Atlantis Azores Bohol Trip

The Visayas are one of the three island groups in the Philippines; enjoy six fabulous days diving from the Atlantis Azores around one of the most beautiful and bio-diverse regions in Asia. Easy cruises each evening will take you from one great dive site to another.

With easy transfers, consider a combo trip with Atlantis Dumaguete for a multiple week first class dive vacation at a very reasonable investment.

Dive Day Schedule

• DAY 1 & 2: MOALBOAL – PESCADOR ISLAND
• DAY 3: OSLOB AND SUMILON ISLAND
• DAY 4: BALICASAG ISLAND
• DAY 5: BALICASAG ISLAND AND/OR PANGLAO ISLAND OR LAND TOUR
• DAY 6: HALF A DAY DIVING IN EITHER APO ISLAND OR SIQUIJOR
• DAY 7: DISEMBARKATION 8AM

DAY 1 & 2: MOALBOAL – PESCADOR ISLAND

Rated as one of the Philippines top dive sites for many years this small island is just a couple of miles due west of Moalboal. The exhilarating scene is set by a small plateau that surrounds the island before it drops vertically into the abyss. The wall is literally teeming with life; frog fish, stonefish, barracuda and turtles are common but the real draw is the sardine run and a chance of a thresher!

DAY 3: OSLOB AND SUMILON ISLAND

We spend the 3rd day snorkeling with Whale Sharks at Oslob. The rest of the day will be spent diving around tranquil Sumilon Island, surrounded by crystal clear waters and pristine white sandy beaches. Look out for… exquisite coral gardens and drop-offs. ‘Might sees’ in this area include manta rays and sting rays, barracudas, sea turtles and snakes and very occasionally whale sharks and hammerheads.

DAY 4: BALICASAG ISLAND

Balicasag is a flat island four kilometers southwest of the Duljo Point; the sandy coralline beach is a site to behold. Look out for… jacks, mackerel and barracudas often seen in abundance as well as large groupers, napoleon wrasses and snappers hiding in the over hangs of the dramatic multi-hundred foot vertical walls. Look out for… turtles, whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, eagle & manta rays, schooling barracuda and trevally, frog fish, ghost pipe fish, pygmy and thorny seahorses, plus many different species of nudibranch, among dramatic walls and reefs.

DAY 5: BALICASAG ISLAND AND/OR PANGLAO ISLAND OR LAND TOUR

Panglao Island – Look out for… turtles, whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, eagle & manta rays, schooling barracuda and trevally, frog fish, ghost pipe fish, pygmy and thorny seahorses, plus many different species of nudibranch, among dramatic walls and reefs.

Land tour options: Chocolate Hills or Loboc River Tour. A visit to the Tarsiers – the world smallest primate on both tours.

DAY 6: HALF A DAY DIVING IN EITHER APO ISLAND OR SIQUIJOR

Apo Island is one of the world’s best known community organized marine sanctuaries. The island is home to over 650 documented species of fish and estimated to have over 400 species of corals.

Siquijor is called Isla del Fuego or the “Island of Fire” and look out for… superb hard and soft corals, fusiliers, many nudibranchs, clown fish, parrot fish, schools of juvenile barracuda and razor fish. Super pristine walls abound!

DAY 7: DISEMBARKATION 8AM

Atlantis Azores Tubbataha Trip

Tubbataha is located in the Sulu Sea, at the center of the Coral Triangle between Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Rarely visited 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 Park 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 turtles.

Dive Day Schedule

• Day 1: NORTHERN TIP OF NORTH ATOLL
• Day 2: SOUTHERN END OF NORTH ATOLL
• DAY 3: NORTHERN TIP OF SOUTH ATOLL
• DAY 4: SOUTHERN END OF SOUTH ATOLL
• DAY 5: SOUTHEAST OF NORTH ATOLL
• DAY 6: JESSIE BEAZLEY REEF

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.

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 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.

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.

Southern End of South Atoll

This area is known for its lighthouse and is home to famous divesites Delsan Wreck and Black Rock. Hammerheads are the most prized sighting here as well as occasional whale sharks passing by. Look out for guitar sharks in the shallows.

Jessie Beazley Reef

The charter finishes with a couple of dives at Jessie Beazley Reef. You can see schools of bumphead parrotfish munching on the corals. Watch out for inquisitive napoleon wrasse. The shallow reefs are full of colorful tropical fish like the regal angelfish and titan triggerfish.

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 groupers.

You’re almost certain to see whitetip and grey reef sharks. Look out for manta rays, spotted eagle rays and both green and hawksbill turtles closer to the surface. Other fish that can be seen include rainbow runners, african pompano, angel fish, leaf scorpion fish, fire dart fish and down deeper, decorated dart fish.

Atlantis Azores Malapascua - Cebu Trip

Our exciting Malapascua – Cebu charter offers some of the best diving in the Philippines, including Sumilon Island, Pescador Island & Malapascua’s Gato Island, home of a sea crate protected breeding sanctuary. This charter includes another Malapascua favorite, Monad Shoal, known for frequent sightings of thresher sharks as well as manta rays. In addition to these pelagic species, the Malapascua area offers a wide variety of critter diving not to mention abundant reefs and wall diving. Leaving Malapascua, we head to Calanggaman Island, one of Philippines most beautiful islands. Next we head to Bohol for again a wide variety of reef, wall & critter diving as well as some land tour opportunities for those so inclined. With the dramatic walls of Balicasag and coral diversity of Apo Island, this trip has it all!

This itinerary is hard to beat if you want a wide variety of locations as well as incredible diving.

Dive Day Schedule

• Day 1: OSLOB AND SUMILON
• Day 2: MOALBOAL
• DAY 3: PESCADOR ISLAND
• DAY 4 & 5: GATO ISLAND, MONAD SHOAL & MALAPASCUA
• DAY 6: MONAD SHOAL & CALANGGAMAN ISLAND
• DAY 7: BALICASAG
• DAY 8: PANGLAO
• DAY 9: APO ISLAND/ SIQUIJOR
• DAY 10: HALF DAY DIVING DAUIN
• DAY 11: DISEMBARKATION 8AM

Day 1: Oslob & Sumilon

We begin our journey snorkeling Oslob with the gentle giants, the Whale Sharks. We then spend the rest of the day diving around tranquil Sumilon Island, surrounded by crystal clear waters and pristine white sandy beaches. Look out for… exquisite coral gardens and drop-offs. ‘Might sees’ in this area include manta rays and sting rays, barracudas, sea turtles and snakes and very occasionally whale sharks and hammerheads.

Day 2: Moalboal

Impressive drop-offs and bottomless walls, divers enjoy the beautiful hard and soft corals. Look out for…. tropical reef fish, nudibranchs, turtles, and barracudas.

Day 3: Pescador Island

Rated as one of the Philippines top dive sites for many years this small island is just a couple of miles due west of Moalboal. The exhilarating scene is set by a small plateau that surrounds the island before it drops vertically into the abyss. The wall is literally teeming with life; frog fish, stonefish, barracuda and turtles are common but the real draw is the sardine run and a chance of a thresher! After diving, we cruise to Malapascua.

Day 4 & 5: Gato Island, Monad Shoal & Malapascua

A sanctuary and protected breeding location for the beautiful sea krait (sea snake) with its resident whitetip sharks, Gato is a great introduction to Malapascua and one of the Philippine’s most talked about dive locations. The island is alive with nudibranchs, harlequin ghost pipefish and pygmy seahorses; photographers will find it hard to choose between macro or wide angle. Malapascua’s reputation has grown due to the frequent close up encounters with thresher sharks & manta rays at Monad Shoal. These mesmerizing creatures are a highlight to any trip. Rather than having a pre-dawn start from area resorts, Azores will be parked right on top as you enjoy a morning coffee.

Day 6: Monad Shoal & Calanggaman Island

The perfect paradise island with its white beaches blue waters, Calanggaman offers beautiful wall diving with an abundance of small creatures, and the occasional rays and sharks. This is an excellent opportunity for a beach day, in which we offer a beach BBQ lunch.

Day 7: Balicasag

A flat island four kilometers southwest of the Duljo Point; the sandy coralline beach is a site to behold. Look out for… jacks, mackerel and barracudas often seen in abundance as well as large groupers, napoleon wrasses and snappers hiding in the over hangs of the dramatic multi-hundred foot vertical walls. Look out for… turtles, whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, eagle & manta rays, schooling barracuda and trevally, frog fish, ghost pipe fish, pygmy and thorny seahorses, plus many different species of nudibranch, among dramatic walls and reefs.

Day 8: Panglao/Visit Bohol Chocolate Hills

Look out for turtles, barracuda and trevally, frogfish, ghost pipefish, pygmy and thorny seahorses, plus many different species of nudibranch along the reef. After two morning dives a land excursion to Bohol’s renowned Chocolate Hills. They look like giant mole hills covered with grass, turning to magnificent chocolate brown at the end of the dry season. We also visit the Tarsiers, the world’s smallest primate, and a unique butterfly farm. You can finish by walking down Alona Beach, famous for its white coral sand.

Day 9: Either Apo Island/Siquijor

We will dive either Apo Island or Siquijor based on conditions. Apo Island is one of the world’s best known community-organized marine sanctuaries. The island is home to over 650 documented species of fish and estimated to have over 400 species of corals.

Siquijor is called Isla del Fuego or the “Island of Fire” and look out for… superb hard and soft corals, fusiliers, many nudibranchs, clown fish, parrot fish, schools of juvenile barracuda and razor fish. Super pristine walls abound!

Day 10: Half Day Diving Dauin

The capital of Philippines critter diving, on the black sandy slopes of Dauin one may cite Flamboyant Cuttlefish, Frog Fish, Ornate Ghost Pipefish, Pygmy Seahorses, Octopus and more!

Day 11: Disembarkation 8AM

Atlantis Azores Apo Reef & Wrecks of Coron Trip

Atlantis Azores latest exciting itinerary is to the sunken World War II wrecks of Coron Bay via Apo Reef. A typical charter starts with two days of exploring the 34 mile long reef system of Apo Reef, often referred to by many as a “mini-Tubbataha”.

Twenty four Japanese ships were sunk in Coron Bay on September 24, 1944 by the US Navy; you will have an opportunity to dive the best of these during our time there taking in both the unique history of the area and the amazing amount of fish and coral life that now cover the wrecks.

Dive Day Schedule

• Day 1 & 2 – Apo Reef
• Day 3 & 4 – Coron Wrecks
• DAY 5 – Nanshin Maru & Dimipac Island
• DAY 6 – Kyokuszan Maru

Day 1 & 2 – Apo Reef and Tara Islands

The UNESCO heritage site of Apo Reef will be our destination for the first day. Shark Ridge is a great place to see white tip and black tip reef sharks. Manta rays are sometimes spotted here as well as hawksbill turtles and bumphead parrot fish. Binangaan Drop Off is another fantastic location with huge schools of snappers and tuna. Look out for spotted eagle rays in the blue as well as other pelagic species. On the end of our second day, we’ll offer an optional visit to Coron’s hot springs.

Day 3 & 4 – Coron Wrecks

Coron is a mecca for wreck divers. We begin to explore the Japanese ships wrecks from Second World War, including the Okikawa Maru, a 160 meter long ship which was sunk by a direct hit on the bow area. We also dive the Olympia Maru, a massive 120 meter vessel , the East Tangat Gunboat, a shallow dive on this 140 meter long submarine hunter that is ideal for exploration. The two main boilers are a big attraction where hard coral growth is extensive, and plenty scorpion fish on the decks. We also explore the Akitsusima, one of Coron’s most famous dives a wreck of the sea plane tender, and Irako, a refrigeration ship for the Japanese Imperial Navy.

Day 5 – Nanshin Maru Dimipac Island

Black Island Wreck, or Nanshin Maru, a small tanker which was coverter to take fuels (like diesel, etc.); she is approximately 50 meters long sitting upright on a sandy bottom. We then dive Dimipac Island, offering relaxed diving, with sandy slopes on which you may meet turtles, dendritic jawfish, leaf scorpionfish, ribbon eel and who knows, may be a dugong! The water around the island is relatively warm, with very little current, offering heavenly photo opportunities!

Day 6 – Kyokuszan Maru

We open our 6th day with two deep morning dives at Kyokuszan in Maricaban Bay off the island of Busuanga Island, Coron. Kyokuzan was an auxiliary supply ship of the Japanese Royal Navy sunken by a US carrier-based aircraft. She is approximately 140 meters long, with beautiful corals grown over car parts, tires and the body of the ship. We then cruise back to Puerto Galera.

Coron – Wrecks of Okikawa Maru & Olympia Maru

Coron is our destination as we begin to explore the Japanese shipwrecks from World War II.

The largest of the shipwrecks is the Okikawa Maru, this ship is 160 meters. Another popular dive is on the Olympia Maru. Check out the cargo holds here and enjoy the schools of batfish and fusiliers that engulf divers.

Coron – Wrecks of Akitsusima & Irako

The wreck of the sea plane tender Akitsusima is the highlight of the wreck diving in Coron. This ship took a direct hit on the stern and sunk immediately. At the stern of the ship you can still see the gears of the crane that use to drop the sea planes into the water. The Irako is another awe-inspiring wreck. Explore the galley area where pots and pans are still visible. This 147 meter long vessel was a refrigeration ship for the Japanese Imperial Navy before she was sunk in September 1944.

Coron – Wrecks of Japanese Freighter & East Tangat Gunboat

Our second day of wreck exploration typically begins with the Japaneses freighter, another 140 meter long vessel that is ideal for exploration. The two main boilers are a big attraction. Hard coral growth is extensive and look out for scorpion fish on the decks. East Tangat Gunboat is also a great attraction; this submarine hunter is very shallow and ideal for divers of any experience.