Atlantis Dumaguete Resort and Atlantis Azores Liveaboard

The Philippines -- an exciting new adventure for REEF travelers! Join us for our inaugural trip to explore this diverse region of the Central Indo-Pacific. We have two weeks of adventure - by land, based at the Atlantis Resort in Dumaguete, April 9-16, and then by sea, aboard the Atlantis Azores Liveaboard, April 16-23. Join for one or both! The area is known for some of the most interesting and beautiful fish and critters to add to your life list, including ghost pipefish, mandarinfish, pygmy seahorses, flamboyant cuttlefish, and much more. We'll dive and stay at the all-inclusive Atlantis Resort in Dumaguete. The hotel features first class accommodations and an on-site restaurant, spa, camera room, and five star PADI dive operation. The Philippines archipelago is home to more than 3000 species of fish, and the dive sites combine unbelievable muck-diving with pristine coral reefs and shoals of schooling fish. The diving, accommodations, and amenities are all sure to make for a once in a lifetime adventure - sign up early to secure your space!

Cost Per Person: $5,523 ($5,823 after June 1), trips are also available booked separately (week 1, week 2)

What is included: Our adventure will start with an all inclusive land-based package that includes accommodations in a deluxe room based on double occupancy, unlimited scheduled boat dives (up to 5 dives per day, including night diving), all meals at Toko's Restaurant in the resort (coffee, tea, and water available all day), unlimited internet access, and day trip to Apo Island (or similar location). On April 16th, we will transfer to Puerto Princesa, where we will board the luxurious Atlantis Azores liveaboard. Our at-sea itinerary includes the isolated (accessible only by boat) Tubbataha Reefs Natural Marine Park, which features a dramatic underwater terrain, incredible biodiversity, and megafauna such as sharks and manta rays. The liveaboard package includes double occupancy twin share accommodations, all diving (up to 4 dives a day), all meals and snacks on board, local soft drinks, beer and wine.

Additional fees: A REEF Program Fee of $300 per diver will be added to each package to cover the cost of the group leaders, seminar and survey materials (discounted Program Fee of $300 when this land and sea package is booked, a $300 savings). Marine park fees of $213, covering all parks visited during the two weeks, will be collected by the resort/boat from each passenger (subject to change). Nitrox for the two weeks is available for $200. Package price does not include gratuities, alcoholic beverages, in-transit hotel rooms, or ground/air transfers. Due to continuity and scheduling, all portions of domestic transfers must be made by Atlantis Resort (see next section).

Airport/hotel transfer information:Participants will make arrangements to fly into Manila Airport (MNL), arriving by April 9th. Depending on arrival and departure times, arrangements for hotels and/or day rooms near Manila airport can be arranged directly through Atlantis. Transfers between Manila airport and Dumaguete on April 9th will be provided by Atlantis at a cost US$290 per person (subject to change with any significant airfare increases). Rate includes round trip domestic economy airfare between Manila and Dumaguete, round trip private air-conditioned transfers between Dumaguete Airport and resort. This rate assumes a minimum of four people traveling together on the same transfers. On April 16th, Atlantis will provide round trip transfers between Dumaguete and Puerto Princesa (boat boarding location) at a cost of US $300 per person (subject to change with significant airfare increases). Rate includes roundtrip domestic economy airfare between Manila and Puerto Princesa, private air conditioned van between international terminal and domestic terminal in Manila, round trip transfers between Puerto Princesa airport and Azores boat. This rate assumes 2 passengers traveling on same transfer - otherwise, a different transfer rate could apply.

How to book: To reserve your space or find out more, email us at trips@REEF.org, or call us at 305-588-5869. A $1,000 deposit will be collected at time of booking. Visit our Trip Policies page for more information on deposit and payment schedules. **Note: The liveaboard portion of this trip is dependant on a minimum number of bookings by July 10, 2015, so please do not delay if you are interested.

About the trip leader: Dr. Christy Pattengill-Semmens is REEF's Director of Science. Christy is an expert at Fish ID and has led dozens of REEF Field Surveys over the years to all of REEF's survey project regions.