Wakatobi Dive Resort (Indonesia)

This dive resort is not only luxurious, but it’s eco-friendly too. It is located in remote Southeast Sulawesi, on Pulau Tolandono. This resort and the surrounding areas form a sustainable marine protected area.

Wakatobi’s beauutiful Ocean Bungalows

This resort offers three types of accommodation, although all fall easily under the umbrella of luxury. All guests have access to the lounge house which, in addition to the usual resort facilities, includes a dive centre, equipment rental room, and even a marine life reference library.

The diving here is arguably some of the best in the world. The “house reef” is located just off the shore in front of the resort. This reef features six different dive sites, all of which are easily accessible from the shore. It’s a case of simply gear up and go! If you fancy a boat dive, then there are 40 dive sites in the local region from which to choose.

Under water world of Wakatobi

After you’ve worked up an appetite exploring the waters around Tolandono, you can indulge yourself in the gourmet cuisine on offer. But that’s not where the indulgence ends.

Wakatobi Dive Resort also has a luxurious spa offering a comprehensive range of massage and beauty treatments. You can opt for a tailor-made treatment or experience the local Balinese Massage. There’s nothing quite like pampering to rejuvenate body, mind and soul.

Atmosphere Resort & Spa (The Philippines)

The Atmosphere Resort & Spa is located in Dauin, south of Dumaguete. Guests are spoilt at this beautiful resort that is on a black sand beach, directly across from Apo Island.

Apo Island Sanctuary – diving not to be missed!

Amongst the tropical garden are luxurious apartments, suites, and penthouses. The resort focuses on wellness and offers cuisine that is centered on clean health living. It’s a great way to detox your body and mind. An extensive pool area in the gardens offers fantastic views on the sea. You would be hard pressed to find a more idyllic meeting place for divers.

One of their dive boats

Although you wouldn’t want to miss the small house reef located directly in front of the resort, divers are spoilt for choice with an amazing 30 dive sites, all located 2 to 15 minutes from the dive shop. The PADI dive center is amazingly well equipped. In addition to a shop and storage facilities, divers are also able to charge their batteries and computers in a separate camera room. And as if that wasn’t enough, there is another room that is dedicated solely to photo and video editing. Paradise.

Diving and Yoga are a great match

And as for the luxurious Sanctuary Spa, that’s another slice of paradise you’ll have to experience to believe. In addition to pampering spa treatments, you can also attend yoga classes at the spa for a holistic approach to health and wellness. We offer various packages combining Yoga and diving. A package combining Diving and 3 days mini Yoga retreat for example or:  Package with 2 dives & 1 Yoga class daily.  Just inquire for details.

Gangga Island Resort & Spa (Indonesia)

Gangga’s beautiful Spa with sea views

Gangga Island is located in North Sulawesi. Picture it: white beaches, coconut trees, and luxurious wooden bungalows. With just 15 bungalows, this resort offers both privacy and exclusivity. This is how to dive in luxury.

The resort’s PADI Dive Centre is fully equipped to meet your every need. Their facilities include custom built wooden dive boats made specifically for diving. And you’ll want to jump on board: there are more than 30 superb dive sites located around the island.

Photo by Peter Lange

After sampling fresh cuisine at the resort’s restaurant, you can take a plunge in the saltwater infinity pool or work on your tan on one of the loungers. For the ultimate in indulgent relaxation there is Pasung Spa. Opt for a Gangga treatment that utilizes local knowledge and techniques.   Enjoy reflexology or aroma therapy treatments and more. You will leave Pasung Spa feeling refreshed.

It’s time to start planning your holiday! The best scuba sites are often in far-flung places, but luckily that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on luxury. Enjoy a world of indulgence and pampering at any of these three fabulous resorts.

About the author: Torben Lonne is a top skilled PADI MSDT instructor. He has worked several years with scuba diving in Indonesia and Thailand – and dived most of his life. He is also the co-founder and chief-editor of DIVEIN.com.

Yoga class at the Treehouse

Yoga is becoming more mainstream every year as the ancient Indian skill is being adapted to the needs of us westerners. One of Yoga’s main teachings is breath control – which makes it a very logical step that divers find a great deal of benefits. Increasing your physical fitness is one way to get more out of every breath, but even fit divers can find themselves breathing too fast or too shallow from the stress of diving and that’s where Yoga comes in. Like scuba, yoga places emphasis on proper breathing. Deep, slow yogic breathing teaches us how to calm the mind and breathe more efficiently. Yoga also
strengthens and stretches muscles that are important in diving, looking at the total package, Yoga helps to increase your quality time
under water being super relaxed when enjoying the marine life on your next dive. If you have never tried Yoga before – this is your chance.

Atmosphere Resort on the south-eastern tip of Negros in the Philippines has embraced yoga and diving. The resort is located in a beautiful tropical garden, directly on the beach opposite Apo Island. It offers guests a magnificent view of the sea and access to some of the Philippines’ best dive sites close by and around Apo Island.

Atmosphere’s beautiful Infinity Pool

There are around 30 dive sites on the Dauin coast, all 2-15 minutes from the resort’s dive shop. Highlights are the dive sites around Apo Island with intact coral formations and varied diving in shallow coral gardens and beautifully vegetated walls. Interesting underwater landscapes with sea fans, soft corals and feather stars offer a home for many colourful nudibranchs, moray eels, frog fish, seahorses, clown fish and sea snakes. About 450 different species of hard and soft coral have been found here. Atmosphere travels to Apo almost daily.

In addition to the regular diving schedule, yoga classes are offered

The car wreck an awesome critter dive!

twice daily on the spectacular treetop platform.
However, it does not have to be an addition to your holiday, but the goal of your stay.   This year, the spa manager and yoga teacher Rae has organized a yoga retreat for 6-13 September 2015. Guests can chose a 3 or a 6 day retreat and enjoy yoga & meditation classes, presentations, a complete vegetarian heath menu and many other things. Combine the retreat with a of week diving and have the perfect holiday! Great for  for families and diver and non-diver couples. Contact us for more details!

Just a short 30 minute drive from Dumaguete airport (a 1 hour flight from Manila), on the island of Negros Oriental, lies the beautiful Atlantis Dumaguete Dive Resort. The resort is surrounded by lush tropical gardens and is just a short boat ride away from some of the most renowned dive sites in Asia – famous Apo Island, Siquijor Island and of course the local Dauin Marine Sanctuaries.

Atlantis Resort Dumaguete features forty guest rooms and suites, all designed with the guests maximum comfort, privacy and relaxation in mind. Besides scuba diving, guests can enjoy a number of services and experiences to make their holiday complete: spa treatments, swimming pool, beach with sun lounges, restaurant and bar, boutique for souvenirs, dedicated camera room for underwater photographers and plenty of land based tour options.

What makes this place so special is the staff. I had only been in the resort for minutes when I was already greeted by staff members calling out my name. The high level of customer service and friendliness of the staff continued throughout our stay and is definitely second to none.

Toko’s Restaurant offers relaxed dining with superb menu choices. Each lunch and dinner, you can enjoy a stunning 3 course menu freshly prepared by dedicated local and international chefs.

We started our diving activities with a couple of sloping reefs, only a few minutes by boat from the resort. Two blue-ringed octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, cleaning mantis shrimp, lionfish, frogfish and wasp fish, all seen on our first dive, were only a small number of the extraordinary critter and marine life we were to experience over the coming days.

The dive schedule of the resort and also at its sister property, Atlantis Puerto Galera

, offers up to 5 dives per day. Two morning dives are available, followed by either two afternoons and a night dive or one afternoon and a mandarin fish dusk dive. This many dives per day are usually only offered on liveaboards, but rarely at land-based dive resorts. Therefore, this makes the Atlantis Resorts a great option for the hardcore diver as well as diver/non-diver couples.

One of my diving highlights was Apo Island, only a 45 minute boat ride from the resort. It is a small island surrounded by stunning reef walls, drop offs and beautiful coral gardens. We spent two days diving here at different dive sites and only experienced a little bit of current on two dives. Although I very much enjoy wall diving, my favourite time was spent just cruising around 10m and above, spotting critters amongst the coral. Devil scorpion fish, stone fish, sweet lips, frog fish, gobies, trigger fish, parrot fish, surgeon fish, lion fish and plenty of different nudibranchs were all to be found on our dives. I am also pleased to report that the local sea turtle population in the Philippines is very healthy.

After completing our diving activities at Atlantis Dumaguete, we joined the resort’s own fabulous liveaboard, Atlantis Azores, for another three fantastic days of diving. We sampled part of the Bohol itinerary of Atlantis Azores, including the whale sharks at Oslob, at the southern tip of Cebu Island, followed by Sumilon, Cabilao and Balicasag Islands.

Watch a Video

Taking part in Azores’ Bohol itinerary means diving around tranquil islands surrounded by crystal clear waters and pristine white sandy beaches. Dive sites include superb hard and soft corals, stunning reef walls, drop offs, critters such as pygmy and thorny seahorses, frog fish, ghost pipe fish, many different species of nudibranchs, clown fish, parrot fish, pegasus sea moths, blue ribbon eels, schools of jacks and trevally, hawksbill and green turtles and sea snakes. Very occasionally you might also come across reef sharks, sting rays and manta rays, however, we haven’t experienced any on our numerous dives.
Atlantis Azores is a luxury liveaboard offering a high quality of service and standard. It features 8 cabins for a max. of 16 divers, a huge dive deck with camera table, comfortable lounge with flatscreen TV, sun lounges and a jacuzzi on the sun deck.

Azores offers four different itineraries in the Philippines, so there is plenty of diving to be done. Up to 5 dives are offered on each full dive day. The food on board the vessel, freshly prepared by a local chef, is just delicious. There was a continuous flow of food platters coming out of the galley, pleasing all our different taste buds. A brief cup of coffee with cereal or muffin was available before each first dive early in the morning. Following our first dive, a sumptuous hot breakfast was served. Lunch and dinner were delicious 3 course meals with the choice of either meat or fish as main meal.

After 8 days in the Dumaguete region it was time to say goodbye. The Atlantis motto “Arrive as a guest, leave as a friend” pretty much says it all. I am certainly keen to get back to see how everyone is doing!

Our ideas for best family holidays!

It was often difficult for divers with kids to find the right holiday where everybody can have some fun. By now there are a number of liveboard vessels around the world who accept children on some of there cruises which are specifically scheduled as family trips. The Aggressor fleet for example offers some family trips in the Caribbean, closer to our part of the world there are family liveaboard cruises in the Philippines and Indonesia available, for example with

Dive instructor on the Pindito with a child during an intro dive

the Pindito.  Babies, toddlers, teenagers all are welcome on board Pindito and some other liveaboards for designated family excisions!

 Many dive resorts are offering rooms or bungalows for families which are very suitable.

We think there are some considerations to be taken into account when you plan a dive holiday with the whole family.

A resort stay is the most common way to do this. Most resorts offer children’s’ rates (some more some less attractive), but this does not mean that they are naturally suitable for a family holidays. We just like to give you some pointers to select a great diving holiday for the family.

Important questions to ask:

Pack the bags!

• Does the resort have a nice beach for kids to play and swim?
• Do they offer a nanny service for a reasonable price?
• Are the dive sites close by so you can be back in the resort after a dive or two without spending most of the day in the dive boat away from the non divers?
• Apart from diving, what other activities can you engage in which are fun for the entire family?
• Depending what age your kids are, you may get them into a bubble maker or similar early dive/snorkel program. Check if this is available
• Does the resort offer kids sizes snorkel/dive gear?
   

Volivoli Resort in Fiji has a beach how kids love it!

We have done these checks and found some resorts that fit the bill. They tick the boxes and are quite affordable particularly in the Philippines, in Fiji and in Indonesia. Please check these resort out for your family holiday and ask us for their family rates:

In Fiji
Volivoli Resort 
We have a family special for you for the beautiful Volivoli Resort: Stay 7 pay 5 at 2011 rates for families!  (must be booked latest by 31st March 2012) Please email us for details! 

Here some more resorts that fit the bill:

Indonesia's beautiful reefs

In the Philippines:
Pura Vida Beach Resort
Alona Vida Beach Resort

In Indonesia:
Tasik Ria Resort
Siladen Resort & Spa

Also fantastic, but on a higher budget are: Gangga Island Resort & Spa  and Wakatobi Dive Resort.

Liveaboard Familiy cruises

The Pindito offers Wake Boarding as a fun activity for small and grown up guests!

In case you really want something very special, why not consider a liveboard dive cruise on the Pindito. Once a year they offer a family cruise of a lifetime! The crew has plenty ideas to make this trip exciting for grand and small guests. They offer a lot of activities around the water and on land for kids. Visit the Komodo dragons in the National Park, collect shells on the beach, spend an afternoon wakeboarding or a visit of an old fishing village. Introductory dives are possible as well. On this cruise kids under 10 years travel for free! 10-15 year olds pay 50% of trip price.

Pindito - a beautiful Indonesian liveaboard

Family liveaboard trips 2012:
30 Jul – 10 Aug 2012 Dive Komodo!  Pindito Family diving cruise
3-10 August 2012 (7 nights) Philippines diving  Philippine Siren Family trip

Family Liveaboard trips 2013:
28 Jul – 4 Aug 2013 (7 nights) dive Komodo with Indo Siren Family dive  trip
29 Jul – 9 Aug 2013 (11 nights) Dive Komodo with the Pindito Family dive trip

Divers with young kids often face a challenge if they want to take the family on a great holiday and experience excellent diving.

There are no age restrictions, babies, toddler or teenage children, these family excursions are for everyone. Children under 10 years are Free of Charge and children up 15 years old pay half price!

Siren’s family diving trips are dedicated to families with kids and every aspect of what makes a family holiday relaxing and fun is taken care of. This trip is designed to allow both parents and their children to dive together (dependant on age and qualifications), to try scuba diving if not qualified yet and to enjoy many other activities.

Some of the activities on offer during family excursions are sea-kayaking, water skiing, treasure hunts, visits to stunning beaches and much more.  Food is included in the excursion and there is nothing to worry about, as children will get healthy but favourite and familiar food on board. Soft drinks & juices are included in the price as well. There is an extensive movie selection on board of kids favourites’ such as Disney movies and these can be viewed in the saloon on the large plasma screen whilst munching some pop corn or on each cabin’s personal computer!

•  7 nights excursion*
•  Price per adult (16 years +) 1850 Euro (approx. AUD 2499)
• 10-15 year olds half price (per full paying adult)
• Children under 10 years are Free of Charge !!!

*Inclusions: 7 night excursion, airport transfers (domestic airport and boat/return, accommodation for family of 3-4 in a double & twin beeded share ensuite cabin, all delicious meals and snacks, coffee, tea,  fruit juice, soft drinks and beer, fresh fruit ( special dietary requirements catered for), on diving days up to 3-4 dives for certified divers with all essential dive equipment provided.

 FREE PADI Discover Scuba Dive* for all non-diving guests
3 day PADI Scuba Diver* course ONLY 75 Euro per person

Onboard PADI instructors will be available to conduct scuba diving courses for those guests who never dived but would like to try! Take this fantastic opportunity to encourage the rest of your family members to enjoy your diving hobby as well! For 8 & 9 year old kids the Bubblemaker program will be offered if weather conditions and other circumstances allow.

*  Participants for any diving course or activity must be aged 10 or above

 Please contact us now for bookings of these special 7-night trips:

• 3-10 August 2012 (Visayas, Philippines from Cebu to Dauin)
• 28 July-4 August 2013 (Komodo, Indonesia from/to Birma)

 More about the boats on our website: Philippine Siren  and Indo Siren. 
Note: The Philippine Siren excursion is almost sold out, only a few berths left. Contact as soon!

Special Features of Family Diving Trips:

• Nannies to look after children.
• Baby cot if required*.
• Children’s size snorkeling equipment*.
• Specially catered children’s menu.
• Fancy dress pirate night with prize for best dressed (make the crew walk the plank).
• Fun but educational talks on the marine environment.

 *Limited numbers. Cot should be ordered at time of booking. It is advised parents purchase their child(rens) snorkel equipment prior to the trip to ensure a perfect fit.

Contact us!!
info@diversiondivetravel.com.au

www.diversiondivetravel.com.au
Phone     + 61 ( 7 ) 40 390 200
Freecall  1800 607 913 (within Australia)

Where:         Southern Visayas, Philippines
What:            Liveaboard Cruise
When:            11^th to 18^th August 2012

Dive into Yourself – Yoga & Scuba
Join Yoga instructor Teresa Herrera for a specialist yoga and scuba diving liveaboard trip in the Southern Visayas, Philippines.
Spend 7 nights aboard on the classic and luxury Pinisi SY Philippine Siren in large and comfortable air-conditioned twin/double cabins with private bathroom. Enjoy the regions’ best diving, snorkelling and sea kayaking whilst practicing yoga, relaxation and meditation, enjoy healthy food and massages.

Liveaboard Diving and Yoga in the Philippines

The Philippine Siren offers a full program of diving or snorkelling with up to 4 dives offered per day including night dives. Trips depart from Cebu and the yacht will cruise first to Cabilao then onwards to Balicasag & Alona Beach, Moalboal & Pescador Island before culminating at Dauin on Negros Island. See the world’s biggest anchovies school, swim with turtles and thresher sharks, be amazed by the beauty and diversity of Philippines best reefs! The many islands give a tranquil setting for yogis to enjoy the most of this relaxing experience.
Each day will begin with a meditation & relaxation session followed by Prana Vinyasa Flow Yoga led by Teresa on the sun deck of the SY Philippine Siren. In the late afternoon or during sunset Teresa will lead a further Prana Vinyasa Flow Yoga session aboard the yacht or at a suitable beach location. This holiday is true relaxation! Rejuvenate your body and mind and indulge in the natural wonders of the tropical reefs of the Philippines!

        Teresa Herrera
Prana Vinyasa Flow is an
energetic, creative,
full-spectrum approach
to embodying the flow
of yoga. Through
balanced and creative
sequences, students learn
classical and innovative
approaches to Vinyasa
Yoga.
Teresa’s intuitive and fluid
teaching style nurtures each student as they explore their bodies on the path of yoga. Teresa has studied under the generous guidance of her teacher, Shiva Rea M.A. and learned with Chuck Miller, Maty Ezraty, Bryan Kest, Gurmukh.

What do I get? 

• 7 night excursion with the Philippine Siren from to Cebu incl airport transfers
• accommodation in a double/twin share ensuite cabin
• All refreshments such as herbal tea, cocoa, fresh water, fruit juice, coffee, tea, soft drinks and beer, fresh fruit and all delicious meals and snacks – special dietary requirements catered for
• Sunrise meditation session with Teresa
• Snorkelling & Sea kayaking
• on diving days up to 3-4 dives with all essential dive equipment provided
• Daily Prana Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Teresa – this session will either be onboard or at a beach location
• massage service available for only AU$ 20 per 1 hour session.

Price per person only: AU$ 2499.00* 

Not included:  Flights to the Philippines, travel insurance, items of personal nature
* Price is subject to currency fluctuation and may change.

 Is this for me?

• Trip is open to divers and non-divers alike with all levels of yoga training and experience. Teresa will be on hand to assist you and work to individual needs.
• Single travellers can share a twin cabin (same sex) for same cost.

 Contact DIVERSION DIVE TRAVEL  today for more information and booking:
 1800 607 913 (in Australia)    or email: info@diversiondivetravel.com.au
Cannot make it in August 2012? Please email us for other trip dates!

This trip is dedicated to families who up until now may have been put off joining such a trip. The trip will allow both parents and their children to dive together (dependant on age and qualifications), to try scuba diving if not qualified and to enjoy many other activities. We have kayaks, water skiing, wakeboarding, treasure hunts, visits to stunning beaches and much much more. On board the yacht children will be able to eat healthy but favourite and familiar food such as burgers, fish fingers and more. Soft drinks are included in the price. We have many films that kids love such as Disney films and these can be viewed on each cabins personal computer or in the saloon on the large plasma screen whilst enjoying pop corn.

The dates are:
3rd August to 13th August 2011 – South Visayas on the Philippine Siren.

Price per adult (16years and over) 2,400 Euro (~ AUD 3,499.00)
price per child (up to 15 years) 1,200 Euro  (~ AUD 1,74900)
(when accompanied by full paying adult).
Please note: Children are only charged if they require a bed for themselves. If they are at an age where they do not need a bed there is no charge.

Special features of the family trip include:
Nannies to look after children.
Baby cot if required*.
Children’s size snorkeling equipment*.
Specially catered children’s menu.
Fancy dress pirate night with prize for best dressed (make the crew walk the plank).
Fun but educational talks on the marine environment.

* = Limited numbers. Cot should be ordered at time of booking. It is advised parents purchase their child(rens) snorkel equipment prior to the trip to ensure a perfect fit.

PS: If liveabords are not your family’s thing – the Philippines have a wide range of great dive resorts which are perfect for an fun, affordable family dive vacation, with excellent diving. Please ask our consultants for details