Dive Review of Dugong Dive Centre/El Rio y Mar in
Philippines/ Busuanga Island, Palawan

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Dugong Dive Centre/El Rio y Mar: "Lifetime dream of diving with dugongs fulfilled", Mar, 2024, by Phil Johnston, Bayswater, AU ( Top Contributor 30 reports with 29 Helpful votes). Report 12913.
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
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	I have been diving 40 years & have never seen a dugong (marine relative of Manatees) despite having dived many dugong habitats in Australia and the Red Sea. I knew Coron in the Philippines was one of the few places in the world where dugongs can reliably be encountered. The dive manager at Dugong Dive Centre advised me that they have a 90% success rate with Dugong sitings in the 3 tank day trips they run out of El Rio y Mar resort (they do pick up from other resorts). I was not disappointed - no sighting on the first dive - passengers are divided into 2 groups with only one allowed in the water at any time. First group was with a dugong for all of their allotted 20 minutes, but it exited the area as we entered the water. We moved to another area of Calauit Bay & my group successfully encountered a full grown male for the 20 minute maximum dive time. We did 2 reef dives on the same day cruise but the sites were only average by Philippines standards, although coral life was healthy with no sign of bleaching. The only notable siting was a pair of ghost pipefish at the bottom of the mooring at second site at Turtle Island. The overall 3 tank day trip commenced 7:00am & returned to El Rio Y Mar just after 4:00. A National Park entry fee of 1050 Philippino Peso is payable in cash only for the Dugong dive. 2nd day at El Rio y Mar Dugong Dive Centre (who are co-located with the resort) took us to “Kyokuzan Maru” wreck, a 145 foot long Japanese freighter sunk in September 1944. This was 2 tank dive, stern area explored first dive, midships & bow explored 2nd dive. Some limited penetration of the wheelhouse & gangways at 25-28 metres, despite heavy encrustation the wreck is structurally quite sound. I would rate the Kyokuzan Maru as a good option for experienced divers who wish to try some moderately challenging wreck diving. We finished the day trip at El Rio y Mar house reef, was OK only in patches, although again no bleaching, and I did see a Pinnate Spadefish, which I have not previously encountered. Overall I was very satisfied with Dugong Dive Centre & their dive and boat staff. Reef diving was not exceptional but the wreck was excellent & of course diving with a dugong was a privilege my partner & myself felt blessed to have experienced. Finally, both my partner & myself loved El Rio y Mar resort. It isn’t a budget option & isn’t particularly accessible but we felt the location, accommodation & service fully met our expectations & we got what we paid for.
Websites	Dugong Dive Centre
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Australia, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Indonesia (Bali, Komodo, Rajah Ampat, Lembeh, Manado, Ambon) Cocos Islands, Mexico (Cozumel & Soccorros) Tonga, Galapagos, Tahiti, Maldives, Mozambique, Bahamas, Red Sea, Roatan, Philippines, Hawaii (Kona, Maui)
Closest Airport	Francisco B Reyes Airport Busuanga	Getting There	We flew in from El Nido, but direct flights daily from Manila. 20 minute van drive from the airport, then 15 minute boat trip to El Rio Y Mar resort.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, dry	Seas	calm
Water Temp	26-28°C / 79-82°F	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	15-18 M / 49-59 Ft
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	The usual stuff, no deco diving, 30 metre / 100 ft depth limit, don’t chase / touch marine life.
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
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	No facilities for UWP on boat, very basic rinse bucket.

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Dive Review of Dugong Dive Centre/El Rio y Mar in Philippines/ Busuanga Island, Palawan

Dugong Dive Centre/El Rio y Mar: "Lifetime dream of diving with dugongs fulfilled", Mar, 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 Dugong Dive Centre/El Rio y Mar in
Philippines/ Busuanga Island, Palawan