Dumaguete + Apo Island, Philippines

  • Departure: 11th Feb 2010 (Thu)
  • Return: 18th Feb 2010 (Thu)

The Southern City of Dumaguete, in the Philippines, Negros Oriental, is the capital, principal seaport, and largest city of the province. This laid back university town is nicknamed The City of Gentle People. A person from Dumaguete is called a "Dumagueteño".

Dumaguete City is one of the top tourist destinations in the country, attracting both divers and nature-lovers alike. Divers travel far and wide to explore and photograph the beautiful dive sites of this pristine paradise. The marine sanctuary of Apo Island, about 45mins boat ride away, is constantly rated among the top 10 dive destinations in the world. That isolated isle alone is worth a visit to the Philippines. There are also a number of other stunning marine reserves up and down the coastline from Dumaguete.

Diving Site Introduction

VIP HOUSE REEF (Shore entry, Maximum depth: 25 meters)

One of the first artificial house reefs in Negros Oriental, made up of tires. It’s been there for almost 10 years and corals are starting to grow become well established. On the slopes down to 24 meters you have the chance to see frogfish, ribbon eels, and numerous varieties of nudibranchs, lionfish, stingrays, mantis shrimp, and comet fish. The house reef is famous for afternoon dives when sunlight falls and may be treated to one of nature’s gaudiest shows as the colourful mandarinfish come out to mate.

DOLPHIN POINT (Depth: 5 - 20 meters)

A 5 min boat ride, the reef gently slopes down to 20 meters onto a sandy bottom towards open sea. The reef is famous with macro divers, seeing nudibranchs, frogfish, shrimps, crabs, barramundi cod, double ended pipe fish and juvenile barracuda.

DAUIN (wreck) and sanctuary (Depth: 4 - 24 meters)

Just 8mins from the resort, Macro Heaven offers splendid muck diving on shallow sand. At 24 meters a Toyota pickup that has been home for 10 years to whiskered pipe fish, seahorse, sepia cuttlefish, harlequin ghost pipefish, robust ghost pipefish, nudibranchs, shrimps, banded pipefish and much, much more...

MASAPLOD (Depth: 5 - 18 meters)

12mins from the resort, this reef consists of hard corals sloping gently down from 5 meters to 18 meters. Explore from there and you’ll see schools of yellow tail snapper, schools of jacks, stingrays, huge snapper, and garden eels. You also may be fortunate enough to meet the local big turtle.

DOCOMI (Depth: 5 - 25 meters)

About 15 minutes from the resort. One of the best dive site’s around the Dauin area. It is an old shipping pier, so now we can only dive at this site if there is no boat docking at the pier. Soft corals and gorgonian corals mostly you can be found on the pillars, with the bottom more on the macro from spiny devilfish, nudibranchs, harlequin ghost pipefish, robust ghost pipefish, juv. batfish, flamboyant cuttlefish and many more...

APO ISLAND

The highlight of the Visayas, this small volcanic Island has a unique protected reef with pristine coral gardens and abundant reef fish. The marine reserve began as a project of Silliman University in 1985. This is also the place of the famous Clownfish-City, a rare phenomenon where hundreds of clownfish live together. The sanctuary and the house reef of Apo Island are well known for the enormous variety of hard and soft corals. For experienced drift divers the island offers the thrill of Coconut Point and Mamsa Point.

APO ISLAND: COCONUT POINT (Depth: 5 - 30 meters)

Known as the 'washing machine', Coconut Point is subject to very strong currents and can be a challenging drift dive with both up and down currents! At slack tide and during certain phases of the moon this site is suitable for novice divers, but otherwise it is strictly for advanced divers with drift diving experience. A coral covered sloping reef gives way to a steep wall in parts covered in interesting rock formations. At one point there is a sand channel running between two rock cliffs which provides shelter from the current and is an excellent place to sit and watch the show! Schools of big jacks, turtles, snapper, barracuda and more...

APO ISLAND: MAMSA POINT (Depth: 7 - 30 meters)

Mamsa is the local word for jack fish and this is an excellent place to see big schools of jacks. You can swim with them, and if you are really lucky you might see pelagics, like tuna, that are hunting them! This sloping reef and steep wall are covered in hard and soft corals and sponges as well as other marine life species! Mamsa, is famous for its strong currents but this site is suitable for all levels. Big grouper, snapper, jacks, turtle and many more...

Schedule and Program

  • Day 1 - 11 Feb Thu, Departure
    Meet together and check in at PVG airport around 22:00pm.
  • Day 2 - 12 Feb Fri, Arrive in Dumaguete / 2 dives
    Flight transfer in Manila, arrive in Dumaguete around 8:20am
    Check in at Dive Worx Resort and 2 check out dives in the afternoon.
  • Day 3 - 13 Feb Sat, 3 day dives + Roast Pig Dinner
    Chinese New Year’s Eve, big New Year’s Eve dinner
  • Day 4 - 14 Feb Sun, 3 day dives (Apo Island) + 1 night dive
  • Day 5 - 15 Feb Mon, 3 day dives
  • Day 6 - 16 Feb Tue, 3 day dives (Apo Island) + 1 night dive
  • Day 7 - 17 Feb Wed, 2 day dives
    Free afternoon, leisure time, dry equipment.
  • Day 8 - 18 Feb Thu, Return to Shanghai
    Luggage packing and check out, get to the airport after lunch
    Arrive in Shanghai PVG around 23:45pm.

* Dive sites could change due to weather conditions.

Accommodation Info

Dive Worx Diving Resort provides: AC, individual balconies, telephone, Cable TV, and hot & cold water showers.

Cost

  • Diver: 7880 RMB per person
  • Non-diver: 4,880 RMB per person

Optional Extras:

  • Return Flight ticket from Shanghai to Dumaguete: Around 3500 RMB per person (this is current price - final price please check '')
  • Advanced Open Water Course: 2,000 RMB per person (for this trip only)
  • PADI Nitrox Diver Course: 1,700 RMB per person (for this trip only)
  • Nitrox Fills: Php 350 Per tank
  • Extra Night Dive: Php 1,500 / Per Dive (at least 3 people per group)
  • DAN Insurance – 1yr membership 195AUD (CC) or 1,250RMB (cash)
  • Full Dive Equipment Rental: Php 250 Per Dive
  • Dive Computer Rental: Php 300 Per Day
  • BCD Rental: Php 250 Per Day
  • Regulator Rental: Php 200 Per Day
  • Wetsuit: Php 200 Per Day
  • Underwater Light Rental: Php 175 Per Day (Battery not included)
  • Mask and Snorkel Rental: Php 150 Per Day
  • Fins Rental: Php 150 Per Day
  • Soft Drinks and Beers: around PHP 60-90

Cost Included

  • Travel Insurance
  • Transfer between the airport, hotel and dive site
  • Deluxe Twin shared A/C room in Dive Resort
  • All meals, water, coffee and tea in dive resort
  • 16 day dives and 2 night dives
  • Tanks, weight, belts, towels and dive-master services
  • Ocean Garden and Sanctuary Fee (Conservation Fee)
  • Extra boat fee to Apo Island and BBQ lunch

Cost Excluded

  • Flight Ticket
  • Dive Equipment
  • Extra Day Dives
  • Extra Night Dive
  • Nitrox Fills
  • Soft drink and beer
  • Departure TAX Php750 from Manila to Shanghai
  • Departure TAX around Php 200-300 between Dumaguete and Manila
  • Anything not listed in the costs included

Leader and Instructors available

  • Leigh Chan - PADI Instructor (#255357)

Requirements

  • Non-divers
  • Certificated Divers

Seat Limitation

We have 16 seats for this trip, so to avoid disappointment, sign up now!

Remarks & General information

  • LIST OF COUNTRIES ALLOWED VISA-FREE ENTRY
  • We can help to apply for a Philippine Visa (if needed - please inform us at booking).
  • The passport must be valid for more than 6 months.
  • You'll need your Passport and Dive certification
  • The water temperature is around 26 - 28c, 3mm shorty or full wet suit, thin wetsuit or rash vest is suggested.
  • Dive sites could change due to weather conditions.
  • NO SPEAR FISHING.
  • You will be responsible to follow Safe Diving Practices and diving within your limits.
  • Indicate that you should wait a minimum of 18 hours and sometimes up to 24 hours after diving before you fly.
  • Philippine Peso (PHP) and USD is acceptable in Dumaguete,
    the rate for USD is 1 USD for 45-47 PHP.
  • Please keep around 900 PHP for the two airports tax.
  • The power supply in the Philippine is 220 volt / 60 Hz, the power adapter is twin flat pins plug.
    ( )
  • Please note we need a Minimum 6 guests for departure.

Reservation & cancellation

Please email or call before to check availability.

50% deposit is necessary to secure your seat, the remaining balance must be paid 15 days before departure.

For cancellations less than 30 days before the trip we are not able to give refunds.

If you need a reservation or have any question, please contact us by sending email to or
call 86-21-6291 2110.

Big Blue is looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you very much.