Dive the Philippines
9% of the world’s coral reefs and over 2,200 different species of fish
The Philippines comprise over 7,600 islands, has almost 9% of the world’s coral reefs and over 2,200 different species of fish. Situated within The Coral Triangle of marine biodiversity, it is little wonder that the Philippine islands offer such a wide range of fascinating liveaboard diving opportunities.
Whether it’s dives on steep walls and offshore pinnacles, critter hunting in coastal reefs, the sardine run, or 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.
exhilarating wall & drift diving, wrecks and Sharks
Tubbataha a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers exhilarating wall & drift diving, wrecks and a good chance to spot hammerhead sharks, mantas, and whale sharks, plus some of the world’s best coral gardens. Also, gigantic fan corals flourish in Tubbataha waters.
The Visayas and Malapascua regions are best known for their great variety of dive sites, starring Thesher Sharks in Malapascua, whale sharks in Oslob, turtles all over, and the sardine run in Moalboal. Macro lovers can indulge in sightings of pygmy seahorses, ornate ghost pipefish, and spectacular frogfish of all sizes.
Coral Gardens Stunning Natural Topography Abundant Marine Life Something For Every Diver
Coral Gardens Stunning Natural Topography Abundant Marine Life Something For Every Diver
Philippine Siren
The 40 metre Philippine Siren Liveaboard was built on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Handcrafted from ironwood and teak (traditional to the area), you will find no other diving liveaboard as beautiful in waters of the Philippines.
Philippine Siren is the largest of the Siren Fleet phinisis, welcoming up to 16 guests in eight cabins. Guest accommodation on board comprises two fixed double bed cabins, four fixed twins and 2 cabins that are flexible doubles/twins. Each cabin is equipped with individually controlled air-conditioning units, plenty of storage space and private ensuite bathrooms.
The spacious, air-conditioned saloon benefits from a cocktail bar, comfortable seating and a large flat screen TV. Dining is outdoors under a covered area with uninterrupted views of the ocean. An expansive dive deck provides ample space for kitting up and storing dive equipment, even when the vessel is full, and fresh water showers available to rinse off after each dive. Underwater photographers and videographers will definitely appreciate the separate rinse tanks as well as the designated areas for charging and preparation of camera equipment.
The vessel also benefits from 2 high-powered tenders, nitrox compressor, equipment rental, kayaks, laundry and massage services.
Southern Leyte, The Visayas, and Malapascua
10 nights Itinerary
The 10 night Visayas, Southern Leyte & Malapascua liveaboard itinerary explores some of the very best scuba diving in the Eastern region of the Philippines.
Over the course of 11 days aboard Philippine Siren, you will visit and dive around Limawasa Island and Sogod Bay as well as Cabilao, Balicasag, Bohol, and Malapascua. This itinerary not only offers fantastic macro diving, and the chance to see masses of schooling fish, but also the possibility of some larger pelagic encounters. Whale sharks frequent the area around Southern Leyte and Thresher Sharks come in to feed on schools of sardines at various locations covered by this itinerary; most notably around Malapascua.
The dive sites vary from gentle sloping reefs and muck diving hotspots to steep coral and sponge covered walls with a wide variety of marine life. Common sightings include green and hawksbill turtles and schools of barracuda and jacks, whilst redtooth trigger fish, pyramid butterfly fish and blue lined fusiliers are seen in huge numbers on almost every dive.
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.
Following is a sample of the dive sites which we may visit during your time aboard Philippine Siren:
- Malapascua
- Southern Leyte
- Sogod Bay
- Limasawa Island
- Balicasag Island
- Cabilao Island
A detailed dive site itinerary is available on request
Notes
- Certification level: Advanced Open Water, or equivalent, with a minimum of 30 logged dives and experience diving in currents.
- Number of scheduled dives: Up to 33
Transfers
- Meeting point for embarkation: Marina Seaview Restaurant, Mactan Island
- Embarkation time: 13:00
- Disembarkation: 10:00
- Transfers between Cebu Airport or local hotels and Marina Seaview Restaurant are provided free of charge on embarkation and disembarkation day.
Tubbataha National Marine Park
6 Nights Itinerary
This 6 night liveaboard adventure allows up to 19 dives, including up to 4 sunset dives in and around Tubbataha National Marine Park.
150km South East of Puerto Princessa on Palawan Island, the Tubbataha reef system covers 970km², with 100km² of pristine coral reefs for divers to explore.
Formed Millennia ago along the Cagayan ridge, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park consists chiefly of two atolls (North and South) and the Jessie Beazley reefs. This delicate reef system supports over 600 different fish species and over 300 coral species, whilst providing a haven for nesting hawksbill and green turtles and numerous birds.
A field station on the north atoll is manned by rangers year-round and during your trip you can visit the rangers to learn more about conservation and reef protection.
Following is a sample of the dive sites which we may visit during your time aboard Philippine Siren.
- Delsan Wreck
- Black Rock
- Washing Machine
- North East Wall
- Shark Airport
- Amos Rock
- Staghorn Point
- Jessie Beazley Reef
- Malayan Wreck
A detailed dive site itinerary is available on request
Notes
- Certification level: Advanced Open Water, or equivalent, with a minimum of 30 logged dives and experience diving in currents.
- Number of scheduled dives: Up to 19
Transfers
- Meeting point for embarkation: Hotel Centro, Puerto Princesa at 12:30
- Embarkation Point: Baywalk Pier, Puerto Princesa at 13:00*
- Disembarkation Point: Baywalk Pier, Puerto Princesa between 09:30-10:00**
- Transfer from Puerto Princesa Airport and local hotels to Hotel Centro, and from Hotel Centro to Baywalk Pier are provided free of charge on embarkation day.
Tubbataha and More
13 Nights Itinerary
This extended 13 night liveaboard adventure allows up to 39 dives, including up to 8 night dives. You will spend 5-6 days at the spectacular National Marine Park of Tubbataha as well as covering some of the highlights of the South Visayas such as Apo Island.
150km South East of Puerto Princessa, on Palawan Island, the Tubbataha reef system covers 970km², with 100km² of pristine coral reefs for divers to explore.
Formed Millennia ago along the Cagayan ridge, Tubbataha consists chiefly of two atolls (North and South) and the Jessie Beazley reefs. This delicate reef system supports over 600 different fish species and over 300 coral species, whilst providing a haven for nesting hawksbill and green turtles and numerous birds.
A field station on the north atoll is manned by rangers year-round and during your trip you can visit the rangers to learn more about conservation and reef protection.
Following is a sample of the dive sites which we may visit during your time aboard Philippine Siren.
- Tubbataha Reefs
- Jessie Beazley Reef
- Cagayancillo
- The Visayas Apo Island
- Dauin, Negros
- Balicasag Island
- Cabilao Island
A detailed dive site itinerary is available on request
Notes
Certification level: Advanced Open Water, or equivalent, with a minimum of 30 logged dives and experience diving in currents.
Number of scheduled dives: Up to 39
Transfers
Puerto Princesa – Cebu
- Puerto Princesa embarkation: Baywalk Pier, Puerto Princesa at 13:00
- Cebu Disembarkation: Marina Seaview Restaurant, Mactan Island at 10:00
- Transfer from Puerto Princesa Airport and local hotels to Hotel Centro, and from Hotel Centro to Baywalk Pier are provided free of charge on embarkation day.
Cebu – Puerto Princesa
- Meeting point for Cebu embarkation: Marina Seaview Restaurant, Mactan Island
- Embarkation: 13:00
- Disembarkation: Baywalk Pier, Puerto Princesa between 09:30 and 10:00 only
- Disembarkation earlier than 09:30 is NOT possible. Please, do not book flights that departure from PPS before 12:30pm
Southern Visayas
6 nights Itinerary
This 6 night liveaboard adventure takes you to the southern region of the Visayas, which is home to some of the best diving in the Philippines. There is a wide diversity of marine life, steep coral covered walls, gentle sloping reefs and muck diving hotspots.
During the cruise you will visit and dive sites around the islands of Cebu, Cabilao, Balicasag and Pescador, along with Apo Island marine sanctuary and critter hot spot Dauin. This itinerary not only offers fantastic macro and the chance to see thousands of schooling fish, but also the possibility of some larger pelagic creatures.
Underwater, the topography 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. Common marine life sightings include green and hawksbill turtles, schools of barracuda and jacks, whilst large numbers of red-tooth trigger fish, pyramid butterfly fish and blue lined fusiliers are seen on almost every dive. 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.
Following is a sample of the dive sites which we may visit during your time aboard Philippine Siren.
- Apo Island
- Dauin, Negros
- Sumilon Island
- Oslob (optional)
There is an additional charge of 30 USD per person, also payable on board, for diving with whale sharks at Oslob should you choose to do so and please be advised it is not allowed to use strobes and/or flash lights here.
- Panglao Bay, Bohol
- Cabilao Island
A detailed dive site itinerary is available on request
Notes
- Certification level: Advanced Open Water, or equivalent, with a minimum of 10 logged dives and experience diving in currents.
- Number of scheduled dives: Up to 22
Transfers
- Meeting point for embarkation: Marina Seaview Restaurant, Mactan Island
- Embarkation time: 13:00
- Disembarkation: 10:00
- Transfers between Mactan-Cebu International Airport or local hotels and Marina Seaview Restaurant are provided free of charge on embarkation
Malapascua and The Visayas
10 Nights Itinerary
This 10 night Malapascua & Visayas liveaboard adventure allows up to 33 dives (including night dives) and takes you to some of the most beautiful regions of the Philippines, allowing you to experience some of the best diving in all of south east Asia, including Thresher Shark encounters at Malapascua, turtles and beautiful coral gardens at Apo Island, giant sardine balls at Pescador and world class muck diving and critter hunting around Dauin.
This itinerary involves some long distance travel and, whilst we attempt to ensure the number of dives we have scheduled are fulfilled, bad weather can hinder the boat’s ability to reach a specified dive site in good time.
Following is a sample of the dive sites which we may visit during your time aboard Philippine Siren.
- Malapascua
- Kimud Shoal
- Gato Island
- Chocolate Island
- Moalboal, Cebu
- Pescador Island
- Dauin, Negros
- Apo Island
- Oslob (optional)
There is an additional charge of 30 USD per person, also payable on board, for diving with whale sharks at Oslob should you choose to do so and please be advised it is not allowed to use strobes and/or flash lights here.
- Balicasag Island
- Cabilao Island
A detailed dive site itinerary is available on request
Notes
- Certification level: Advanced Open Water, or equivalent, with a minimum of 10 logged dives and experience diving in currents.
- Number of scheduled dives: Up to 33
Transfers
- Meeting point for embarkation: Marina Seaview Restaurant, Mactan Island
- Embarkation time: 13:00
- Disembarkation: 10:00
- Transfers between Cebu Airport or local hotels and Marina Seaview Restaurant are provided free of charge on embarkation and disembarkation day.
Important Information
Whale sharks
Scuba diving is NOT allowed at the locations that are frequented by the whale sharks. Therefore, those sites will be offered as a snorkelling option only.
Puerto Princesa
Before Philippine Siren can depart from Puerto Princesa, a mandatory check by the coasts guards, and briefing by the Tubbataha Management Office must be conducted when ALL guests are on board.
If the briefing and coast guard check are not accomplished, the boat cannot leave the port.
Crossing time from Puerto Princesa to Tubbataha is between 12 – 16 hours; any delays to departure due to late arrival of guests may result in Philippine Siren being refused permission to leave port or in dives being missed.
Disembarkation earlier than 09:30 is NOT possible. Please, do not book flights that departure from PPS before 12:30pm
We kindly request that guests check their flight departure times to ensure that they leave a minimum of 24 hours between their final dive and the departure of their flight from Puerto Princesa.
Balicasag Island Information
As of 1st September 2017, a new memorandum has been put in place by the authorities in the Philippines, who operate the permits on Balicasag Island. This area forms a small part of the Southern Visayas itineraries. In order to comply, we must provide a copy of dive certificates/license for every diver booking onto this itinerary. Please ensure that you send a scanned copy of your certification to dive@masterliveaboards.com once you have confirmed a booking. Without a scanned copy of guests’ certifications, there is a strong risk that the authorities will not issue the permit. This would result in the whole boat being refused dive permissions for Balicasag Island.
Tubbataha Reefs Information
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park comprises North Atoll, South Atoll and Jessie Beazley Reef and is often rated as one of the world’s best diving destinations by those who have been fortunate to dive there.
The following are prohibited in Tubbataha:
- All Single use plastics
- Dive operators are mandated to follow the No-Single-Use Plastics which includes all drinks in plastic bottles, snacks in plastic wrappers, etc.
- Diving with gloves (unless for medical reasons)
- Use of reef hooks, tank bangers and nudi-pointers
- Use of drones without a permit
- Dives longer than 60 minutes
- Night dives
It is a mandatory requirement for all divers to have insurance which covers scuba diving activities, including emergency evacuation and recompression chamber costs.
Inclusions and Exclusions
Inclusions
- Return transfers between Airport or local hotels and the vessel on embarkation and disembarkation days
- Shared cabin accommodation
- Full board accommodation
- Tea, coffee, fruit juice & soft drinks
- Up to 3/4 dives daily
- 11 litre (AL80) cylinder with air fills
- Weights, weight belt and SMB
- Obligatory surcharges
- Airport Terminal Fee (domestic) 50-220 php
- Airport departure tax (international) 750 php
- 6 nights Visayas itineraries $75
- 7 nights Visayas/ Leyte itineraries $100
- 10 nights Visayas/ Leyte/ Malapascua $155
- 13 nights Tubbataha & More itineraries $160
- 6 nights Tubbataha itineraries $120
Exclusions
- Flights
- Additional transfers
- Fuel Surcharge
- Port & Park Fees
- Equipment rental
- Nitrox
- Beer, cocktails & spirits
- On board merchandise
- Crew and guide gratuities