Diving Guide to the Philippines 2015

(sharon) #1

  1. Monad Shoal
    Icons:
    Location: East of Malapascua
    Depth: 50 -130 ft. (15-40 m)


A


new series of cleaning stations
have been found that afford a
much more predictable chance of
seeing the amazing hydrodynamic
thresher shark appear from the open
sea and glide in to a cleaning
station. The ribbon-like tail flowing
as the shark moves gracefully over
the station, striped cleaner wrasse
fly up from the protection of the
reef to nip parasites from these
beautiful
creatures.
These sharks
are one of
nature’s most
impressive
creatures with
huge eyes for
hunting in the
depths, broad,
paddles of
pectoral fins for
incredible pelagic


maneuverability
and a flowing whip
of a tail that can
snap through a
shoal of fish,
rendering some
fish senseless to be
gobbled up by the
returning thresher.
They are also known to leap from
the water... probably to dislodge
remoras from their silvery bodies.
When seen doing these leaps they
usually jump three or four times so
grab a camera if you see the first
jump. It will probably happen a few
more times.
There is a protocol for diving the
sharks. Divers must stay behind
certain lines placed on the bottom
so as to not encroach on the
cleaning station. Photographers and
videographers are not allowed to
use flashes or lights as these may

Boats at sunrise at Monad Shoal

Thresher shark
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