Monad Shoal (Thresher Shark Dives)
The underwater plateau off Malapascua where thresher sharks rise at dawn. What the dive is like, who can do it, what it costs, how to pick a shop and what to do if you do not dive.
Monad Shoal is an underwater plateau in the Visayan Sea, about 8 km from Malapascua Island off the northern tip of Cebu. It is famous for one thing: pelagic thresher sharks, shy deep-water sharks with huge whip-like tails that rise at dawn to be cleaned by small fish. Few places on Earth let divers see them this regularly, which is why people wake at 4 am to get here. This page is about the dive itself. For the island, beaches and places to stay, see our Malapascua guide.
Why dive Monad Shoal
- Thresher sharks in the half-light before sunrise, one of the rarest dive encounters in the Philippines.
- A cleaning station: the sharks visit to have parasites picked off by wrasses, so you watch natural behaviour.
- Protected waters: the shoal became a municipal marine reserve in 2002 and part of a provincial shark and ray sanctuary in 2015.
- Other animals too: rays, and sometimes other sharks, depending on the day.
What the dive is like
Boats leave Malapascua in the dark, usually around 5 am, with a crossing of roughly 25-45 minutes. You are in the water at or just before sunrise. The top of the shoal is around 20 metres, and the sharks have usually been reported near 25-30 metres, where the water is dim and cool. You kneel on the rubble beside a rope line or wait quietly at the edge, and the sharks glide in from the blue. Bottom time is short at this depth, so many shops suggest nitrox if you are qualified.
There is no guarantee. These are wild animals, and some mornings are quiet. Most shops offer one to three dives over a morning, and breakfast is often served on the boat.
Monad Shoal or Kimud Shoal?
Here is the honest update. Since about 2022, the sharks have been seen less reliably at Monad, and many shops now take divers to nearby Kimud Shoal, which is shallower (reports say about 12-15 metres) and a little further away. Tiger sharks and other large sharks have also been reported at Monad in recent years. Ask your dive shop where it is going that morning and how the last few days went. Many people still call it "the Monad Shoal dive", so the name on the booking may not match the site.
Certification and who can dive
- Monad itself is deep, so shops usually ask for Advanced Open Water (or equivalent) certification, good for 30 metres.
- Kimud Shoal is shallower, and some shops may accept less experienced divers there. Rules differ, so ask early.
- If you are not advanced yet, many Malapascua shops teach the Advanced course. Allow a few extra days.
- Good buoyancy matters. A shop that asks for a check dive first is a good sign.
- Bring your certification card and logbook.
Rules at the shoal
- No flash and no strobes. Threshers have very sensitive eyes.
- Do not chase, touch or block a shark, and stay still when one approaches.
- Stay behind the rope lines and follow your guide. Do not kneel on or grab the reef.
- Keep your buoyancy neutral and avoid kicking up sand.
- No reef hooks and no noise-makers.
- Expect small marine-protection fees (see costs below).
Costs (estimates)
Prices change, so treat these as a guide only. In 2025, one well-known Malapascua shop listed about ₱2,900 for a one or two-dive thresher trip, with gear rental extra. Other 2025 reports put a thresher trip at roughly ₱2,000-₱3,000 per dive. On top of that, the local marine park fee was about ₱300 per day and a shoal diver fee about ₱150 per day (2025). Always ask what is included before you book.
Choosing a dive operator
- Ask for small groups (about six divers per guide is a common standard) and a clear briefing.
- Check that the shop belongs to a recognised agency such as PADI or SSI, and that guides are qualified.
- Ask about the boat, safety gear, oxygen and first aid.
- Choose a shop that follows the no-flash rules and does not let divers crowd the sharks.
- Read recent reviews. Cheapest is not always best at 5 am and 30 metres.
- Book a day ahead so you can sort out paperwork and sleep early.
When to go
Threshers are reported all year round, but the calmest sea and the best visibility are usually from about November to May. Holidays such as Christmas, New Year and Easter get busy, so book early. From around June to October, rougher weather can cancel boats, so keep a spare day.
If you do not dive
- Snorkelling trips run around Malapascua, but they do not go to the thresher sites. Prices in 2025 started at about ₱500 per person; check locally.
- Walk the beaches and enjoy the early light at Bounty Beach.
- Ask about Gato Island, a protected island known for its tunnel and reef life.
- Spend a relaxed day on the island while your dive buddy goes out. Our Malapascua guide has ideas.
Where is Monad Shoal (Thresher Shark Dives)?
Malapascua, Daanbantayan, North Cebu
Directions open in Google Maps, starting from where you are. Its travel times are estimates, and ferries and island boats may not be included.
Getting there from Cebu City
- Go to the Cebu North Bus Terminal in Mandaue and take a bus to Maya in Daanbantayan. It takes about 4-5 hours; fares in 2025 were roughly ₱250-₱400 depending on aircon (estimate).
- At Maya port, take the public boat to Malapascua. It takes about 30-45 minutes, and 2025 reports put it at roughly ₱100-₱250 (estimate; check at the port).
- Stay on the island the night before, close to your dive shop, so the 4 am start is easy.
The full route, fares and what to pack are in our Malapascua guide and in Cebu to Malapascua.
Tips for a good trip
- Arrive a day early and sleep well. Do not fly within the wait your dive agency advises after diving (often 18-24 hours).
- Eat a light snack, drink water and bring a warm top. It is cool on the boat before sunrise.
- Bring cash. The island has limited ATMs.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen and take your trash home.
- Never touch sharks, rays, turtles or coral.
- Tell your guide if you feel uncomfortable at depth. A missed shark is better than a risky dive.
Want more dives? Read diving in Cebu, then see Moalboal for the sardine run or Pescador Island for a reef wall.
Photo gallery
Tap a photo to see it full size. Gallery photos come from Wikimedia Commons; each photographer's credit shows when you open the photo.
Watch before you go
Photo: "Threshershark" by Petter Lindgren, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Last updated October 19, 2026
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