Why learn here
Malapascua is a small island with warm water, a sheltered house reef within swimming distance of Bounty Beach, and a cluster of dive shops that spend all day, every day, teaching and guiding. The water is 26 to 30°C year-round, so there is no shivering through your skills. And at the end of your training there is a thresher shark dive waiting as a reward that very few other training locations can offer.
It is also a quiet place. There is no traffic, the island is about 2.5 km long and 1 km wide, and everything you need is a short walk from the beach. That makes it easy to focus on the course without the distraction of a busy resort town.
The courses on offer
Most shops on the island teach the standard recreational ladder. Here is how the main courses compare.
| Course | Who it is for | What you come out with |
|---|---|---|
| Discover Scuba (try-dive) | Never dived, not sure yet | A supervised shallow dive, no certification |
| Open Water | Complete beginners | A certification to dive with a buddy worldwide |
| Advanced Open Water | Certified divers | Deeper limits, navigation, specialty dives |
| Enriched Air (Nitrox) | Certified divers | Permission to dive with oxygen-rich air for longer bottom times |
| Rescue and beyond | Experienced divers | Problem management, the first step towards pro training |
Ask the shop which training agency they teach under. The main agencies are recognised worldwide and the skills are essentially the same, so the choice of shop matters far more than the logo on the card.
How an Open Water course works
Expect three to four days. The exact rhythm varies by shop, but it generally follows this shape:
Theory. You work through the course material, either online before you arrive or in the classroom at the shop. Doing it in advance frees up island time, so ask the shop whether they offer e-learning when you book.
Confined water. Your first breaths underwater happen somewhere shallow and calm - a pool if the shop has one, or a sheltered sandy patch off the beach. You learn to clear your mask, recover your regulator, control your buoyancy and handle small problems calmly.
Open water dives. Four dives over the remaining days, usually on the reefs close to the island. Each dive repeats a few skills and then becomes a real dive where you simply swim, look and enjoy.
The exam and the card. A short written test, then your instructor files the paperwork and you are certified.
Many shops will try to finish your fourth dive in time for you to join a thresher shark boat the next morning. If that matters to you, say so when you book, because the shop may adjust the schedule. Read the thresher shark diving guide to understand what that dive involves.
Advanced and Nitrox
If you are already certified, Malapascua is a good place to go further.
The Advanced Open Water course is built around five adventure dives, and on this island the deep dive and the early-morning dive are often rolled into a trip to Monad Shoal. Underwater navigation usually happens on the house reef. Shops are flexible about the other specialties, so if you want to practise night diving or wreck diving, ask.
Enriched Air (Nitrox) is a short course, mostly theory, with little or no extra diving required. Divers who plan several deeper dives in a row often find it useful, and some shops offer it as an add-on while you are already there. Ask whether the shop fills Nitrox on the island and what the surcharge per tank is.
What a course costs
An Open Water course costs ₱15,000 to 22,000. The range is wide because shops include different things. Before you compare prices, ask:
- Is the certification fee included, or is it added at the end?
- Is all equipment rental included for the full course?
- Are boat dives included, or are some dives done from the beach?
- Are the course materials or e-learning included?
- Is there a surcharge for a private or two-person course?
Advanced and Nitrox prices are not listed in our knowledge base, so ask the dive shop directly for current rates.
Almost every shop takes cash only in Philippine pesos. There are ATMs on the island but they are unreliable because of power and connectivity problems, so bring enough cash from Cebu to cover the course. See money and ATMs and the costs page.
Choosing a dive shop
There are more dive shops on Malapascua than you would expect for an island this size. They are listed in the diving directory. When you walk in to compare them, pay attention to the following.
Group size. Ask how many students each instructor takes. Smaller is better, especially for the first confined-water session.
Language. Instructors on the island teach in English and several European languages. If you would be more comfortable learning in your own language, ask around - there is a good chance someone teaches it.
Equipment condition. Look at the rental gear. Regulators and BCDs should look cared for, not sun-bleached and frayed. Ask when the tanks were last inspected. A shop that answers confidently is a shop that services its kit.
Schedule and flexibility. Will they finish the course in time for a thresher dive? Can they work around a weather day? Do they run a check dive if you are nervous?
The feel of the place. Spend ten minutes at the shop. If the staff are patient with your questions, they will be patient underwater.
Price alone is a poor guide. The difference between the cheapest and the most expensive shop is small compared with the value of an instructor who notices when you are struggling.
Medical and age basics
Before any course you will complete a diver medical questionnaire. It asks about your heart, lungs, ears, sinuses, recent surgery, pregnancy, some medications and a few other conditions. If you answer no to everything, you can start. If you answer yes to anything, the shop needs a doctor to confirm you are fit to dive before you get in the water.
The island does not have a hospital, so if you know you have a condition that will trigger a yes, get the medical signed by your own doctor at home and bring the paperwork. Otherwise you may lose a day or more.
Children can learn to dive, with junior certifications that carry depth and supervision limits. Ask the shop for their minimum age and how they handle younger students. Parents often take the course alongside their kids, which works well.
You will also need to show you are comfortable in the water. This usually means a short swim and a float. It is not a race.
Practical tips
- Bring a mask that fits if you own one. A good seal makes the first days far more relaxed. See what to pack.
- Avoid alcohol the night before your dives, and drink plenty of water. The island is hot and dehydration makes diving harder.
- Skip boat trips to Kalanggaman on course days. You will be tired, and the schedule is tight.
- Sort out travel insurance that covers diving before you leave home. Check the depth limits on the policy.
- Give yourself a spare day at the end. Weather cancellations happen, especially from June to November, and you do not want your final dive and your boat back to Maya competing for the same morning.
Once you are certified, see the dive sites overview for what to dive next, and the itineraries for how to fit a course into a week on the island.
Questions people ask
How much does an Open Water course cost on Malapascua?
Expect ₱15,000 to 22,000. Ask what is included - certification fees, equipment, boat dives and materials vary between shops.
How many days does an Open Water course take?
Most shops run it over three to four days. The exact schedule depends on the shop, the weather and how many people are in your group.
Can I see the thresher sharks during my course?
Not as a beginner on day one. Many shops schedule a thresher dive at the end of an Open Water course or as part of an Advanced course. Ask when you book.
Do I need a medical certificate to learn to dive?
You will fill in a medical questionnaire. If you answer yes to any question, the shop will ask for a doctor's sign-off before you start. Sort this out at home if you have any known conditions.
Do I need to be able to swim?
Yes. You will be asked to show you are comfortable in the water before the course begins. You do not need to be a strong swimmer, but you do need to be relaxed.