Atlantis Dive Resorts
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Atlantis Azores Captain’s Log June 8 – 18, 2014
Weather: Warm, humid and partly cloudy, with a welcoming breeze from the south.
Water Temp: Low 80’s
Air Temp: Upper 80’s
Sub surface visibility: 60’-100’
Log Entry by: Capt’ Todd
Well, in the blink of an eye, or so it seems, the 2014 Tubbataha Season has passed us by, officially ending for us with this trip as we load up the boat and bid farewell to Puerto Princesa until next year. Along for the ride is Kristi of World Wide Diving Adventures and some of her friends who have chartered the boat for our last visit to the Atolls, as well as an extended voyage up to Malapascua to see the Thresher Sharks. It’s kind of a “roundabout” route home to Dumaguete.
Monday dawned over the Atoll as our guests enjoyed their first glorious Philippine sunrise. We had started our trip yesterday with an early afternoon departure from PPC. This morning our first stop was at SW Wall for a peaceful intro dive. Delsan Wreck was next for dives two and three, but the highlight of the day was dive four at Staghorn Point where yours truly, while cruising up in the shallows, spotted not one, not two, not three, but FOUR large Stingrays all huddled together (photo). So there we all sat, wondering how to get them to move. One of the chase boats finally came over top of us and that spooked them into a mad dash, and we all got to see it!
Tuesday began as we meandered on up to Black Rock for the first few dives. We had a pleasant drift along the south wall where we saw a gigantic cloud of Midnight Snappers amongst the other life suspended off the edge. We then managed a land visit to the Ranger Station, returning with time to see a Whale Shark on dive four today!
Wednesday we had an early start at Shark Airport with a 6:00 am dive that ensured time for three dives here before our trek would begin across the Sulu Sea later today. We encountered Whale Sharks on both dives one and two! What a fantastic way to end our season at Tubbataha. We said “so long” to the Atolls after dive three, as we next headed east towards Negros Oriental, approximately 200+ miles distant.
Thursday, having made good time with a following sea overnight, we had Apo Island off our bow by 10:00 am this morning. Everyone splashed there for two dives; one a beautiful soft coral and sponge paradise accentuated with lots of “macro critters”, including numerous Nudibranchs and a couple of fine looking Scorpion fish. The other was an “E-Ticket” ride in a four-knot current, passing all kinds of stuff, including Sea Snakes and Turtles! We dropped our guests after lunch at Atlantis Resort Dumaguete, for some “R & R” from their “R & R”, as we went to the pier to top of our fuel tanks for the remainder of our odyssey.
Friday the Thirteenth! Today the Whale Sharks at Oslob were the morning’s entertainment. After a Whale Shark seminar from Kristy the night before, everyone had a great opportunity to scrutinize these giants up close and see what all the fuss is about – and well worth it indeed it was! After lunch, the group split up, with some heading ashore for a “land tour” at Panglao Island to visit the tarsier monkeys and butterflies, while others remaining aboard for more diving.
Saturday we made it to Balicasag Island for the 7:00 am dive where a nice big Frogfish was among the highlights, along with the famous “Jack-nado”, and LOTS of Turtles.
Sunday the Azores departed Balicasag Island early, at 3:00 am, for the 22 mile run to Cabilao Island. Beautiful calm conditions greeted us, and we enjoyed four nice wall dives at various sites there. We weighed anchor (actually our mooring line - no anchoring here!) after dive four and headed north up the Cebu Strait, nearly 110 miles over flat calm seas, for a pre-dawn arrival at Monad Shoal for the world-famous Thresher Shark encounter.
Monday. Ya’know, being the captain means taking the rap when occasionally (rarely on this boat-
) things don’t go right. However, I like to also take credit when things go right, as it did on this particular dive! The conditions were perfect, and the Thresher Sharks were right on their mark, making a brief, but memorable appearance for our guests. Afterwards we searched out our mooring at Malapascua Island for the rest of the day. Our next dive at “Deep Rock” a nearby small seamount, was LOADED with critters with everything from numerous Frogfish (including a Black and a Freckled), Cuttlefish, Leaf Scorpion fish, Long Nosed Hawkfish, a school of Batfish, Sea Snake, Snowflake Eel, Bamboo Shark and Xeno Crabs, to name but a few. We then found the Mandarin fish on the late afternoon dive, and then the guests were treated to something unique for dinner. Crewmember Jess, who’s from Malapascua, invited everyone to his house for his father’s 70th birthday party. So we all went ashore, sat with his entire family (he has NINE brothers and sisters) and devoured a roasted pig, along with plenty of local side dishes…and we all sang “Happy Birthday” to Francisco
Tuesday began with an encore performance by the Thresher Sharks at Monad Shoal that was even better than the morning before, as this time they hung around for quite awhile. Today, the Discovery Channel film crew also joined us; so keep an eye out for an upcoming DS special on the Malapascua Thresher Sharks, as you might see some Azores guests in the background. Later, we ran 12 miles east to Gato Island for a chance to see some more Sea Snakes. It turned out to be so much more than Sea Snakes though, with an inquisitive Cuttlefish, Black-tipped Reef Sharks, Pipefish, and (2) Blue Ringed Octopus (very rare), to name but a few. As mid day approached, it was time to begin heading back. Nobody wanted it to end, but some had flights the next day, and you can’t change that. So south we headed, 150-some odd miles, with a quick stop at Kalangaman Island along the way to stretch our legs and sample “Boko juice” (young coconut) from some of the locals who climbed a palm and picked them to order. Delicious and refreshing!
Wednesday we had a late morning arrival at Atlantis Resort Dumaguete once again, where some bade their farewells, and others stayed around for more diving at the resort. It’s been a great adventure! Thanks World Wide Diving Adventures for having us along…:cool2:
Weather: Warm, humid and partly cloudy, with a welcoming breeze from the south.
Water Temp: Low 80’s
Air Temp: Upper 80’s
Sub surface visibility: 60’-100’
Log Entry by: Capt’ Todd
Well, in the blink of an eye, or so it seems, the 2014 Tubbataha Season has passed us by, officially ending for us with this trip as we load up the boat and bid farewell to Puerto Princesa until next year. Along for the ride is Kristi of World Wide Diving Adventures and some of her friends who have chartered the boat for our last visit to the Atolls, as well as an extended voyage up to Malapascua to see the Thresher Sharks. It’s kind of a “roundabout” route home to Dumaguete.
Monday dawned over the Atoll as our guests enjoyed their first glorious Philippine sunrise. We had started our trip yesterday with an early afternoon departure from PPC. This morning our first stop was at SW Wall for a peaceful intro dive. Delsan Wreck was next for dives two and three, but the highlight of the day was dive four at Staghorn Point where yours truly, while cruising up in the shallows, spotted not one, not two, not three, but FOUR large Stingrays all huddled together (photo). So there we all sat, wondering how to get them to move. One of the chase boats finally came over top of us and that spooked them into a mad dash, and we all got to see it!
Tuesday began as we meandered on up to Black Rock for the first few dives. We had a pleasant drift along the south wall where we saw a gigantic cloud of Midnight Snappers amongst the other life suspended off the edge. We then managed a land visit to the Ranger Station, returning with time to see a Whale Shark on dive four today!
Wednesday we had an early start at Shark Airport with a 6:00 am dive that ensured time for three dives here before our trek would begin across the Sulu Sea later today. We encountered Whale Sharks on both dives one and two! What a fantastic way to end our season at Tubbataha. We said “so long” to the Atolls after dive three, as we next headed east towards Negros Oriental, approximately 200+ miles distant.
Thursday, having made good time with a following sea overnight, we had Apo Island off our bow by 10:00 am this morning. Everyone splashed there for two dives; one a beautiful soft coral and sponge paradise accentuated with lots of “macro critters”, including numerous Nudibranchs and a couple of fine looking Scorpion fish. The other was an “E-Ticket” ride in a four-knot current, passing all kinds of stuff, including Sea Snakes and Turtles! We dropped our guests after lunch at Atlantis Resort Dumaguete, for some “R & R” from their “R & R”, as we went to the pier to top of our fuel tanks for the remainder of our odyssey.
Friday the Thirteenth! Today the Whale Sharks at Oslob were the morning’s entertainment. After a Whale Shark seminar from Kristy the night before, everyone had a great opportunity to scrutinize these giants up close and see what all the fuss is about – and well worth it indeed it was! After lunch, the group split up, with some heading ashore for a “land tour” at Panglao Island to visit the tarsier monkeys and butterflies, while others remaining aboard for more diving.
Saturday we made it to Balicasag Island for the 7:00 am dive where a nice big Frogfish was among the highlights, along with the famous “Jack-nado”, and LOTS of Turtles.
Sunday the Azores departed Balicasag Island early, at 3:00 am, for the 22 mile run to Cabilao Island. Beautiful calm conditions greeted us, and we enjoyed four nice wall dives at various sites there. We weighed anchor (actually our mooring line - no anchoring here!) after dive four and headed north up the Cebu Strait, nearly 110 miles over flat calm seas, for a pre-dawn arrival at Monad Shoal for the world-famous Thresher Shark encounter.
Monday. Ya’know, being the captain means taking the rap when occasionally (rarely on this boat-
) things don’t go right. However, I like to also take credit when things go right, as it did on this particular dive! The conditions were perfect, and the Thresher Sharks were right on their mark, making a brief, but memorable appearance for our guests. Afterwards we searched out our mooring at Malapascua Island for the rest of the day. Our next dive at “Deep Rock” a nearby small seamount, was LOADED with critters with everything from numerous Frogfish (including a Black and a Freckled), Cuttlefish, Leaf Scorpion fish, Long Nosed Hawkfish, a school of Batfish, Sea Snake, Snowflake Eel, Bamboo Shark and Xeno Crabs, to name but a few. We then found the Mandarin fish on the late afternoon dive, and then the guests were treated to something unique for dinner. Crewmember Jess, who’s from Malapascua, invited everyone to his house for his father’s 70th birthday party. So we all went ashore, sat with his entire family (he has NINE brothers and sisters) and devoured a roasted pig, along with plenty of local side dishes…and we all sang “Happy Birthday” to Francisco Tuesday began with an encore performance by the Thresher Sharks at Monad Shoal that was even better than the morning before, as this time they hung around for quite awhile. Today, the Discovery Channel film crew also joined us; so keep an eye out for an upcoming DS special on the Malapascua Thresher Sharks, as you might see some Azores guests in the background. Later, we ran 12 miles east to Gato Island for a chance to see some more Sea Snakes. It turned out to be so much more than Sea Snakes though, with an inquisitive Cuttlefish, Black-tipped Reef Sharks, Pipefish, and (2) Blue Ringed Octopus (very rare), to name but a few. As mid day approached, it was time to begin heading back. Nobody wanted it to end, but some had flights the next day, and you can’t change that. So south we headed, 150-some odd miles, with a quick stop at Kalangaman Island along the way to stretch our legs and sample “Boko juice” (young coconut) from some of the locals who climbed a palm and picked them to order. Delicious and refreshing!
Wednesday we had a late morning arrival at Atlantis Resort Dumaguete once again, where some bade their farewells, and others stayed around for more diving at the resort. It’s been a great adventure! Thanks World Wide Diving Adventures for having us along…:cool2:
