Duración
10 días
Camarotes libres
21 / 21
Capacidad
22 buceadores
Operador
Philippines Explorer
Incluido
Recargos obligatorios
Extras opcionales
Certificación
OWD or equivalent
Inmersiones mín.
30 registradas
Check-in
14:00–
Please pay attention to your departure port, as this itinerary may be operated in reverse. ULTIMATE VISAYAS: 10 nights: Donsol to Dauin or Dauin to Donsol Experience one of the Philippines' most rewarding liveaboard dive expeditions as Philippines Explorer I journeys from Dauin in Negros Oriental to Donsol in the Bicol Region. Following a large section of the Philippine Pelagic Corridor, this itinerary connects many of the country's most celebrated dive destinations. From the thriving reefs of Apo Island and the famous sardine run of Moalboal to the thresher sharks of Kimud Shoal, the limestone walls of Gato Island, and the manta rays of Ticao Pass, each stage reveals a different side of the Philippines' remarkable underwater diversity. Designed for passionate divers, the voyage offers up to four dives each day across an extraordinary variety of marine environments. Healthy coral reefs, current-swept pinnacles, macro-rich volcanic slopes, dramatic walls, and pelagic cleaning stations combine to create one of the country's most diverse liveaboard itineraries. Life aboard Philippines Explorer I revolves around diving. Between dives there is time to relax on spacious decks, review photographs, enjoy freshly prepared meals, and watch the islands drift by as the yacht cruises towards its next destination. Occasional beach visits and island stopovers provide a welcome change of pace, but the underwater world remains the focus throughout the expedition.
Welcome aboard Philippines Explorer I. Please arrive at the vessel by 2:00pm (14:00). After a welcome drink, cabin orientation, and safety briefing, there may be an opportunity for a relaxed afternoon check dive in the waters surrounding Dauin, allowing everyone to become familiar with their equipment before the expedition begins. As evening falls, enjoy your first dinner aboard while the yacht prepares for an early departure towards the southern tip of Cebu.
An early start offers the opportunity to encounter the whale sharks of Oslob. Entering the water before larger crowds arrive generally provides calmer conditions for observing these gentle giants in one of the Philippines' most famous marine wildlife experiences. Nearby Sumilon Island offers a completely different underwater environment. Clear water, colourful coral reefs, steep drop-offs, and excellent visibility make it an ideal location for one or two relaxed dives before continuing north. By late afternoon, Philippines Explorer I cruises into the sheltered waters of southern Bais Bay. Depending on sea conditions, dolphins are occasionally encountered during the crossing before we continue towards our overnight anchorage closer to Moalboal.
The limestone walls of Pescador Island provide the setting for today's first dives. Healthy coral formations, colourful reef fish, turtles, and impressive topography have made this one of Cebu's best-known dive destinations, while the famous Cathedral remains one of the island's signature underwater features. Later in the day, we visit Moalboal's legendary sardine run. Millions of sardines move together in constantly shifting formations, creating one of the Philippines' most remarkable marine spectacles for both divers and photographers. Following the afternoon dives, Philippines Explorer I begins the overnight cruise towards northern Cebu and the rich pelagic waters surrounding Malapascua.
Before sunrise, we arrive at Kimud Shoal, one of the Philippines' premier locations for encounters with thresher sharks. Two early morning dives maximise the chances of observing these elegant predators as they visit the cleaning stations shortly after dawn. After breakfast, the yacht sets course for beautiful Kalanggaman Island. A third dive explores the surrounding reefs before there is time to enjoy the island's famous white sandbars and crystal-clear water. As the sun begins to set, a relaxed beach barbecue provides a memorable conclusion to the day before we continue cruising through the Philippine Pelagic Corridor.
A second visit to Kimud Shoal provides another opportunity to experience one of the highlights of the expedition. Every dive is different, and conditions often attract schools of jacks, tuna, barracuda, eagle rays, and other pelagic visitors alongside the resident thresher sharks. The afternoon offers a complete contrast as we continue towards Chocolate Island. Here the diving shifts from pelagics to colourful coral gardens, gentle reef slopes, and excellent macro life. Nudibranchs, shrimps, crabs, frogfish, and countless smaller reef inhabitants reward those who enjoy searching among the corals. As evening approaches, Philippines Explorer I cruises to a sheltered anchorage off Malapascua. The calm waters provide a comfortable overnight stop and position the yacht perfectly for an early departure to Gato Island the following morning.
A full day is dedicated to one of the Visayas' most celebrated dive destinations. Gato Island is a protected marine sanctuary renowned for its dramatic limestone formations, colourful reefs, and remarkable biodiversity. Four dives allow ample time to explore the island's many highlights, including the famous Tunnel, a natural swim-through beneath the island where whitetip reef sharks are frequently encountered resting beneath rocky overhangs. Beyond the Tunnel, steep walls, coral gardens, caverns, and boulder fields provide habitat for an extraordinary diversity of marine life. Macro photographers can expect nudibranchs, frogfish, pipefish, shrimps, and countless cryptic species, while larger schools of reef fish patrol the surrounding drop-offs. As sunset colours the surrounding islands, Philippines Explorer I continues north towards Carnaza Island, where we anchor for another peaceful evening before entering the remote island groups of the central Visayas.
An early morning crossing brings us into the waters of the beautiful Maripipi Archipelago, a region known for its volcanic islands, clear water, and healthy reef systems. Three dives are planned throughout the day, with sites such as Pungtod Pinnacle, Buga Rock, and Toblerone offering a mix of sloping reefs, dramatic underwater topography, and current-swept formations. Schools of jacks, reef sharks, barracuda, and turtles are regular visitors, while the reefs themselves support a rich diversity of hard and soft corals. Later in the afternoon, Philippines Explorer I arrives at picturesque Sambawan Island. Depending on conditions, there may be time for a short beach visit or simply to enjoy the scenery before continuing north. During the evening, the yacht cruises towards the remote islands of Northern Samar, anchoring overnight near Tagapul-an Island.
Today's diving introduces a very different underwater landscape as we enter the islands separating Luzon from the Visayas. The first two dives take place around Tatus Island, where healthy coral reefs, excellent visibility, and abundant reef life make for relaxed and rewarding diving. Large schools of fusiliers, surgeonfish, snappers, and sweetlips are common, while turtles are regularly encountered along the reef slopes. During the afternoon we continue north past the spectacular cliffs of Catandayagan Falls before arriving at Burubangkaso Islet. The Great Wall of Burubangkaso offers an impressive vertical reef covered in hard corals, sea fans, and colourful reef fish, making it one of the highlights of the region. A fourth dive around nearby Ticao completes another varied day before settling into a sheltered anchorage for the night.
The nutrient-rich waters of Ticao Pass are among the Philippines' finest pelagic environments and provide the setting for today's diving. Two morning dives are planned at the famous Manta Bowl and nearby sites, where seasonal currents attract manta rays, schools of jacks, tuna, barracuda, eagle rays, and other large marine life. Every dive here is different, and the possibility of unexpected pelagic encounters is always present. The afternoon continues along the southeastern coast of San Miguel Island, where volcanic reefs and colourful coral formations provide a gentler contrast to the exposed conditions of Ticao Pass. A third and fourth dive complete another full day in the water before anchoring for the evening.
Our final full day of diving explores the lesser-visited reefs surrounding the northern and western coastlines of San Miguel Island. These volcanic reefs support healthy coral growth, impressive sponge formations, and a diverse mix of reef fish, turtles, moray eels, and macro life. With up to four dives scheduled, there is ample opportunity to discover the variety of underwater habitats that characterise the Bicol Region. Between dives, the dramatic volcanic landscapes of southern Luzon provide a fitting backdrop as the expedition gradually approaches its final destination. Following the last dive of the journey, equipment is rinsed and packed away while the yacht makes the short overnight passage towards Donsol.
After breakfast, we arrive back in Donsol where it is time to disembark. For guests with later onward travel, there may be an opportunity to join Donsol's renowned whale shark interaction before departing—an optional finale to an expedition that has followed one of the richest marine corridors in the Philippines. Over the course of eleven days, this voyage has connected an extraordinary variety of underwater environments. From the coral reefs of Apo Island and the protected waters of Sumilon to the sardine schools of Moalboal, the thresher sharks of Kimud Shoal, the caves of Gato Island, the volcanic reefs of Maripipi and San Miguel, and the pelagic waters of Ticao Pass, each destination has contributed its own distinctive character. Designed for divers who value variety as much as individual headline sites, this itinerary showcases the remarkable diversity of the central Philippines while embracing the spirit of exploration that defines Philippines Explorer I. We look forward to welcoming you aboard for another unforgettable journey beneath the surface.
Precio por persona
4.650 US$
Impuestos incluidos
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