Kimud Shoal Diving in Malapascua: Updated Thresher Shark Regulations

Malapascua Island in Cebu is famous worldwide for its thresher shark encounters. Today, Kimud Shoal diving offers one of the best opportunities to observe these graceful sharks as they visit shallow cleaning stations.

Located off the coast of Leyte and reached by boat from Malapascua, Kimud Shoal has been declared a Marine Protected Area and Ecotourism Zone.

The regulations at Kimud Shoal are designed to protect the thresher sharks, their cleaning stations, the surrounding reef, and other marine life. They also help ensure that divers can continue enjoying this remarkable encounter responsibly.

Before joining a thresher shark dive, every visitor should understand the certification requirements, buoyancy rules, prohibited activities, and responsible diving practices at Kimud Shoal.

Why Kimud Shoal Diving Is Special

Kimud Shoal is an underwater plateau surrounded by deep water.

Its shallow reef areas contain cleaning stations visited by pelagic thresher sharks. At these stations, small cleaner fish remove parasites and dead skin from the sharks.

This natural behaviour gives recreational divers a rare opportunity to observe thresher sharks in their natural environment.

Malapascua is one of the few diving destinations where thresher shark encounters occur regularly. This makes Kimud Shoal an important marine habitat and one of the Philippines’ best-known shark-diving destinations.

However, shark cleaning stations are sensitive environments.

Poor buoyancy, close approaches, bright lights, damaged coral, and too many sudden movements may disturb the sharks and interrupt their natural behaviour.

Protecting Kimud Shoal allows the sharks to continue visiting the cleaning stations with as little disturbance as possible.

Kimud Shoal Diving Requirements

Kimud Shoal diving may involve currents, open water, early departures, and depths that require good buoyancy and underwater awareness.

The following experience requirements apply:

• Open Water divers with fewer than 50 logged dives must be accompanied by an instructor or divemaster.
• Open Water and Advanced Open Water divers with fewer than 50 logged dives must complete a buoyancy workshop.

The buoyancy workshop helps divers improve their control and positioning underwater.

Good buoyancy allows divers to remain safely above the reef without touching the seabed, damaging coral, or moving too close to the sharks.

Divers should bring their certification card and an updated logbook or digital dive record so the dive team can confirm their certification and experience.

Guests who need additional training can explore the PADI diving courses available with Sea Explorers Philippines.

Activities Not Allowed at Kimud Shoal

Kimud Shoal is reserved for certified scuba divers who meet the site requirements.

The following activities are not permitted:

• Discover Scuba Diving experiences
• Try dives
• Open Water course training dives
• Snorkelling
• Freediving

These restrictions reduce inexperienced activities within the protected area and help create a safer, calmer environment around the cleaning stations.

Divers who need additional practice or training can complete it at another suitable Malapascua dive site before visiting Kimud Shoal.

Rules for Observing Thresher Sharks

The best thresher shark encounters happen when divers remain calm and allow the animals to behave naturally.

All divers must follow these responsible shark-diving practices:

• Maintain a minimum distance of five metres from the sharks.
• Maintain neutral buoyancy throughout the dive.
• Remain in the viewing area indicated by the dive guide.
• Follow the guide’s instructions at all times.
• Never chase, touch, surround, or block a shark.
• Do not enter or interfere with a cleaning station.
• Do not direct strong lights at the sharks.
• Keep cameras and other equipment under control.
• Secure all hoses, gauges, and accessories.
• Avoid sudden or unnecessary movements.

Thresher sharks are wild animals, and sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Currents, visibility, weather, and animal behaviour can affect each dive. Divers should enjoy the encounter without trying to make a shark approach or remain at the cleaning station.

Lights and Underwater Photography

Thresher sharks can be sensitive to lights and close approaches.

Strong lights must not be directed at the sharks. Underwater photographers should also avoid aggressive positioning or repeatedly following an animal.

Photographers should:

• Approach the viewing area slowly.
• Remain with the group.
• Keep a respectful distance.
• Avoid blocking the shark’s swimming path.
• Secure strobes, cables, arms, and accessories.
• Follow instructions regarding lights and flash photography.
• Allow other divers space to enjoy the encounter.
• Move away if the shark shows signs of disturbance.

A natural encounter is always more valuable than a photograph created by disturbing an animal.

Prohibited Diving Equipment

Certain equipment is prohibited because it may damage the reef or encourage divers to make contact with the seabed.

The following items are not allowed:

• Reef hooks
• Metal sticks
• Metal pointers
• Gloves, unless medically approved

Divers must never use equipment to hold themselves in position against the reef.

Instead, they should rely on proper buoyancy, breathing control, finning techniques, and guidance from the dive team.

Protecting the Reef and Seabed

Kimud Shoal is more than a shark-viewing site. It is a living reef ecosystem that supports cleaner fish, corals, sharks, and many other marine species.

Divers must follow these reef-protection rules:

• Do not touch, kneel, lie, or stand on the seabed.
• Do not touch or hold coral.
• Keep fins and equipment away from the reef.
• Do not collect shells, coral, sand, or marine life.
• Only remove rubbish when it can be done safely.
• Do not feed marine animals.
• Do not throw waste from the boat.
• Do not discard food or organic material into the water.

Even materials that appear harmless can affect water quality, attract wildlife, or change the natural behaviour of marine animals.

Everything brought onto the boat should return to shore.

Why Good Buoyancy Matters

Good buoyancy is one of the most important skills required for Kimud Shoal diving.

A diver with proper buoyancy can remain still without touching the reef, kicking the seabed, or moving too close to a shark.

Poor buoyancy can cause several problems:

• Fins may strike and damage coral.
• Sand and sediment may reduce visibility.
• Dangling equipment may touch the reef.
• Sudden movements may disturb the sharks.
• Divers may enter the cleaning station accidentally.
• Other guests may have their view blocked.

Completing a buoyancy workshop or check dive is not only about meeting a regulation. It also makes the thresher shark experience safer, calmer, and more enjoyable.

What to Expect on a Kimud Shoal Dive

Kimud Shoal is reached by boat from Malapascua.

Boats commonly depart early in the morning, although the exact departure time may depend on the planned dive schedule, weather, and sea conditions.

The boat journey takes divers across open water to the offshore shoal. Along the way, guests may enjoy the sunrise and views of the surrounding sea.

Before entering the water, the dive team will provide a detailed briefing covering:

• Entry and exit procedures
• Current and sea conditions
• Planned depth and dive time
• Buddy procedures
• Shark-viewing positions
• Cleaning-station boundaries
• Emergency procedures
• Surface marker buoy use
• Photography and lighting rules
• Marine Protected Area regulations

Divers should listen carefully to the briefing, even if they have visited Kimud Shoal before.

Conditions and operational procedures can change from day to day. The dive guide will choose the safest entry point and viewing area based on the conditions.

Learn more about this famous site in our guide to the best dive sites in Malapascua.

Marine Park and Environmental Fees

Marine park and environmental fees apply when diving at Kimud Shoal.

Fee amounts and collection procedures may change. Guests should confirm the current charges directly with the dive centre before their trip.

Additional charges may also apply for:

• Boat and fuel surcharges
• Diving-equipment rental
• Nitrox
• Private guiding
• Required professional supervision
• Buoyancy training

Sea Explorers will explain the applicable fees and requirements during booking or check-in.

How to Prepare for Your Kimud Shoal Dive

Before joining a Kimud Shoal diving excursion, guests should make sure they have:

• A valid scuba-diving certification
• Proof of logged dives
• Suitable exposure protection
• A dive computer
• A surface marker buoy and reel
• Secure and properly fitted equipment
• Appropriate diving insurance
• Experience using their equipment
• Good buoyancy and air consumption

Divers who have not been underwater recently should complete a refresher or check dive before visiting the site.

Open Water divers and guests with fewer than 50 logged dives should contact the dive centre in advance. This gives the team enough time to arrange the required professional supervision or buoyancy workshop.

Responsible Thresher Shark Diving with Sea Explorers

At Sea Explorers Philippines, we support the protection of Kimud Shoal and its thresher shark cleaning stations.

Our team provides detailed briefings, guidance, and training to help divers enjoy the experience while respecting the sharks and their habitat.

Responsible thresher shark diving means:

• Giving the animals enough space
• Remaining calm underwater
• Maintaining good buoyancy
• Following the dive guide
• Staying outside the cleaning stations
• Protecting the reef
• Accepting that sightings cannot be guaranteed

These actions reduce disturbance and allow the sharks to decide whether to approach the cleaning stations.

Discover more about diving in Malapascua with Sea Explorers Philippines.

Protecting the Future of Kimud Shoal

Seeing a thresher shark rise from deep water is an unforgettable experience.

Its long tail, graceful movement, and calm passage through the blue make it one of the most distinctive sharks a diver may ever encounter.

Protecting this experience requires cooperation.

Local authorities, Marine Protected Area managers, boat crews, dive centres, guides, and visiting divers all share responsibility for Kimud Shoal.

By following the regulations, maintaining good buoyancy, and respecting the sharks, we can help preserve one of the Philippines’ most iconic underwater encounters.

Plan Your Kimud Shoal Diving Experience

Kimud Shoal diving offers a special opportunity to observe pelagic thresher sharks in their natural environment.

By respecting the cleaning stations and following the Marine Protected Area regulations, divers can enjoy this remarkable encounter while helping protect it for the future.

Explore Sea Explorers Malapascua, discover the dive sites around Malapascua, or contact Sea Explorers Philippines to arrange your diving holiday.

Dive with a Smile and help protect the thresher sharks of Kimud Shoal.