Know Before You Go

​

Philippines Aggressor & Philippines Aggressor II

​

Itineraries have different embark/disembark locations, please familiarize yourself. Transfers are complimentary if arriving/departing on the charter start/end dates at the designated times.

​

Itineraries:

• Best of Visayas - (7 & 10 nights): Cebu/Cebu (CEB)

• Visayas South - (7 nights): Cebu (CEB)/Dumaguete (DGT) & Dumaguete/Cebu

• Tubbataha - (7 nights) Puerto Princesa/Puerto Princesa (PPS)

*Tubbataha/Visayas Transition (10 & 11-nights): Cebu (CEB)/Puerto Princessa (PPS) & Puerto Princessa (PPS) /Cebu

​

Philippines Aggressor & II Yacht

Yacht Cell (Dock Days Only): +63 966 440 2475

Local Office After Hours Mobile: +63 977 345 6716 or +63 917 383 4384

Local Office: +63 32 253 7437 8AM - 5PM (Philippines Time) Mon-Fri

Updated 06/20/2024

​

AIRLINE CHECKED BAGS

Check with your airline or airlines (if traveling with more than one carrier) regarding luggage allowances, limitations and overage fees. Some airlines have seasonal restrictions to certain destinations that may limit guests to one checked bag or a maximum weight of all checked bags and prohibit extra pieces or overweight pieces.

​

ARRIVAL/TRANSFERS

Guests arriving will need to complete this quick link

for a QR code to board https://etravel.gov.ph/

 

​

​

​

​

​Guests arriving at the above airports on the arrival start date of the Charter with Tubbataha & Best of Visayas Itineraries:

• If arriving before 6am, you must arrange with the host hotel for Airport pickup.

• If arriving after 6am you will receive a complimentary transfer by a crew member to the host hotel to await boarding.

 

AIRPORT TRANSFERS:

• Tubbataha (PPS) & Visayas (CEB) Complimentary Transfers:

Pickup is based on arrival flight times and transferred to host hotel listed below to await the 5pm boarding. Guests already in Palawan must make their own way to the host hotel for pickup (Check with resort).

On the embarkation and disembarkation charter dates only. Checkout is 8am.

 

• Dumaguete (DGT): Airport transfers from DGT airport must be arranged by the resort.

​

HOTELS/RESORTS TRANSFERS:

• Visayas Itineraries:

Complimentary transfers are provided from the Waterfront Airport Hotel to the yacht between 4 – 5 pm on the departure start date. Guests already in the country should meet at the Waterfront Airport Hotel or make their own way to the yacht located at Cebu Yacht Club.

​

·Tubbataha Itineraries:

Host hotel pick-up location is the Sunlight Guest Hotel & Hotel Fleuris Palawan. Pickup between 4-5pm. Sunlight Guest Hotel: Malvar Road, Puerto Princesa, 5300 Palawan, Philippines

Hotel Fleuris Palawan: Lacao St, Puerto Princesa, 5300 Palawan, Philippines

We strongly advise taking advantage of this service. This eliminates the chances of being turned back at the entry gate of the Port.

 

• Dumaguete: Transfers to or from resorts to our docking location at Atmosphere Resort should be arranged by those resorts. Address for Atmosphere Resort, Maayong Tubig, National Road, Dauin, 6217 Negros Oriental, Philippines

For those not staying at the Atmosphere Resort either before or after their cruise, the cost is $60 per couple - it is the same price for one person unless there are others needing the same transfer, in which case it is $30 pp.

 

BOARDING

Boarding is from 4 - 6 pm on the charter start date. Please notify the Reservations Office of your arrival time and/or hotel reservations by adding to the GIS profile. The yacht will be anchored out in the harbor and only docked during check- in/out times.

Dock location in Cebu: Cebu Yacht Club

Dock location in Tubbataha: The Puerto Princesa shipping port or adjacent to Puerto Princesa City Baywalk Park. Dock location in Dumaguete: Atmosphere Resort

At the end of the charter the staff will assist organizing transportation to the airport or a hotel if you are extending your stay. Be sure to remember the suggested 24-hour no-fly rule when planning your departure.

​

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Sample Itinerary

• Day of Embarkation – Prearranged pick up from the airport is 4 – 5 PM for transfer to the yacht for boarding. Guests may board between 4 – 6 pm. Everyone must be onboard by 6 pm. Dinner is served at 6:00 followed by an orientation and yacht safety briefing.

• Diving the next morning.

• Disembarkation Day – Check out is at 8:00 am. The staff will assist organizing transportation to either the airport or a local hotel if you are extending your stay.

•  

EMBARK/DISEMBARK/DOCKING

Best of Visayas - (7 & 10 nights): Cebu/Cebu (CEB) Dock is Cebu Yacht Club

Visayas - South (7 nights): Cebu (CEB)/Dumaguete (DGT) & Dumaguete, Atmosphere Resort, Cebu – Cebu Yacht Club

Tubbataha - (7 nights) Puerto Princessa/Puerto Princessa (PPS) Dock is Puerto Princesa Shipper Port

Tubbataha/Visayas Transition (10 & 11-nights): Cebu (CEB)/Puerto Princessa (PPS) & Puerto Princessa (PPS) /Cebu

 

FEES & TAXES (per person)

Tubbataha 7 & 10 nights: $150 per person park/port fee. Tubbataha transition trips: $210 per person park/port fee.

Visayas 7 & 10 nights: $105 per person park/port fee and 10-nights $120

Taxes and fees are not included in your charter price. A 12% VAT (Value Added Tax) tax is added to all onboard sales.

You may pay by Visa, MasterCard, or US dollars. Sorry, no personal checks. Many countries that accept USD cash require the bills to be in exceptionally good condition. Any that have excessive wrinkles, tears, wear marks and are old-style bills are not normally accepted.

 

THE YACHTS INCLUDES:

All staterooms are air conditioned and fitted with private toilets, showers, sinks, and hair dryers. Linens are changed upon request and fresh towels are placed in each stateroom as needed. Breakfast (cooked to order), lunch and an elegant chef prepared meal at dinner with tableside service are served in addition to fresh mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks. Beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are complimentary while onboard. Filled tanks, weights and weight belts are included.

​

WELCOME

It is important to notify our office of last-minute changes concerning your airline arrival and departure times or any changes in your e-mail address and telephone numbers. In an emergency, family and friends may contact you at the above numbers.

We recommend you travel with a carry-on bag with a change of clothes, bathing suit, medication, and toiletries. Having these few items with you can make an unexpected luggage delay more bearable. In the event your diving gear (luggage) is delayed you will be provided with free loaner equipment.

​

TIME ZONE IN THE PHILIPPINES (GMT+8) is year-round, no DST PASSPORTS & DOCUMENTATION

Visitors must have a current passport, adequate funds to support themselves, to travel to the Philippines. It is the travelers’ responsibility to ensure they have the proper documentation to travel into each country on their itinerary and for re-entry and return to their country. Please check with the appropriate consulate to ensure you have the proper documentation. Always check your passport and visa requirements. Since regulations vary by country, contact your consulate or embassy of your country for the requirement. The Reservation Office and Staff cannot assume responsibility for passengers not having correct documentation.

 

C-CARDS

Remember to bring your c-card or proof of certification. The divemaster requires proof of certification before the first dive.

 

GUEST INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS)

The Reservations Office and both yachts require each guest to complete a Cruise Application and Waiver prior to departure and diving. The GIS (Guest Information System) allows guests to interactively complete all required paperwork that includes the application/waiver, special requests, and travel information. If you have not received a link to access the GIS, please contact us. Passengers who fail to complete the GIS or an application/waiver will be denied boarding.

 

INSURANCE

We strongly recommend each guest purchase a CFAR (cancel for any reason) insurance .

 

HEALTH

The yachts have a first aid kit onboard, including oxygen and an AED. You may want to bring motion sickness medication if you feel you will need it. We suggest you bring over-the-counter motion sickness medication or consult your doctor about prescription brands, such as the transdermal patch or Scopace tablets. Currents and winds may cause moderate movement of the yacht at times. We recommend a complete physical before your trip.

The nearest recompression chambers are located throughout the Philippines and are operational 24/7:

• Puerto Princesa, Palawan which is closest for the Tubbataha itinerary.

• Mandaue City, Cebu which is closest to other itineraries. Some of the locations would be sea travel only, while others could involve travel by sea and land.

• Manila is farthest from all our dive sites. This would serve as a backup.

The yacht staff is unable to accept any medication brought onboard for safe keeping including those that require refrigeration. Should a guest have a medication requiring temperature control, they will need to travel with a travel cooling case or small storage cooler with several blue ice packets. The crew will be happy to store and recharge the blue ice but are unable to accept possession or responsibility for thepropercareand storage of medication. Thisshould be kept in the stateroom. Smoking is NOT allowed inside the boat or on the dive deck. Smoking is only permitted on the rear of the sun deck.

 

INTERNET/EMAIL

Email is available onboard through the satellite system. The satellite phone is used for emergency calls and texts only. There is a charge for outgoing email. Private calls may be made from the yacht for a charge.

​

FOOD

Our yachts operate in remote locations which limits the availability of certain foods and edibles, which can be unavailable in grocery stores and markets. While our culinary teams strive to accommodate individual requests, it is important to recognize that they cannot guarantee it despite their best efforts. Guests with dietary restrictions and food allergies should be aware that the same meal is prepared for all guests, making cross contamination a possibility. Based on this, travelers should plan accordingly and bring pre-packaged goods if needed. The availability of fresh produce may vary weekly, and they may have a limited selection depending on the destination and availability. The concept of "organic" is infrequent, and items like "gluten-free" products are seldom foundin these remote locations.

The menu aboard is varied and plentiful, with a variety of American feasts, barbecues, and local cuisine. If you have any special dietary requirements, please add this to your reservation through the GIS and speak to the yacht chef once onboard so he/she can adequately prepare to meet your needs. You will wake up to fresh fruits, hot entrees, cereals, and juices. Lunches feature hot soups, homemade breads, salads, and sandwiches and/or entrees. Dinners are chef prepared and served each evening and include salads, vegetables, seafood, beef, or chicken with a fresh homemade dessert. Certain special dietary and beverage requests may not be available due to the remote nature of this location, so we highly recommend you bring these items with you.

 

BEVERAGES

The beverage selection includes fruit juices, soft drinks, iced water, iced tea, coffee, and a limited selection of local beer and wine, which are complimentary. Due to the high duty charge on liquor, we suggest you bring your favorite brand. Drinking and diving do not mix. Once you consume alcohol, you become a snorkeler until the next day.

 

CLOTHING

Please plan to travel light, as on all live-aboard dive yachts, space is limited. We recommend that you pack your gear in soft luggage such as a duffel bag for easy stowage and to add to your comfort in your cabin. Clothing should be lightweight,

 

comfortable sportswear and swimsuits are necessary. A light sweater or jacket is ideal for evenings. The dress is always casual and informal. Additional items you may want to bring are sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and walking shoes for your time on shore.

​

GREEN THE FLEET

Contribute to our Green the Fleet sustainability initiatives. Here are a few reminders:

• Avoid traveling with single-use plastics.

• Remove packaging from any new purchases before traveling.

• Travel with a refillable water bottle for hydration.

• Use rechargeable batteries.

• Use an environmentally safe (i.e.: "Reef Safe") sunscreen, or better yet use fabric to cover up instead of relying on chemical protection.

• Conserve and responsibly use fresh water when at your adventure destination.

• Be environmentally conscious in everything you do.

​

ENTERTAINMENT

There is a variety of nightly entertainment, including diving, fish identification presentations, movies, games and more. If you have a favorite movie, digital slide show, or a video to share, we encourage you to bring it along. The crew especially loves new releases of movies, recent magazines, and books. A small library of books for exchange and fish identification books for reference is maintained onboard.

Whether it is your anniversary, birthday, honeymoon, wedding, please let us know so the crew can celebrate your occasion. Kindly advise our office prior to traveling so the crew is notified in advance.

 

DIVING CONDITIONS

You will be diving in water that averages 77-85°F. Most guests make as many as 3-4 dives (20 dives Tubbataha itinerary) each day, so some sort of protection is needed. A 3mm wetsuit should be comfortable and adequate. Due to swift currents in some of the locations, we suggest divers bring safety items such as a Dive Alert, Safety Sausage, Life Line, and any other safety items you feel necessary. We also recommend you bring a dive computer which is mandatory. If you are diving DIN, you will need to bring an adaptor as the yacht has a limited number onboard. Most diving in the Philippines is drift diving so guests should be comfortable with a current.

​

DIVING

The staff of the Philippines Aggressor yachts, with their unique combination of talents, offers the ultimate in service. While onboard you may pick a buddy of your choice. There is ample storage space for your diving equipment in your personal locker. They provide 80 cubic feet tanks, weight belts, and weights. All tanks have K-valves (American type), with limited DIN (European) valves onboard so we recommend you bring a DIN adaptor if you require it.

All dives are made from the 20’ custom built high speed, outboard zodiacs capable of carrying 12 guests for quick access to even the most remote dive sites. The boarding ladders were designed for convenience to allow divers easy exits and entries. The tenders return to the mother ships after each dive. Each diver has his/her own tank rack, locker, and spacious seating area. There is little diving from the mother ships but by utilizing the custom dive skiffs for these short runs, guests will still be in close proximity to the Philippines’ finest diving. Skiff diving has proven itself in this location. In between dives, you may snorkel, explore secluded beaches, or just relax with a cold drink and mid-morning snack. Night diving is not allowed in Tubbataha but is allowed in the Visayas.

 

We suggest you pack the following: mask, fins, snorkel, regulator with visible pressure gauge, depth gauge, dive computer, buoyancy compensator, and night diving light. Strongly recommended: Spare mask, a dive watch, dive light, safety sausage, whistle, mirror and/or other safety devices. Each piece of gear should be marked with waterproof paint or tape. Please see our “Captain’s Log” on our website for current diving conditions.

Lifelines (dive alerts) are required and provided during the week at no charge to guests.

​

DIVING SUPERVISION

We understand that diving is not just an activity; it's a passion for exploring our underwater world. That's why we empower you and your buddy to take charge of your diving experience. While in the water, you and your buddy are in charge. Every dive begins with a comprehensive briefing from our experienced staff, providing you with the information you need. As certified divers, you and your buddy are responsible for planning and conducting your dives while respecting the limits of your experience and those set by the briefing and your certification agency.

 

When diving is directly off the yacht, at least one staff member will be in the water offering support, underwater photography and videography, and critter spotting services. On select dive sites, a staff member may assist a group in finding specific points of interest. However, we do not directly supervise dives, and guests are not required to follow the in-water staff member. In some destinations, especially those with tender diving, a staff member will accompany each tender group and be in the water to offer assistance and ensure the group stays together. However, buddy teams can operate independently. If a buddy team needs to surface early, the entire group is not required to abort the dive and follow. The buddy team should follow their training procedures for surfacing from a dive and signaling the tender driver or yacht staff that everything is OK once on the surface.

​

CONSERVATION LAWS

The yacht does not permit spear guns on any of the yachts. Diving gloves are illegal to wear while diving at all dive sites in the Philippines. Any fines incurred by the Yacht due to guest(s) violating any of the national orlocal rules and regulations will be billed to the offending guest(s).

​

RENTAL DIVE EQUIPMENT

A full line of Aqua Lung rental gear is available aboard including regulators, BCs, dive computers, and night lights. If any of your dive equipment fails while onboard, the crew will loan you equipment free of charge, compliments of Aqua Lung. If your luggage is delayed or lost, you will be provided with a loaner set of equipment based on availability.

 

CERTIFICATION & SPECIALTY COURSES

Further your education while onboar. The following courses are offered onboard: SSI Adventurer Course or the PADI equivalent Advanced Open Water Diver Course, and SSI or PADI Enriched Air / Nitrox Courses. Course fees are payable once onboard and the instructor confirms the course. The training agency utilized to provide your course will vary based on your instructor's affiliations.

​

PHOTO/VIDEO EQUIPMENT

The yacht offers a PC for downloading photos & video. The Photo pros are available for free coaching. They large camera charging table available for your camera and video equipment. Guests should bring their own battery chargers.

A Video Professional can capture your diving adventure to share with family and friends. The video for the week (including all guests and staff) is $65 US.

​

BOUTIQUE & CREDIT CARDS

There is a mini boutique onboard with assorted t-shirts, and miscellaneous items. The Philippines Aggressor yachts accepts cash, Visa, and MasterCard. Sorry, no personal checks, travelers check or Discover cards are accepted.

​

GRATUITIES

Staff gratuities are not included in the charter. We believe gratuities should be voluntary and based upon the quality of service the crew has provided. When settling your account on Saturday, the Captain will have an envelope for gratuities that will be divided equally among the staff. Payment can be made by cash, or MC/Visa (AMEX, personal checks and travelers checks not accepted).

 

CHECKOUT

Checkout time is at 8:00 a.m. on the morning of disembarkation. If you are extending your stay or flying out, the staff will assist in arranging transportation.