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Dive Review of Atlantis Azores in
Philippines/Coron Bay, Puerto Galera

Atlantis Azores: "Coron Bay wrecks worthwhile", Feb, 2017,

by Ed Noga, OH, US (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 10 reports with 6 Helpful votes). Report 9494 has 1 Helpful vote.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments This was my second trip to the Philippines and the Atlantis Resort at Puerto Galera. I never thought I would be back-- I'm really a wreck diver, with mild interest in macro photography-- but signed up for the Atlantis Azores live-aboard because we were going to Coron Bay to dive the Japanese wrecks from World War II.

The wreck diving was pretty good. Other than a seaplane tender and a couple of gunboats, the wrecks are cargo ships sunk by the U.S. fighters and bombers in a devastating 15-minute raid. These were ships that escaped from Truk, then Palau, previously. They are pretty shallow - the deepest about a hundred feet or so - and in a bay so the viz was a little low at times. Better of course inside the wrecks, which were guided tours, and just as well because getting out at times was a tight squeeze.

They bill this as Little Truk. That's not a bad description--fewer wrecks, of course, and lacks the visibility at Truk Lagoon, but interesting and a much less expensive trip.

Atlantis Azores has been around for a number of years under different flags. It is an older boat that they certainly work hard to keep operating. The transmission died the week before we arrived and had to be replaced, causing another group to miss out on their trip to Coron.

Atlantis fully reimbursed them for the boat trip, and most of the people stayed and dived out of Puerto Galera, including trips to Anilou and Verde Island. All those who I met seemed disappointed they couldn't go to the wrecks but quite satisfied with how they were treated and the diving. They got other perks too, including free drinks at the bars.

If you like macro photography this is a terrific place to go. Lots of endemic, tiny creatures, including serious muck diving. I get bored with it after about the 10th dive, but that's just me - like I say, I like wrecks.

You dive off zodiacs, back-rolling in and removing your gear and climbing up a very solid ladder on the way back into the boat.

The service is exceptional.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Primarily Lake Erie and the Great Lakes, but all over, from Truk to Galapagos, the Red Sea to Cocos Island.
Closest Airport Manila Getting There Flight to Manila, they bus you down to Batangas and then a boat to Puerto Galera on Mindoro.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 76-82°F / 24-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 5
Water Visibility 35-120 Ft/ 11-37 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions The usual - 500 pounds of gas when you are back on the surface. One or two guides are with groups of 4-8 divers, and they certainly can find the tiny, tiny critters
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 2 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 5 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities 5 stars
UW Photo Comments The Atlantis Azores as well as the Puerto Galera Resort are geared for photographers. The boat has a very large, multilevel table that is quite adequate, and an indoor charging station. The resort has an entire room set up for photographers for their equipment and charging. This is the land of macro photography, and if that's your passion it's a good place to go and relatively speaking not very expensive. You will get your seahorse, mantis shrimp and, if you're lucky, blue-ringed octopus shots. If you can't find them, the guides will.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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