Philippines Aggressor

Location: Philippines

Rating: 4.5/5 (90 reviews)

Philippines Aggressor

About Philippines Aggressor

The Philippines, an archipelago positioned within the Coral Triangle, supports an extensive range of marine biodiversity.

The deep oceanic trenches and shallow coastal shelves of the Philippines create a habitat of immense contrasts. This is a region defined by dramatic verticality, where steep walls plunge into the abyss and vibrant coral gardens flourish in sunlit shallows. The convergence of major ocean currents fuels this rich environment, supporting everything from tiny pygmy seahorses and flamboyant nudibranchs to schooling jacks and passing whale sharks. This variety of underwater terrain and life makes the area a compelling destination for dedicated divers. The Philippines Aggressor is built to navigate these waters, providing a modern and stable platform for exploring the full scope of the archipelago's marine ecosystems. Diving is conducted from two fast zodiac tenders, ensuring divers are dropped directly onto the most active areas of each site. Back on the main vessel, the expansive dive deck is organized for efficiency, with individual gear stations for all guests, freshwater rinse tanks, and easy access to the water platform. A full range of rental equipment, including BCDs, regulators, and dive computers, is available. For underwater photographers, the boat provides a dedicated camera station with charging points and powerful lamps for hire, along with a separate lab for processing images and video. All dives are led by experienced local guides who are experts in the region's currents and marine life. Onboard, guest accommodation is spread across 12 staterooms, serving a maximum of 26 divers. Options range from Deluxe cabins on the lower and main decks to spacious Balcony Suites offering private outdoor space. Every cabin features an individual climate control system, a private ensuite bathroom, and personal entertainment options. Social life is divided between comfortable indoor and outdoor areas. An air-conditioned salon provides a cool space for relaxation and briefings, while the shaded outdoor dining area offers alfresco meals with a view. For time between dives, guests can use the sundeck's hot tub or ascend to the top-level solarium for open-air lounging. The onboard chef prepares a varied menu that combines international flavors with dishes inspired by local Filipino cuisine. Meals are typically served buffet-style in the main salon or on the shaded outdoor deck, offering a rotating selection for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The galley is equipped to handle a range of dietary requirements with advance notice. Freshly prepared snacks are provided between dives to keep energy levels high, and a selection of soft drinks, juices, beer, and wine is available to complement evening meals and social time. The Philippines Aggressor is a modern, purpose-built steel-hulled motor yacht launched in 2024. At 42.7 meters in length and with a wide 8.5-meter beam, the vessel provides a high degree of stability, both at anchor and during open-water crossings. Its design prioritizes guest comfort and operational range for extended voyages through the archipelago’s more remote areas. The yacht maintains a cruising speed of 8 knots, powered by modern engines designed for reliability and efficiency. With a capacity for 26 guests, the ship's infrastructure, including its substantial freshwater production and storage, is scaled for comfort and self-sufficiency on week-long itineraries. The vessel operates several distinct itineraries throughout the year, following the best seasonal diving conditions. From March to June, it runs expeditions to the remote Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, departing from Puerto Princesa, to witness the area's high concentration of sharks, turtles, and pelagic fish. During the rest of the year, the focus shifts to the Visayas region, with trips exploring the diverse sites around Bohol, Cebu, and Malapascua. These routes offer a mix of macro life, thresher shark encounters, and vibrant coral gardens. The Philippines Aggressor is best suited for the certified, experienced diver who seeks a wide variety of marine encounters and for underwater photographers who require a well-equipped platform.

Vessel Specifications

Cabins

Itineraries

Best of Visayas (8D7N)

Duration: 8D7N

Embark on an unforgettable diving adventure through the Philippines' Visayas region, a renowned hotspot for marine biodiversity. This itinerary explores vibrant coral reefs, dramatic walls, and sandy slopes, teeming with an incredible array of life. Divers can anticipate encountering schooling fish, reef sharks, and a variety of macro critters, all within crystal-clear waters. The Visayas offers a rich tapestry of underwater landscapes, promising unique experiences with every dive.

Coron Dive and Cruise

Duration: 7N

Embarkation: Coron, Philippines

Discover the wreck-strewn waters of Coron alongside the sprawling reefs of Apo Reef Natural Park, the largest coral reef in the Philippines. Over seven nights you alternate between exploring legendary WWII Japanese shipwrecks—sunk in 1944 and now thriving artificial reefs—and drift-diving Apo Reef's walls and channels. Around twenty dives are conducted from tenders, with optional land excursions to Kayangan Lake or the Maquinit Hot Springs on the final full day.

Coron (8D7N)

Duration: 8D7N

Explore the historic waters of Coron aboard a multi-day liveaboard adventure, a journey well-suited for divers seeking a captivating blend of wreck exploration and diverse reef ecosystems. This route focuses primarily on the numerous World War II shipwrecks, offering unique opportunities to delve into history surrounded by thriving marine life. Expect encounters with schooling fish, occasional reef sharks, and a vibrant array of corals adorning these submerged relics and nearby reefs. The dramat

Tubbataha Reef Expedition

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights

Embarkation: Puerto Princesa

This itinerary explores the Tubbataha Reefs National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site situated in the Sulu Sea. As part of the Coral Triangle, this remote area offers exceptional diving across its North and South Atolls and Jessie Beazley Reef. Divers can anticipate encounters with a high diversity of sharks, including hammerheads and whale sharks, alongside manta rays, turtles, and large schools of pelagic fish. The trip primarily features drift diving along vibrant walls and pristine coral g

Coron / Batangas (Crossing)

Duration: 10N

Embarkation: Coron, Philippines

A ten-night crossing that links the Philippines' two most iconic dive regions. Begin in Coron with its WWII Japanese wrecks, then sail via Malajon and Dimipac Islands—where dugongs are occasionally encountered—out to the vast Apo Reef Natural Park. The journey closes with the current-swept biodiversity of Verde Island, Puerto Galera and the macro paradise of Anilao, Batangas. Around 32 dives in total, all conducted from tenders.

Batangas / Coron (Crossing)

Duration: 10N

Embarkation: Batangas, Philippines

The reverse crossing departs from Anilao—often called the birthplace of Philippine diving—and works west through Verde Island and the vast Apo Reef Natural Park before arriving at the WWII shipwrecks of Coron. Along the way you may encounter dugongs near Malajon Island and macro life around Dimipac. Around 32 dives in total, all from tenders, blending strong currents, pristine reefs and historic wrecks.

Tubbataha Reef National Park

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights

Embarkation: Puerto Princesa

This itinerary explores the Tubbataha Reefs National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site situated in the Sulu Sea. As part of the Coral Triangle, this remote area offers exceptional diving across its North and South Atolls and Jessie Beazley Reef. Divers can anticipate encounters with a high diversity of sharks, including hammerheads and whale sharks, alongside manta rays, turtles, and large schools of pelagic fish. The trip primarily features drift diving along vibrant walls and pristine coral g

Visayas - South (8D7N)

Duration: 8D7N

Explore the vibrant underwater realm of the Southern Visayas region in the Philippines, a destination renowned for its rich biodiversity. Divers can anticipate stunning coral gardens, dramatic walls, and healthy reef systems teeming with an incredible array of marine life. This route offers opportunities to encounter prolific schooling fish, reef sharks, and a kaleidoscope of macro critters, with seasonal chances for pelagic sightings like thresher sharks and manta rays. Each dive site presents

Tubbataha/Visayas

Duration: 11D10N

This is a seasonal relocation adventure offering a unique dual-region experience. The trip combines diving in the Tubbataha Reefs National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for large pelagics, with the vibrant reefs and rich macro life of the southern Visayas. The one-way journey travels between the home ports of Cebu and Puerta Princesa, showcasing the best of both world-class destinations.

Visayas and Cebu Expedition

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights

Embarkation: Cebu

This itinerary explores the diverse marine ecosystems of the Visayas region, renowned for some of the best diving in the Philippines. The exact route is flexibly determined during the trip based on weather and sea conditions to ensure optimal diving. Divers can anticipate a wide variety of underwater environments, from walls adorned with soft corals to black sand slopes, and encounters with large species like thresher sharks, whale sharks, and schooling fish, as well as fascinating macro life su