20 DAYS
Coron • Malapascua • Moalboal • Dumaguete
Dive the Philippines
Four of the best dive areas in the country: the wrecks of Coron, thresher sharks at Malapascua, the sardine run at Moalboal, and Apo Island and macro diving at Dauin.
The Philippines sits at the heart of the Coral Triangle, and this trip takes you to four completely different kinds of diving. Coron has a fleet of Japanese supply ships sunk in 1944, now covered in coral. Malapascua is one of the only places in the world where you can reliably see thresher sharks, at dawn. Moalboal has a wall just off the beach and a sardine run of millions of fish. Dumaguete has Apo Island, one of the country's oldest marine sanctuaries, and the black-sand macro diving of Dauin.
We book dive centres we trust, with small groups and good safety, and stay in hotels close to the dive sites. Non-diving partners have plenty to do in each place. Dives are priced with the dive centre, so you pay only for what you dive.
What's included
- 19 nights' accommodation in your chosen tier, breakfast daily
- Domestic flights: Manila–Busuanga (Coron), Busuanga–Cebu, Dumaguete–Manila
- Boats Maya–Malapascua and ferry Cebu–Negros
- Airport, port and road transfers (shared in Essential, private from Boutique up)
- Hotels close to the dive sites and dive centre bookings made for you
- A non-diving activity in each place for partners who do not dive
- Pre-departure planning call and digital travel guide
- Tours with a Spanish- or English-speaking local guide, private or shared depending on the trip
- Lunch on boat and tour days
- Entrance fees for the visits in the itinerary
- Premium and Signature: dinner at a top-rated restaurant in every destination, plus a local food experience with a guide (market visit and tasting)
- Free rebooking by our team if weather or other events cancel a boat or flight
- International travel insurance, with cancellation cover up to €2,000
- 24/7 local support by WhatsApp throughout your trip
Not included
- International flights
- Other meals not listed as included
- Environmental and terminal fees
- Drinks
- Dives, dive fees and equipment rental (priced with the dive centre)
- Extra insurance cover for diving, if you dive
- Tips for guides, drivers and boat crews
- Extra costs caused by weather or other events outside our control (new tickets, extra hotel nights). We handle the rebooking for you
The route
Flights, ferries and transfers
- FlightManila → Busuanga (Coron) · 1h flight
- FlightBusuanga (Coron) → Cebu · 1h 15m flight
- RoadCebu → Maya port · around 4h by road
- BoatMaya → Malapascua · around 30m by boat
- RoadMaya → Moalboal · 5–6h by road
- RoadMoalboal → Bato port · around 2h by road
- FerryBato → Tampi (Negros) · around 30m ferry
- FlightDumaguete → Manila · 1h 20m flight
Day by day
Choose your trip length
Route: Coron • Malapascua • Moalboal • Dumaguete
The day-by-day plan and prices update for the length you choose. Every plan can still be adjusted with our team.
Day 1
Arrive in Manila
Airport pick-up and a night in Manila.
OvernightManila
Day 2
Fly to Coron
Flight to Busuanga and transfer to Coron town. Check in with the dive centre.
OvernightCoron
Day 3–6
Coron wrecks
Three days of wreck dives on the 1944 Japanese fleet, plus Barracuda Lake, and one free day.
OvernightCoron
Day 7
Coron to Malapascua
Flight to Cebu, drive north to Maya and a short boat to Malapascua.
OvernightMalapascua
Day 8–10
Malapascua
Dawn dives at Monad Shoal for thresher sharks, and reef and macro dives around the island.
OvernightMalapascua
Day 11
To Moalboal
A long drive down Cebu's west coast.
OvernightMoalboal
Day 12–14
Moalboal
The sardine run, Pescador Island and turtles on the house reef.
OvernightMoalboal
Day 15
To Dumaguete
Road south and a short ferry across to Negros.
OvernightDauin, Dumaguete
Day 16–18
Apo Island and Dauin
A boat day to Apo Island's marine sanctuary, and muck and macro dives along Dauin's black-sand coast.
OvernightDauin, Dumaguete
Day 19
Fly to Manila
A day without diving before you fly, then the flight to Manila.
OvernightManila
Day 20
Fly out
Transfer to the international terminal.
Where you'll stay
We choose hotels for you from our shortlist in each destination, matched to your travel style. Examples will appear here as our hotel collection is published.
Experiences
- Coron wrecks
- Malapascua thresher sharks
- Moalboal sardine run
- Apo Island
- Dauin macro
Possible upgrades
- Private dive guide throughout
- Nitrox
- Add a liveaboard to Tubbataha (March to June)
Travel styles
Four ways to travel. All of them done properly.
I
Essential
The right places, smartly connected.
Well-located, characterful hotels, the experiences that matter and efficient routing. Never a compromise on where you are.
- Well-located 3★ hotels with character, double room with breakfast
- Shared airport and port transfers
- Group tours and shared boat days with a local guide
- Domestic flights and ferries with checked baggage
- Lunch on tour days, entrance fees and travel insurance
- 24/7 support by WhatsApp
II
Boutique
Small hotels with a point of view.
Design-led boutique hotels, upgraded rooms, private transfers where they make a difference and experiences curated for you.
- Everything in Essential, plus:
- Boutique 4★ hotels, superior rooms or better
- Private transfers by car throughout
- Private guided tours, and a private boat on one day per island
- Best available flight times
- Personal welcome at the airport on arrival
III
Premium
The best resorts, a slower pace.
High-end resorts and villas, private transfers throughout, exceptional experiences and service that anticipates.
- Everything in Boutique, plus:
- 5★ resorts and villas, sea-view rooms or better
- Private boats and private guides on every tour day
- Dinner at a top-rated restaurant in every destination
- A local food experience with a guide
- Meet-and-assist service at Manila airport
IV
Signature
The Philippines, privately.
Private-island resorts, villas and boats, charter flights where they save a day, and concierge-level care from arrival to departure.
- Everything in Premium, plus:
- Private-island resorts and villas with private pools
- Your own boat and crew on every island
- Charter flights or seaplanes where they save time
- Private dinners on the beach or a sandbar
- A dedicated concierge on WhatsApp before and during your trip
Price indication
Per person, based on two people sharing, excluding international flights. Final price depends on dates, hotels and room availability.
Best months
November to May; Malapascua and Moalboal are good all year
Choose your trip length
Route: Coron • Malapascua • Moalboal • Dumaguete
The day-by-day plan and prices update for the length you choose. Every plan can still be adjusted with our team.
- Essential
- From €2,600
- per person
- Boutique
- From €3,900
- per person
- Premium
- From €6,400
- per person
Questions travellers ask
1. What certification do I need?
Open Water is enough for most dives. Several Coron wrecks and the Malapascua sharks are better with Advanced Open Water, which you can take on the trip.
2. Why are dives not included?
Divers dive different amounts, so the dives are paid directly to the dive centre at their published price. We book everything and tell you the price before you go.
Ready to see the Philippines from the inside?
Tell us when you're coming. We'll help design the rest.