Apo Island
Apo Island Marine Reserve is one of the most successful marine sanctuaries established in the Philippines. Reef hooks and gloves are not allowed and night diving is unfortunately not permitted. The order of dives will be based on the currents and conditions of the day choosing from Coconut Point An often fast-paced drift brings divers over the sloping coral reef wall. Along the way, giant trevally, blackfin barracuda, big schools of big-eyed trevally, and plenty of sea snakes can be encountered.

Rocky Point West
Just beyond the chapel opposite the marine park warden’s office, Rocky Point West offers some of the most stunning hard corals to be found in the region with endless patches of leather corals on the top. The steep reef walls support numerous colourful reef species including pyramid butterflyfish and red-toothed triggerfish in their hundreds, frogfish, cuttlefish, banded sea snakes and hawksbill turtles are amongst the common sightings.

Cogon
The colourful bottom divided by sand channels is the place to find a big school of big-eyed trevally, huge brown marbled groupers and sea snakes.

Dauin
Negros Dauin, with its black volcanic sand, is famous for muck diving. Depending on the season, different types and sizes of octopuses, sea horses, (baby) frogfish, a variety of ghost pipefish, and flamboyant cuttlefish can be found.

Car Wreck
Between 25-30m (80-100ft), car parts forming an artificial reef attract porcelain crabs and different kinds of shrimps amongst the many weird and wonderful creatures found at this site. Secret Corner This sand and pebble dive site is the perfect habitat for the smallest, weird and unexpected creatures such as cockatoo wasp fish, short-fin lionfish, and snake and garden eels.

Mainit
A mix of black volcanic sand and coral boulders with soft corals. Due to the currents, all fish are very active which makes this dive very lively and exciting ending in an area with hot sand at the bottom, hence the name Mainit meaning ‘hot’.

San Miguel
A relatively shallow dive site with sandy slopes and seagrass beds, San Miguel is another critter wonderland! This is the place to find all your favorites including a variety of nudibranchs, ghost pipefish, tiny juvenile frogfish, and even the possibility of finding Pygmy Squid.

Balicasag Island
The small island of Balicasag, just off the tip of Panglao, is characterised by its many turtles, coral gardens, and steep walls which provide overhangs, cracks & crevices in which to search for a variety of marine species. This area has become a marine protected area since July 2017 and allows two dives per day only with valid permits.

Divers Heaven
The main attraction of this beautiful dive site is the green sea and hawksbill turtles in the shallow waters. The reef top edge is a nice habitat for schools of colourful damsels and anthias and when lucky also for giant frogfish.

Black Forest
Once famed for its black coral, this is where we encounter schools of jacks, long-jawed mackerels, red-tooth triggerfish, and different kinds of fusiliers.

Cabilao Island
There are several interesting walls and coral garden dives around the island of Cabilao and we choose from the following: Gorgonian Wall Provides a gentle drift along a fantastic coral reef with schooling fish and plenty of macro life in the shallow water, including the possibility of spotting a Denise’s pygmy seahorse.

Lighthouse
Sloping walls full of sponges and gorgonian fans. This is a great place to dive with large green turtles. Also being seen are giant frogfish which can be spotted resting on sponges and numerous cowries hiding amidst the stunning hard coral garden.

Talisay Tree
A beautiful wall with gorgonians where bubble coral shrimps and orangutan crabs can be found in the bubble corals. The shallow grassy garden with its elephant ear sponges and barrel sponges is a perfect spot for wide-angle photography.

Siquijor Island
Siquijor is a small island located in Central Visayas nearby Dauin, Bohol and Cebu. Above sea the island is famous for traditional witch craft which has been now turned into a tourist attraction with magical waterfalls. Below sea is a probably one of the best hard coral formations in Visayas. The dives are steep wall dives as well sandy & hard coral slopes with good visibility. Turtles are a common sight, nudibranchs and vibrant reef fish. This is where we normally do check up dives before moving on to Bohol, Cebu or Camiguin.

Sample Itinerary
The following is a sample scenario of how the trip might be, this of course all depends on many factors like, weather, sea state, visibility, and what we have heard on the radio of what is to be seen.

Day 1
We will leave at Pura Vida Dive resort in Dauin 12 pm lunch time and drive to Campomanes bay where M/Y Gypsy officially departs to Tubbataha.

Once on board, we will get the boat and mandatory briefing from the Tubbataha Management Office and a check conducted by the coast guard before the boat is allowed to leave port. There is no diving on embarkation day and we will leave straight away cruising to the amazing reefs of Tubbataha. After sunset cruise and overnight sleep you wake up on our first destination in Cagayancillo which is part of Tubbataha and governs the park.

Day 2-3
We wake up in one of the beautiful reefs of Cagayncillo where we have multiple dive sites to choose from.

We schedule up to 4 dives per day; 3 day dives and a sunset dive, typically as follows:

Light Breakfast followed by a briefing & Dive 1
Big Breakfast, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 2
Lunch, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 3
Snack followed by a briefing for Sunset dive (no night dives allowed on Tubbataha) Dinner

In accordance with Tubbataha Marine Park regulations, dive times are limited to a maximum of 60 minutes.

Day 3-6
On day 3-6 we recommend spending 2 days at the south and 2 days in the north atoll, famous for big palegic animals encounters at dive sites such as black rock, shark airport, densal wreck and many more.

Light Breakfast followed by a briefing & Dive 1
Big Breakfast, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 2
Lunch, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 3
Snack followed by a briefing for Sunset dive (no night dives allowed on Tubbataha) Dinner

In accordance with Tubbataha Marine Park regulations, dive times are limited to a maximum of 60 minutes.

On our last day in Tubbataha we depart for a sunset cruise to Cagayancillo to the amazing Calusa island.

Day 7
After overnight cruise we arrive in the island of Calusa for our secret dive spot where we can find hammer heads and big schools of fish along with spectacular coral reef. Then we cruise into the shallow reef and anchor. Guests can go on the white sand beach of a private island before having the final dive.

Light Breakfast followed by a briefing & Dive 1
Big Breakfast, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 2
Lunch, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 3
Snack followed by a briefing for Sunset dive (no night dives allowed on Tubbataha) Dinner

Afternoon the boat departs for a sunset cruise back to Campomanes bay.

Day 8
A relaxing breakfast on board, disembarkation between 09:30 and 10:00 back to the resort in Dauin where you arrive on time for lunch and could do a dive or two in the afternoon or relax on a sunbed with a pina colada next to the pool.

This trip involves some long-distance travel on the open sea, whilst we attempt to ensure the number of planned dives is fulfilled, bad weather and sea conditions can affect the boat’s ability to reach a specific dive site in good time and may impact the number of dives that are possible.

Deluxe Suite Cabinet Lower Deck

3 cabins (5 spots) available

$2,998