Dive Review of
Atlantis Beach Resort in
Philippines/Dumaguete (Negros)

Palau, Caribbean, Thailand, PNG, Bali, Hawaii, other Indonesia, etc.

Dive Conditions

very stringent restrictions on diving for first part of the trip -- no more
than 50 -55 minutes.  After some conversations, the restrictions loosened
up a bit.  

one separate wash tank in the dive shop but no other facilities  

Overall Rating

After reading the glowing review in Undercurrent about the two dive
locations of Atlantis Beach Resort, we decided to give it a try.  For the
most part it was an enjoyable trip; certain components of the dive
operation were surprising and made the diving a little awkward and
cumbersome.
The resort is great -- rooms wonderful, food and service way above
average.
The dive operation is set up very well, with labels for all the gear so
that staff can move them to the boat or shore location easily and keep
track of them. 
THe dive operation is managed by the German fellow who is a little too
controlling for our taste....The local dive guides/masters were excellent
but not able to deliver the type of service that makes sense...After
several dives that the dive master gave the "thumbs - up" (dive
over) at around 50 minutes, I complained about why.  Turns out that the
dive boat may carry anywhere from 5 to 20 divers and the gentleman in
charge doesn't want his schedule disrupted.  Things loosened up a little
after several of us complained -- there were actually several 65 minute
dives..
Nonetheless, much of the diving was interesting with many small things to
see -- my first black frog fish (4 of them), many cuttle fish (including my
first flamboyant cuttle fish), sea horses, tons of nudibranchs, dwarf frog
fish, octopus and so on.  Actually saw schools of small jacks and other
small schools in the preserves which start and stop with a great deal of
frequency along the beach.  So the diving was better than I thought it
would be, the resort (especially the food) was top notch and the once we
negotiated on dive times, diving was very good.
We did two day trips which were interesting but slightly over rated.  If
you can them to go to the coconut factory wharf, do it as there is
incredible assortment of life there.  And the house reef has a mandarian
fish population too! 

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