So, as I write this, we’ve just returned from the Philippines after completing this exact same trip. And my friends, to sum it up in one word: WOW! Actually, let’s go with AMAZING! This was truly one of the best trips I’ve ever had, and if you know me, that’s saying something!

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The diving was absolutely spectacular. The variety of marine life was beyond anything I could have hoped for. We saw everything—from the best macro life I’ve ever encountered to huge schools of fish in every shape and color. The reefs were pristine, with vibrant, healthy coral. We encountered exotic creatures like the Wonderpus, Blue Ring Octopus, Mandarin Fish, and Harlequin Shrimp, just to name a few. There were turtles everywhere (I’m not kidding… there were so many turtles, I got tired of taking pictures of them)! Frogfish and seahorses were common, and the coral species were so numerous it was impossible to count them all. We dove into clouds of sardines, swimming together in massive schools. We also saw huge schools of Jacks and Barracuda, Thresher Sharks, and, oh yeah, Whale Sharks! On our whale shark dive, we had up to 12 of them surrounding us at once! That dive was hands down one of the best experiences I’ve ever had underwater.

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As if the diving wasn’t enough, we had amazing weather the entire trip. October in the Philippines is truly pleasant—air temperatures were comfortable, and water temps hovered around 84°F. I did 41 dives, and the visibility was crystal clear, with no thermoclines to spoil the experience.

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To top it all off, the Atlantis Philippines resort, liveaboard, and staff were fantastic. This trip ran smoother than I could have ever hoped for. From the moment they picked us up at the airport until the day they dropped us off, the staff worked tirelessly to ensure we were well taken care of. Trust me, they’ll go the extra mile to accommodate your personal needs, whatever they may be. The resort in Dumaguete was lovely, with modern, clean, and comfortable rooms. The Atlantis Azores liveaboard was outstanding, and the crew was one of the best I’ve ever worked with. The food? Absolutely fabulous. No buffets here—each meal was made to order with unique daily menus using the highest quality ingredients.

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Needless to say, we wouldn’t be offering this trip again if I wasn’t completely satisfied with the experience Atlantis Philippines has to offer. I can wholeheartedly say this was a spectacular trip from start to finish. It was a roller coaster of excitement, filled with the anticipation of what we were going to see next. And I have complete confidence that the staff at Atlantis Philippines will deliver a wonderful, relaxing, and adventurous vacation.

Here’s the plan for our upcoming adventure:

Upon arrival in Manila, we will take a domestic flight south to the
Atlantis Resort in Dumaguete. We will spend 5 days/4 nights here.
Here we can unwind from our long journey and basically do whatever
you would like to do. The beachfront resort is beautiful. And the dive
sites are only a short boat ride from the resort. Click here to see the
resort and its amenities:

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Atlantis Dumaguete Resort - Atlantis Dive Resorts and Liveaboard Philippines (atlantishotel.com)
 

During our stay at the resort, we’ll have the option to join a special all-day dive trip to the world-famous Apo Island. Apo Island is a marine protected area and home to over 300 species of coral and fish! It’s about a 45-minute boat ride on a traditional outrigger Bangka. We’ll enjoy two dives, a BBQ lunch on the boat, and a third dive before heading back to the resort for either a night dive or a Mandarin Fish sunset dive.

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After our stay at the resort, we’ll board the Atlantis Azores for a special 10-day/9-night itinerary through the Malapascua and Cebu regions in the Visayan Sea. And let me tell you—this itinerary is packed! We’ll be diving with Thresher Sharks, Whale Sharks, and so much more!

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•  Day 1: EMBARKATION 5pm AT ATLANTIS DUMAGUETE 

• Day 2: OSLOB AND SUMILON (whale sharks and reef) 

• Day 3: MOALBOAL AND PESCADOR ISLAND (sardines and incredible rock formation)

• DAY 4 & 5: GATO ISLAND, MONAD SHOAL & MALAPASCUA (Threshers and white tips, incredible caverns, and rock formation) 

• DAY 6: MONAD SHOAL & CALANGGAMAN ISLAND OR CABILAO (amazing walls and rock formation)

• DAY 7: BALICASAG (marine reserve with excellent wall, macro, and fish life)

• DAY 8: PANGLAO (half day land tour option to visit Chocolate Hills, Tarsier, ButterflyFarm and Cave at additional cost)

• DAY 9: APO ISLAND OR SIQUIJOR (both walls with excellent corals)

• DAY 10: DISEMBARKATION 8AM at Dumaguete resort  

Click here for a full description of this exciting itinerary

Atlantis Azores Malapascua – Cebu Trip - Atlantis Dive Resorts and Liveaboard Philippines (atlantishotel.com)
 

With that said, this trip easily sold out for the 2024 trip, and I have no doubt we will do the same for the 2028 edition. But my friends, this is a limited availabilitytrip. We can only take 14 lucky people so don’t delay…secure your spot today!