Hi all
With Covid finally settling down, the world opening up again and things returning to normality I have rescheduled and updated our planned trip to the Phillipines.

At this stage we have 9 people from our original group confirmed on the trip and I am now opening the trip up to anyone else who would like to join us.

We are heading to Dumuguate for some exceptional critter diving. You can expect to see Mimic Octopus, Harlequin Shrimp, Flamboyant Cuttlefish, Frogfish, Mantis Shrimp and lots more. It is a photographers dream.
Also included in our trip will be a chance to swim with Whalesharks at Oslob, this is the only place in the world where encounters are almost guaranteed. If you haven’t done it yet its a real bucket list moment.
We are staying and diving with Atlantis Resorts. I stayed and dived with them in 2018 and have to say the resort is high quality throughout.
I have secured a great price but it does mean that if you book on you will have to book your own flights. The good news there is that Phillipine Airlines have a sale on until 28th March so the return fare to manila is just $730 and there are no travel agent fees.

Dumaguete - October 15-22nd 2022

Optional Extension to Puerto Galera - October 22-29th 22

Here are the inclusions, optional extras and pricing for Dumaguete:

Price: US$1,687 per person including taxes. (Also we will need transfers from Dumuguete Airport to the resort which I don’t have a price for yet. Its not that far so don’t expect it to be too much)

Inclusions:
• 7 nights accommodation in a garden suite room (double occupancy/twin share) at Atlantis Resort Dumuguate
• Full breakfast at Toko's Restaurant
• Coffee, tea and filtered water available from 6:00 am to 9:30 pm (Italian and specialty coffees are not included after breakfast)
• Unlimited internet access
• 10 day dives
• One day trip to Apo Island or similar - Includes 2 dives
• One day trip to Oslob - Snorkel with the Whalesharks

Upgrades:
Add 15 dives for only US$245 - upgrade to 5 days of unlimited diving, total of 25 dives- opting for this option you'll also enjoy free Nitrox, valued at $204 per person
Add $350 for half board (lunch or dinner daily)
Add full board for $546 per person (lunch & dinner daily)

I would recommend both upgrades based on my experience there. Please note the resort is quite isolated so there are not really any dining or shopping options outside of the resort. The food in the resort is top notch and ala carte (i.e. No buffets)

Diving schedule is 9.00am, 11.00am, 14.00, 1600 and 18.00. All dive sites are a short boat ride and not deep.

Optional Extension to Puerta Galera which offers a different sort of diving i.,e. more wall diving

Here are the details:

Inclusions:
Accommodation in a deluxe room (double occupancy/twin share) at Atlantis Resort Puerta Galera
Breakfast at at Toko's Restaurant
Coffee, tea and filtered water available from 6:00 am to 9:30 pm (Italian and specialty coffees are not included after breakfast)
Unlimited internet access
10 day dives
One day trip to Verde Island

Price for this extension is US$1,437 per person including taxes plus a return transfer from manilla at somewhere between US$100 and US$140 dependant on numbers.

Upgrades:
Add 15 dives for only US$245 - upgrade to 5 days of unlimited diving, total of 25 dives- opting for this option you'll also enjoy free Nitrox, valued at $204 per person
Add $350 for half board (lunch or dinner daily)
Add full board for $546 per person (lunch & dinner daily)

The group will be travelling to Manilla on 14th October and staying overnight at a Mania Airport Hotel. The cost of this is AUD$119 for twin room so less than $60pp if sharing.

Prices are based on twin occupancy in both resorts.

We will then fly from Manila to Dumuguete with Cebu Pacific on the morning of 15th October. The cost of our internal flights is around AUD$120

If anyone is interested in travelling then please contact me at ischoley@iinet.net.au or on 0439 310646 and I will provide details of which flights to book onto. Remember, Phillipine Airlines is on sale until 28th March so a quick decision makes sense.