Dive the Fabulous Phillipines Atlantis Dive Resort Dumaguete, Dauin, Philippines March 18-27, 2012 9 nights / 10 days  PLUS an optional 3 Nights in Donsol/Legazpi to Snorkel with Whale Sharks

Click here to see who's Going!
 

The warm, clear waters of the Philippines are blessed with some of the most diverse and beautiful marine life to be found anywhere in the world.
The archipelago is home to more than 3000 species of fish and 448 species of coral (compared to 700 species of fish and 100 species of coral in
the entire Caribbean). Dumaguete has an abundance of this 'coral rain forest', but remains one of the Philippines best kept secrets. Dazzling coral
gardens, dramatic walls and among the best muck diving in the world, you will see critters you never knew existed.   Most dive sites are less than
10 minutes from the Resort.   World famous Apo Island Marine Sanctuary is also nearby, just a 45 minute boat ride from the resort!

Atlantis Resort Dumaguete -- Just a twenty minute drive from the local airport on a long peaceful stretch of beach, lies the lush and luxurious
Atlantis Dive Resort. Surrounded by an amazing tropical garden with some of the rarest plants to be found in the Philippines, it is just a short trip to
some of the most renowned dive sites in the Philippines - Apo Island, Balicasag Reef, Siquijor Island and the local Dauin Marine Sanctuaries.

Dauin Sanctuary -- The marked feature of this site is a reef full of hard corals sweeping down to about 25 meters. Staghorn, lettuce, cabbage corals all abound. Near the sandy area is an artificial reef made up of old tires which is full of cardinal and other juvenile fishes. This is a muck diver's haven!!

Masaplod Sanctuary -- A basketball court size area that is full of juvenile jacks, a turtle or two, rabbitfish, sweetlips, angelfishes and giant emperor fishes. Although the smallest of all the sanctuaries, it has 50 percent more target food fish species than Apo or Dauin. If you’re into fish photography, this is the place to go to, as the residents go about their business, unmindful of visitors in their midst.

Apo Island -- A 45 minute boat ride away is world famous Apo Island. A 72 hectare volcanic island, it has a “Marine Reserve” designation and is included in the Philippines’ NIPA’s LIST (Nationally Integrated Protected Areas). The waters around Apo Island are full of both soft and hard corals, schools of jacks and other marine fishes. Because of its exceptional marine life, the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago has chosen it to be their centerpiece attraction of an underwater eco-system. This island boasts 10 dive sites although it is possible to start at one site, ride the predictable currents and end at another.

Land Activities - when you're not diving there are many interesting things to see and do on land.  Tour Dumaguete City and see the old Bell Tower (built in 1811) and the Christmas House, visit Malatapay Market on Wednesday afternoon (a must!), go caving (4 developed caves in the area), see the Twin Lakes, Casaroro Falls, take a day trip to one of the nearby islands or just relax with a massage at the resort!

 

LAND PACKAGE PRICE:   $2175.00 USD

Includes:

• Accommodation (9 nights) in a deluxe room (double occupancy/twin share).
• All meals at Toko's Restaurant (breakfast drinks, Italian and specialty coffees are included.  Coffee, tea and filtered water are available from 6:00am to 6:00pm.  (Italian and specialty coffees are NOT included after breakfast.)
• Unlimited Internet Access
• Unlimited shore diving & scheduled boat diving up to 4 boat dives a day between 8:00am to 6:00pm.  Excludes equipment rental, dawn dives, additional day trips and Nitrox fills.  You can pre-reserve and pre-pay for a Nitrox package (can also get it when we get there)
• Two day trips to Apo Island or similar site.
• ground transfers to Atlantis Resort Dumaguete.

  NON-DIVER RATE:  $1,575.00 USD

   

Flight Prices:   TBA  (approx. $2000.00 CAD)
Flight prices will be available in June.   We will be flying Cathay Pacific from Toronto direct (non-stop) to Hong Kong and then on to Manila.  In Manila we will transfer to Phillipines Airlines for a 1 hour flight to Dumaguete.

Current (2011) pricing for the flights is approx. $1900.00 CAD so I have estimated $2,000.00 for 2012.  Could be less!

**Note:  our flight will leave Toronto on Saturday, March 17, 2012 at approx. 1:40am.  With the time zone changes, we arrive in the Phillipines on Sun. March 18th.

 

Optional 3 Night Adventure in Donsol / Legaspi:
If you'd like a bit more excitement - this is definitely it!  We will fly from Manila to Legaspi (approx. 45 minutes) and then take a 1.5 hr van ride to Donsol
where you will find one of the largest concentrations of whale sharks in the world (and we're there in peak season!).  We'll stay there for 2 nights and
do two mornings of whale shark watching/snorkeling.  In the evening(s) we'll take an night time river cruise for a unique experience - firefly watching!
You can also participate in the local culture by going out on a night shrimp catching adventure (the old fashioned way with bamboo sticks and nets! )
We'll stay in Legaspi for the 3rd night so we can catch an early morning (7:30am) flight back to Manila.  The Lagaspi area is home to Mayon Volcano
which is considered to be the world's most perfectly formed volcano.  Saturday afternoon (12:30pm) we fly home, arriving in Toronto on Saturday 
March 30 around 8:30pm).

Cost:  Approx. $425.00 USD pp: 
includes flight, 2 nights accommodations in Donsol at Giddy's Place with breakfast, 1 night accommodation in Legaspi, 2 whale shark tours & registration,
1 firefly tour, airport transfers.  Pretty Cheap for all of that!!!

 

Reservations:
A $500.00 USD deposit is required to reserve your spot.  FYI-Atlantis will not 'hold' spots so your reservation cannot be confirmed until your
deposit is received. 

For more information, please email or call Dixie at 519-426-2590                               [back to home page]