So good is the diving in the Philippines, you’ll get to experience two destinations there. From the shore, you’ll be able to explore the reefs around Sogod Bay in Southern Leyte. Next stop, liveaboard! Cruise the UNESCO world heritage site of Tubbataha and be blown away by the spectacle of the weird and wonderful that call the Sulu Sea home.
This is why you learnt to dive…
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.
Price
Diving & Accommodation: £3795. Payable by installments, with the final balance payable 12 weeks prior to departure.
NHDC Arrangement Fee: £80 per person (£40 Dive Society members ); to be paid at the time of booking.
Deposit: £750. Please note, this is required to secure your flights, diving and accommodation and is non-refundable.
Balance Payment: Balance payments will be required 12 weeks prior to departure; please get in touch to discuss options for setting up a payment plan.
Pre-requisites
Ability: You will need to be a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or equivalent) with 50+ logged dives before you travel.
Medically Fit: Complete this Medical Statement and have GP countersign if required.
Reserve your place
Contact Us to Reserve your Place
- What You'll Do
- Your Equipment
- What's Included
- Your Diving Options
- Your Experience
- Reserve Your Place
- Insurance & Legal Bits
Accommodation
You will be flying to Cebu from Manchester on Tuesday 7th May 2019. You will arrive in Cebu during the afternoon of the 8th whereupon you’ll be transferred to Henry Hotel, Cebu City for a good nights sleep.
On the morning of the 9th, you’ll travel to Sogod Bay Scuba Resort in Southern Leyte for another relaxing day to overcome the jet lag before the good bits start! The ocean front rooms offer spectacular views of Sogod Bay and come equipped with A/C, en suite bathroom and a beachfront terrace overlooking the sea. Just the place to fill in your log books!
Following a week at Sogod Bay Resort, you’ll return to the Henry hotel for a night before flying to the Puerto Princesa, ready to board Discovery Palawan.
You’ll cruise Tubbataha, taking in dive sites only accessible by liveaboard. You’ll relax in en-suite air conditioned twin cabins by night and enjoy the luxury of the saloon between dives and even get chance to enjoy the cocktail bar before bed.
Diving
From the 10th May, you’ll be diving! With a total of 15 dives available from the shores of Southern Leyte, you’ll explore the beautiful reefs and exotic marine life encountered there. The reefs are exceptional and the weird and wonderful will amaze!
You’ll get to enjoy 19 more astounding dives from Discovery Palawan as you enjoy the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tubbataha. You can expect to dive pristine reefs, see mantas, schools of fish, turtles, mantas, and whale sharks.
Giant Sea fans, refrigerator sized barrel sponges and delicate soft corals turn the vertiginous walls into hanging gardens. Invertebrates, sponges crustaceans make the walls look like a masters murals.
Due to the nature of the diving, you will need a Dive computer and delayed SMB with reel, as well as your usual personal dive equipment.
Water temperatures at this time of year average 28oC, therefore good 3 mm wetsuits should be sufficient exposure protection.
Wrecks will be available to explore and night dives may also be on offer. To participate on these dives, you will need a good torch.
All required equipment can be rented from NHDC for the week. Some back-up items may be available from Sogod Dive Centre or Discovery Palawan but size availability cannot be guaranteed, therefore it is advisable to take what you’ll need!
Cylinders and weights will be available fwhile we’re there. Prices include air fills. NITROX may be available for those qualified to use it and any additional cost is to be paid locally.
The package price for Divers includes:
- Twin bed, air-conditioned, en-suite beach front rooms at Sogod Bay resort
- Twin bed, air-conditioned, en-suite cabins (Discovery Palawan).
- 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
- Provision of a Trip Leader by New Horizons Dive Centre
Diving
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.
You’ll dive a range of pristine reefs & wrecks and encounter an eclectic mix of marine life. From spectacular hard & soft corals to seahorses, frogfish, nudibranchs, mantas, barracuda, octopus, cuttlefish, whale sharks, turtles, numerous species of sharks, ….
Experience
Most sites are within PADI Advanced Open Water Diver depth limits. However, some sites require a little more experience, therefore PADI Advanced Open Water Diver rating is recommended with a minimum of 50 logged dives.
Due to the depths of some of the best bits, use of Enriched Air NITROX is also recommended; this specialty can be completed prior to departure.
Experience
Courses, such as the Boat Diver, Night Diver, Wreck Diver or Deep Diver Specialties can be at least started, if not completed, while overseas at a discounted price, so get in touch to arrange your course and trip schedule.
Let us know you want to join us! Simply send us a Trip Booking Form and completed Medical Statement.
Your place will be confirmed on receipt of the booking form, medical statement, deposit and arrangement fee.
Get in touch for our bank account details or to make payment over the phone.
NHDC Arrangement Fee: £80 per person (£40 Dive Society members); to be paid at the time of booking.
Deposit: £750. Please note, this is required to secure your flights, accommodation & diving and is non-refundable.
Balance Payment: Balance payments will be required 12 weeks prior to departure. Payment plans can be arranged; please get in touch to discuss options for setting up a payment plan.
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%. Simply go to the bottom of our homepage and click on the link to Dive Master Insurance and SAVE 5% – it couldn’t be easier.
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.
