Dive travel experts Diverse Travel have expanded their popular Philippines portfolio with the addition of three new resorts and a new liveaboard.
Scandi Divers and Atlantis Puerto Galera Resort are now featured in world-renowned dive hotspot Puerto Galera on the island of Mindoro.
Scandi Divers Resort is located on the pristine white sand of Big La Laguna Beach. Surrounded by a tropical paradise with panoramic ocean views, this 40-room resort is a great choice for divers seeking a relaxed atmosphere with easy access to some of the best diving in the Philippines.
Atlantis Puerto Galera Resort is part of the popular Atlantis Resorts group, renowned for its excellent amenities and service. The resort’s 40 rooms are attractively situated among lovely grounds stocked with plants and flowers, built into the hillside just steps above Sabang Beach.
Puerto Galera has evolved into one of the top diving destinations in Asia. The resort town sits in a natural harbour on the Verde Island Passage, so-called by scientists ‘“'the centre of the world’s marine biodiversity'. The waters surrounding Puerto Galera were designated a UNESCO ‘Man and Biosphere Reserve’ in 1973, offering 40+ sites with a tremendous versatility that appeals to divers of all levels. Here, divers can explore shallow coral gardens, exciting drift dives on walls and penetrable wrecks, while searching for everything from tiny critters in the bays, to pelagics in the stronger currents in the Passage.
The exceptional range of diving has made Puerto Galera particularly attractive for underwater photographers, and both Scandi Divers and Atlantis Resort boast bespoke camera rooms and superb facilities for photographers.
Moving onto the island of Negros, Diverse Travel is also now featuring Atlantis Dumaguete Resort. This beachfront dive resort incorporates 44 rooms built around a lush tropical garden, and features a pool, spa and waterfront restaurant, in addition to a spacious, well-equipped camera room.
Atlantis Dumaguete Resort is perfectly located for divers wishing to discover the superb diving of the Dauin and Dumaguete area, which includes a number of Marine Protected Areas. With its black volcanic sand, Dauin is known as the Frogfish capital of the Philippines, and a unique destination for critter diving. Guests can also take advantage of day trips to nearby Apo Island, Siquijor, and snorkeling with the whalesharks in Oslob.
Finally, the addition of the Atlantis Azores liveaboard to Diverse Travel’s programme completes the trilogy of Atlantis Resorts. This 32m dedicated dive motor yacht caters to a maximum of 16 divers in spacious comfort. Seasonal itineraries showcase the best in Philippines diving including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tubbataha Reef, Bohol in the Visayas, Apo Reef and the wrecks of Coron, and Malapascua to Cebu.
For divers wishing to embrace even more diversity for a longer stay, Atlantis Azores is ideally combined with a stay on land at the other Atlantis Resorts.
Diverse Travel Product Manager Phillip Connor says: “The Philippines is a truly amazing destination that offers so much to visitors. The variety of diving experiences, incredible resorts, and legendary hospitality is a potent mix that makes for the perfect dive holiday. Expanding our programme in the Philippines is a natural response to its increasing popularity amongst UK divers. We’re very excited about opening up more opportunities for Diverse Travel guests throughout the world, so watch this space for more developments coming soon!”
Dive holiday packages to the Philippines start from £1,799pp (based on May 2023) and include return flights London to Manila with 32kg baggage, seven nights at Scandi Divers in a standard room with a full board meal plan, up to four dives per day incl. tanks and weights, return transfers, local taxes, plus ATOL and full financial protection as standard.
