diving through the cave you can see banded sea snakes that might scare you, different types of crabs, sea slugs and nudibranch. Coming out from the cave are some overhangs and swim through's to swim through the cave can get up close to the baby whitetips sleeping under the rocks. I found another pygmy seahorse here!

Kalanggaman Island

The journey is about 2 hours to reach the beautiful white sand bar, a picturesque postcard view of a desert island, with nothing but palm trees, white sand clear blue water. There were a few huts as shelters for tourist to sit and have their barbequed lechon lunch.

There are no hotels or dive centres on this island. You have to book a trip from the dive centres or watersports centre in Malapascua.