AMAZING PHILIPPINE DIVE TOURS AND PACKAGES AT THE “OUR WORLD UNDERWATER” SHOW, FEB. 19-21 IN CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL – Greater Chicago dive enthusiasts can now easily access the best of Philippine diving—thanks to amazing Philippine dive tour packages that will be on offer at the 40th Our World Underwater (OW-U) Show. The dive show, touted as the longest-running consumer dive and travel show in North America, will be held on February 19-21 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.
Strategically positioned at the center of the world’s coral triangle, the Philippines offers a wealth of diving opportunities in its 7,107 islands. From shallow shore dives to remote seamounts accessed only by live-aboards, from snorkeling alongside whale sharks to cruising with mantas and thresher sharks, from exploring ship wrecks to photographing kaleidoscopic walls and reefs—this tropical paradise will surely fascinate divers of all skill levels, budget ranges, and interests.
For an authentic experience, the Philippine Pavilion (Island Booth # 601 at the OW-U show) will feature several prominent dive operators offering exceptional scuba diving packages in some of the Philippines’ finest dive destinations such as Cebu, Puerto Galera and Dumaguete. Cebu Island is a long and narrow island surrounded by 167 smaller islands that include Mactan, Malapascua, and Moalboal islands. These three are among the country’s most popular dive destinations.
Mactan Island alone is home to more than 30 dive sites, among them are two famous marine sanctuaries: Hilutungan and Nalusuan. Malapascua is a legendary dive destination known for the Monad Shoal, a submerged seamount patrolled by thresher sharks and manta rays. Moalboal features sloping reefs filled with soft corals and reef fishes, and sponge-covered walls with several cracks and overhangs to explore and swim through.
For a taste of diving in Cebu, Illinois-based Ultimate Dive Travel (UDT) offers the Kasai Village Beach Resort Package. The package includes a seven-night accommodation at Kasai Village Beach Resort, 6 days of 3 tank boat dives, and unlimited tanks for shore diving. UDT will offer a special price for this package until April 30, 2010. Travel may take place anytime in 2010 or 2011. For more information about this package and other Philippine dive packages offered by UDT, call 1-800-737-3483, email udive@ultimatedivetravel.com, or visit www.ultimatedivetravel.com.
Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro is yet another popular diving destination. Also known as the “Port of Galleons,” Puerto Galera was declared a marine sanctuary because of its amazingly diverse and prolific marine life. Pink soft corals, huge sea fans, exotic critters, and various species of nudibranchs are among its mainstays. Sites such as Coral Gardens and Ernie’s Cave are perfect for novice divers, while Escarceo Point and The Canyons offer thrilling drift dives to expert divers. Just across Puerto Galera is the Verde Island wall, recognized as one of the best wall dives in the country.
For those considering diving in Puerto Galera, Texas-based Island Dreams Travel (IDT) offers The Philippines Diving Magic, a special dive tour package that includes 7 nights lodging at El Galleon Resort in Puerto Galera with six days of boat diving. For more information about this package and other Philippine dive packages offered by IDT, call 1-800-346-6116, email info@divetrip.com or visit www.divetrip.com. Aspiring underwater photographers may learn straight from the master.
Lynn Funkhouser , celebrated underwater photographer and Women Divers Hall of Famer, offers a Special May 2010 Philippine Dive Trip on May 1-11, 2010. It includes a 10-night accommodation at Atlantis Resort in Puerto Gallera, 9 days of boat diving, and, of course, a chance to dive with an accomplished underwater photographer. For more information, call 1-312-467-4340, email lynnfunkhouser@rcn.com, or visit www.lynfunkhouser.com.
Dumaguete is home to the famous Apo Island, the second largest contiguous coral reef in the world. Its reefs are festooned with a multitude of large corals and sponges, gorgonians, giant clams, and a prolific fish life. The Apo Island is the inspiration behind the Philippine Wild Reef exhibit at the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. This $49 million permanent exhibit covers 15,000 sq. ft. and took about 8 years to build.
Ohio-based Deep Blue Adventures (DBA) offers a Philippines Dive Adventure package that includes a 12-night accommodation (7 nights in Atlantis Resort in Puerto Galera and 5 nights in Atlantis Resort in Dumaguete) and 10 days of diving. Personal photo coaching by no less than David Haas is also part of the package. For more information about this package and other Philippine dive packages offered by DBA, call 1-888-266-2209, email info@deepblueadventures.com, or visit www.deepblueadventures.com.
Other top diving spots in the Philippines include Anilao in Batangas, Bohol, Camiguin, Sorsogon, and Palawan, among many others. The above-mentioned Midwest-based dive tour operators—UDT, IDT, and DBA—also offer dive tour packages to some of these Philippine dive destinations. Among dive tour operators that have dive tour packages to the Philippines, and have joined the Philippine Department of Tourism Chicago in the past OW-U, are California-based Scuba Travel Ventures, Island & Cruise Adventure Inc., and ActiVentures.
