Divers come here for the incredible corals, huge schools of fish and the chance to see lots of sharks and manta rays. Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is both a National Marine Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and was nominated recently as one of the new 7 wonders of nature. There are only 2 small island in the park, both of which are off-limits to visitors. This is also one of the last places in Asia with guaranteed shark sightings on almost every dive. Expect to encounter white tip, grey reef, nurse and hammerhead sharks. This 100,000 hectare natural park is only accessible from April to June due to sea and weather conditions. This small weather window guarantees the pristine conditions of the marine flora and fauna. An average of only 1200 divers visits the park every year. Their fees contribute approximately 60% of the funds needed to protect and conserve this jewel located in the middle of the Sulu Sea.

Transition trip 1

Batangas – Apo Reef – Cuyo – Tubbataha
EMBARKATION PORT: BATANGAS

DISEMBARKATION PORT: PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN

INCLUSIONS

• Full board accommodation in a twin sharing cabin.
• Meals, snacks, tea, coffee, juice and drinking water.
• Diving (3-4 non deco dives a day), service of a dive master, full dive tanks and weights belts.
• Land transfer to/from the ship.
• 21-22 scheduled dives. Subject to change depending on weather, sea, tide and current conditions.
• 12% VAT inclusive

EXCLUSIONS

• International or domestic air transportation, hotels and meals before and after the cruise.
• Dive, travel and medical insurances.
• Soft drinks, beer, wine or spirits.
• Tips, laundry.
• Diving equipment rental.
• Nitrox fills.
• Dive Permit (US$100/person – Tubbataha | USD68.00/person – Apo Reef )
• Fuel Surcharge: US$100.00 per person

REGULAR TRIP

Tubbataha

EMBARKATION PORT: PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN

DISEMBARKATION PORT: PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN

INCLUSIONS

• Full board accommodation in a twin sharing cabin.
• Meals, snacks, tea, coffee, juice and drinking water.
• Diving (4 non deco dives a day), service of a dive master, full dive tanks and weights belts.
• Land transfer to/from the ship.

EXCLUSIONS

• International or domestic air transportation, hotels and meals before and after the cruise.
• Dive, travel and medical insurances.
• Soft drinks, beer, wine or spirits.
• Tips, laundry.
• Diving equipment rental.
• Nitrox fills.
• Park entrance fees.
• Dive Permit (US$100/person -Tubbataha)
• Fuel surcharge – USD100.00/person

TRANSITION TRIP 2

Tubbataha – Cagayancillo – Mactan
EMBARKATION PORT: PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN

DISEMBARKATION PORT: MACTAN, CEBU

INCLUSIONS

• Full board accommodation in a twin sharing cabin.
• Meals, snacks, tea, coffee, juice and drinking water.
• Diving (3-4 non deco dives a day), service of a dive master, full dive tanks and weights belts.
• Land transfer to/from the ship.

EXCLUSIONS

• International or domestic air transportation, hotels and meals before and after the cruise.
• Dive, travel and medical insurances.
• Soft drinks, beer, wine or spirits.
• Tips, laundry.
• Diving equipment rental.
• Nitrox fills.
• Park entrance fees.
• Dive Permit (US$100/person | USD68.00/person – Apo Reef )
• Fuel Surcharge: US$100.00 per person

Gear Rentals

• 15L tank: US$35.00/day
• BCD: US$10.00/day
• Regulator: US$15.00/day
• Dive Computer: USD12.00/day
• Wetsuit: US$7.00/day
• Mask: US$5.00/day
• Fins: US$5.00/day
• Booties: US$5.00/day

Nitrox RATE

Nitrox Special Rate (EAN32 only): US$35.00 (4 tanks) per person/day.

• Unused tanks are non-refundable.
• Not applicable for twin tanks.

Embarkation and Disembarkation Point

Transition Trip 1:
Embarkation: Batangas
Disembarkation: Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

Regular Trip:
Embarkation: Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
Disembarkation: Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

Transition Trip 2:
Embarkation: Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Disembarkation: Mactan, Cebu

How to get there

The Philippines has numerous international entry points with

1. Manila International Airport,
2. Cebu International Airport and
3. Puerto Princessa (Palawan) International Airport

being the major ones

YOu can fly directly to Puerto Princesa or if you fly through Manila or Cebu International Airports you can get connecting flights with the following airlines:

1. Cebu Pacific (CEB)
2. Philippine Airlines (PAL)
3. Philippines Air Asia

Important Passport Information

A valid passport at least six (6) months before expiry is required to enter the Philippines. Depending on your nationality a visa might be required to enter the Philippines. Depending on your nationality a visa might be rewuired for you to gain entry. You can check with your respective countries if this is the case.

The Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) also requires passport information to process your diving permit. This needs to be collected along with the complete Guest Information Sheet (GIS) at least a month before embarkation.

Embarkation

Embarkation normally starts around 2pm.

On that day, our staff will be waiting outside Puerto princesa International Airport to take you and your luggage directly to the boat. Just look for M/Y Resolute sign. If you arrive earlier in the day we will still pick you up from the airport but we will drop you off a coffee shop or a mall first. DO not worry about your luggage. We will handle it. Come back embarkation time we will pick you up and bring you to the boat.

If you decide to go a day or more ahead please inform us of your hotel details thru info@dive-resolute.com so that we can arrange for your transportation going to the boat. We will only do this if your pickup point is within 10km from the boat and only on the day of embarkation.

When everyone is complete the TMO will give a very important briefing on the rules and regulations of Tubbataha Park. Afterwards, the boat normally departs around 6pm.

Itinerary, daily Schedule and Disembarkation

Transition Trip 1

Day 1: Embarkation at San Juan, Batangas City at 1400H
Day 2: Apo Reef diving day (3-4 dives)
Day 3: Cuyo Island diving day (3-4 dives)
Day 4: Tubbataha diving day (4 dives)
Day 5: Tubbataha diving day (4 dives)
Day 6: Tubbataha diving (4 dives)
Day 7: Tubbataha diving and depart Tubbataha (2 dives) Day 8: Arrive at Puerto Princesa and disembarkation

Regular Trip

Day 1: Embarkation and depart Puerto Princesa City pier at 1400H
Day 2: Arrive at Tubbataha; diving day (4 dives)
Day 3: Diving day (4 dives)
Day 4: Diving day (4 dives)
Day 5: Diving day (4 dives)
Day 6: Half day diving and depart Tubbataha (2 dives)
Day 7: Arrive at Puerto Princesa City pier and disembarkation

Transition Trip 2

Day 1: Embarkation at Puerto Princesa City at 1400H
Day 2: Tubbataha Diving day (4 dives)
Day 3: Tubbataha Diving day (4 dives)
Day 4: Tubbataha Diving day (4 dives)
Day 5: Tubbataha Diving day (4 dives)
Day 6: Cagancillo Diving day (3-4 dives)
Day 7: Apo Island diving day (3-4 dives)
Day 8: Arrive at Cebu, Mactan and disembarkation at Cebu Yacht Club

A typical diving day will normally be like this:

• 06:00am - light breakfast
• 07:00am - first dive
• 08:00am - heavy breakfast
• 10:00am - second dive
• 12:00nn - lunch
• 02:00pm - third dive
• 03:00pm - snack
• 04:00pm - fourth dive
• 07:00pm - dinner

You burn a lot of calories while diving so you better bring your appetite along with you.

At the end of the tour the last meal we will serve is breakfast. Disembarkation follows after that at 8:30am. We will bring you and your luggage directly to the airport or to a mall or hotel nearby.

Weather and Temperatures

March to June is normally the summer season in the Philipinnes. Normally is the operative word. Unfortunately, there is nothing normal with our weather nowadays. We expect sunny and hot days with above water temperatures around 35˚C or more and in the water around 28-29˚C or more. We suggest that you look at the weather forecast before setting off. Tubbataha is not searchable but Puerto Princesa, Palawan is. Just bear in mind that it is about 160km away.