MBI

Malapascua Island dive sites

Gato Island Diving

Sleeping white-tip sharks, pygmy seahorses and a marine reserve full of small critters.

  • Shark Encounters
  • Reefs & Macro
Depth
10 - 25 m
Level
Advanced
Specialty
Sharks & Macro
Boat time
Approx. 45 minutes
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Overview

Gato Island is a small rocky island north-west of Malapascua, about 45 minutes away by boat. It is a marine reserve and a sea snake sanctuary, and it is one of the most popular day trips from the island because big and small marine life share the same dives.

White-tip reef sharks rest under the ledges, and the walls are home to electric clams, spider crabs, pygmy seahorses and cuttlefish. A cave swim-through is the signature of the island; it is only dived when the current and visibility allow, and your guide decides on the day.

Our 3 Gato Island Dives trip is a full-morning outing with three guided dives. Gato needs Advanced Open Water or higher.

Gato Island dive site

Marine Life

  • White-tip reef sharks resting under a ledge
  • Pygmy seahorse on a sea fan
  • Gato Island from above. Photo: Tol.lynx, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
  • A diver in the Gato Island cave. Photo: Tol.lynx, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
  • The rocky shore of Gato Islet. Photo: Matt Kieffer, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Dive Site Details

Depth
10 - 25 m
Difficulty
Advanced
Best time to dive
Year-round, in the morning. The cave depends on current and visibility.
Marine life
White-tip reef sharks, banded sea snakes, pygmy seahorses, electric clams, spider crabs and cuttlefish.
Conditions
Current and visibility vary. The cave swim-through is skipped when conditions are poor.
Boat time
Approx. 45 minutes
Type
Island reef, ledges and cave swim-through
Sleeping white-tip sharks, pygmy seahorses and a cave swim-through on one small island.

Diver Notes & Tips

  • Advanced Open Water or higher is required.
  • Good buoyancy matters in the cave. Book a Refresher Course first if you are rusty.
  • Bring a macro-minded eye: the smallest animals here are the best ones.
  • The cave is not guaranteed. It runs only when current and visibility are safe.

Dive Gato Island

Packages that visit this site.

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