Sample itineraries and maps are for illustrative purposes only. The exact route and sites visited are subject to change based on local regulations, guest experience, weather, and logistics and are at the Captain’s discretion.
By clicking the little square at the top right of the below map you can see it in full screen mode and the list of all the diving sites you can explore (with details of each).
Visayas South (Dumaguete – Dumaguete)
Explore the southern end of the Visayas, one of Asia’s most beautiful and biodiverse regions. This itinerary features seven magical nights, with dives at a different site each day, including the stunning walls of Cabilao, the famous Apo Island, and a grand finale of diving with whale sharks in Oslob and exploring the reef of Sumilon. It’s a hard-to-beat itinerary if you’re looking for a wide variety of locations in just one week. Enjoy smooth evening cruises that effortlessly transport you from one incredible dive site to the next.
DAY 1: Embarkation
DAY 2: Pamilacan Island
DAY 3: Siquijor Island
DAY 4: Apo Island
DAY 5: Dauin Dumaguete
DAY 6: Oslob and Sumilon Island
DAY 7: Cabilao Island
DAY 8: Disembarkation
Visayas North (Dumaguete – Dumaguete)
DAY 1: Embarkation
DAY 2: Pamilacan Island
DAY 3: Anda Bohol
DAY 4: Sogod Bay
DAY 5: Kimud Shoal and Gato Island
DAY 6: Malapascua Island
DAY 7: Capitancillo Islet
DAY 8: Disembarkation
Tubbataha Reef (Puerto Princesa – Puerto Princesa)
Tubbataha Reef is located in the Sulu Sea, at the center of the Coral Triangle between Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Rarely visited by tourists due to its location and its status as a marine preserve, Tubbataha is made up of two reefs, simply referred to as the North and South Reefs. The North and South Reefs both enclose a sandy lagoon. On the southern tip is an islet with a lighthouse. This is used as a rookery for birds and is frequented by turtles.
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Parks are quite simply one of Asia’s best diving spots and on the ‘wish list’ for most avid divers; it is home to no less than 573 species of fish, 373 species of corals, 11 species of sharks, 12 species of dolphins and whales, nestling hawksbill and green sea turtle.
Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival Day
- Arrive in Puerto Princesa, Philippines, and board Atlantis Azores.
Day 2: Northern Tip Of North Atoll
- Fissures and crevices lead into it where nurse and whitetip reef sharks can be found resting during the day. Small manta rays, stingrays, and spotted eagle rays, together with numerous turtles have all been spotted. The wall has huge Gorgonian fan corals, soft corals, and barrel sponges. Blacktip, whitetip, and grey reef sharks can normally be seen patrolling here in numbers.
Day 3: Southern End Of North Atoll
- Malayan, Wallstreet, and Amos Rock are the pick of the dive sites. Fans and macro will enjoy these sites with Denise’s pygmy seahorses clinging to the sea fans. See scorpion fish, moray eels, and even ghost pipefish. Don’t worry pelagic fans, you can still see huge dogtooth tuna, sharks, and Spanish mackerel in the blue.
Day 4: Northern Tip Of South Atoll
- Highlights include Black Rock, T Wreck, and Eiger Wall. You will lose count of the number of green and hawksbill turtles in the area. Look out for marble stingrays in the sand. Eagle rays often cruise by and expect to see large grouper and giant trevally.
Day 5: Southern End Of South Atoll
- Also known as “The Lighthouse” with impressive views over Tubbataha Reef. Here, there are small reef fish, corals, sponges, and anemones with a variety of anemonefish species living in symbiosis.
Day 6: Southern End of North Atoll
- The dive starts on a gentle slope that is covered in superb unmolested corals and ends with a wall covered with dramatic Gorgonian fans where sharp-eyed divers can often spot pygmy seahorses. If there’s current, you’ll come across a wide variety of large fish, including narrow-barred Spanish mackerel, giant trevally, red snapper, Napoleon wrasse, and giant & Malabar groupers. You’re certain to see whitetip and grey reef sharks. Look out for manta rays, spotted eagle rays, and both green & hawksbill turtles closer to the surface. Other fish that can be seen include rainbow runners, African pompano, angelfish, leaf scorpionfish, fire dartfish, and, down deeper, decorated dartfish.
Day 7: Jessie Beazley Reef
- Return to the starting point on your trip to see fissures and crevices leading into it where a nurse and whitetip reef sharks can be found resting during the day. Small manta rays, stingrays, and spotted eagle rays, together with numerous turtles have all been seen. The wall has huge Gorgonian fan corals, soft corals, and barrel sponges. Blacktip, whitetip, and grey reef sharks can normally be seen patrolling here in numbers.
Day 8: Disembarkation
- Disembark Atlantis Azores in Puerto Princesa, Philippines.
(*) The itinerary description was provided by the boat operator.
Please note that divers who cannot document training or experience below 18m/60ft or night diving may not be allowed on these dives. Tubbataha diving is typically deep (24m/80ft to 30m/100ft) multi-level wall dives and moderate to strong currents are not unusual. Typical dive time is approximately 50-60 minutes with a maximum depth of 100 feet (30m). As a general policy, open-water divers will only be allowed on dives below 60 feet (18m) or night dives if they can show proof of previous experience and exhibit adequate in-water skills.
Visayas North (Cebu – Cebu)
The Visayas are one of the three island groups in the Philippines, featuring incredible macro, stunning walls, whale sharks, and thresher sharks. This itinerary is hard to beat if you want a wide variety of locations in a week. Easy cruises each evening will take you from one great dive site to another.
Itinerary Sample
Day 1:
- Guests will board the boat in the evening, and it will depart sometime after midnight to reach the first dive site early morning.
Day 2 – 6:
- 2-3 dives per day, 1 night dive if possible.
Day 7:
- Guests will disembark in the morning.
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We are a family operation managing private custom boat tours in the beautiful Palawan area, and are happy to help travelers with their plans through the country, having traveled a lot of it ourselves and planning to visit it all.