Monad Shoal
Perhaps the most popular SCUBA diving destination near Malapascua is Monad Shoal, a natural cleaning station for fish located about 20 minutes from the island. The shoal is a rather unremarkable 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) long rock stump at the edge of a 200 metres (660 ft) drop and has a flattish top at a depth of around 20 to 24 metres (66 to 79 ft). There is little in the way of coral on the top of the seamount which is swept by a strong current.
The site is best known as the only place in the world where thresher sharks can be seen regularly before sunrise. They use the seamount as a cleaning station for wrasse to remove parasites from their skin and clean their gills and mouths. The shoal also attracts other pelagics such as devil rays and eagle rays. Manta rays and hammerheads are seasonal. Unfortunately most of the coral reefs of the Shoal are damaged by destructive fishing methods. Monad Shoal is suitable for Nitrox. Because of the depth, it is recommended only for advanced SCUBA divers.
Read more about this topic: Malapascua Island
Famous quotes containing the word shoal:
“If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well
It were done quickly. If th’ assassination
Could trammel up the consequence, and catch
With his surcease success—that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all!—here,
But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
We’d jump the life to come.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)