Visayas Safari

Port of embarkation - Atlantis Dumaguete

This itinerary offers tours some of the best dive sites in the Visayas with itineraries typically of 7 or 9 nights in duration. Highlights include Sumilon Island, Pescador Island and Malapascua's Gato Island, home of a sea snake protected breeding sanctuary. Another Malapascua favorite Monad Shoal is known for frequent sightings of thresher sharks as well as manta rays. In addition to these pelagic species, the Malapascua area offers a wide variety of critter diving not to mention abundant reefs and wall diving. Leaving Malapascua the boat heads to Capitancillo with its three virtually untouched wall and cavern dives.

Next stop is Bohol for a wide variety of reef, wall and critter diving as well as some optional land tour opportunities. As a Grand Finale you finish this trip on the dramatic walls of Bailicasag. This itinerary is hard to beat if you want a wide variety of locations and the promise of some incredible diving.

Please note that the itineraries are sample itineraries only, and will change depending on weather and logistics at the Captain’s discretion.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Dive Day 1: Sumilon
Day one is spent diving around tranquil Sumilon Island, surrounded by crystal clear waters and pristine white sandy beaches. Look out for... Exquisite coral gardens and drop-offs; ‘might sees’ in this area include manta rays and sting rays, barracudas, sea turtles, sea snakes and very occasionally, whale sharks and hammerheads.

Dive Day 2: Moalboal – Pescador Island
Rated as one of the Philippines top dive sites for many years this small island is just a couple of miles due west of Moalboal. The exhilarating scene is set by a small plateau that surrounds the island before it drops vertically into the abyss. The wall is literally teeming with life: frog fish, stonefish, barracuda and turtles are common, but the real draw here is the sardine run and a chance of a thresher!

Dive Days 3, 4 & 5: Gato Island, Monad Shoal and Malapascua
A sanctuary and protected breeding location for the beautiful sea krait (sea snake) with its resident whitetip sharks, Gato is a great introduction to Malapascua and one of the Philippine’s most talked about dive locations. The island is alive with nudibranch, harlequin ghost pipefish and pygmy seahorses; photographers will find it hard to choose between macro or wide angle. Malapascua’s reputation has grown due to the frequent close up encounters with thresher sharks and manta rays at Monad Shoal. These mesmerizing creatures are a highlight of any trip. Rather than having a pre-dawn start from area resorts, the Atlantis Azores will be moored right on top of these incredible dive sites as you enjoy your morning coffee.

Dive Day 6: Capitancillo
Capitancillo is a haven for divers with three dive sites featuring drop-offs, caves and overhangs as well as the usual myriad beautiful Philippine sea life. With no dive operators in the area this is a real chance to discover an uncrowded and pristine Philippine reef.

Dive Day 7: Cabilao Island
In a place where time seems to stand still, a true paradise for divers reveals itself. The drop-off which borders the island affords the opportunity to dive some of the best spots in the Philippines. Look out for... pygmy and thorny seahorses with occasional sightings of white and black tipped reef sharks, napoleons and jack fish. Barracudas, turtles, frog fishes and lots of different nudibranch are all common.

Dive Day 8: Bohol – Pamilacan Island
The small island of Pamilacan is nestled in the heart of the Bohol Sea. Look out for... hawksbill and green turtles, whitetip reef sharks, dogtooth tuna, napoleon wrasse, trevally, wahoo, manta rays and eagle rays and numerous banded sea kraits. A stunning variety of hard and soft corals abound.

Dive Day 9: Bohol – Balicasag Island
Balicasag is a flat island 4km southwest of the Duljo Point where the sandy coral beach is a site to behold. Look out for... jacks, mackerel and barracudas often seen in abundance, as well as large groupers, napoleon wrasse and snappers hiding in the overhangs of the dramatic hundred foot vertical walls.