PADI TSD Shark Specialty - Thresher Shark Divers

Dive with Thresher Sharks on Malapascua Island

The PADI Thresher Shark Diver specialty is unique to Malapascua. This island is one of the only places in the world where thresher sharks visit a cleaning station on a regular, predictable basis. This course gives you the knowledge and skills to make the most of every encounter — and understand why protecting these animals matters.

Learn to dive in paradise

About the Course

This specialty combines shark ecology theory with dedicated early-morning dives at Monad Shoal — Malapascua’s famous thresher shark cleaning station.

Duration: 2 days
4 specialty dives at Monad Shoal
PADI Thresher Shark Diver certification
Small groups for minimal disturbance to the sharks

Course Overview

The course has two main components:

Knowledge Development

Learn about thresher shark biology, behaviour, and conservation. Covers responsible dive etiquette at the cleaning station and explains why the practices we follow protect these animals for future generations.

Dive Briefings

Before each dive, your instructor briefs you on what to expect, how to position yourself at the cleaning station, and how to behave around the sharks to maximise sightings without causing disturbance.

Specialty Dives

Four early-morning dives at Monad Shoal. Thresher sharks typically visit the cleaning station at 20–30m depth between 5am and 8am. Sightings are frequent but never guaranteed — this is wild marine life, not a zoo.

Study Materials

The course uses the PADI Thresher Shark Diver specialty manual covering shark biology, behaviour, and conservation in detail.

Study materials are included in the course price.

Prerequisites

PADI Open Water Diver certification (or equivalent) required. Minimum age is 10. Dives reach depths of up to 30m, so Advanced Open Water is recommended but not required.

Download medical exam form

Your Instructors

Thresher Shark Divers is a specialist shark diving operator based on Malapascua. Our instructors have dived Monad Shoal hundreds of times and know the site and its sharks better than anyone.

Thresher Shark Conservation Dives

Want to combine your specialty with citizen science? Our Thresher Shark Conservation dives contribute to ongoing population research at Monad Shoal. Ask about this when you book.

Proceeds from conservation dives go directly to the Thresher Shark Research and Conservation Project.

Combine Courses

The Thresher Shark Diver specialty pairs naturally with the Advanced Open Water Course, giving you deeper dive capability for Monad Shoal. Ask about packages combining multiple shark dives across several days.

Inquire about this course

PADI TSD Shark Specialty

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