Anilao - Cebu
Solitude One · Philippines · 11 Days / 10 Nights
About this route
This premium liveaboard expedition links the macro-diving paradise of Anilao in Luzon with the renowned reefs and pelagic encounters of the Visayas. Spanning eleven days, this journey is designed for experienced divers seeking diverse underwater experiences. The route includes transit dives in remote areas like Mindoro and Romblon, potential manta ray sightings at Ticao, and iconic thresher shark encounters in Malapascua, concluding in Cebu. Divers can expect a rich variety of marine life, from rare macro critters to large pelagics.
Regions on this route
Highlights
Batangas
Batangas, particularly Anilao, is a renowned macro diving destination. The waters are commonly sighted with nudibranchs, frogfish, and seahorses. Reef dives and muck diving are typical in this region.
Cebu
Cebu is known for its vibrant coral reef ecosystems and diverse marine life. The area commonly features sardine schools in Moalboal and thresher sharks in Malapascua. Divers can expect a mix of reef, macro, and shallow sites.
Requirements
- CertificationAdvanced Open Water
- Minimum logged dives50
- ExperienceAdvanced Open Water certification with a minimum of 50 logged dives is required.
Good to know
- Divers are recommended to wait 24 hours after the last dive before flying.
- The exact route and sites are subject to change based on local regulations, weather, and guest experience.
Day-by-day plan
Day 1: Anilao – Embarkation
Guests will embark the vessel in Anilao, located in the Batangas region. The day is dedicated to settling in, with cabin assignments, a comprehensive safety briefing, and final preparations before the liveaboard's departure.
Day 2: Anilao / Verde Island Passage – Biodiversity Hotspot
The diving adventure commences with muck and reef dives in the Anilao area, renowned for its diverse small critters. The liveaboard then proceeds towards the Verde Island Passage, a marine corridor celebrated globally for its extraordinary level of biodiversity, offering vibrant reef explorations.
Day 3: Mindoro / Romblon Area – Remote Transit Diving
Diving continues around the remote islands of Mindoro and Romblon. These transit dives focus on exploring diverse reefs and dramatic walls. Depending on conditions, there are potential opportunities for encounters with various pelagic species passing through these open-ocean waters.
Day 4: Mindoro / Romblon Area – Wall & Reef Exploration
The second day in the Mindoro and Romblon region offers further opportunities to explore its secluded underwater landscapes. Divers will experience more wall and reef diving, keeping an eye out for pelagic marine life that frequently passes through this area. Conditions will determine the exact dive sites.
Day 5: Ticao / Manta Bowl – Thrilling Drift Dives
If current conditions allow and it is included in the route, the itinerary moves to the Ticao area, famous for the Manta Bowl. This site is known for strong currents, providing exhilarating drift dives with large schools of fish and a high chance of encountering oceanic manta rays.
Day 6: Ticao / Manta Bowl – Manta Ray Encounters
Diving continues in the Ticao region, with more potential visits to the Manta Bowl. Divers can enjoy thrilling drift dives in the current, which consistently attracts schooling fish and provides another excellent opportunity for memorable manta ray encounters. The site's pelagic action is a highlight.
Day 7: Central Visayas (Malapascua Area) – Thresher Sharks
The expedition arrives in the Central Visayas, focusing on the renowned Malapascua area. This region is world-famous for consistent thresher shark sightings at Monad Shoal during early morning dives. The day's diving also includes exploration of the vibrant reefs around Gato Island, known for its tunnels and diverse macro life.
Dive sites: Monad Shoal, Gato Island
Day 8: Central Visayas (Malapascua Area) – Shark Dives
Another day is dedicated to diving around Malapascua, providing more chances to witness the unique thresher sharks at Monad Shoal. Divers will also continue to explore the intricate marine life and stunning reef structures of Gato Island, which features caves and soft coral gardens, offering both macro and wide-angle opportunities.
Dive sites: Monad Shoal, Gato Island
Day 9: Southern Leyte – Sogod Bay Exploration
The journey takes guests to Southern Leyte for diving in Sogod Bay. This area is known for its dramatic wall dives and healthy coral gardens, boasting thriving reef ecosystems. It also presents opportunities for spotting various pelagic species within the sheltered bay, offering a mix of macro and wide-angle photography subjects.
Day 10: Cebu Region – Final Diving Day
This marks the last day of diving for the trip, with sites located near Cebu. The final dives will be conducted at sites that may include diverse reef systems, macro-rich areas, or shallow water explorations. The specific sites visited will depend on the day's conditions and the captain's discretion, ensuring a suitable wrap-up to the diving adventure.
Day 11: Cebu – Disembarkation
The liveaboard arrives in the Cebu City or Mactan area. Guests will enjoy a final breakfast on board before disembarking, concluding their extensive diving expedition through the Philippines. Disembarkation is scheduled for the afternoon.
Upcoming departures
No departures scheduled for this route right now.
All routes of this liveaboard
About the vessel
Solitude OnePhilippines