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Feb 15 - 27, 2021

Atlantis Dive Resorts

5 dives per day - up to 45 dives!

Overview
FAQ

Heart of biodiversity in the Coral Triangle

Spend half the time in Puera Galera and half in Dumaguete. Up to 5 scheduled boat dives per day, most within 10 min of the resort, (except on day trips to Verde and Apo Islands). “Designated a Man and Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO in 1973 and has some of the most diverse coral reef diving in Asia located at the very heart of the 'Coral Triangle'. The archipelago is home to more than 3000 species of fish and 448 species of coral – where else can you combine unbelievable muck-diving with pristine coral reefs and shoals of schooling fish?” While in Dumaguete we will snorkel with the Whale Sharks.

Price reflects a 'stay 9 nights get 3 free' special! Puerto Galera separately is $2,174 diver / $1,185 non-diver. Dumaguete separately is $2,540 diver / $1,522 non-diver. Let me know if you want either of those options.

Trip Includes

6 Nights at Atlantis Resort in Puerto Galera
6 Nights at Atlantis Resort in Dumaguete
All chef-prepared meals
Meet & Great airport service, resort tansfers
Domestic flight to/from Dumaguete (1 hr 15 min)
Day trip to Verde Island (in Puerto Galera)
Day trip to Apo Island (in Dumaguete)
Snorkel with the Whale Sharks (in Dumaguete)
$150 Resort credit
Nitrox!!!
Tanks & weights

Trip Excludes

Airfare to/from Maniila (MNL), tips, gear (available for rent)
Trip cancellation and dive insurance
Marine Park Fee currently ~$100
Tourist Tax and terminal fees, ~ $20
Bar tab

Cost

Initial deposit $100
$1,000 due March 31, 2020
Balance due November 17, 2020
Non-refundable, unless cancelled spot is booked by another person

Diving

Dives/day: Up to 5 scheduled boat dives per day, most within 10 min of the resort: e.g., 9 am, 11 am, 2 pm, 4 pm and 6 pm (night). Fewer dives on the day trips to Verde and Apo Islands.

Nitrox: Included!

Expected water temp: ~ °F

Expected viz: Along the coast ~ 60-80ft, Verde and Apo Islands 100ft +

Tanks, weights: Included. Most tanks are aluminum 80’s but they have ~4 aluminum 100’s. All tanks are convertible between yoke or DIN.

Other gear: Available for rent

Expected diving:

“Designated a Man and Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO in 1973 and has some of the most diverse coral reef diving in Asia located at the very heart of the 'Coral Triangle'. The area also features numerous pocket beaches and stunning tropical scenery. The archipelago is home to more than 3000 species of fish and 448 species of coral – where else can you combine unbelievable muck-diving with pristine coral reefs and shoals of schooling fish?” Fluro night dives available. “For recreational dives, the maximum depth is 30m/100ft and the maximum dive time is 60 minutes.”
Boats hold 6 divers; no more than 6 divers per guide.

Snorkeling, etc:

Nearest hyperbaric chamber: Batangas, a 1 hr boat ride from Atlantis resort.

Resorts

Style/Comfort: Nice. “Atlantis Puerto Galera is beautifully built into the hills of Sabang Beach of Puerto Galera and has a great beachfront location; in many travel guidebooks and magazines Atlantis is quoted as one of the most outstanding resorts of the Philippines with its award winning (Flintstones) design.” 90 minute massages available for ~ $35.

Alcohol: Available for purchase. Corkage fee if you bring your own. “50 Bar” in Puerta Galera is right on the beach is very popular in the evenings after a night dive, with sunset views.

Food: Includs all meals at Restaurant.

Linens: Provided

Towels: Provided. Bath towels are provided in rooms along with a token for one additional each towel each day. There is a charge for extra beach towels. Dive/beach towels are available at the front desk.

External Communication: Complimentary WiFi in rooms. Wireless and LAN connections are available from either the resort desktop or your own laptop. Internet connection is complementary with your vacation. The rooms do not have phones but you may make local or international calls from the front desk during open hours for a fee.

Room ammenities: Rooms have A/C, mini bar, refrigerator, ceiling fan, complimentary WiFi, TV with cable, and safe. Voltage is 220V but US 2 and 3 prong plug types.

Logistics

Airport: Manila, Philippines (MNL)

international Flights: NOT INCLUDED.

The transfers are Round Trip:

Puerto Galera: includes personal airport ‘meet and greet’ and luggage assistance in Manila, round trip air-conditioned van between Manila and Batangas (~ 2-3 hr), then a private outrigger boat between Berberabe Dock in Batangas and Sabang (~ 1 hr).

Dumaguete: includes round trip domestic economy airfare between Manila and Dumaguete with 30 Kg/66 lbs of checked luggage per person, domestic terminal fees, private air-conditioned van between international terminal and domestic terminal in Manila, round trip private air-conditioned transfers between Dumaguete Airport and resort, personal airport 'meet and greet', and luggage assistance.

February 14, 2021

Atlantis recommends we arrive a day early and spend the night in Manila (they recommend the Belmont Hotel, and can book it for us), have breakfast, and start out fresh the next day.
The cost is $130 per room (per night), which includes breakfast. If Atlantis books the hotel, then they can also offer a private van transfer from the terminal of arrival in MNL to the Belmont. This is $36 for one person or $20pp for two or more.

February 15, 2021

Depart from Manila for Puerto Galera in the morning.
The people who arrived the day before will likely leave at 8 am. Considering it’s about 4 hours from Manila to Puerto Galera, if we depart the Hotel at 8:00 am, by the time we get to Puerta Galera, get checked in, and have lunch, our rooms should be ready (even if it’s a bit early for the 2 pm check-in).
For people are not arriving a day early, we can pick a transfer time after we have people's flight info (can book in March'20).
We can start diving today!

February 21, 2021

When the Puerto Galera portion is complete, we will be transferred back to MNL and will fly to DGT (~ 1.5 hr). This is included and is typically booked 6 months in advance.

February 27, 2021

Fly from Dumaguete Airport (DGT) to MNL (included). This is typically booked 6 months in advance, but will likely be the Cebu Pacific flight arriving around 12:45 pm.
Fly home (or next day). International flights should depart after 3 pm.

If arriving from Raja Ampat

Feb. 14, 2021: Fly SOQ-UPG-CGK on an Indonesian domestic carrier, (such as Garuda Indonesia) to get back to an international airport. For example SOQ-UPG-CGK, 2:55 PM – 6:40 PM, on Garuda Indonesia. Optional: sleep a few hours in airport hotel for ~$60: http://www.jakartaairporthotel.com/
Feb. 15, 2021: Fly fom Jakarta to Manila (CGK- MNL) on Philippine Air or Cebu Pacific. Cebu Pacific is a budget airlines, Philippines is a full service airlines. Both flights are from ~ 1 am to ~ 6 am (4 hr, as of this update).
Feb. 27 or 28: Fly home from MNL.

Note: in 2017 Garuda Indonesia didn’t serve alcohol on flights, not even business class. They might on International flights and flights over 3 hours.

Money

Terms

Initial deposit $100
$1,000 due March 31, 2020
Balance due November, 2020
Non-refundable, unless cancelled spot is booked by another person

Travel insurance: We strongly recommend travel insurance.

Medical and Dive accident insurance: Required by Atlantis resorts

Airfare: Not included

Other fees:

How settle bill for expenses: Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted. There is a 5% discount for cash payments on personal bills at the resort. The local currency is Philippine pesos, (Php). They will bill in either Pho or USD. All credit card transactions appear in pesos.

Tipping: Atlantis cannot accept tips paid by credit card, so please bring ample cash (any major currency) if you intend to tip. It is not recommended that you rely on ATMs outside of Manila as they are prone to technical failure and may be out of cash or not support your card. Gratuities are not included and not mandatory. “If you feel that the Atlantis Team helped make your trip enjoyable and you received a superior level of service may we suggest a gratuity of approximately 10% of your vacation price. Envelopes are provided at the resort where you may choose individual team members, departments, or the whole staff with whom to share your tip.”

Before you go

Bring:

Cert cards (including Nitrox, deep, and night cert) and logbooks! “To participate in night dives or dives below 60ft divers are required to show experience/certification in night/deep diving or take the PADI Adventure Night/Deep diving module.”

Technical diving: bring appropriate documentation if you plan to do technical diving. Technical and rebreather diving is available by prior arrangement only. Please clarify your equipment requirements and dive plans with the resort prior to arrival.
Copies of your diving and travel health insurance.

Forms:

Sixty days prior arrival, please provide your name as it appears on your passport and your international travel itinerary / flight details.
Thirty days prior to arrival, complete the on-line check-in (you will need your passport and dive certifications at hand): https://booking.atlantishotel.com/online_forms.html

Passport: Please ensure your passport is valid at least six months after your return date to the US.

Miscellaneous

Caveat: The dives are subject to the current and weather conditions that day, and can be changed at the Captain’s discretion.

CANCELLATION POLICY: If you cancel you will be refunded when and if the spot is booked by a different diver.

Philippines: Puerto Galera & Dumaguete February 15-27, 2021

Feb 15 - 27, 2021

Atlantis Dive Resorts

5 dives per day - up to 45 dives!