Atlantis Resorts - Azores Live Aboard

Now that the Philippines is finally earning the rightful buzz in the diving community for being one of the world’s most outstanding dive regions, there’s a new live-aboard option there to dive for. It’s the M/V Atlantis Azores, a vessel owned and operated by Atlantis Resorts, which boasts two luxurious dive properties in the Philippines, Puerto Galera and Dumaguete.

On board, you’ll enjoy traditional Filipino hospitality and local and international cuisines, ranging from Asian to American to European, served round the clock. Each dinner night is a memorable experience as the onboard chef creates meals from themes, such as seafood, fusion and carvery. The seven luxurious berths offer both single and double accommodations. For shutterbugs, the vessel has a charging station on t the main deck and Nitrox is available for all divers. Video and slide presentations are made daily on a flat screen TV and land excursions for samplings of Filipino nature and culture are always available. An onboard dive and gift shop sells all kinds of dive necessities and souvenirs.

The107-foot luxury live-aboard smoothly weaves its way through a variety of some of the more than 7,100 islands that comprise the Asia-Pacific country, including Anilao, the Visayas Islands and even further afield, west in the world renowned Tubbataha Reef. The boat also does cruises between the Puerto Galera and Dumaguete Atlantis Resorts. The spectacular Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park – whose name in English translates to “a long reef at low tide” – is in the Sulu Sea near the gorgeous island of Palawan. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has also been nominated for one of the new wonders of the world, with hundreds of fish species and coral varieties. Tubbataha is famous for its walls and large numbers of turtles, hammerhead sharks, clownfish, lionfish barracuda, manta rays and moray eels.

Dive Package

Southern Leyte - Jan 21 - Mar 10, 2012 $2595

Tubbataha Reef - Mar 17 - Jun 16, 2012, $3495

Bohol - Jun 23 - Sept 15, 2012, $3095

Apo Reef & Best of Anilao - Nov 3 - Dec 29, 2012, $2895

This package includes 7 nights itinerary with deluxe staterooms, all meals & snacks, local soft drinks, beer and wine, typically up to 5 dives daily. Good through June, 2011. Prices per person based on double occupancy.