Atlantis Dive Resort, Dumaguete
The resort offered 3 guided boat dives a day plus a night dive. Most dive sites were within a few minutes from the resort. The longest trip was 45 minutes to Apo Island. Guides were outstanding and were needed to spot the variety of small critters in the muck. With the exception of Apo Island dives, most of the dives were muck dives. There were incredible numbers of pipefish species. Lots of other subjects for macro photography. The photographic facilities at the resort were outstanding, and the staff were excellent camera handlers. The dive operation ran very smoothly and provided excellent facilities for rinsing and storing gear. The cuisine was varied and generally well-prepared. There were multiple choices for main courses at lunch and supper. Although land excursions were offered, I did not avail myself of any. There was also an optional trip to Cebu to snorkel with whale sharks that I did not take, instead opting for two trips to Apo Island. Apo Island is a World Heritage site with an unbelievable array of hard and soft corals, as well as a variety of reef fishes not seen on most of the muck dives. The resort staff and office personnel were unusually accommodating. I had one of the least expensive rooms which was comfortable, albeit no ocean view. The resort had a lovely Spa which offered excellent and reasonably priced messages. Overall, the resorts and its excellent dive operation were well worth the money.
