Dive Review of Philippine Aggressor in
Philippines/Tubbataha to Cebu

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Philippine Aggressor: "From Tubbataha to Cebu", Jul, 2022, by Michael J. Millet, CA, US ( Top Contributor 96 reports with 61 Helpful votes). Report 11989 has 3 Helpful votes.
Photos Submitted with this Report Click on an image to see an enlarged version and captions
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Boarded the Philippine Aggressor in Puerto Princseca for a 10 night transition trip to Cebu City. We spent 5 days diving the Tubbataha Atoll, 2 dives at Cagancillo, then a one day each at Apo/Dauin, Balicasag and Cabilao. The diving at Tubbataha was quite challenging due strong currents caused by the full moon. On many dives it was a matter of trying to buck the current and do a reef crawl. Not ideal conditions for photography. Had some brief manta encounters at Black Rock dive site. Had some great, up-close visits with several green turtles. The 2 dives at Cagancillo involved the usual aquatic critters. Enjoyed a very nice night dive at Dauin enclountering cuttlefish including the flambouyant variety and ornate ghost pipefish. The dives at Balicasag were quite good with lots of different anemonefish species, porcelain crab and pink hairy squat lobster; also a nice time with green turtles. The dives at Cabilao offered more of the same. Philippine Aggressor is a relatively new boat. It is very spacious in terms of cabins, salon, dining area and sun deck. It is well maintained and clean. The dive deck can get a bit congested with 20 divers. Divers were divided into 4 groups in order to minimize crowding on the dive deck and the dive sites. Dives were from inflatable skiffs doing back rolls. The camera table was adequate but could get crowded because diver and crew towels were stored on it. Not a good idea. The battery charging stations were also adequate. The diving started daily about 6:30 AM so no sleeping in. The Aggressor staff was very friendly and always ready to help. My dive guide, Fredy, took a real interest in the divers assigned to him, was very helpful and safety conscious. He did a good job finding critters. We enjoyed buffet breakfast and lunch with plated dinners; We were served a good variety of food nicely prepared. My only serious criticism of the trip is that on 2-3 dives we were kept dug in or hanging on in very strong current for several minutes. The explanations given for this were interesting but not very satisfactory: waiting for mantas, doing a safety stop, looking for octopus. In conclusion , the Philippine Aggressor is a very comfortable boat with a great staff that truly endeavors to please and accommodate divers wot exceptional service and excellent diving. I will be looking to rebook on a trip that includes Leyte.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	All over the Caribbean; Galapagos, Socorro, Fiji, Solomons, GBR, Vanuatu, PNG, Philippines, Indonesia, Palau, Yap, Kosrae
Closest Airport	Puerto Princesa	Getting There	Connect thru Manila
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy, rainy	Seas	calm, choppy, currents
Water Temp	82-85°F / 28-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	5
Water Visibility	40-80 Ft/ 12-24 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	No Deco; 60 minute dives
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Camera table is adequate but became quite congested when dive towels were stored on it.

Report currently has 3 Helpful votes

Subscriber's Comments

By Cheryl S Jones in VA, US at Jul 29, 2022 20:20 EST

Currents happen. What about the quality of the diving? Reef, fish, and pelagics vs some of the other South Pacific locations you've dived?

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Dive Review of Philippine Aggressor in Philippines/Tubbataha to Cebu

Philippine Aggressor: "From Tubbataha to Cebu", Jul, 2022,

Photos Submitted with this Report

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subscriber's Comments

Dive Review of Philippine Aggressor in
Philippines/Tubbataha to Cebu