Southern Leyte & Tubbataha, Philippines

Shore & Liveaboard combination

7th to 23rd May, 2019

The Destination

Southern Leyte: this is a little-known gem of a place on the eastern side of the Visayas. There are few dive centres there, so you’ll have most dive sites to yourselves! You’ll find some spectacular hard coral reefs, fantastic walls, slope and muck diving sites. In addition to a vast array of both soft and hard coral, Sogod Bay supports aquatic life from tiny pygmy seahorses, nudibranch and pipefish to sea turtles, frogfish, octopus, and even, at the right time of year, whale sharks.

Tubbataha: This UNESCO world heritage site is the jewel in the crown of Philippines!  Two atols rise from the depths of the Sulu Sea and are only reachable by liveaboard from March to June. This is a good as it gets! Huge walls covered in life, with schools of Jacks, barracuda, and white tip reef sharks all over the place. Megafauna such as 11 different species of shark & wrays, turtles, dolphins & whales, plus 600 fish species and 360 coral species call Tubbataha home.

Dive Centre & Liveaboard

The Sogod Bay Scuba Resort: This is small but clean and tidy resort, ideal for your needs! With their dedication to marine conservation, Sogod Bay Scuba Resort have sponsored Marine Protected Areas throughout Sogod Bay offering visitors an unforgettably unique experience.

Discovery Palawan: This is a large, comfortable boat, with plenty of space. Offering a huge salon with camera room, restaurant, sun deck and cocktail bar on board! Dives are from chase boats which drop you off right where the action is

Package

This 16 day package includes all flights, transfers, accommodation, full board in resort and on liveaboard, tea, coffee & water onboard Discovery Palawan, nitrox, boat use, local guide, tank & weights.  With up to 34 dives on offer this is an adventure of a life time.

Included

  • Twin bed, air-conditioned, en-suite beach front rooms at Sogod Bay resort
  • Twin bed, air-conditioned, en-suite cabins.
  • Overnight accommodation in Cebu city (B&B basis)
  • All meals and some drinks (tea, coffee & water); alcohol and soft drinks available to purchase.
  • Marine Sanctuary fees for Tubbataha

Not Included

  • Transport to/from your home and Manchester airport.
  • Any Marine Sanctuary Fees associated with diving in Sogod Bay; maximum prices are expected to be in the £25 region for the duration of the stay.
  • 15L cylinders; please make sure you let us know at the time of booking if you may be interested in using a 15 litre cylinder.
  • Lunch & evening meals in Cebu (if required)
  • Alcohol & soft drinks on board Discovery Palawan (cocktail bar is available on board)

Itinerary

You will be flying to Cebu from Manchester on Tuesday 7th May 2019. Flight details are to be released in June 2018. Current expectations are to fly via Hong Kong, following the itinerary:

Tuesday 7th May Depart UK, 30kg baggage allowance on all flights
Wednesday 8th May Arrive Cebu (afternoon), transfer to Henry Hotel, Cebu City
Thursday 9th May Transfer to Southern Leyte – Sogod Bay Scuba Resort
Friday 10th – Tuesday 14th May Southern Leyte, Dive days 1 -5 (15 dives available)
Wednesday 15th May Depart Southern Leyte, transfer to Cebu City (Henry Hotel)
Thursday 16th May Depart Cebu City, fly to Puerto Princesa, board Discovery Palawan
Friday 17th – Tuesday 21st May Tubbataha – Discovery Palawan – Dive Days 6 – 10 (19 dives available)
Wednesday 22nd May Depart Discovery Palawan, fly to Manila, depart Philippines
Thursday 23rd May Arrive UK

Should you be able to arrive in Cebu on the morning of Wednesday 8th May, transfer flights to Southern Leyte will be on that afternoon, giving you chance to become acquainted with the delights of the Sogod Bay resort earlier.

Price

  • Philippine Dive Holidays: £ 3,795
  • New Horizons fee:  £ 80 (£40 for gold Dive Society members)

Finally, New Horizons may provide you with a group leader. To ensure a fun and safe trip for all concerned!  Courses can be completed while on board at a discounted price; please ask for further details.

 

Payment plans are available:

Option 1 – three instalments:

  1. Initial deposit of £750 (non-refundable)
  2. Interim payment of £1522 payable 9 months before departure (August 2018)
  3. Balance payment of £1523 payable 12 weeks before departure (February 2019)

Option 2 – monthly instalments

  1. Initial deposit of £750 (non-refundable)
  2. Monthly (10) instalments of £304.50, with the final payment to be made 12 weeks prior to departure.

Equipment

You must take all your personal dive equipment, except tank and weights. Due to the nature of the diving during this trip, all divers MUST have dive computers and delayed SMBs with reels. Night dives may be available and to participate on these good quality torches will be required. Equipment rental is available from New Horizons for the duration of the trip.

Experience Needed

Suitable for Advanced Open Water qualified divers and above with a minimum of 50 logged dives.  NITROX is available for those qualified to use it.

Further Education

Further PADI courses, such as Enriched Air Nitrox, Drift Diver, Boat Diver and the full range of Project AWARE related Specialties, to name a few, may be completed while on this trip at discounted rates. Simply get in touch to book your place and to discuss your options.

Book

To reserve your place on this trip, please complete a New Horizons Dive Centre booking form, returning the completed form (one per person) to the shop by post, email or in person, along with payment of the non-refundable deposit, payable to Philippine Dive Holidays, plus the NHDC Fee.  We will provide you with confirmation of your place on the trip once we’ve received the booking form and receipt of payment.

Insurance

To go on this trip you must have travel and diving accident insurance. You can book your insurance with Dive Master Insurance through the New Horizons website and save 5%.

Legal

Your holiday will be booked with ATOL holder Philippine Dive Holidays, for whom we act as agents. All holiday bookings will be subject to this ATOL holder’s booking conditions. When a booking and a holiday deposit has been received by New Horizons Dive Centre Ltd, a contract exists between you and the ATOL holder, Philippine Dive Holidays, Once New Horizons Dive Centre Ltd issues a confirmation of booking, the client copy of the ATOL holder’s confirmation will be sent to you on request.

New Horizons Dive Centre Ltd may provide your own group dive and holiday leader to organise dives, provide expertise and to run courses as required. The services of this leader and the gear rental available from New Horizons Dive Centre Ltd are the responsibility of New Horizons Dive Centre Ltd and are provided under a separate contract. These arrangements will be confirmed by us.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or require further information, please telephone on 0161 223 5102 or call in to the dive centre.