Liveaboard Safari

Philippines when it’s Best

• North Liveaboard Safari
• South Liveaboard Safari
• Why Liveaboard Diving
• Guidelines for diving experience
• FAQ

Liveaboard Safari a’la Filipino way

Start in March 2009 and in cooperation with dive safari operator Queen X-Team we offer Liveaboard Safaris throughout the Visayas. The safari vessels, Queen X, are custom build outrigger Liveaboard boat specially built for dive safaris equipped with 4 sleeping cabins for adventure and exploring tours to really remote islands under Swedish management.

From March to June and October to December Queen X and Kasai Village dive team do Liveaboard dive safari tour through the archipelago of the Visayas visiting the best dive spots in the region, like wrecks, walls, drifts, shark area, intense coral reef and peaceful night diving.

There are plenty of dive sites in the Visaya area, suitable for all experience levels, because most of the dive sites can offer easy as well as more advanced diving.

North Liveaboard Safari

The northern safari is suitable for divers who are interested in both wreck- reef and shark diving as well. North we find among others, the famous dive site like Monad Shoal, Gato Island and Kalangaman Island. All famous for their possibility to see sharks like Thresher shark, Hammer head, Bull sharks and Whale shark.

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South Liveaboard Safari

On the southern safari, we go down towards the Tanon Strait to Apo Island, Siquijor Island and Balicasag Island. Where excellent dive and we find amazing coral reefs sites, suitable for all experience levels. The fantastic reef of Cogon, the Panorama reef Black Forest an many more. The area has been visited by several TV-channels such as the Discovery Channel to document the spectacular marine life. Don’t forget your macro lens!

The price includes place in a shared cabin, all meals, drinking water, one of our guides and 3 to 4 dives per day. Additional to the price is safari national park fee US$2/dive/diver.

You can of course rent all the equipment from us and you are also welcome to bring your own. What to take: Few clothes, batteries and films for photographers, lots of sun protection like sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Also a rain jacket, and some Philippine Peso for dining, tipping and souvenir buying.

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Why Liveaboard Diving?

Here are some of the advantages of liveaboard diving:

More diving: With a liveaboard, you usually pack 4 to 5 high quality dives a day, while other divers do just 2 to 3 dives. If it’s really diving what you want on a vacation, the sheer quantity of dives is a huge advantage.

Better diving: Thanks to the ability to go and stay at dive spots land-based dive operators cannot reach, you often see more spectacular marine life in one day than others see on a whole trip somewhere else.

Cost: Many times you end up paying less for your dive vacation because the 'all-inclusive' price of a liveaboard trip is often more economical than a land-based dive vacation. Especially if you include expenses for accommodation, scuba diving, transfers, food, beverages and so on...

Comfort: Liveaboard diving is like diving from a swimming hotel. Even though you are visiting many places, you unpack your clothes and dive gear only once and you don’t have to repack until the end of your trip. Also, you don’t have to haul your dive gear around each time you go diving.

Flexibility: On a ship you are much more flexible than land based diving. If diving conditions are not good in one location, the ship just transfers somewhere else where it is better, it’s that easy.

Underwater photography and dive courses: Many liveaboards offer photo courses on-board and you have the opportunity to develop and apply your new skills right away on your next dive. A lot of divers also appreciate the secluded atmosphere in company with like-minded vacationers to sign up for advanced dive courses and make the ship a floating class room. For them it seems like the perfect environment to learn.

There are many other reasons for a liveaboard trip, like surface intervals are more fun on a floating hotel, no tropical insects, like-minded company of avid divers, smaller groups at the dive spots and generally a more adventurous diving holiday.

Kasai Village Dive Team - Guidelines for diving experience

Individual bookings: Northern and Southern VISAYA safari routes contain advanced dives. Kasai Village dive team recommends that all guests have a minimum number of dives for the following itineraries

    * Northern Visaya - 40 logged dives

    * Southern Visaya - 40 logged dives

It is also possible to complete the Advanced Open Water Course whilst on safari.

Group bookings: Northern and Southern safari routes: Group leaders/instructors are welcome to bring student/novice divers aboard as long as the leaders/instructors are aware that this will limit the diving to the group's level and the dives will be on less challenging dive sites. It would, therefore, not be advisable to have a mixed group of experienced divers and newly certified divers as this could lead to restrictions and dissatisfaction. The group's own instructors may conduct any course they wish on board during the safari and our instructors / diveguides will support you in anyway possible from recommending suitable dive sites to assisting with your students.

Scuba Review / Skills Review:

If you have not dived for some time Kasai village dive team requires that you adhere to the recommendations made by your training agency and complete a Scuba/Skills review before diving. Most agencies recommend a Scuba/Skills review if you have not dived for 6 months. To avoid problems on arrival, where possible a scuba/skills review should be pre-booked in advance and will then take place on the first day of the trip while others are completing their check dive. Current prices are shown in the price list. Alternatively a Scuba/Skills Review can be completed prior to arrival in resort and signed by an instructor in your logbook. Kasai Village dive team reserve the right to provide and charge for a Scuba/Skills review with an instructor if they have any doubts about diver safety.

We are happy to advise and help you with any questions regarding experience levels, suitability of dive sites and courses available on our safari boats.

LIVEABOARD - F.A.Q

Frequently asked questions regarding our liveaboard

Q: How many dives per day can I dive on a liveaboard with Oxygene Philippines?

A: You can do as many as you like, but normally you do 3-4 dives depending on the dive planning. The exception is the last day. On the full week liveaboard you do 2 dives before lunch the last day (so you will have enough time between last dive and flight).

Q: Is the food and drinks included?

A: All drinking water, soft drinks, meals and snacks are included. The beer will be paid in the end of the safari to the guide.

Q: Can I charge my digital camera or my torch between the dives?

A: The generator on the boat will work 24 h if you need it to. Some groups prefer to have it a little bit quieter and turn it off in the night. However there are possibilities to charge (220 V) your camera, torch or mobile batteries during the daytime or when it fit’s you.

Q: Is there any fresh water on the boat so I can take a shower or rinse my camera house?

A: The boat has fresh water for showers and also a bucket to soak your underwater camera house in.

Q: Do I need to bring a towel or maybe bed linen?

A: You will get bed linen and a towel from the boat but we recommend bringing an extra towel for personal use.

Q: Do I need any special certificate to dive in the marine parks?

A: It is strongly recommended to have at least 50 logged dives and an advanced corticated. Contact us for further info.

Q: What about the water temperature?

A: In Philippines the day temperature usually never goes below 28 degrees. After a couple of days with 3-4 days can be a little bit chilly like so we recommend bringing some windbreaker jacket. The water temperature in is in the north area 25 degrees and in the south part 27 degrees.

Q: Do I need to bring my own equipment?

A: You can bring the equipment you have, or just rent it from us before the safari leaves. We have all the equipment you need. Regarding the tanks we have mainly 12-liter aluminum tanks. It is possible to also rent 15-liter tank (air) but don’t forget to order them before the liveaboard.

Q: I have Enriched Air Diver certificate. Do you have Nitrox on the liveaboard?

A: No availability of Enriched Air on board as of now.

Q: What dive sites do we dive?

A: The Oxygene Dive Team always has a plan for your liveaboard, but of course we also listen to your requests. Some groups prefer to stay longer at some reefs and that is not a problem for us.

Q: Will there be mobile coverage during the liveaboard?

A: In the north area there are sometimes bad coverage or no coverage at all and when you dive south in the marine park areas there are usually no coverage for the mobile phone.

Q: Do I need to bring any special adapter for charging?

A: No you don’t we have adapters onboard.