THRESHER SHARKS IN THE PHILIPPINES CENTRAL DIVING SPOT

The Visayas lure with beautiful beaches, great dive spots with easy access, healthy reefs and some underwater specials like sardine baitballs and thresher sharks.

The Visayas or the Visayan Islands are one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Luzon and Mindanao. Located in the central part of the archipelago, it consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea.

The best-known hotspots for diving are Cebu, Bohol, Negros and Malapascua. Divers can expect healthy reefs with vibrant corals and various marine life. The access to most of the dive spots is easy and close to shore.

But one special highlight for many divers is the dive with thresher sharks in Malapascua Island. There is something for everybody and all diving levels in the Visayas.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO DIVE IN THE VISAYAS?

The Visayas can be dived year-round. But the best weather and sea conditions are between October and March. The visibility ranges usually around 30 meters and the temperature between 23 and 30 degrees. 

For the thresher shark dive, there is no specific season. You can dive with them every day.

WHAT ARE THE BEST DIVE SPOTS IN THE VISAYAS?

Cebu: One famous dive spot here called Sunken Island, which is a plateau underwater with rich marine life including jacks and tuna. Cebus has some marine sanctuaries, that await you with walls, caves and flourishing reefs. You even have the chance for sharks on an early morning dive.

Bohol: Scorpionfish, turtles, weird frogfish and sea snakes. All this and more can be seen underwater including stunning landscapes like walls.

Malapascua: This is the only place in the world, where you can dive every day with the beautiful thresher shark. Normally they live in deep waters and are nocturnal. So the chances are usually very low to see them on a dive. But in Monad Shoal, a sunken island at around 16 to 32m with drop-offs down to 230 meters, the sharks come up to get cleaned at cleaning stations. The best chance to see the sharks is early in the morning between sunrise and 9 am.