MV OCEANIC EXPLORER

33m / 109ft MAX 21 NITROX PADI

PRICE PER DAY FROM USD 0

LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE

At a glance:

Visits Tubbataha & Apo Reef
All cabins have private bathrooms
Deluxe cabins have TVs, coffee machine
Jacuzzi on the sun deck
Steel hulled boat

MV Oceanic Explorer is a 33m motor boat with a steel-hull that cruises some of the best dive sites of the Philippines. This SOLAS-compliant liveaboard accommodated between 15 and 21 guests on diving tours to Tubbataha, Apo Reef and Verde Island.

All 10 cabins have ensuite bathrooms and there are a range of cabins to suit various budgets. All cabins feature ionizers which eliminate 99% if airborne viruses. Deluxe cabins have TV, DVD player and Nespresso machine.

Guests can hang out in the air-conditioned comfort of the indoor lounge/dining room, in the open air lounge, or on the sundeck. The sundeck features both sun loungers and bean bags as well as a Jacuzzi for easing away the day’s diving strains. You can also enjoy a sundowner from the 50 sqm bar. The lounge is equipped with extensive entertainment facilities: TV, DVD player, USB port, sound system, and library of marine and general reading material.

The diving procedures are a breeze on Oceanic Explorer, with a large spacious dive deck with plenty of storage and camera charging spaces. Nitrox is free of charge for suitably certified divers, and 15 litre tanks are available so you can maximise your bottom time. When you return after your dive on 1 of the 2 tenders, you can rinse off in 1 of the 4 warm water showers on the dive deck. If you can’t get enough of being on the water, there are also snorkelling and kayaking opportunities.

10 cabins: There are 3 Deluxe cabins 1 twin on the main deck, 1 twin and 1 double on the lower deck. 2 Standard twin bed cabins on the upper deck. 5 Economy cabins on the lower deck with private bathrooms across the hall: 4 twin bunk bed and 1 triple. Note that the 6ft high ceilings in Economy cabins may make them unsuitable for taller guests.

All the cabins have:

Individually controlled air conditioning
Windows on the main/upper deck, portholes on the lower deck
Private bathroom with toilet and hot water shower
Deluxe cabins have Nespresso machine and TV/media player
Hand basin, towels, toiletries and hair dryer
Cabinet and mirror

Mains outlet 220 and 110 volts - 24 hours per day
Bedding and storage space
Life jackets
Smoke detector
Fire extinguisher

No. of bathrooms / showers - 10 / 14 - hot water

Tubbataha & Apo Reef (8 Days / 7 Nights - 19 Dives)

Trip highlights: shark action, dolphins, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving

Dive sites and activities: Apo Reef, Santa Filomena Shoal, Cuyo Island, Tubbataha: Bird Island, Ranger Station, South Rock, Black Rock, Lighthouse Islet

Day 1
You will be greeted at Puerto Princesa Airport (PPS) upon arrival on the day departure and transferred to the MY Oceanic Explorer. Boarding is from 16:00 hrs, when the cruise director will welcome you. He will assign your cabin to you, give a boat safety briefing, crew introductions, and explain the plans for the week ahead. You will have time to complete the necessary dive paperwork, familiarise yourself with the vessel and settle in. Dinner will be served as you depart from the port at around 18:00 hrs for the 10 hour crossing. After a good night's sleep, the diving will commence the next day.

Days 2-7
The Tubbataha Reefs National Park is an UNESCO World Heritage site lying in the Sulu Sea in the heart of the Coral Triangle. There are 370 types of coral, 600 species of fish, 12 species of cetacean. The walls are adorned with beautiful soft corals, barrel sponges and lots of cleaning stations. The shallows are made up of hard coral gardens. Due to their isolation, the atolls are a great area for shark action with species such as guitar, blacktips, white tips, grey reef sharks, silkies, hammerheads and whale sharks. Although the macro life is fantastic here, it take a back stage to the big marine life action, such as dogtooth tuna, giant trevally, barracuda, turtles and manta rays. All dives here are day dives. Apo Reef is a great place to see whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, but also manta rays are sometimes spotted here, as well as hawksbill turtles and bumphead parrotfish.
The chef will prepare 3 gourmet meals daily served buffet style. Guests can expect a blend of local fare along with French and Italian influence. A choice of at least 2 entrees is offered at lunch and dinner accompanied by fresh vegetables, a salad, pasta and rice. Snacks and exotic fresh fruits are always available.
After 2 or 3 morning dives on the final full day of the trip, Oceanic Explorer makes its way to Anilao.

Day 8
After breakfast, you will disembark at 8 am. Note this itinerary may operate in reverse order. If your cruise ends in Puerto Princesa you will be transferred back to the local airport or local hotel.

[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].

DEPARTURE SCHEDULE & PRICES

MORE TRIP DETAILS

Dive experience: The operator suggests guests have an advanced open water certification or at least 30 dives logged.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner (except final night), snacks, water, juice and hot drinks, local airport transfers, dives (as detailed in the cruises above), nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers, experienced English-speaking divemaster(s) (max 5 divers to 1 DM), tanks, weights and weightbelts.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment (complete set incl dive computer USD 38 per day), dive computer, port/park fees - Tubbataha USD 270 (to be paid in advance), Tubbataha & Apo Reef USD 370 (to be paid in advance). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash or credit card).

Optional extras: Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks, torch (USD 4 per night), dive insurance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.

How to get there: MV Oceanic Explorer uses 2 ports:
Puerto Princesa: This port is used for cruises exclusively to Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. The local airport is Puerto Princesa Airport (PPS). There are direct flights from Cebu City and Manila, as well as from Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea. You will be collected at the local airport at 4 pm and transferred to the yacht.
Anilao: For 'Tubbataha & Apo Reef' trips, Puerto Princesa and Anilao Port are the 2 ports used. Anilao is a 3 hour drive south from Manila International Airport. Manila is the capital city and is well connected with direct flights to much of Asia, Australasia, North America and the Middle East. The national carrier is Philippine Airlines, but there are countless other major airlines that operate flights to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL). Note there is no transfer included between Anilao and Manila.
In all cases, you must be onboard by 6 pm for cruise briefing, dinner and departure. The last dive of the trip will be 2 pm on the penultimate day. Disembarkation and relevant airport/hotel transfers will be at 8 am. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving.

Non-diver rate: USD 200 off the full published price.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travelers may choose to share a cabin or pay a supplement of 80% of the normal published price.

Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 10 guests, and 1 extra person can join the cruise in an Economy cabin free of charge (total 11+ guests).

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Please check with us.

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