Tubbataha - S/Y Philippine Siren
6 & 13 night trips
6 night Tubbataha Departs / Returns: Puerto Princesa
13 night transit trip Departs / Returns: Puerto Princesa
- Mactan or v.v.
Trip highlights*:
• North Atoll
• South Atoll
• Cabilao (13 night trip only)
• Balicasag (13 night trip only)
• Apo Island (13 night trip only)
• Dauin (13 night trip only)
The Philippines comprise over 7,000 islands, surrounded by deep blue seas that contain some of the richest marine life on Earth. Thought by many to be the apex of the coral triangle, diving in the Philippines offers you a wide variety of marine environments to choose from. Dives on steep walls and offshore pinnacles, critter hunting in coastal reefs, the sardine run, and the opportunity to get up close to the world's largest fish - the Whale Shark. The Philippines will whet the appetite of even the most seasoned diver. Join us in Tubbataha, Visayas - Cebu, Cabilao, Balicasag, Apo, Negros, Pescador & Malapascua.
Tubbataha Dive sites
DELSAN WRECK - SOUTH ATOLL
One of the best dive sites in Tubbataha with big schools of big-eyed trevally, yellowtail barracuda, great barracuda, dogtooth tuna, giant trevally together with grey reef sharks and white tip reef sharks.
BLACK ROCK - SOUTH ATOLL
There is so much to explore at this dive site that we will often spend the whole day diving here. Schools of surgeon fish, rainbow runners and sweetlips are a common sight. White tip and nurse sharks are found resting under huge table corals and scribbled filefish, box fish and leaf fish add to the colour and spectacle of the stunning reefs; a great site for spotting spiny lobster too!
WASHING MACHINE - NORTH ATOL
All manner of colourful reef fish form schools here. From big-eye jacks to tiny orange & purple anthias all are creating a welcoming atmosphere. Spot the tiny creatures including cowries wedge themselves amidst the leather corals. It is a great site for turtles, and whale sharks have also been spotted here.
NORTH EAST WALL - NORTH ATOLL
Adorned with stunning sea fans and colourful soft corals, North East wall is super for wide-angle photography. Schools of bannerfish hove in the blue, turtles bimble along the wall and from the sandy bed garden eels and gobies emerge.
MALAYAN WRECK, NORTH ATOLL
This reef is the habitat for different trevallies, barracudas, bumphead parrotfish, juvenile grey reef sharks with the usual suspects darting around. Marbled stingrays can sometimes hang out here.
13 night transfer cruises
On our twice yearly 13 night transfer cruises you will also get the chance to dive the following sites, along with many of the sites in our Visayas itinerary.
GINAMA-AN, NEGROS
A typical dark sand dive with small out-croppings in which to hunt for octopus, frog fish and scorpion fish, with the occasional turtle cruising by. Ceres provides a mix of marine life from schools of snapper, banner fish and fusiliers to tiny bubble coral shrimp and squat lobsters. An assortment of anemone fish can be seen including spine cheek and skunk varieties. Demon stingers and smashing mantis shrimp can be seen scurrying along the bottom and robust ghost pipefish can be spotted bobbing about.
LIGHTHOUSE - CABILAO
The shallow sloping reef with sea grass beds is the place to observe the numerous turtles as they feed on the grasses and soft corals. Also common here are spotted and ribbon tail stingrays, the reef is swarmed with butterfly, angel and banner fish – all happily feeding away. A gentle dive after the previous exhilarations.
TALISAY TREE, CABILAO
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.
SHARK AIRPORT
Many white tip reef sharks resting at the shallow plateau form a typical sighting; hence the name Shark Airport. Dog tooth tuna, schools of trevally, marble rays, eagle rays, nurse sharks and batfish all add drama to the stunning reef. Turtles and moray eels are a common sight but divers should watch out for the triggerfish.
CAGAYANCILLO
This scarcely dived destination with its healthy hard and soft corals along with massive sea fans and plenty reef fish is a perfect pit stop in our long journey.