Puerto Galera & Dumaguete Diving

Trip Highlights

Puerto Galera peninsula, Sabang reefs, Dumaguete coastal reefs, Apo Island

More Details

By combining distinct dive destinations, we create an unforgettable scuba diving vacation where all you have to do, is show up ready to dive. You’ll get the whole diving style package including an interesting mix of macro highlights, colorful reefs, intriguing muck, wreck diving and snorkeling with whale sharks*.

Puerto Galera – biodiversity

The Philippines is home to the most biologically diverse waters on Earth and the Verde Island Passage – the narrow body of water separating Luzon and Mindoro islands – is a biodiversity hotspot. El Galleon Resort is located right in front of the Passage at the end of the peninsula, which is a collection of bays, islands and reef that offers one of the best dive spots in the world.

Puerto Galera  is Spanish for ‘port of the galleons’ and it is also a historic site. Its deep natural harbour, sheltered on all sides, was a favoured anchorage well before the Spanish arrived in 1572. In addition, it was the trade corridor of the Manila-Acapulco galleons, and was an ancient port where Chinese traders bartered Ming vases for native gold since prehistory.

Dumaguete – muck and reef diving

Dumaguete offers a nice mix of allures to compliment the journey. A great selection of resorts, a nice size town, lots of critters and fantastic opportunities for underwater photographers to get that amazing wide-angle shot.

Dumaguete is located on the island of Negros, adjacent to Cebu Island, and is a quick and inexpensive 1 hour flight from the capital city of Manila, your gateway to the Philippines. Most resorts and dive sites lie a few miles south of the city along the coast in an area called Dauin, and many have great house reefs, such as Atlantis Resort for example.

These dives sites are generally sandy bottomed, and have good visibility, incredible small critters and juvenile fish. Here, you’ll find mostly muck diving.

This Independent Journey also features a day trip to Apo Island, that boasts one of the best reef dives in the Philippines. Apo Island diving is quite distinct from that of the main island dive sites. Chapel Point, Cogon and The Sanctuary are popular sites and for good reason.  They have gorgeous steep walls with extremely healthy hard coral, hidden moray eels,  and shrimp gobies hiding in the sand, as well as blue ribbon eels, nudibranchs, clownfish and sea snakes. At Cogon, there is sometimes a massive school of Jacks that will let you enter it for a very unique experience (and exceptional photo!). There are also lots of Anthias, as well as juvenile damsel fish. The visibility at Apo is very nice, more than 100 feet (30 meters) in most spots and it is known as the place in Dumaguete to go to see big schools of fish, really healthy hard coral walls and a few really fascinating critters. If you are a wide angle shooter, this is the place for you.

*The itinerary we propose here includes two of the best diving destinations, but none of these has large animals. The only exception is whale shark in Oslob, Cebu Island, a short boat trip from Dumaguete. Please inquire if interested.

What is Included

• 5 nights’ accommodation at El Galleon Dive Resort in a Seaview Double room
• 7 nights’ accommodation at Atlantis Dumaguete in a Deluxe Room
• All meals and snacks
• Domestic return airfare Manila-Dumaguete
• All required transfers
• Unlimited boat diving (up to 4 dives a day excluding night dives)
• 1 day trip to Apo Island from Atlantis Resort
• Unlimited internet access

What Else You Need to Know

*Alternate resort options include Atlantis Puerto Galera, Atmosphere Resort, Dive Solana and Pura Vida Resort among many others. Also, we represent the Atlantis Azores and Philippine Siren liveaboards.

Not included:

• International airfare
• Marine Park fees
• Rental equipment and nitrox fills
• Dive and travel insurance
• Additional day trips
• Meals other than specified
• Gratuities and personal purchases

Rates are subject to change without notice. Please inquire about assistance with airfare. A liability waiver form will be required to sign, either prior to departure, or on location. A valid dive certification card issued by an internationally recognized scuba diving association needs to be presented on location.

Non Divers

From $2500 CAD per person