Monad Shoal

Monad Shoal is an underwater seamount off Malapascua Island with a coral plateau at about 20-28 m and steep walls dropping to around 45 m. The site is renowned as a daily cleaning station for thresher sharks (Alopias spp.), and is also visited by giant manta rays and other pelagic rays, making encounters with these species the main attraction. Dives are conducted by boat and typically start at first light, with boats leaving Malapascua around 4-5 AM to arrive by dawn. Divers enter from the boat, descend to the reef plateau and plan to observe at about 22-27 m. Water is warm (mid-20s °C) with good visibility; mooring lines and a mooring buoy mark the site for descent and the final ascent/safety stop. Because the plateau top lies around 20-27 m and walls extend to ~45 m, dives often use nitrox and require Advanced Open Water certification, careful deep-profile management and awareness of potential currents.