The world‘s finest diving

Discovery Palawan

Discovery Palawan is a 49-meter (160-foot) liveaboard accomodating 32 guests. Her Tubbataha route is for divers while the northern route takes non-divers, too.

A word from Dom : ” Discovery Palawan has a rich history & has been given a new life after a remarkable rebuild. I haven’t seen her personally, but I’ve had glowing reports from clients who have recently sailed on her. The ambiance is both relaxed and refined … but, the general feeling is easy-living, relaxation & fun. An interesting choice for couples or groups with a combination of divers & non-divers as she caters equally to both.” Dominick Macan

Discovery Palawan The Boat opt

On Board Discovery Palawan

2 upper deck TWIN cabins
2 twin beds & picture windows
2 upper deck DOUBLE cabins
double bed & picture windows
13 lower deck TWIN cabins
2 twin beds (adjacent) & port windows
2 lower deck DOUBLE cabins
queen bed & port windows
1 lower deck FAMILY cabin
upper double bed, 2 twin beds (adjacent) & port windows

All are en-suite & air conditioned. Upper deck cabins have individual climate control.

approximately 15 dives per cruise all from the dive tenders
12 liter alu tanks (DIN & INT valves)
15 liter alu tanks (at extra cost)
scuba gear rental (by advance request)
nitrox
water temperature: 78 – 82F, 25 – 28C … 3mm wetsuit recommended

accommodation & diving
meals, snacks, water, morning juice, tea & coffee
compressed air, tanks, weights & weight belts
airport transfers (depending on itinerary)

international & domestic airfare
soft drinks & alcoholic beverages
scuba rental gear (by advance request)
15 liter tanks
nitrox
park fees
fuel surcharge
transfers to and from Batangas & Cebu

Perfect Choice For Divers & Non-divers Alike

This large & solid 49-meter vessel served for some years in the Philippines as an adventure cruise ship … and in 2013 she underwent a $1.5 million renovation for a fresh, modern look. The goal in her new life is to introduce divers … and non-divers … to the wonders of the Philippine Islands. Avid divers can enjoy a full day of scuba diving while their non-diving companions can snorkel, visit islands, kayak or just laze on a beach.

Onboard you’ll find a large sundeck, 2 shaded lounge decks, a dining deck and separate bar deck. Between dives, you can chill out, if you prefer, in the air-conditioned salon complete with audio and video entertainment system.

The spacious dive platform offers plenty or room for getting into your dive gear and the experienced guides will ensure your diving cruise is a memorable one.

Nitrox is available and full rental gear can be arranged in advance. Photographers will appreciate the dedicated camera room complete with charging stations and camera table.

The chefs produce varied menus to cater to all tastes which are served buffet style. Dining can take place in the main indoor dining area with panoramic views or, when the weather is fine, you may dine alfresco on the upper deck, enjoying the sea breezes andvistas of the Philippine islands. Your cruise will also include a BBQ on one of the island beaches at least once during the cruise, weather permitting, of course.

Travel & Cruise Logistics

For a trip to Tubbataha Reef, most international visitors fly into Manila then take a domestic flight to Puerto Princesa Airport.   Embarkation is between 2pm and 4pm in Puerto Princesa Port (you must check in by 4pm). Arriving guests are picked up at the airport and transferred to the ship for check-in.  You will be allowed to leave the ship to visit the city should you wish but need to return for the pre-departure briefing early evening.

Upon return to Puerto Princesa, the ship is usually in port by 6 am and guests disembark after breakfast … generally around 8 am. Guests who have later flights are free to remain on board until airport transfer time.  Puerto Princesa Airport/ship transfers are included in your package.

Layout & Specs

Deck & cabin layout, the yacht specifications, equipment & safety features
CAYMAN AGGRESSOR V layout opt

Specifications

Length overall: 49.20 meters
Beam: 8.50 meters
Draft: 3.20 meters
Tonnage: 539 tons (gross), 161 tons (net)
Maximum cruising speed: 10 knots
Class Registry: Philippine Registry of Shipping (as of 02 Oct 2017)

PROFESSIONAL CREWS

Number of crew 20 – 32

MACHINERY

Electricity: 220 V

COMMUNICATIONS

Satellite Phone Immarsat

DIVING FACILITIES

Tanks 80cu & 100cu
Compressors
3 chaseboats
Nitrox available
Complete rental equipment

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

first aid kit
life vests
emergency raft
medical oxygen

Itineraries

Discovery Palawan offers trips to Tubbataha Reefs and to Malapascua / Cebu / Visayas … plus one or two December trips to Apo Reef. She is also available for private charters in the Philippines.

The final itinerary is, of course, always dependant upon weather, sea conditions and where the best animal sightings are at any particular time of year.

TUBBATAHA … generally 6-night trips March to June

Tubbataha Reefs park is under the strict protection of rangers all year round to ensure that the nations doesn’t lose the spectacular reefs and marine life in this region. You can expect to see sponges nearly as large as the passing whale sharks, giant sea fans and delicate soft corals.  The coral gardens attract schooling sweetlips, bumphead parrotfish. and batfish but you’ll also dive vertiginous walls with hanging gardens filled with critters.  There will be plenty of “the big stuff” as these waters offer ample interactions with manta rays, turtles, jacks, schools of barracuda, hammerheads, tiger shark and, yes, whale sharks. Exploring Shark Airport is one of the most exciting highlights of this cruise. This reef edge contains coral bommies and sandy patches where white tip sharks are usually found lying on the sand.  The reef’s name comes from someone’s idea that the sharks looks like planes parked at an airport !  Schools of snappers and surgeonfish can also be spotted in the reef top.

VISAYAS TO BATANGAS … INCLUDING MALAPASCUA / CEBU / CORON / APO REEF & MORE …  generally 6-night trips September to March

Comprised of several thousand islands and surrounded by nutrient-rich waters, the Visayas region is home some superb diving.  Discovery Palawan offers a variety changing itineraries in hte Visayas region based on the best time for diving each region & site.  You will see the islands / reefs to be visited on specific dates when you search for spaces. Below is an overview of the sites which may be included on your cruise:

Malapascua : known for critters & sharks, especially the elusive thresher sharks. This area has become particularly popular due to the ease of viewing thresher sharks – many up to 6 meters (nearly 20 feet).   You’re almost certain to dive the manta cleaning station, too.

Apo Reef: often considered one of the premier diving destinations in the Philippines, it is best known as a pelagics destination, although it is graced with a superb sea-fan covered wall which is filled with prolific marine life.

Coron / WWII wrecks :  For wreck-diving aficionados, Coron is considered one of the world’s top destinations. 24 Japanese vessels went down here during an American attack in 1944 and roughly half have been found, most of which lie at recreational diving depths.

Cebu : the area which is often referred to as Cebu is largely about corals (filled with pygmy seahorses and frogfish), sponges and reef fish …. with a smattering of pelagic dives and walls thrown into the mix.  Oh yes, and …. whale sharks !

Batangas :  one of those opportunities for everything from the minute to the massive …. but with an accent on macro creatures & muck … featuring frogfish, ghost pipefish, scorpionfish, lizardfish and countless varieties of nudibranchs.

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