Visit Date: September 2010

Great Gas (no pun intended) with the team at Evolution. Very experienced and professional team. Also the best food around at The Craic house.

Malapascua is a great site for diving and the threshers were the highlight for me, I will be back to spot the Manta as soon as I can!

Visit Date: December 2010

Evolution is a fantastic example of how a dive shop should be run. Set in the most beautiful location on Malapascua Island in the Phillipines, every day and dive spent with Evolution is one you will never forget. The main draw to Malapascua is the chance to dive with the elusive Pelagic Thresher shark, and Evolution provide the best experience every morning to see these animals, but this is by no means all that Evolution offers. The owner and operaters, Matt Reed and David Joyce, are two of the most talented and passionate dive instructors I have ever had the pleasure to dive with. Not only do they dive with thier customers, a rarity on the island, they are always available to share stories and offer advice from thier vast diving knowledge.

Whilst I was there I spent a great deal of time diving with my camera, trying to capture the unique macro life the island has to offer. As an amatuer, my shots were always average until David, a keen underwater photographer with an incredible photo album, gave me simple advice to improve my picture quality and was always happy to help me and improve my technique. Also, whilst I was there I did my Advanced Nitrox and Deco Procedures course with Matt. Evolution is alone on Malapascua in its provision of tech diving, and having one of the worlds best instructor-trainers in house is a great opportunity for divers. As a dive instructor myself, I thought my skills were good, but Matt is in another league. He made complicated things easy to handle and made my courses a great laugh.

The shop also has The Craic House, Malapascua's only Irish bar! Many an evening was spent there, enjoying the great music, cold, cold beer and the incredable food.

There is nothing quite like being there watching the sunset and chilling out with the guys.

I would, and do, totally recommend Evolution to everyone who wants the best diving and the best atmosphere, with all else in between.

Visit Date: June 2011

I dived with Evolution in June / July and I will never be the same again. I came to do a few fun dives and spend time with the Thresher Sharks but I got so much more than I bargained for.

I was so impressed by Matt and David and their knowledge of this sport that I ended up changing many of my travel plans (and blowing my travel budget) just to take my diving to the next level.

I did my AOW class and this is where my transformation began. I had 40+ dives before and felt I didin't need this class but having talked to other students I decided to do it. The Peak Performance Buoyancy class was amazing and now I dive in great trim and have thrown away my pointy stick (what a bad habit to carry one!). The Naturalist class opened my eyes to the dynamics of the ocean and I was even shown a parasite living on a shrimp.

For the deep dive I got to dive with a stage bottle and extra regulator as well as dive computer all at no extra charge. Meanwhile David my instructor had double tanks on so between us we had enough air for 4 divers! Now that's safety conscious and it taught me to respect diving deeper even though I had done it before.

I also tried a 'DiscoTech' with Matt - a chance to dive with some Technical Diving equipment but as a recreational dive. It was incredible and I plan to return to do my technical course once I gain more experience. Matt is extremely knowledgeable on technical diving and he and David are tech diving almost every day.

Add in great local dive guides who have the best trim and habits in asia, a huge, spacious facility and last but not least The Craic House with its scrumptious food and freindly staff - well I'm hooked for life.

I have given 5 stars in each category as I cannot find a fault under those headings. There should also be one for Thresher Shark Sightings - that would be five star too!

Visit Date: July 2011

This is a picturesque island, white sand, gorgeous sea, good food, friendly locals, quiet and provides a true experience and 'get away from it all' feel.

There are a number of dive shops along the beach and I visited most of them. I was left in no doubt that this is the place to recommend. Firstly, the ambiance is spot on: from the good music at the bar, the best food I encountered and nice cold beers, the setting is right. But, what you won't find elsewhere is the owners in the bar mingling and advising their customers. They are hands on and make you feel at home. Whilst they don't brag, I can assure you they are the best two divers on the island.

Whilst Tech diving is not for everyone, if you want to do it here (and it is a great Tech location) then this is the only dive shop to do it. There are a couple of other ones advertising but they seem to just push any interested parties to Evolution as they are not really in that market. Matt & David by contrast are doing regular Tech dives. They are so passionate about it and have already dived sites and found locations that nobody even realised were there. But even if Tech diving is not for you, the professionalism and expertise demanded is not to be ignored. Matt and David quite simply will teach you right. They pride themselves on not only getting their students through, but also to train them properly, the Evolution way. Buoyancy is not something they will mention, they will make you understand, demonstrate skills and encourage you patiently. For them, if the students are taught well from the start, they will be better for it if they decide to go on to the more challenging Tech courses.

By the end of my stay I was diving through caves and penetrating wrecks and feeling confident I was not going to crash into anything or get stuck etc. I always felt safe and it was simply the best diving holiday I've had.