Enjoy the Best of the Philippines on the 10-night transition charter as the Philippines Aggressor makes its way from Tubbataha to Visayas as the seasons change. Tubbataha sits in the Sulu Sea and is in the middle of the Coral Triangle between Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The Tubbataha Reefs National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visayas is home to some of the best scuba diving the Philippines offers. From soft coral-covered walls to black sand dives to Thresher sharks, huge schools of Sardines, Turtles, schools of Jacks, and Whale sharks. On the macro side, there are fascinating critters such as Waspfish, Ghost Pipefish, and many other unique bottom dwellers, offering lots of diversity.
Project Focus: The purpose of this trip is to conduct fish surveys to support REEF's Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Click here to learn more about participating in fish surveys on a REEF Field Survey Trip!
Best Suited For: Divers.
Accommodations: The Philippines Aggressor is a modern 135 ft purpose-built steel hull liveaboard, constructed in 2020. It has 12 spacious staterooms, with 5 on the lower deck, 4 on the main deck, and 3 incredible balcony suites. All have private bathrooms with a shower, individual climate control, a monitor with a media player, and a hairdryer. The Deluxe Lower Deck Staterooms feature either 2 single beds or a single and a double bed. The Deluxe Main Deck Staterooms include either two single beds or a king bed and a panoramic window. The Balcony Suite has 2 single beds or a king bed with a large panoramic window and a private balcony. Please see the Philippines Aggressor's website for more details.
Diving: This is a special itinerary traveling from Tubbataha to Visayas. There are 3-4 dives per day, including night dives, averaging around 27 dives for this 10-day voyage. All dives are done from 20' custom zodiacs with a boarding ladder designed for convenience. Water temperature ranges from 77-85 degrees and 3mm wetsuit is recommended and should be adequate depending on tolerance. Due to swift currents in some locations, a safety sausage as well as other safety devices are recommended. A Lifeline (Dive Alert) is required and provided during the trip at no extra cost.
Pricing, Inclusions, and Other Fees
| Double Occupancy | |
| Deluxe Lower Deck |
$6,595 |
| Deluxe Main Deck |
$6,895 |
| Balcony Suite |
$7,295 |
Your Package Includes: 10 nights of accommodation on the Philippines Aggressor, all meals, snacks, 3-4 dives daily based on location, tanks, weights, weight belt, and airport transfers from Tubbataha (PPS) and to Visayas (CEB). The only meal not included is dinner on the last day, which will be had at a local restaurant.
REEF Program Fee: A REEF Program Fee of $350 will be added to each package to cover the cost of the group leader, seminar, and REEF survey materials. REEF Fee applies to all divers and/or attendees age 18 and up.
Additional Fees: The following costs are not included in the price paid to REEF. All flights and associated travel to and from the Philipines, $210 Port/Park Fee (as of 2023), $150 Unlimited Nitrox for certified divers, any rental gear (must be reserved in advance), and gratuities. Gratuities for the crew are not included in the cost of the charter and are at each individual's discretion.
Registration
To reserve your space or find out more, e-mail us at trips@REEF.org, or call us at 305-588-5869. A $1,000 deposit will be collected at the time of booking. Visit our Trip Policies page for more information on deposit and payment schedules.
*Please make note of the cancellation policies for this special trip.
Philippines Travel Info
Insurance: Travel insurance is not included. REEF strongly recommends that each participant purchase adequate dive travel insurance to protect you from unforeseen circumstances. REEF partners with both DiveAssure and DAN to offer travel insurance packages specifically for divers. REEF will receive a portion of the proceeds from travel insurance purchases when you click on the following affiliate links for DiveAssure or DAN.
How to Get There: Participants are responsible for booking flights to/from the destinations. Please note that this is a transitional trip with different arrival and departure airports. Participants should arrive at Puerto Princesa (PPS) by the day of departure, Sunday, June 28, and it is recommended to arrive the day before to avoid any delays. Participants will disembark on Wednesday, July 8, checking out from the boat at 8am. Participants should look to book flights out of Cebu (CEB).
Transfers: Transfers are included complimentary from the airport or a local hotel on the day of departure. The hotel pick-ups are at the Sunlight Guest Hotel & Hotel Fleuris Palawan in Puerto Princesas. On the day of departure, transfers will be provided to the airport.
Passports, Documentation and Visas: Visitors must have a current passport with at least 2 blank pages, adequate funds to support themselves, and a return airline ticket. US citizens are required to have a passport valid for 6 months from the date of entry. Please consult the appropriate consulate for specific travel regulations.
COVID-19 Considerations: It is the participant's responsibility to ensure that they understand and comply with all local requirements (for entry and visit as a tourist) of the host destination, and for exit and entry requirements for their home country. Be prepared for your plans to change. Be sure your travel insurance covers COVID-related issues. No travel is risk-free during the COVID-19 pandemic. Countries may further restrict travel or bring in new rules at short notice, for example, due to a new COVID-19 variant. Please be aware that REEF is not a travel agent. We are doing our best to interpret the information provided by our trip vendor and the host country’s government COVID-19 webpages. We encourage everyone to do their own research, interpretation, and due diligence. Please see REEF’s COVID-19 Considerations and Vaccine Policies section on our REEF Field Survey Trips Policies page for more information.