Malapascua: A Journey Where People and the Sea Heal Together
Boarding the boat through Maya Port
There are places you go to dive. And then there are places you return from, changed.
Malapascua was one of those for us.
When we first touched down on the island, it wasn’t the postcard-perfect beaches or the whisper of thresher fins that greeted us, it was the warmth of the community. There’s a certain rhythm here that’s easy to miss if you only come for the underwater highlights. But if you slow down, look a little closer, and listen... you’ll realise that Malapascua is more than just a dive destination. It’s a living example of how people and the sea can grow together.
Learning, sharing, and listening—with the passionate team from People and the Sea.
Beyond the Dive Sites: Meeting the Heartbeat of the Island
One of the key highlights of this trip was collaborating with People and the Sea, a local NGO deeply rooted in the island’s fabric. Unlike many top-down conservation efforts, their work is built entirely around empowering the local community, from education, waste management, to creating alternative livelihoods through sustainable tourism.
We spent time understanding what they do, not just from the surface, but from within. We went to look and understand the Waste collection facilities they have, given the amount of waste generated from a small island like Malapascua. We met the volunteers they’ve worked with, saw how their crown of thorns programs was executed and participated in it, and even chatted with young volunteer students on their motivation and dreams.
Reef Guardians in Action: Crown of Thorns Cleanup
One of the most impactful moments was organizing and participating in a Crown of Thorns (COT) cleanup dive. COT starfish, though part of the ecosystem, have become a threat due to imbalanced predators which was caused mainly by commercial overfishing and rising temperature, wreaking havoc on coral reefs.
With guidance from the NGO and local dive professionals, we suited up, geared with tongs and collection bins, and descended into a site quietly fighting for breath. It wasn’t glamorous. It was work. But it was meaningful.
There’s something deeply grounding about knowing your dives aren’t just recreational, but restorative. Every COT we removed felt like a small act of service to the reef, to the islanders, and to every future diver who’ll one day see that coral bloom again.
Waiting for fresh balut to be ready from the island’s best balut cooker
Culture in Every Bite, Story in Every Smile
After the dives, the soul of Malapascua really came alive—through food, music, and stories passed over shared tables. The meals were humble but unforgettable: traditional like sisig, balut, adobo, grilled seafood, tangy ceviche made fresh with kalamansi, and the island’s signature garlic rice that we kept going back for. Food that seems simple but hold generations of stories behind it.
Final group photo with the local guides
The Takeaway: Diving with Purpose
We came to Malapascua expecting incredible marine life and yes, the threshers didn’t disappoint. But what will stay with us is something deeper.
This trip reminded us that true conservation can’t exist without community. That divers can be, no… need to be more than just visitors, they can be collaborators. And that the ocean, as vast as it is, thrives best when the people living beside it are thriving too.
It’s easy to talk about “eco trips” or “sustainable travel.” But in Malapascua, we start by living it. And we will be bringing that energy home. With fresh resolve, new friendships, and the quiet hope that more of us will start diving not just to see, but to support.
Not forgetting the iconic and cute Thresher Shark
Final Thoughts
If you're planning to visit Malapascua, dive with intention. Ask questions. Listen to the stories. Support the locals. And if you get the chance, join a conservation effort, no matter how small it seems.
Because here, every little action adds up to something much bigger. And just maybe, you’ll leave a little piece of yourself with the sea and take back something even more valuable.
