Malapascua Island's

For some of the best diving in The Philippines

Marine Life on Malapascua

Situated near to the epicenter of marine life origin on the planet, Malapascua has an incredible diversity of life. Our dive sites are spread out to the north, south, east and west of us, and so each site has different influences and its own environment, its own type of diving and its own appeal. We really are a one-stop destination.

For more photos click here.

Below are lists of only some of the amazing creatures we see regularly. Anything less common or seasonal is noted. We have an excellent library of books to help identify what you see.

Sharks: Thresher sharks, Whitetip sharks, Bamboo Sharks, Cat Sharks, Hammerheads (Jan-Feb)

Rays: Mantas (July-Nov), devil rays, marble rays, fantail rays, blue spotted rays, eagle rays

Seahorses and pipefish: Common seahorse, Moluccen seahorse, thorny seahorse, pygmy seahorse, Schultz' pipefish, banded pipefish, orange banded pipefish, white mushroom coral pipefish, bent stick pipefish, straight stick pipefish, whiskered pipefish, ghost pipefish (seasonal), robust ghost pipefish

Cuttlefish: Broadclub cuttlefish often seen mating, flamboyant cuttlefish & crinoid cuttlefish (less common)

Cephalopods: Squid, bobtail squid, starry sky octopus, blue-ringed octopus (occasional)

Moray eels: White-eyed, snowflake/clouded,  bar-tailed, giant morays, spot-faced, . Also snake eels.

Shrimp: Coleman's shrimp, banded boxer shrimp, anemone & commensal shrimp, smashing mantis shrimp, feather star shrimp

Crabs: Box crabs, decorator crabs, hermit crabs, decorator crab, porcelain anemone crabs

Fish: Frogfish, mandarin fish, seamoths (Pegasus), batfish (including the juvenile), scorpionfish (including stingers), lionfish (common, dwarf), flying gurnard, clown triggerfish, titan trigger, flutemouth, schooling bannerfish, moorish idols, barracuda, shrimpfish, tuna, jacks, big-mouthed mackerel, angelfish, fingered dragonet, flounder, striped eel catfish, various sweetlips, filefish

Nudibranchs: 100's of types!

Dolphins: On the surface

Some of the cool, new & unusual things we have seen recently:

We knew there must be one in Malapascua and after searching for two years, we finally found a Denise Pygmy Seahorse! This is the smallest known seahorse in the world, and was only classified in 2003. Pictures of the female Hippocampus denise are below and we are on the lookout for more. Stay tuned...

Click to enlarge

Also spotted by JN:

Lacey scorpionfish

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