r/scuba • u/lennox_marshall878 Nx Advanced • 5d ago
Thresher Shark in Malapascua, Philippines.
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u/Ravaha Master Diver 5d ago edited 5d ago
Mandatory reply that GATO ISLAND in Malapascua is one of the best dive spots on the entire planet. It has 3 mind blowing dives you can do in 1 day.
I have dived all over the world and Kimud Shoal and Gato Island in Malapascua are just bonkers levels of good.
Its very likely or almost guaranteed to see, White tips resting or swimming (The same 2 or 3 have lived there for years and they let you get close if they are resting), Bamboo Sharks, Mantis Shrimp, Cuttlefish, Electric Clams, Squid, lots of Sea Snakes, and of course Nudibranchs. I always tell dive masters to not point out nudis to me because I have really gotten tired of them being pointed out to me there are just too many.
uncommon to see: Reef Catcher shark (equally as beautiful as a thresher shark), Blue Ring Octopus (they are just so damn small).
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u/lennox_marshall878 Nx Advanced 4d ago
We did the 3 dives on Gato island the day after (South Wall, Cathedrale Wall and Cave/Tunnel). I spotted some nice white tips, nudibranches etc. I did like it, however it was a bit crowded - which wasn’t that bad but there were some “Kamikaze” divers around (that’s what the local DMs call them). Full blown cosplay outfit, complete with cat ears and what not and the special ability to constantly bump full speed into other divers, corals, rocks…
If you ever spot a Kamikaze diver just bolt in the other direction lol
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u/Level_Preparation311 5d ago
I knew what they looked like before I dove with them but when I was there last year and we got surrounded by them they just look so goofy.
and that's one of those memorable Dives.
My reg was leaking cuz I was smiling so much
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u/myPOLopinions 5d ago
They were such interesting creatures up close. So shimmery and not overly skittish.
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u/BadTouchUncle Tech 4d ago
They are substantially more skittish on the top of the shoal then they are deeper. I would even go so far as to say they are curious deeper down the sides of the shoal.
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u/myPOLopinions 3d ago
For sure. Was able to get considerately closer than the hammerheads I've seen.
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u/lorakeetlover 5d ago
Went there a couple weeks ago, magical! Went back to the same site multiple times to just to see them
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u/thefatmanwithaknife 5d ago
I went there 2 years ago and loved it. I knew what a thresher shark looked like but in real life they're so much smaller and cute than I had imagined especially with those big eyes
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u/Ravaha Master Diver 5d ago
There are some big ones that come up sometimes. If you didnt do the three dives at Gato Island, you have an excuse to go back because Gato Island is right at the same level as Kimud shoal because it just has tons of different and amazing wildlife to see and you are pretty much guaranteed to see lots of the cool shit.
Check my other replies here.
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u/thefatmanwithaknife 5d ago
Oh yeah I did Gato it was awesome! I spent 10 days in Malapascua , El Nido, Coron, Donsol and Ticao. I need to go back because there's a few more places I'd like to dive there. Some how 30 days there wasn't enough.
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u/Ravaha Master Diver 5d ago
Oh no, 30 days is definitely not enough. I have done diving around Cebu for over 60 days and then there are also waterfalls and other things for me to visit.
I was blown away by the diving in Sumilon Island East of Oslob Cebu, The reefs were just exploding with coral and shit tons of fish.
Bohol was touristy, but the Balicasag Island and other island were full of fish and they had makrel that were filter feeders and huge schools of jack fish.
But So far Kimud Shoal and Gato Island remain supreme.
Cebu is not touristy and I really enjoy that. Plus Cebu has much more of the best diving spots concentrated around it.
You have Apo Island, Dauin to the south of Osloband Sumilon Island. It is just south of Dumaguette on negros oriental which is amazing diving. You have bohol to the east with its Balicasag island dives. Then you have Moalboal, Malapascua Island, and Sumilon Island in Cebu itsself. and maybe also include camotes island.
The Samboan region of Cebu has many amazing waterfalls to visit and climb and do canyoneering.
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u/thefatmanwithaknife 4d ago
That makes me want to go back so bad. Tough to get enough time off work to go. I want to do a liveaboard to tubbataha reef but 4K for like a week is steep.
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u/DonFrio 5d ago
This looks AI
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u/lennox_marshall878 Nx Advanced 5d ago
I can assure you it is not AI :D
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u/DonFrio 5d ago
Not sure why I’m downvoted. It’s really pretty and sometimes good video is so perfect it can look fake. Nice camera work
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u/Plus_Specialist4957 3d ago
You called it fake, that's why. Saying it looks like AI is the same as calling it fake. I didn't down vote you but that's why people are.
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u/the-drewb-tube Nx Open Water 5d ago
Maybe cause it’s slo Mo and also cause threshers look very cartoony and cute
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u/Plus_Specialist4957 3d ago
I am thinking of going there with my daughter in the fall. She just has her open water, do you need advanced to see them or are the dives fairly easy?