Musings on Dumaguete (as I depart...)

[cetacean]

At the MNL airport after a week of diving in Dumaguete...

This is my 4th time diving this part of the Dauin coast - still impressed with the variety (and volume) of critters that can be found here.

The best dive for this trip was at the "Corner" where a few min into the dive we came across a Mototi octopus (sticking out of a bottle), followed by a blue ring octopus on a rock, followed by a coconut octopus in a shell... then throw in a flamboyant cuttlefish moving along the sand... great dive (only 1 DM, my son, and myself on the dive - lots of opportunities for shooting images).

So here's the thing: I've been here twice in the spring, once in November, and now once in January. The frogfish are here all year (multiple frogfish on each dive), as well as several different kinds of not so common nudibranchs on each dive, and lots of shrimp, crabs, and other critters. However here's something we noticed, in the spring we usually find ghost pipefish (robust, ornate, or halimeda) on every dive (so much so that we jokingly told the DMs that it's easier to find ghost pipefish than frogfish here).

On this trip - across 20 dives, not a single ghost pipefish (and we were looking for them). Might be time of year... certainly interesting.

Oh - this time of year also has the advantage of the occasional whale shark swimming by. They saw 2 at Apo Island the day before we arrived, and we saw one underwater (swimming along in the distance) on one of our dives. Set up for super macro - just watched it swim by.

 

[A Bajo]

I'd be interested to hear about where you stayed. I'm going back for the second time next month.

 

[cetacean]

I'd be interested to hear about where you stayed. I'm going back for the second time next month.

This trip we stayed at Atmosphere, 2 previous times we stayed at Atlantis, and before that Atmosphere.

Can definitely compare and contrast, depends what you are looking for (Atlantis tends to dive more of the northern sites while Atmosphere tends to dive more of the southern sites, so there is a difference in the diving).

 

[hdtran]

Would love to see a full trip report & photos when you have the time!

 

[Phong78]

I'm planning a trip to Dauin... either April 2025 or Sept or Nov 2025. Very helpful info regarding some critter spotting depending on each time of year.
I'd be all in on macro so anything big swimming by would just be a bonus. I'm particularly hunting for the "sheep" or leaf nudi, the minuscule one...

Trying to fly there mostly just via MNL I guess, or CEB. I'd be flying in from Taiwan (from Europe) and then fly back to Europe via Singapore.

 

[cetacean]

I'm planning a trip to Dauin... either April 2025 or Sept or Nov 2025. Very helpful info regarding some critter spotting depending on each time of year.
I'd be all in on macro so anything big swimming by would just be a bonus. I'm particularly hunting for the "sheep" or leaf nudi, the minuscule one...

Trying to fly there mostly just via MNL I guess, or CEB. I'd be flying in from Taiwan (from Europe) and then fly back to Europe via Singapore.

Sheep nudis were quite prevalent. Our guide found ~15, and likely stopped pointing them out.

One thing to keep in mind - the international terminal for non-PAL flights in MNL is terminal 3 (most international PAL flights land at terminal 1), and the majority of domestic flights depart from terminal 2. These terminals are not close toghether (they are actually on opposite sides of the runway from eachother). There is no way to walk between these terminals. Some people hire private cars for the transit, however there are a couple of shuttles available (a free shuttle that runs every ~30 min, but schedule is "iffy") or a "deluxe" shuttle bus that costs about 50 Philippine pesos/person (more reliable, more comfortable). The transit can take ~30 min in traffic, or about 15 min with no traffic.

The domestic flight to Dumaguete (from MNL) is about an hour. Easy flight - highly recommended. The drive from Cebu is 4+ hours, with a short ferry ride mixed in. I know a number of people who jave taken this route... the first ~ hour+ is fine, the last 2 aren't worth it... fly.

 

[staggsSevin]

How do you compare the two resorts....the non-diving side of it. I'm looking at a week of Dauin (maybe still just go with Anilao) a week before a liveaboard in April 2026. Both of these resorts are on my list (our liveaboard the following week is now one of Atlantis's).

There is a good chance we could have a non-diving friend join us for this trip.

 

[Luko]

How do you compare the two resorts....the non-diving side of it.

Been to both (and also more ops in Dauin).
You can read my feedback here Trip Report - Dumaguete -Atlantis Resort stay May 2022

In my opinion :
Atmosphere has an edge for grounds & pool, slightly for accoms.
I like much better Atlantis for food thanks to their chef (Atmosphere tries but does not fully deliver) and their dive organization, they will be less expensive for hardcore divers with their dive formula (up to 5 dives/day). Atlantis is also closer to other resorts that you can walk to from the beach.

I'm particularly hunting for the "sheep" or leaf nudi, the minuscule one...

You won't even care for them after your first dive on San Miguel, right in front of Atlantis.
FYI there are no flights between CEB and DGT, its drive+ short ferry (tedious... done it twice, more than 5 hours in fact)

 

[diveUAE]

You won't even care for them after your first dive on San Miguel, right in front of Atlantis.
FYI there are no flights between CEB and DGT, its drive+ short ferry (tedious... done it twice, more than 5 hours in fact)

In February 2024 we flew CEB-DGT with Cebu Pacific.
I booked well ahead for a nice midday flight - only to have them reschedule 3-4 times and ended up with a 8.30 pm flight.

 

[A Bajo]

This trip we stayed at Atmosphere, 2 previous times we stayed at Atlantis, and before that Atmosphere.

Can definitely compare and contrast, depends what you are looking for (Atlantis tends to dive more of the northern sites while Atmosphere tends to dive more of the southern sites, so there is a difference in the diving).

How is the diving different. I thought it was all muck diving unless you go to Apo Island. Atmosphere looks just as expensive as Atlantis.