Atlantis Azores

Overview

Atlantis Azores is a spacious 16 person liveaboard perfectly designed for the needs of divers. The crew pride themselves on the highest standards of service and cuisine and this liveaboard is a popular choice with first time and repeat guests, plus groups of divers. Atlantis Azores follows a seasonal schedule of four different itineraries to ensure you get the best out of Philippines diving throughout the year.

Accommodation

Atlantis Azores has seven deluxe staterooms below decks with double and single berths, ensuite bathroom with toilet and shower, and a hairdryer. A suite on the upper deck also offers a double and single berth with ensuite. The suite has a desk, window and extensive storage space. All the cabins are fully air-conditioned.

An indoor saloon and dining area offers plenty of space to eat and relax. Meals are served family style and include fresh seafood, Filipino favourites as well as a selection of pastas, salads and homemade soups. The boat’s snack and drinks bar is also open throughout the day. All the drinks on board are complimentary and in addition you may bring your own beverages.

Guests can enjoy a wide selection of movies on the flat screen TV or sit back with a book or magazine from the on-board library. An assortment of board games and cards is also available. Marine life presentations and slide shows are often scheduled in the evenings.

Atlantis Azores features a partially covered sun deck with sun loungers, complete wet bar, hot tub, an assortment of sitting areas with tables and large swim platform with warm freshwater showers. A small on board boutique offers dive accessories and souvenirs.

The spacious dive deck has plenty of room to kit up in comfort and a large camera table with charging station. Most dives are conducted from two zodiac tender boats and itineraries can feature up to five dives a day. Nitrox and dive courses are available on all trips. Technical diving and Rebreather diving is possible if pre-arranged.

Specification

Construction: Aluminium Monohull, Built: 1989 (refit 2000 and 2005), Length:  32.6m, Beam: 5.5m, Engines: twin Cummings diesel engines, Cruising Speed: 10 knots

Navigation / Safety

Chart-plotter, radar, depth sounder, GPS, radios, satellite phone and computer station, internet / cell coverage depending on location, EPIRB, life rafts and life jackets, oxygen system, defibrillator and firefighting equipment

Please note: Use of a dive computer is obligatory and signalling devices must be carried on all dives.

Schedules & prices

Dive info

The Philippines is an island nation located in Southeast Asia, with Manila as its capital city. The Philippine archipelago comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean which are home to spectacular scenery, pristine beaches, incredible sights and lively cities. Dramatic drop offs, vibrant reefs, wrecks, caves and a richly varied marine life also guarantee fabulous diving. Combined with the renowned Philippine hospitality and warmth, an unforgettable dive holiday awaits.

Regional overview

Southern Visayas from Mactan - Cebu, Bohol, Pescador, Apo and Negros islands
The Visayas region is home to some of the best diving in the Philippines, with its wide diversity of marine life, steep coral covered walls, gentle sloping reefs and muck diving hotspots. These itineraries can encompass Cebu, Cabilao, Panglao, Balicasag and Pescador, along with dives at Apo Island marine sanctuary and Dauin.

The area offers fantastic macro life schooling fish, as well as the possibility of some larger pelagics too - if you are lucky you may see thresher sharks come in to feed on schools of sardines. Whale sharks may also be seen here during August and September.

Southern Leyte - Diving with whale sharks
Sogod Bay is world famous for sightings of whale sharks. These enormous filter feeders arrive here each year to feed on the swarms of plankton that bloom in the warm shallow waters. The area is perfect for both scuba diving and snorkelling. As well as whalesharks, the reefs around the bays of Southern Leyte & Limasawa Island are a haven for numerous fish species, whilst beneath the piers of Padre Burgos & Limasawa are a whole host of weird and wonderful macro creatures.

Batangas & Coron for wrecks - Anilao, Apo Reef and Coron wrecks
Apo Reef, a UNESCO world heritage site, is considered by many to be among the best diving in the Philippines. The whole North East side of the reef consists of drop offs and overhangs where Whitetip and Grey Reef sharks, turtles, barracuda and shoals of snapper are common.

The Japanese World War II wrecks around Busuanga Island, particularly in Coron Bay, are particularly fascinating, with twelve wrecks so far been located in recreational diving depths. The Batangas region is known for the many numerous smaller creatures that can be found along the sloping reefs and soft coral covered walls. It is here you will find many new and often unidentified species of nudibranchs, along with ghost pipefish, pipehorses, seahorses, octopus and frog fish.

Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park from Mactan or Puerto Princessa
Proclaimed as a National Marine Park in 1988 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993, in recognition of its outstanding universal value in terms of marine life species diversity and richness. 182km south east of Puerto Princessa on Palawan Island, the Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea offers some truly amazing diving and is only accessible by liveaboard. Tubbataha reefs offers dramatic vertical walls and pinnacles rising out of great depths. The shallow reef tops are teeming with colourful reef fish; in many places stingrays, spiny lobsters, immature manta rays, turtles, leopard sharks and guitar sharks can be found. The walls are covered in huge barrel sponges, gorgonian sea fans, soft corals, hydroids and black corals. In deeper water, shoals of angelfish, butterfly fish, pennant fish, rainbow runners, Moorish idols, fusiliers, jacks, snappers and sweetlips follow you around. Large trevally, tuna and barracuda as well as grey reef sharks and whitetip sharks patrol. If you remember to look away from the fascinating reef wall from time to time, Giant manta rays and eagle rays may be spotted overhead along with turtles and groupers.

Malapascua to Cebu and Cebu to Malapascua
Malapascua is a tiny, picturesque island just off the northern tip of Cebu Island. It's dive sites offer some of the best chances of diving with the elusive thresher sharks that attract so many divers to the Philippines in the first place. This itinerary also takes in some great wrecks including the 100m passenger ferry Dona Marilyn, and the Tapilo, a Japanese cargo vessel sunk during WWII that is now a macro haven. This itinerary combines Malapascua with the best of the Southern Visayas itinerary above. Dive with threshers and whale sharks at Pescador Island, visit the famed artificial reef of Volkswagen cars at Dauin and enjoy the finest of Philippines diving at Apo Island Marine Reserve.

Philippines and Palau Combo
This 13 night liveaboard adventure includes up to 42 dives across the dive site highlights of the Philippines and Palau. Usually only available for full charters, this dream combination consists of 6 nights onboard Philippine Siren diving the Southern Visayas, followed by 6 nights onboard S/Y Palau Siren, with an overnight flight in the middle. This really is a once in a lifetime trip that come highly recommended.

Getting there

The South Visayas, Southern Leyte and the Malapascua - Cebu - Malapascua trips all start and end on Mactan Island which is reached via Cebu international airport, where you will be transferred to the boat.

The Batangas and Coron Wreck one-way itineraries alternate the start and finish between Borocay and Palawan, and are reached via Manila, with an additional internal flight and land transfer

The Tubbutaha National Marine Park starts and finished in Puerta Pricessa, reached with an internal flight and transfer via Manila.

The Philippines and Palau Combo itinerary starts from Cebu and you will arrive at Cebu (Mactan) International Aiport before being transferred to the boat. The itinerary ends in Koror, Palau and your flight home will begin at Roman Tmetuchl International Airport.

All of the required transfers and internal flight can be arranged as part of your full travel package. All of the above, but especially those itineraries that originate in Cebu, make for a fantastic twin centre with one of Regaldive's land based resorts.

Flight Information 

Regaldive can offer packages to the Philippines on a number of different airlines. Prices displayed on the website are based on boat only, not including flights. Please contact us for a full package including scheduled flights, internal flights and transfers according to your chosen date of travel. Please note some itineraries will require overnight stays due to internal flight timings.

London - Manila: Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Malaysia Airlines and KLM all fly daily via their national hubs.

London - Cebu: Singapore Airlines via Singapore on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday;  Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong daily.

Duration: 18 hours

Departure tax:
International flights: 750 Pesos
Domestic flights: 200 Pesos
Ferry ports: 15 - 30 Pesos

Transfers

Whichever island you are staying on, you are met at the airport/ferry port and transferred to your resort. Whether by flight, jeepney or banca boat, there are fantastic sights to enjoy on your journey there and back. Although some transfer can take up to a whole day, most clients pass feedback that this was a very interesting part of their overall trip.

The below information is to give you a give you a general idea of transfer times between regions; actual transfer times may differ slightly according to individual arrangements and ferry timetables, tides etc.:

- Cebu - Dumaguete: 3 to 4 hours by vehicle, ferry and hotel shuttle
- Cebu - Bohol/Panglao/Cabilao: 3 hours by vehicle, ferry, vehicle
- Cebu - Malapascua: 3 to 4 hours by vehicle and outrigger
- Dumaguete - Bohol/Panglao/Cabilao: 3 hours by hotel shuttle, ferry and vehicle
- Dumaguete (Pura Vida) to Panglao (Alona Vida): 3 to 4 hours by Outrigger conditions permitting
- Dumaguete - Malapascua: 6 to 7 hours by vehicle, ferry, vehicle and outrigger
- Panglao - Cabilao: 1+ hour vehicle and boat
- Panglao - Malapascua: 6 hours by vehicle, ferry, vehicle and outrigger
- Cabilao - Malapascua: 6 hours by vehicle, ferry, vehicle and outrigger
- Manila - Cebu: 1 hour by internal flight
- Manila - Dimakya or Coron, Palawan: 3-4 hours by internal flight, vehicle and boat
- Manila - Puerta Galera: 3 hours by vehicle and boat
- Manila - Caticlan or Kalibo: 3 hours by internal flight, vehicle and/or boat

Passports

Full passport valid for a minimum of 6 months on date of return travel. For further entry requirements, please visit the FCDO website >

Visas

British nationals can enter the Philippines without a visa for an initial period of 30 days. You can also get a tourist visa from the Philippine Embassy before you travel, which will allow an initial 59 day stay. Other nationalities should check with their own consulate.

Currency

The unit of currency is the Philippine Peso (PHP). 1 Peso = 100 Centavos.

The US dollar is the most widely recognised foreign currency. Euros & GBP are also readily exchanged.

$1 USD - 46 Pesos
€1 Euro - 56 Pesos
£1 GBP - 65 Pesos

The majority of larger towns have ATMs, however, facilities for money withdrawal or changing are far less widespread away from the main centres of population. There are bank machines at the airport. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted in most towns, but you may be required to pay an extra 3 - 5% surcharge for their use. Outside of the main towns, not all places accept credit cards. Please refer to your individual destination notes for each resort, but as a guideline, please see below:

• Malapascua, Hippocampus: Credit cards cannot be accepted, please ensure you carry sufficient cash. Bank facilities not available.
• Dumaguete: Banks and ATMs are available in Dumaguete town. Pura Vida accepts credit cards.
• Palawan, Dimakya Island Club Paradise: Accepts credit cards
• Philippine Siren: GBP, Euro & USD Currency. Credit card payment only possible when docking at the following ports: Cebu, Philippines. 3% charge applies

Vaccinations

Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure. For the most up to date advice please consult your travel clinic or GP. Further information regarding vaccinations for travel to this country can be found at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk and from your local healthcare provider.

There are no compulsory vaccinations for travel to the Philippines, but we recommend protection against typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A and polio.

Itineraries

The Atlantis Azores offers a choice of four itineraries showcasing different areas of the Philippines according to seasonal variation. Many of the areas they feature are only accessible via liveaboard.

January through to mid-March is diving with thresher sharks in Malapascua. Enjoy unrivalled action with these beautiful animals and dive some unspoiled walls and slopes during the week. Tubbataha is the most popular season running from mid-March through to early June – explore kilometres of pristine drop offs and see just about anything.

Dumaguete is the vessel’s base for the summer months of June through to December and the Visayas Safari is a unique opportunity to take in several beautiful islands in one week – something that would take several weeks, or several vacations, to do any other way. 10 and 12 night itineraries are usually available for full charter only but individual spaces may be available - please contact Regaldive for details.

Tubbataha Reef
Bohol and the Visayas
Malapascua to Cebu

Reviews