I’ve updated this post, since I miscalculated the prices originally, and also the Resort has updated me with more information about the diving conditions…

I’m considering organising a trip to the Philippines for Feb/Mar 2010, and would like to gauge interest…

The trip would be a choice of 1 or 2 weeks, with the first week in Puerto Galera, and the second in Dumaguete, both staying at the Atlantis Resort in each area.

The diving around the resort in Puerto Galera is varied, with a number of Drift and Wreck dives, as well as Coral Gardens. If you like “small critters” such as nudibranchs, pipefish, frogfish, etc., then you’ll love the Philippines! This week would be ideal for Less experienced divers since many of the dives are less than 18m, with little current. Atlantis run several boats, however, so there’s no problem if some people want to do more challenging dives, such as the trip to Verde Island. The majority of Dive sites are within 15 minutes boat ride from the Resort, so you normally return to the resort between dives.

My main reason for organising the trip, though, is to revisit Apo Island, near Dumaguete. The Island is a Marine Sanctuary, originally set up by Liberty Rhodes, an islander, and her English husband Paul, in the early 80s, with the support of local fishermen. I worked for a month as a Dive Guide with Paul about 15 years ago, following a Coral Cay expedition. The island offers some amazing dive sites, including Coconut Point - a rollercoaster of a drift dive, as well as possibly the best shore dive in the world - you walk out from Paul’s dive shop, do a drift dive for about an hour, and end up….back at the Dive shop!! (Email me if you want to know how!)

Dumaguete is superb for Macro / Muck diving, and I’ll certainly be making good use of my Camera there, but for me the main attraction is Apo Island (see above!).

There is also a good House Reef at Dumaguete, if you can’t summon up the energy for a boat dive one day!

The day trips to Verde Island (Puerto Galera) and Apo Island (Dumaguete) are both Challenging diving (one of the Verde dive sites is called “The washing machine”!), and should not be attempted unless you have a PADI Advanced qualification or equivalent, or at least 30 recently-logged dives, ideally with experience of Drift dives. The resort have said that they may elect to assign a Personal Divemaster to less experienced divers, but even so, if you consider yourself a “newbie”, then these day trips are probably not for you. However, there will always be excellent alternative dives available around PG and Duma, so don’t be put off - you won’t really be missing out.

Price will be around £750 for Puerto Galera and £800 for Dumaguete, which includes Transfers from Manila to the Resorts (including Domestic flight to Dumaguete), Accommodation, in air-con rooms, all meals, up to 4 boat dives per day, Day trip to Verde Island (1st week), Day trip to Apo Island (2nd week), Tea & Coffee. Non-diver price is around £200/week cheaper.

Note:These prices need a minimum of 6 divers per week. If we get more than 8 divers, then these prices will go down. If I manage to get over 10, then we’ll save around £100 per person on the prices above.

International flights are not included. Prices for Feb/Mar 2009 are currently around £620 return, but may increase for 2010.

At the moment, I just want to work out whether the trip’s going to be viable, rather than get firm committments. We would need a minimum of 6 divers. If you’re interested in either, or both weeks, please register your interest on the Events Page of the GLUG website (you need to log in first).

If there’s sufficient interest, then the UK representative of Atlantis Resorts has offered to come and give a presentation about the resorts at one of our meetings.

For more Information see:

Atlantis Resort Website
Apo Island Underwater Photos
Philippines Top 10 Dive Sites
Eco-report about Apo Island
Atlantis Resorts trip report