Malapascua

Malapascua, a small island off the northern tip of Cebu, is the most reliable place in the world to see pelagic thresher sharks. Dive boats leave before dawn for Monad Shoal, a sunken island where the sharks rise from deep water to visit cleaning stations at around 20 to 30 metres. Beyond the threshers, the island offers Gato Island's tunnel and white-tip reef sharks, the wreck of the Dona Marilyn ferry, mandarin fish at dusk, and some excellent macro diving. Most dive centres run Advanced courses, because the early thresher dives are deeper than Open Water limits. The island has no cars and a relaxed pace, with dive resorts along Bounty Beach and the southern shore.