Diving Vacation Philippines - Dive Safari Tubbataha & Negros
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Discover remote diving in Negros - Philippines
Do you love adventure and are looking for a relaxing diving vacation in the Philippines, far from civilization?
Then book this trip to the far north of Tubbataha, located in the Sulu Sea. EWDR offers you a combination trip with diving at the remote islands of Cagayan and the nearby Negros islands of Cauayan.
You start by staying at the small-scale Amila Resort with boat dives around Cauayan.
Then fly by small Cessna (small plane) to the Cagayan Islands.
There you will stay in a luxuriously furnished tent or bungalow at an eco-camp and dive on the foothills of the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park.
A remote location you normally only get to by liveaboard.
So now we also offer a small-scale stay there on a small inhabited island.
This perfect dive site is for anyone who loves drop-offs, corals and pelagic fish.
And also if you don’t like crowds.
Best travel time for a diving vacation to Negros in the Philippines
The best time to go on diving vacation to Negros, located in the Western Visayas, is basically year-round.
However, July through October is the rainy season.
There are occasional showers but then it dries up quickly.
Because of the heat you dry up quickly.
There may also be typhoons during that period.
Average Temperatures
Wetsuit advice for diving in the Philippines
High season is from December to June.
Then a 3mm, shorty or even a skin is sufficient.
From July through November it is colder and we recommend a 3 or 5mm if you are chilly.
What will you experience on this diving vacation?
View itinerary here
Day 1, 2 and 3 | The journey to the Philippines
Today you will fly to Cebu or Manila airport.
Most flights leave in the evening so you will arrive in the afternoon the next day.
This makes it seem like an approximate 22-hour flight but includes a 6-hour time difference.
From which airport you fly we will discuss together as there are several options from Amsterdam, Brussels and Dusseldorf.
This is followed by a domestic flight to Bacolod.
Depending on the arrival time of the international flight, we will book a hotel near the airport and the next day you will travel through Bacolod to the Amila Dive Beach Resort.
The domestic flight takes about 50 minutes from Cebu and 1 hour and 25 minutes from Manila.
The transfer from Bacolod to the resort takes just over 3 hours.
Once you arrive, it’s time to settle into your room and get informed about the layout of your dive vacation for the next few days.
Day 4 to 6 | Great diving at Cauagan
We start this diving vacation quietly with diving at Cauagan.
After a delicious breakfast, you step into Easy Diving’s diving school.
The diving school is located at the Amila Dive Beach Resort where you will stay for 5 nights.
You walk there through the sand on your bare feet.
For the next few days, you’ll make 2 dives a day at different dive sites that are within 5 to 20 minutes sailing distance.
With pristine coral reefs and huge diversity of marine life, the clear tropical waters of Negros Occidental offer a fantastic base for a diving vacation in the Philippines.
Imagine a brightly colored soft coral garden, a shipwreck full of colorful fish or dive into the history of a World War II wreck. Around the islands there are dozens of beautiful dive sites around Sipalay and Cauayan.
Furthermore, they offer dives on steep walls, in small caves, at an abandoned pier, critter hunting and fluorine night dives.
Should you be a lover of underwater photography, they can certainly give you good advice on that.
Would you like to dive on the wreck?
Please indicate this especially.
Also, if you want to make a night dive or more than 10 dives, please indicate this in advance.
Day 7 | A day above water: relax or go out?
You won’t be able to dive today because tomorrow you’ll be boarding a plane to the Cagayan Islands. But not to worry, there is also a lot to see above water in this region. How about an excursion to Danjugan Island or Sugar Beach? Both excursions can be booked locally.
Suggestion 1: Danjugan Island
Danjugan Island is a marine and natural reserve 3 kilometers off the coast of Bulata, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, Philippines.
The island is 1.5 kilometers long and 0.5 kilometers at its widest point.
It has 5 lagoons and is covered with limestone forests that are home to many animal species.
During the excursion you can snorkel, kayak, hike, bird watch and learn more about the animals that live there. Snorkeling equipment is included as is lunch, snacks and unlimited coffee and drinking water.
Suggestion 2: Sugar Beach
What is also highly recommended is to catch a local transfer to Sugar Beach near Sipalay.
This spot guarantees a wonderful day on a “secret beach.”
A long beach walk, lazing in a hammock under the palm trees with or without a book.
And a few beach bars to drink and eat delicious
Day 8 | breathtaking flight
Today you will pack your suitcase again and check out of the Amila Dive Beach Resort.
You will be taken to the Sipalay Regional Airport.
Here, a group of divers is eager to board a small plane for the 25-minute flight.
This flight alone is breathtaking.
Before you know it you have covered the 120 km and landed on the island of Cagayan where the Easy Diving Eco Camp is located.
It is a small remote island still inhabited by Filipinos.
You can choose to stay in a luxury glamping tent or a stone bungalow with or without air conditioning.
With up to 12 divers you will stay on this remote island for 1 week.
The plane flies once a week to bring and pick up the divers.
With this you will have to make do the next week.
It is no different 😉 Accommodation includes 7 nights, meals and diving.
You only pay a surcharge for air conditioning in the bungalow and alcoholic refreshments.
And of course some money to buy souvenirs from the locals and a tip for the Easy Diving crew.
Start of the Cagayan Dive Safari is standard on Tuesday.
Around that, the rest of your diving trip in the Philippines will be puzzled out.
Day 9 to 15 | diving at Cagayan Islands
In the morning we board an outtrigger boat for a day of diving.
On board there will be coffee, tea, water and snacks.
Once we arrive at the first dive site of the day, breakfast is served on the boat.
After breakfast is the dive briefing and you jump off the boat with a giant leap for the first dive.
You first make a deep dive.
The other two dives are shallower.
You will make three dives that day returning to the bay around 4:00 pm.
Between dives there is a delicious local lunch.
In between there are snacks, fruit, water, various non-alcoholic drinks, tea and coffee available.
What to expect from diving at Cagayan Islands:
Whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, turtles, dolphins, schools of barracuda, jacks, sweetlips, colorful corals and reef fish, eagle rays, nudis and much more to feast your eyes on.
TIP: Each diver is required to bring their own dive computer, an underwater light and a Surface Marker Buoy/SMB.
After the dive safari, you will have the opportunity to explore the main island and meet its lovely residents.
To ensure a safe flight back to Sipalay, your last dive ends before 1 p.m. on the sixth day.
This gives you a minimum 18-hour break until your flight back to Sipalay.
Day 16 17 | Bye bye paradise
Today you will pack your suitcase again and leave the Easy Diving Eco Camp at Cagayancillo.
You will be transferred by Cessna back to Sipalay Airport.
After this, the choice is yours.
If you have no vacation days left, then there is no other option but to take you back to Bacolod airport and we will book your return trip.
You can then look back on a great adventure.
If you want to extend your diving vacation in the Philippines, you may want to stay at the Easy Diving Beach Resort or the more luxurious Manami Resort in Sipalay.
You can do several more dives here or in relaxation mode.
If you want to see more of the area, we can also take a few days with a tour on Negros or return to Manila first and explore the island of Luzon.
Give us a call to discuss your requirements?
The accommodation
The stay and surroundings
Amila Dive Beach Resort - Negros
At Amila Dive Beach Resort you will have an unforgettable diving vacation in the Philippines.
The small-scale resort has 8 spacious rooms and is far from mass tourism.
On the beach, enjoy the beautiful view during sunset.
The crystal clear water and the island of Danjugan then brighten up intensely.
Each room is designed with your comfort in mind.
Equipped with king size bed, air conditioning and private bathroom with rain shower.
Each morning you will wake up to the sound of breaking waves.
Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea from your private balcony or terrace.
The restaurant is located on the beach so flip-flops and shoes aside and walk on your bare feet the whole dive vacation.
By the way, they serve delicious Filipino and international dishes.
The resort has an on-site diving school Easy Divers Cauayan.
After a day of diving, relax in the infinity pool or on the sun beds on the beach.
The crew at the beach bar will lovingly bring you a local beer or a refreshing cocktail.
Easy Diving Eco Camp - Cagayancillo
Easy Divers Eco Camp is located on Cagayancillo, belonging to the archipelago of Cagayan Islands.
A few of these islands are only inhabited including this island.
On the southern tip of the island stands the eco camp.
With six 2-person tents with a fixed bed with comfortable mattresses.
There are also 5 stone bungalows with 2 twin beds or a double bed.
If you stay in the tents, you will use an on-site toilet and shower building.
If you stay in the bungalows then you have your own sanitary facilities.
If you want air conditioning in the bungalow, you pay a surcharge of approx.
€50.
You can decide at the time of booking which accommodation you would like to stay in.
If you change your mind and there is availability you can still change your accommodation.
You will stay on a full board basis.
Snacks, water, soft drinks, coffee and tea are included.
Only alcohol you pay for.
Because the islands are remote, not everything is available.
Meals are therefore simple and local style.
However, they are freshly prepared every day.
The dive shop
Learn more about the dive center
Easy Diving Cauayan Cagayan
Easy Diving became a 5* star PADI IDC center in 2006, the first on the west side of Negros, currently the largest diving organization in Negros Occidental.
The Easy Diving dive center is under European Management.
The PADI instructors and local Divemasters have extensive knowledge of all the dive sites around Cagayan, Danjugan Island and Turtle Island.
Both the advanced and novice diver are at home here.
They want you to feel comfortable and safe while diving.
Don’t have your own equipment yet?
No problem.
The dive center offers rental dive equipment.
Easy Diving Cauayan has 3 diving schools.
At the Amila Dive Beach Resort, at Cagayan Islands and one in Sipalay.
Travel costs
What is included
This dive vacation combining diving at Amila Dive Beach Resort and the Cagayan Dive Safari can be booked from US$ 2.849 per person based on two people in a King Birdview or King Garden room at the Amila Dive Beach Resort.
On Cagayancillo you will stay in a glamping tent or bungalow without air conditioning.
The dive trip can be extended as desired.
A number of things are included as standard in this travel package.
Prices are based on low season from July through November.
From December to the end of June is the high season. Prices are subject to price changes, increases or changing exchange rates.
Flights are always based on the cheapest possible booking class.
Want to know more about this dive vacation to Cagayan Island and Cauayan?
Get in touch with us!
Included in this diving trip, from US$ 2.849 p.p.
- 1 Night in double room including breakfast in a hotel near the airport
- 5 Nights in a 2-bed King Garden or Birdview room at the Amila Resort
- Stay on a bed and breakfast basis at the Amila Resort
- All necessary transfers tbv program
- Dive package consisting of 6 dives at Cauayan
- Return flight Sipalay - Cagayan Island by Cessna
- 7 Nights at Easy Diving Eco Resort in a Glamping Tent or bungalow without air conditioning
- 19 dives at Cagayan Islands
- Accommodation obv full board including snacks and coffee, tea and water
- VZR, Calamity Fund Administration fee
Excluding
- Flight Amsterdam - Manila or Cebu US$ 951
- Domestic return flight to Bacolod US$ 127
- Marine Park Fee a 300 PHP US$ 4 p.p.p.d.
Optional
- Night dive surcharge US$ 84 p.p.
- Rental diving equipment US$ 7
- Day excursion: Danjugan Island, incl lunch p.p.
- Surcharge superior room at Amila Resort
- Single room supplement
- Extension of trip
Email this diving vacation
Want to save or share the details of this dive trip with someone?
You can do so by emailing the trip.
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Frequently asked questions about this diving vacation
Diving general information
Diving equipment
Yes, 15L tanks and Nitrox is available at the resort.
There are no 15L tanks and Nitrox available at the Cagayan Islands
Yes, you can rent diving equipment here.
Approx.
€12 per day for full diving equipment.
Activities, Excursions and Wellness
Yes, you can also do excellent snorkeling at this diving destination.
The Dive safari is for divers only, though.
You can book a number of excursions such as a day trip to Danjugan Island.
Also to the interior of Negros for e.g. a trekking.
You can book the excursions at the reception desk.
Furthermore, you can book a massage.
It is not a resort to go to with small children. Above all, it is a resort away from the crowds and masses.
Older children staying in their own rooms are allowed.
No spa and wellness is not available at the Amila Dive Beach Resort.
Accommodation / Resort
Yes, all rooms have air conditioning in the resort. At the ecocamp, only the bungalows have air conditioning.
This is for a fee of about € 50 per week.
Yes there is WIFI in the resort.
At the ecocamp there is coverage however no Wifi.
Better to buy a local phone card in advance.
Yes, there is a restaurant at the resort that serves local and international cuisine.
At the Easy Diving eco camp, all meals are included.
Yes, at the Amila Dive Beach Resort there is an infinity pool.
There is no pool at the Easy Diving Eco Camp.
During this diving vacation in the Philippines, you will make boat dives on reefs around the islands.
5 to 20 minutes boat ride.
When staying at the resort you sail out for 1-tank dive and sail back to the resort.
During the dive safari you sail out in the morning and after 3 dives you return to the eco camp in the afternoon.
On the last day you make 2 dives because of the flight back to Sipalay the next day.
You can make 2 dives in the morning and 2 dives in the afternoon.
At sunset you can make a night dive.
During the dive safari you will make a total of 19 dives spread over the stay.
You are allowed a maximum of 25 kg per person on the Cessna flight from Sipalay to Cagayan.
Yes, you can join night dives and even a fluorescent dive when staying at the resort.
During
An Advanced Open Water certification is required to fully enjoy all diving.
ALs you have an Open Water, it is an option to get it on site at the Amila Resort.
The diving school is in the resort and at the eco camp
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