Philippines
Climate: The Philippines is a tropical country and the weather is fairly even all year round. The year is roughly divided into two seasons; ‘rainy’ (June – Nov.) and ‘dry’(Dec. – May). Although the Visayas typically remain relatively unaffected. Year round coastal and inland temperatures range from 25 – 28°C / 77 – 82°F. Evenings are marginally cooler.
Water Temperature: 27 – 30°C / 80 – 85°F
Time: UTC +8:00 (PHT)
Language: Filipino (Tagalog) and English are the official languages. There are also some widely spoken indigenous languages and some Spanish that are spoken as well.
Currency: PHP – Philippine Peso
Electricity: 220-volt, 50 cycle AC. U.S. appliances need adaptors and converters.
Marriage Requirements: Please contact the local tourism board for instructions and requirements.
Airport(s):
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)
Bacolod-Silay International Airport (BCD)
Clark International Airport (CRK)
Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS)
Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB)
Subic Bay International Airport (SFS)
Francisco Bangoy International Airport (DVO)
General Santos International Airport (GES)
Iloilo International Airport (ILO)
Bicol International Airport (LGP)
Kalibo International Airport (KLO)
Laoag International Airport (LAO)
Zamboanga International Airport (ZAM)
Hyperbaric Chamber:
Batangas Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Healing Center
Manila Hyperbaric Center
SUBIC
Wrecks, wrecks and more wrecks. The Philippines reefs have claimed the ships of many a sailor over the last century and the coast is littered with them. The sailors’ losses are divers’ gains, however. Over 7000 islands make up the archipelago of The Philippines with about 300,000 square kilometers (nearly 187,000 miles) of land, and each island offers visitors a different flavor.
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Alfred
Atlantis Dive Center has a motto... Arrive as a guest, leave as a friend. I will say, they do live by it. The food is second to none. I've been to several all inclusive resorts, and Atlantis had the best food. The staff knew our names as soon as we arrived. I was amazed. The staff would do almost anything to ensure our stay was perfect. The dive operation is one of the most organized I've seen. Everything happened like clockwork. We were in... we were out... everything just happened.
Bob
We stayed 7 days at Atlantis Puerta Galera and 6 days at Atlantis Dumagette. Overall I would rate our experience as outstanding. The staff at both resorts put a lot of effort into making our stay memorable. The diving was great, the food well prepared, and the accommodations comfortable. I would heartily recommend either resort to friends, and I do plan to return at some point in the future.
Dave
Stayed at Atlantis dive resort in Dumaguete and Puerto Galera; both offered great logistical assistance from airport to resort and top level diving, hotel and restaurant operations. Dumaguete offers Muck diving and many odd creatures, with excellent dive guides and Puerto Galera offers coral gardens also with many strange creatures. Dumaguete is very quiet and secluded and great for macro photographers and intimate groups, Puerto Galera is also great for clear water pinnacle dives such as verde island. Both dive operations are well run and professional. Housekeeping was good at both locations and dining was also fine. So if you want an active social scene Puerto Galara has many options. For photography and muck diving and a look at local Philippine markets and tours Dumaguete is great. At both locations the resort managers keep a keen eye on customers satisfaction and all dive, restaurant and hotel staff are friendly and professional. Either or both are a great choice.
Eileen
The Atlantis Dive Resort was great all around including the front desk staff, the restaurant staff and the dive center crew and dive masters. Everyone was very professional and made me feel welcomed. The diving near the resort and at Apo Island and Siquijor Island was spectacular. I recommend the whale shark snorkel excursion trip for divers' off gassing day before flying - truly an amazing experience.
Scuba Diving Specialties: What is MUCK Diving?
It's certainly not the most glamorous type of scuba diving. There isn't the visual appeal of reef diving or the sense of adventure in wreck diving, but for a growing number of scuba divers, "MUCK" diving is all the rage.
What is "muck" diving? Believe it or not, it is exactly what it sounds like - diving in sand, broken corals and sometimes even trash. In short, MUCK. But before you get com...
Read BlogDestination Spotlight: Philippines
By now your passport must be loaded with stamps from the Caribbean and Central America, but our next stop is a little more far east. This time though, we’ve got two stops on our trip! Betcha didn’t see that one coming. Our trip to the Philippines includes a visit to the scuba diving favorites Dumaguete and Puerto Galera.
Both destinations are known for their incredibly friendly locals, ...
Read BlogCebu and the Visayas Islands
Cebu and the Visayas Islands: The Heartland of The Philippines.
Magellan had no idea how good the scuba diving in this part of the world was, but in 1521 when Spain was big time in to colonizing the world, you couldn’t find a decent set of fins or a mask and snorkel to save one’s own life, so instead Magellan attacked the locals of Mactan Island and you probably guessed by now that his ...
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