Philippines
From pygmy seahorses to whale sharks and everything in between. Colour and beauty await in The Philippines.
Thought by many to be the apex of the Coral Triangle, diving in the Philippines offers you a wide variety of marine environments to choose from. Dives on steep walls and offshore pinnacles, critter hunting on black sand reefs, sardine balls, possibly the healthiest corals in Asia, and the opportunity to get up close to the world’s largest fish – the whale shark. The Philippines will whet the appetite of even the most seasoned diver.
The islands are well known for their impressive coral gardens, colourful reefs and high biodiversity of macro critters. But a little further afield you can find mantas, thresher sharks, and plenty of other large pelagics wherever the currents are pumping. Whale sharks are also regularly found during the right season. The Philippines comprise over 7,100 islands, surrounded by deep blue seas that contain some of the richest marine life on earth.
Tubbataha
Diving Tubbataha is exclusively reserved for liveaboards. This UNESCO World Heritage Site lies far off the coast of Palawan Island, in the Sulu Sea. It comprises two mostly submerged atolls, plus the Jessie Beazley Reef. The dive sites consist of steep coral reef walls covered in sea fans. There are also sandy sea-grass slopes and two wrecks, where a plethora of marine life thrive.
Tubbataha is a big fish lovers’ paradise. Whitetip reef, grey reef, silvertip, leopard, whale, and hammerhead shark species are regularly sighted. Occasionally guitar, tiger, and bull sharks also appear. Expect to see huge schools of trevally, barracuda, and snapper as well as many turtles and rays.
Healthy corals support a vast array of colourful reef fish, crabs, shrimps, molluscs and echinoderms; there is plenty for macro-lovers too. A visit to the ranger’s station, to learn more about the park and conservation, is also organised on every trip.
The Visayas and Leyte
The Visayas group of islands are best known for their great variety of dive sites, starring thresher sharks in Malapascua, whale sharks in Oslob, turtles all over, and the sardine ball in Moalboal. Macro lovers can indulge in sightings of pygmy seahorses, ornate ghost pipefish, and spectacular frogfish of all sizes.
Underwater the topography of dive sites varies from shallow sandy fringing reefs to steep walls dotted with sea fans and sponges, whilst a couple of small plane wrecks and cars have formed artificial reefs. Marine life is diverse, however, common sightings include green and hawksbill turtles and schools of barracuda and jacks.
Redtooth triggerfish, pyramid butterflyfish and blue lined fusiliers are seen on almost each dive in huge numbers. Smaller creatures such as frogfish, ghost pipefish, octopus, and pygmy seahorses are found at several of the dive sites and of course a wide range of nudibranchs, shrimps, and crabs can be found on each reef.
our Philippines itineraries
Southern Visayas
6 nights
from USD 2340
Southern Visayas
7 nights
from USD 3010
Visayas, Southern Leyte & Malapascua
10 nights
from USD 3960
Southern Leyte & Visayas
7 nights
from USD 2772
Malapascua & Visayas
10 nights
from USD 3510
Tubbataha National Park
6 nights
from USD 3564
Tubbataha and More
13 nights
from USD 6494
our vessel
Philippine Siren
The ‘youngest sister’ of the Sirens, Philippine Siren was built in 2013 to meet all your liveaboard diving needs.
Welcoming up to 16 guests onboard, there is always plenty of space to relax. Her eight cabins are a mix of fixed doubles, fixed twin, and flexible twin/double cabins. Each has individual air-conditioning and an en-suite bathroom with hot water.
The covered outdoor dining area provides a great setting for all your meals and the spacious air-conditioned saloon offers a cocktail bar, comfortable seating, and a large flat screen TV. Our crew on this boat is second-to-none, constantly delivering outstanding and friendly service.
The dive deck will most likely be one of the most spacious and comfortable you will have come across. There are also designated areas for charging and preparation of your camera and video equipment, making Indo Siren a top choice for underwater photographers and videographers.
vessel specifications
Facilities
Guests
16
Twin Cabins
4
Double Cabins
2
Twin/Double Flexi Cabins
2
En-suite
Yes
Air-conditioning
Yes
Personal safe
Yes
Towels
Yes
Lounge/Bar
Yes
Technical information
Length
40m
Breadth
9.7m
Engines
x2
Generators
x3
Construction Material
Iron Wood
Desalination Units
Yes
Diving Facilities
Courses
Yes
Equipment Rental
Yes
Nitrox
Yes
Rebreather Friendly
Yes
Photography Friendly
Yes
Compressors
x2
Tenders
x2
Guides
x3
Safety Equipment
First Aid
Yes
First Aiders
Yes
Emergency Oxygen
Yes
Life Jackets
Yes
Life Rafts
Yes
VHF Radios
Yes
Fire Fighting Equipment
Yes
Smoke Detectors
Yes
Life Rings
Yes