Malapascua. Any recommendation?

Thanks for your replies !

My intent was to dive next May with TSD. Andrea did confirm the ban on the strobes. As you mention, the light is pretty low in the morning and as I will use a D70 (which I don't believe is really good at high ISO...), that will be kind of challenge !

Do you have any samples in the galleries of successfull shots there ?

I you don't want to disturb the animals, you should not be there in the first place.

John

You know the point of the ban isn't just about protecting the shark but about protecting the industry built around Monad. Sightings were going down as tourists increased. They looked for a reason why and found the strobes from P&S and DSLR were scaring off the sharks, since they are sensitive to light. My personal experience is mixed, but they "generally" swim away when strobes are used. The operators on Malapascua banned strobes and lights, and the encounters increased again. A win for tourists and operators, and not so nice for photographers looking for close up shots of threshers.

As for your ability to use a strobe, we all know that bans are usually for the masses and certain people are exempt (especially for writers of articles which will increase tourism). AFAIK, all the land based operators enforce that ban on customers (VIPs not withstanding).

I went to Monad last year and was pretty pissed off that i was banned using my then small strobe while this 'writer' was allowed to use twin ike 150s which needless to say, he had one attempt at a shot. A single fire and the shark bolted, ruining everyones experience that morning.

Thankfully in later days we saw many sharks and even had 'private' viewings by going to a smaller less populated cleaning station ended up with just me, my wife and the guide after the non-nitrox divers went up. amazing viewing.

Now, im as keen as anyone to get a shot of something, especially an amazing shark like this, but as a marine biologist and resort operator in the PH i can fully understand the ban and adhere to it. We ban use of strobes with the resident whale sharks here in Leyte and although it can annoy photogs, it enhances everyones interaction and experience. Not a single shot for a single page spread in some sh!tty newsletter with a circulation of 6 people, and claim to be a 'writer' or 'journalist'.

But back to the original question, Trevor and Andrea run a good operation and we highly recommend them. The divemasters know what they are doing and find some amazing subjects for you. They have been there forever and are greatly involved in the protection of the sharks and the developement of the area as a whole.

It is also good if u can talk to Simon @ the thresher shark project. Its not a dive op, but a volunteer program but they will give u some great info on the threshers. They are based on the mainland tho so u may have to arrange a visit.

The island does not and probably never will have fresh running water. The wells just arent there. All fresh water is shipped in. Exotic supposedly does have the best filtration system to get as fresh water as possible but its still brackish.

Blue coral is ok. It where we stayed but dont expect too much. The showers are salt water - nothing nicer than washing that salt water off ur body after a dive eh? the power is 6-6 so get charging them batteries while u can. And our shower drain smelled bad. but its close to the beach, has good views and is fairly cheap.

As for eating. Ging gings is the place. Its a tiny native eatery but the food is amazing for a few pence. U will have to ask ur dm to walk u there. it aint easy to find. Sunsplash has great food, but is ruined by white pervs at the bar. My wife and i were disgusted by what people were openly saying out loud in a restaurant - and we live here so are fairly used to that side of the islands! And it wasnt a one off, we tried again later in the week and it just seems to attract them. Hope you have a better experience there tho.

Enjoy ur trip.

Olly