Dive Review of Atlantis Dive Resorts in
Philippines/Puerto Galera

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Atlantis Dive Resorts: "Atlantis Puerto Galera", Nov, 2015, by Jeff Robertson , CA, US ( Contributor 15 reports with 2 Helpful votes). Report 8763.
No photos available at this time
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	Atlantis is a well-run organization, owned and managed by people who get it. The entire staff is friendly, capable and helpful. They offer 3 different dive opportunities: Puerto Galera, Dumaguete and the Azores liveaboard. Their location is unique in the diving world due to the diversity of marine species. A CNN report in April 2012 calls this the Center of the Center of Marine Biodiversity. The folks at Atlantis understand this and strive to maintain a healthy ecosystem while operating a business that utilizes the dive sites. I didn't go on the Azores liveaboard, but I did go to Dumaguete (see that as a separate report here in Undercurrent). This report is for Atlantis Puerto Galera (PG). PG is located on busy Sabang Beach on the north side of Mindoro Island about a 2½ hour van and boat trip from Manila. The resort offers comfortable rooms with AC, ceiling fans and plenty of hot water. Prices are affordable with an all-inclusive meal plan at the famous Toko’s Restaurant, run by Chef Marlon and overseen by manager Erik. The cuisine and service staff is amazing. I went here in November 2015 to sample the diving and see firsthand that which may not be seen in other parts of the world. I wasn't disappointed. PG offers up to 5 dives a day, some muck, but mostly healthy coral and reef diving with incredible diversity. The dive sites are nearby with the boats returning to the resort after each dive. The currents can be ripping or none at all, depending on conditions and the particular dive site so you will encounter drift dives and moored dives. The dive crew consists mostly of locals who are very good. They know their stuff and manage operations accordingly, keeping in mind there are other operations utilizing the same sites so as not to overtax them. Take care of the goose that lays the golden egg principle. I want to commend the entire dive crew at Atlantis PG who really come together to make the diving experience seamless, with a shout out to dive leaders Jake, Felix, Fred and Larry. These are great guys with incredible local knowledge and skill. I also want to give a special thanks to assistant manager Norm who took the time and an entire dive (on his own time) to help me work out the intricacies of my new Canon G-12 camera. Thanks buddy. What you’ll see: for the macro interested, a wide variety of nudibranchs seem to be everywhere. Also you’ll see turtles, octopus, pipefish, blue or black ribbon eels and other eels, electric clams, lionfish, sea kraits, and several varieties of scorpion fish, frogfish, crinoids, mantis shrimp, healthy hard and soft corals, anthias and many types of butterflyfish. Be sure to watch out for the aggressive yellow margin triggerfish when nesting. There are also schools of Bluefin trevally, Oriental sweetlips, jacks, batfish and snappers. There is even a protected site where you can see giant Tridacna clams. Don’t miss the opportunity to take the 45 minute trip to Verde Island across the channel to do 3 dives at the pinnacles there for another great experience. Finally, I have to mention the 50 Bar, the on-site watering hole and meeting place where divers share stories at the end of the day. Here you will find Tahn-Than (sorry for the misspell) the outstandingly friendly and witty bartender who will serve you the beverage of your choice and play any song that you can think of. A nice way to end the day. Their motto "Arrive as guest... Leave as a friend!" doesn’t sound corny to those of us who have been there.
Websites	Atlantis Dive Resorts
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	501-1000 dives
Where else diving	Carib, Bahamas, Pacific,
Closest Airport	Manila	Getting There	1 1/2 hour van ride from Manila to Batangas, then 45 minute banca ride to the resort.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm, choppy, currents, no currents
Water Temp	80-82°F / 27-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	20-80 Ft/ 6-24 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Stay within sight of the group, maintain good buoyancy, stay off the corals, no touch policy.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish	N/A
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	Because the dive boats return after each dive, there are no rinse buckets on the boats. However, there are 2 camera dedicated fresh water tanks right at the shop as you get off the boats. There is also a camera dry room with chargers, towels and air hoses for photographers. They will soon be changing this to another larger, specifically designed camera room.

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Dive Review of Atlantis Dive Resorts in Philippines/Puerto Galera

Atlantis Dive Resorts: "Atlantis Puerto Galera", Nov, 2015,

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 Dive Resorts in
Philippines/Puerto Galera