Philippines Dive Explorer │May 2019

This fantastic trip start in Manila where the group meet their experienced tour guide, before heading off to Dumaguete. Here we will make Mike’s Beach Resort our home for the next 5 nightss. Situated right on the beach the rooms are light and spacious and comfortably fitted out, with ensuite bathrooms, air-conditioning and stunning garden or sea views from the private outdoor seating areas. The rooms have televisions as well and tea and coffee making facilities.  The resort has an open sided bar and restaurant area, where delicious meals are served, prepared using locally produced fresh produce.

The diving here is varied and beautiful. From stunning lush reefs to rare and interesting critters, large schools of tropical and pelagic fish to some slowly cruising turtles. We dive from Filipino banca boats and have access to a few different dive areas: Duain is fast becoming known for some of Philippines best macro diving, with excellent chances to spot rare critters like sea horses, frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish and blue ring octopus, to name a few. Apo Island is known for lush reefs, turtles, sharks and schooling jacks. Sites around  Sumilon and Siquijor are better known for stunning walls, coral gardens and some fabulous muck diving.

From here we will travel by fast ferry and car to Anda, on the eastern coast of Bohol. Situated in this quiet corner, away from the main tourist area, is Magic Ocean Resort, a lovely poolside resort situated on the seaside cliffs of Bohol nestled into the lush jungle. From here we will do some beautiful diving in the generally clear waters. Fabulous macro can be found on the 14km of reef that runs off the coast here. Passing pelagics, schooling jacks, a resident whale shark, loads of turtles and a big school of bumphead parrotfish are among the often spotted marine life. The coral is in excellent condition- beautifully colourful and lively.

After 4 nights, we move to Cabilao, a small island off western Bohol. On route across Bohol, we enjoy a land tour, to see Bohol’s biggest tourist attract- The Chocolate Hills, between 1200-1800 grassy hills as far as the eye can see. The trip also includes a stop at a stunning butterfly park, a search for tarsiers (tiny marsupials), and a relaxing journey down the river on a floating restaurant boat. Here we will enjoy a delicious Fili[ino style buffet lunch. The boat will stop t a few different places along the way for shopping or to see attractions. Lastly, we go and visit the oldest church in the country, Baclayon Church, now a UNESCO Herritage Site. Around lunchtime we are heading over to the Loboc River, where floating restaurants waiting for their guests. These boats have huge platform which turned into a restaurant.  All you can eat is standard here and the surroundings while having lunch is amazing. The boat will stop at several points where locals will play some songs on their guitars or they will be showing some traditional dances. The trip takes around 1.5 hours and after we head back to the starting point we will be heading to our next destination.

Upon arrival in Cabilao, we settle into Pura Vida Resort, a beachfront resort with spacious rooms decorated with modern flair,  all offering lovely sea views. The restaurant and bar area provide the perfect spaces for socialising or relaxing after a day of diving. The Vida Spa offers a wide range of treatments.

Perfectly situated to access over 20 dive sites, offering a variety of diving including plunging walls, beautiful fringing reefs and sea grass, all abundant with life. Turtles cruise the shores and some of the sandy-bottom sites offer amazing critter hunting. Depending on the sites, one can hope to see pygmy sea horses, frog fish, harlequin ghost pipefish, various nudibranchs, crabs and shrimps; barracuda, eagle rays and whit tips; large Gregorian fans and plenty of healthy soft corals. Pura Vida also has a house reef which is great for macro diving and makes for easy access to relaxing diving.

This itinerary tour is fully escorted by an experienced member of our staff, and the price includes an internal transfers, accommodation, full board and diving.