Dive Review of Philippines Aggressor in
Philippines/Tubbutaha

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Philippines Aggressor: "Outstanding Liveaboard and Diving", Jun, 2023, by Terry H Anderson, TX, US ( Top Contributor 30 reports with 17 Helpful votes). Report 12483 has 2 Helpful votes.
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	We have been on almost a dozen liveaboards, half dozen Aggressors, so our expectations are high. The Philippine Aggressor accepted the challenge and was one of the best. This is their 10 day crossing trip from Tubbataha to Cebu and Visayas. First, the diving--we had been to Tubbataha reef area in 1999, and it was very good--it now is BETTER. In 1992 the government made it a World Heritage site, no fishing, and the sea life has expanded greatly. We saw large numbers of gray and whitetip sharks, lots of green and hawkbill turtles, many eels, half dozen Eagle Rays, even a Whale Shark. Of the big critters the only thing we missed was a Manta (but one Eagle was so big that I mistook it at first for a Manta). Then the schools, huge, and of fusiliers, snappers, triggerfish, grouper all the usual reef fish suspects, but also for the first time in years we saw Tuna. Little stuff--seahorses, nudis, pipefish, frogfish. Beautiful sea fans, and very little coral bleaching. After about 7 days there we made the transit to Visayas. Apo Island was beautiful, and then the Aggressor steamed north to Kimud Shoal, home of the Thresher shark--in two dives we saw a dozen! First ones ever. We'd call this trip the "highlights of Philippine diving." So the diving was outstanding--and so was the crew. Antonio and Talal were so helpful, excellent. There were 17 or 18 divers and 24 places. One guy only had 15 dives and saw the Whale Shark. They were from New Zealand, Europe, and the USA. The crew made sure all levels of divers were together, and they had three or four full time DMs, who were excellent, especially Freddy and Jessie, and often a couple others came along. We did 4 dives a day, some days a 5th night dive was offered. Crew loaded all diving gear in rubber boat, nice, and all you did was roll over into the sea. Food was good and plentiful. Rooms were nice and comfortable--we paid for the balcony. Oh, I must mention that all the beer and wine is free, and Aggressor boats have a hot tub. As "someone" said about the Philippines, I shall return.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Indonesia, Maldives, Caribbean, Galapagos, Fiji, all over the world.
Closest Airport	Puerto Princesa	Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	84-86°F / 29-30°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	50-120 Ft/ 15-37 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Safe Diving
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	1 or 2
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	Camera table next to dive equipment, small and cramped, but they don't have room to expand the camera table.

Report currently has 2 Helpful votes

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Dive Review of Philippines Aggressor in Philippines/Tubbutaha

Philippines Aggressor: "Outstanding Liveaboard and Diving", Jun, 2023,

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 Philippines Aggressor in
Philippines/Tubbutaha