Join us for a fun 3 weeks of coral triangle diving with 2 weeks of relaxed resort diving and a challenging live aboard week at Tubbataha Reefs.
Week 1, Malapascua Island, North of Cebu
We'll venture out early every day in search of the elusive thresher shark, with a chance of also seeing hammerheads, manta rays or even a tiger shark. A Gato Island day trip provides a colorful reef option. Advance open water and nitrox certification are necessary.
Plan to arrive Cebu Mactan airport on April 3 and stay overnight, or if coming from Manila take an early morning flight April 4 to Cebu to join a mid day van transfer to Malapascua. United and Philippines Airlines both offer direct flights to Manila and your other favorites offer international connecting service to Cebu. If continuing on to Dumaguete you'll take an all day van transfer the length of Cebu island. If you come for just the Malapascua week you can book your Cebu departure late in the day April 10.
Pricing is tbd, but expected to be around $1795 for 6 nights shared accommodation and 5 days diving.
Week 2, Atlantis Resort Dumaguete
Maureen's favorite place in The Philippines - Dumaguete and the fabulous Atlantis Resort. Here you will find some of the most bazaar creatures in the sea, in clear shallow waters. Frog fish, many varieties of nudibranchs, scorpion fish, octopus, cuttlefish and on and on. A macro photo paradise. But it isn’t just muck diving. On some dive days we venture out to Apo Island for it’s lush coral gardens.
$2995 gets you 7 nights shared accommodation and up to 5 scheduled dives per day.
If you joined the Malapascua week you'll arrive Dumaguete by van transfer. If starting your vacation here you can fly into Cebu or Manila to arrive by early April 10. A Manila to Dumaguete group flight booking will be offered, or a van transfer from Cebu airport. If your trip ends April 17 you'll fly to Manila or ride a van to Cebu to catch an evening international departure. If continuing on to Tubbataha you'll join a group booking to Puerto Princesa.
Week 3, Tubbataha Reefs
Just a few months of the year, from mid-March through early June, conditions in the Philippines' Sulu Sea are reliable enough to dive the remote Tubbataha Reefs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to some very exciting diving. We'll share the Atlantis Infinity Liveaboard for a week of diving at a destination famous for sharks, rays and massive schools of trevally, barracuda, dog-tooth tuna, and sometimes even whalesharks. All against the backdrop of lush soft and hard coral gardens, home to all manor of macro life to search for.
This trip, priced at $3999 to $4699 depending on cabin type, is best for advanced open water divers with experience diving in strong currents, diving from a zodiac, and capable of executing a blue water safety stop while deploying your SMB.
If your trip began at Malapascua or Dumaguete you'll travel on our group booking to arrive Puerto Princesa on April 17. If starting here you can piggyback the group transfer by joining us in Manila mid day. Because liveaboards wait for no one you'll want to arrive at Manila or Puerto Princesa on April 16.
About Rainbow Divers
