Program

Meeting Point: 1 PM at Moana Hotel, Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa, then transfer to the boat, check in, sailing during night time to the Tubbataha Reef

Day 1 -      Arriving during the morning and first dive at the reef, breakfast, second
                  dive, transfer, Lunch, third or sunset dive, dinner, overnight stay

Day 2 - 4 - First dive, breakfast, transfer to an other dive site at Tubbataha,
                  second dive, Lunch, third dive, forth or eventually night dive
                  at 7 PM, dinner, overnight stay

Day 5 -      First dive, breakfast, eventually transfer to an other dive site
                 at Tubbataha, second dive, Lunch, third dive, 1 - 2 PM sailing back
                 to Puerto Princesa

Day 6 -      Arriving in the morning, breakfast, check out

We always make the program and choose the dive location according to weather and sea conditions.

Patty from Amsterdam described her holiday as follows:

We took a 1 hour flight to Puerto Princesa and had a fascinating view down to turquoise-blue waters and Islands with white sand beaches. Upon arrival I found that Taxis are not available, instead public transport is via “Tricycles’, which are Motorbikes and sidecars attached for two passengers.

All right then, I put my luggage in and rode to the reserved Hotel. In the evening Urs and his wife visited and we discussed the upcoming journey. It was my first live-aboard diving safari.

The next day, at 1pm Urs came and we transferred to the boat. Onboard we had a welcome drink and everybody filled out the entrance permit for Tubbataha. Afterwards we stowed our belongings in our cabin and we had a boat orientation tour. Urs explained that no one is allowed to stay on the roof while cruising, to turn off the lights after leaving the cabin or toilette and the routine for the self-serving Coffee / Tea bar. While all this was going on the 4 man crew prepared the boat for departure.

We sailed out of the bay to the open sea, passing mangrove covered shores and some typical native stilt houses. To our back was a beautiful mountain range as we headed for the bay entrance and the endless sea. Myself and the other 6 guests had an interesting discussion about the upcoming trip. Garry had already made 3 trips with the Queen Anne Divers to Tubbataha and he gave us some exciting information.

The steady throb of the engine lulled me to sleep. The next morning Louise, my cabin mate woke me up when we approached the North Atoll. The Malayan Wreck was our first diving destination. The crew moored the boat while we formed 2 diving groups and prepared our equipment. 2 of the crew provided us with tanks and weights and afterwards we got the briefing. A giant stride entry from the boat into the crystal clear water, checking the proper weight and down we went.

After an unforgettable dive the Dinghy picked us up. On the boat the crew disassembled the equipment and stowed it. I rinsed only the Computer and the mask because after 2 hours surface interval the next dive was scheduled.

In the meantime the second group returned to the boat as well while we chatted about the sharks, jacks and all the coral fishes. The 2 hours went by quickly and the second dive was on. This time we used the dingy and drove 10 minutes to the wreck. What a dive! I never experienced such a current. After 40 minutes we surfaced far away from the boat. Now I knew why we had surface balloons. Back on the boat we filled up our logbooks and searched in the fish book for names. I saw my first gray reef sharks and tuna fish! We all agreed, we never saw so  many and such a variety of different fish and corals. Also diving on the Reef top at the end of the dive was unique. After the tasty lunch, we had fried parrot fish, rice and fruits, I took a nap.

In the meantime we got some waves and the crew geared up.  This time we drove in the opposite direction for diving. Again, plenty of sharks, after 20 I gave up counting and was concentrating on reef fishes specially angel fishes.

For the 4th dive and over night stay, we changed the dive spot. A short trip brought us to the “Gorgonian Channel”. We jumped in strait from the boat and after 5 Minutes diving we encountered a Hawksbill Turtle, Napoleon Fish, and the giant Gorgonians I will never forget it. At 7 pm we had sliced filet, noodles and salad for dinner. Later on we discussed the fantastic dives and had a couple of beers together. I was tired and had a shower before I went to sleep. Anyway, to conserve water and to minimize the shampoo / soap impact on the sea one shower a day is preferable.

At 7 am we went with the dinghy for the early morning dive. A large school of mackerel and a hammerhead shark (my first one) was the absolute highlight of the dive. I won’t mention the other countless fishes and corals. They belong to every dive.

During the transfer to the South Reef, “Eiger Wall” we had breakfast and tried to imagine what  will come up at the next spot. We got an explanation that a part of the wall is completely covered with white soft corals (Tubastraea faulkneri) and changes then to a pink color. A bit of a current is needed to open the corals. For 10 minutes we hovered in front of it - what a view! The whole area is snow white. Beautiful.  After a short while it changed to pink! On the top of the reef we ran into a school of Large-mouth Trevally, some Banded Barracudas and resting White tip Reef Sharks. In the afternoon we had 2 super dives with Mantas! Wow!!

The next morning I couldn’t believe my eyes. A big group of dolphins passed 30 meters by the boat. I hurried up to get on my equipment, maybe I could see one under water, by the time I jumped into the water they had already moved on. Well, never mind, we encountered 4 Turtles and saw an eagle ray, those  made me forget the dolphins. Afterwards we changed the dive spot from the north-west corner to the east side, “Black Rock”.

At 10 am we once more jumped in from the boat. Sweet lips in all sizes and variation were waiting for us at the beginning of the dive. Coral formations between white sand spots inhabited with garden eels welcomed us as well. I estimated the visibility of about 30 meters. For photographers a paradise. The wall spoiled me with huge basket sponges, gorgonians, tunas, snapper fishes and as usual sharks. Dives number 3 and 4 were full of Black tip- and Gray Reef Sharks. In a cave we encountered a relaxing Nurse Shark. Another fantastic day passed by. But before the moon rose, I went for a night dive. At 7 it was dark and we dove for 30 Minutes and a maximum of 18 meters. For me it was superb to watch the open soft corals and sleeping fishes in their caves. Around 8 o’clock Freddy finished cooking and we got an excellent escalope, pasta and salad. So finished our third day and  after a few drinks I was tired, satisfied and happy to go to sleep.

After the early morning dive at Black Rock we sailed back to the “Gorgonian Channel”. We made 2 dives there west of the mooring, and the east side is remaining to be explored. The 3 following dives had reverse current. The current changed direction all the time and every fish was on the move, really active. It was incredible, the first time I experienced such action. The absolute thriller was a Treasure Shark and an Eagle Ray. In the evening Urs informed us, that he was planning to transfer very early to “Bird Island” in the north-east corner of the Atoll for the final day of diving.

From the boat we saw Relaxing Sharks lying on sandy spots when we approached “Bird Island”. We moored up and descended immediately. Also on this dive spot we could see all kinds of corals and fish on an unbelievable scale. I was astonished by what I saw. Unfortunately, I could only dive two times, my flight was the next day at noon time!! But I will certainly change it next year when I come.

The crew released the mooring at 4 pm for the last time and we sailed westwards back to Puerto Princesa. Soon we had another colorful sunset … It’s a pity the five days passed by that quick, but I promised myself to be back next year.

-Patty