Dive Review of Atlantis Azores in
Philippines/Tubbataha

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Atlantis Azores: "Great Diving at Tubbataha", Apr, 2024, by Wayne B. Batzer M.D., HI, US ( Reviewer 4 reports with 4 Helpful votes). Report 12933.
Photos Submitted with this Report Click on an image to see an enlarged version and captions
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	It was a true privilege to dive at the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tubbataha includes two large atolls and the smaller Jessie Beazley Reef, 93 miles southeast of Puerto Princesa. For diving it is accessible only by liveaboard boats, March through June. There were a number of boats present but crews work to coordinate their activities so that dive sites do not get crowded. Diving can be a challenge, as currents are hard to predict and often change mid-dive. The challenges are worthwhile given the beauty of the pristine reefs and walls. We enjoyed very healthy hard and soft corals, huge sea fans, enormous barrel sponges and abundant sea life. There are a few areas of coral rubble, resulting from past typhoon damage, but even those show new life creeping in. Huge schools included trevally, Bumphead Parrotfish, barracuda, sweetlips, anthias, Gray Reef Sharks and Sailfin Snappers. We noted morays, Green Sea and Hawksbill Turtles, scorpionfish, triggerfish, Pigmy Seahorses, Napoleon Wrasse, angelfish, batfish, lobsters, Marble and White Tail Rays and Garden Eels. We made four dives a day for five days, one night dive in the calm area near the Ranger Station, and two dives at Jessie Beazley Reef on our last dive day. Dives were done from two rigid inflatables, boarded by ladder from the Azores, with short rides to and from the Azores. The boats tended to be a bit crowded, especially when donning BC’s (which were transferred from the Azores to the inflatables before each dive). Our visit included a stop at the ranger station, elevated above the reef on stilts, where rangers serve two months at a time. They also sell a variety of attractive tee shirts, hats and other small items. The Atlantis Azores crew was wonderful, highly attentive to preserving the beauty of Tubbataha and clearly enjoying their jobs. Food was great with an excellent variety for each meal. Our cabin was small but comfortable and the boat includes a large dining area with adjacent lounge, dive deck with plenty of room for cameras and a partly covered open top deck. Several of us, especially in the cabins near the engine room, noted a fuel smell on the initial voyage. This was mentioned to staff and the engineering crew did some work and no further problem was noted. My CO meter showed 0 ppm. Our cruise back to Puerta Princesa was a bit rough but we had plenty of time for drying and packing of gear. The Atlantis staff was ready at the dock with boarding passes for the short flight back to Manila.
Websites	Atlantis Azores
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	All Hawaiian islands, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Yap, Guam, Northern Marianas, Philippines, New Zealand, Florida, BVI, Okinawa
Closest Airport	Puerto Princesa	Getting There	Flight from Manila and then short ride to the port. Atlantis arranged flights and transport and all went smoothly.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	81-83°F / 27-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	75-150 Ft/ 23-46 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	All dives are guided; max depth 100 ft., usual duration one hour.
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	There is a large table on the dive deck for cameras. Dive staff handles cameras carefully, with full rinse after each dive. There is a charging area on the dive deck, and another inside near the dining area. WiFi is limited (satellite) so uploading of photos may need to wait until on shore.

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Dive Review of Atlantis Azores in Philippines/Tubbataha

Atlantis Azores: "Great Diving at Tubbataha", Apr, 2024,

Photos Submitted with this Report

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Atlantis Azores in
Philippines/Tubbataha