Located in the heart of Anilao, the Crystal Blue Resort offers warm Filipino hospitality right on the doorstep of the Arthurs Rock Marine Sanctuary. It nestles in a tropical setting and offers stunning views of Balayan Bay, making it an ideal destination for an Anilao scuba diving vacation.

Anilao is renowned for its macro life and considered a Mecca for underwater photographers, with the Crystal Blue Resort offering a well-equipped camera room and professional photography guides. Enjoy three daily dives (and optional night dives), as well as the opportunity to explore the stunning surrounding area by kayak or on an island-hopping day trip.

Accomodations

There are 16 rooms to select from at this Anilao dive resort, all of which scatter along the hillside and offer stunning views of the bay and nightly sunsets. All come with private bathrooms, dining tables and air conditioning.

Family Villa Featuring two separate rooms with queen-size beds, the Family Villa is ideal for two couples traveling together or parents on an Anilao dive vacation with their kids. It is equipped with a family area, central table and chairs, as well as its own refrigerator.

Superior Rooms Superior Rooms come with two queen-size beds and a closet, as well as a balcony where you can relax after an exciting day diving.

Deluxe Rooms Deluxe Rooms come with either one queen-size bed or two single beds, as well as a balcony or porch.

Amenities

The main social area of the Crystal Blue Resort is the open-air dining room and cantina of Gil’s Place, which is equipped with a karaoke machine and can also double as a presentation area. There is complimentary Wi-Fi available in the restaurant and lounge area, although guests should keep in mind that it can be unreliable and rarely strong enough to upload image files.  Treat yourself with a rejuvenating massage at The Spa at Crystal Blue Resort, which specializes in deep tissue and relaxation treatments that will help you to unwind. The Spa is flexible with scheduling to work around your daily dive commitments or masseuses can be booked in the evenings.

Food & Dinning

With magnificent views of Balayan Bay, Gil’s Place offers an idyllic setting for open-air dining and is open daily at 6:30 am. Begin the day with freshly brewed coffee, tropical fruits and a delicious buffet of both hot and cold breakfast items to prepare you for the day’s dives.

Both lunches and dinners are served buffet style, with the chef’s specialties being seafood, oriental and Filipino cuisine. Two or three different choices are available at all meal times, together with vegetarian and vegan options. Special dietary restrictions can also be accommodated with prior notification at this Anilao dive resort.

Room service is also available every day between 7 am and 9 pm while coffee, tea and water are on offer around the clock in the dining room.

If you want to grab a post-dive drink or snack, head to the F-Stop Bar, which is located just across from the camera room. It offers tropical fruit smoothies, beers and cocktails while being just steps away from the sunset viewing deck.

Diving

Conveniently located right in front of Arthur’s Rock Marine Sanctuary, the Crystal Blue Resort is perfectly positioned for an Anilao scuba diving vacation. Dive boats leave every morning for two dives and a single-tank afternoon dive is offered after lunch while there is an optional night dive in the evenings.

Most of the diving in Anilao is to 70 feet (21 meters) or less and the majority of dive sights are within a few minutes boat ride from the resort. Crystal Blue Resort uses dual outrigger-style Banca boats that are unique to the Philippines and offer plenty of space for divers and their equipment. Anilao experiences some of the coolest water temperatures in the Philippines, which can drop to around 80-76°F (26-24°C) during the cool-dry season that extends from January to March. This season is one of the best if you’re after uncrowded diving and relatively good visibility, with more divers arriving during the hot-dry season from mid-March to May. The wet season from June to September brings with it the possibility of storms that can affect the visibility while the dry season that follows from October to December is considered optimal for diving.  Some divers will be comfortable in a 3mm wetsuit while others may prefer the warmth of a 5mm, particularly during the cool-dry season.

Crystal Blue’s dive locker and stone dive deck overlook the waters of Balayan Bay and are covered to protect you and your gear from the tropical sun. There’s a hanging rack system to help dry your gear before you fly and large rinse tanks and showers for freshening up. Both regular air and Nitrox are available, together with a full line of branded rental scuba gear that’s been selected for its reliability. Crystal Blue Resort’s dive center also boasts a custom-built camera room that features 25 double-wide camera bays, four large video camera bays and dual-socket 220V power points for charging. There’s a computer and downloading station for guests to use, as well as plenty of storage space for camera cases.

Other Activities

While scuba diving and snorkeling are a highlight of any visit to Anilao, the Crystal Blue Resort also offers a number of activities for non-divers. Kayaks are available to explore the coastline at your leisure or you can slowly glide over the shallow coral heads on the house reef.

Spend a day island-hopping to find paradisiacal beaches where you can enjoy a gourmet picnic or embark on a hike into the nearby hills to soak up the sweeping views of Batangas and Balayan Bay.

Learn more about diving in the Philippines here.