Quick Facts

Destination: Philippines

Route: Visayas, Southern Leyte & Malapascua

Dates: 1st - 11th February 2028

Type of trip: Women's Only Liveaboard Expedition 

Duration: 10 nights 

Fly in/out:  Cebu, Philippines CEB

Dive experience: Advanced Open Water (or equivalent), 25 logged dives

Group size: 15

We are returning to the Philippines to experience some of the very best scuba diving that the country has to offer!

We will visit and dive around Limawasa Island and Sogod Bay as well as Cabilao, Balicasag, Bohol, and Malapascua. This itinerary not only offers fantastic macro diving, and the chance to see masses of schooling fish, but also the possibility of some larger pelagic encounters.

Whale sharks frequent the area around Southern Leyte and thresher sharks come in to feed on schools of sardines at various locations covered by this itinerary; most notably around Malapascua.

Are you joining us?!

The Philippine Siren

The 40 metre Philippine Siren was built on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Handcrafted from ironwood and teak (traditional to the area), you will find no other diving liveaboard as beautiful in waters of the Philippines.

Philippine Siren welcomes up to 16 guests in eight cabins. Each cabin is equipped with individually controlled air-conditioning units, plenty of storage space and private ensuite bathrooms. 

The spacious, air-conditioned saloon benefits from a cocktail bar, comfortable seating and a large flat screen TV. Dining is outdoors under a covered area with uninterrupted views of the ocean. An expansive dive deck provides ample space for kitting up and storing dive equipment, even when the vessel is full, and fresh water showers available to rinse off after each dive. 

Underwater photographers and videographers will definitely appreciate the separate rinse tanks as well as the designated areas for charging and preparation of camera equipment.

The vessel also benefits from 2 high-powered tenders, nitrox compressor, equipment rental, kayaks and laundry services.

A minimum of 25 logged dives and Advanced Open Water certification (or equivalent) is required to join this trip. While many of the dives are relaxed and suitable for newer certified divers, some sites can include mild to moderate currents, deeper dives, and changing conditions, so you should feel comfortable diving in a group and confident in your basic dive skills.

Water temperatures are broadly similar throughout the Philippines with averages of around 26°-28°C (79°-82°F) year-round. Most guests find that a 3mm or 5mm wetsuit is suitable for the expected water temperatures. 3 mm shorty wetsuits are available to rent on board. However, we recommend that those who feel the cold easily, especially with repeated diving, bring a full-length wetsuit and/or an extra rashguard, vest or hood with them.

Minimum dive requirements aren't there to exclude people - they're there to help make sure everyone is safe, confident, and able to fully enjoy the trip.

Some destinations have more challenging conditions like currents, deeper dives, or fast-paced schedules, so having the right level of experience means you'll get the most out of the adventure without feeling overwhelmed underwater.

We require the minimum number of dives to be met at least 6 months ahead of the trip start date.

If the requirement hasn't been met, the spot will be cancelled in line with our usual cancellation policy.

Expect some of the most exciting and diverse diving the Philippines has to offer. This trip is centred around unforgettable encounters with thresher sharks in Malapascua, snorkelling alongside whale sharks in Southern Leyte, and diving through huge swirling sardine shoals packed with life.

Along the way, you’ll explore vibrant coral reefs, dramatic walls, colourful macro hotspots, and thriving marine sanctuaries filled with turtles, reef sharks, sea snakes, schools of jacks and barracuda, plus incredible critters hidden throughout the reefs.

Our itinerary includes diving across some of the Philippines’ most iconic regions, including:

• Malapascua

• Southern Leyte

• Bohol

• Balicasag Island

• Cabilao Island

• Limasawa Island

• Sogod Bay

Each dive sites offers something completely different. Whether you love big marine life or tiny macro discoveries, this trip offers the perfect mix of both.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Our itinerary remains flexible and is subject to change.

• Strobes and flashlights are NOT permitted at locations where thresher sharks or whale sharks are present.

• Reef Hooks are not permitted at Kimud or Monad Shoals.

• Scuba diving is NOT allowed at the locations that are frequented by the whale sharks. Therefore, those sites will be offered as a snorkelling option only.

Day 1: Embarkation at 13:00 from Mactan Marina Seaview Resto Lounge is followed by lunch, safety and orientation briefings, relaxation, dinner and cruising to the following morning's first dive location.

Day 2-9: Your Cruise Director will schedule up to 4 dives per day; 3 day dives and a sunset or night dive.

A typical diving day is scheduled as follows:

● Light Breakfast followed by a briefing & dive 1

● Full Breakfast and relaxation, followed by briefing & dive 2

● Lunch and relaxation, followed by briefing & dive 3

● Snacks

● Briefing for dive 4

● Dinner

Evenings onboard are spent hanging out in the communal areas chatting with new your dive buddies about what you saw that day, planning future dive trips, editing photos and getting an early night ready to do it all again tomorrow!

Day 10: Usually 2 morning dives before Philippine Siren commences the cruise back to the marina.

Day 11: Breakfast on board followed by disembarkation at 10:00 and transfer to Cebu-Mactan Airport, or your hotel.

Your host for the unforgettable adventure is Charlotte, our Girls that Scuba Social Media Manager - this will be her 2nd time returning to the Philippines with us.

Charlotte has hosted over 10 GTS trips and met hundreds of Trippers over the years, and if you've been on a trip with her before you'll know how much she loves pelagic marine life - whale sharks and thresher sharks are some of her fav's!

Fun fact: Charlotte is a resident of Indonesia and lives on the tiny island of Gili Trawangan where she owns 4 beautiful Airbnb villa's - she's the girl to go to if you are looking to book a tropical beach retreat 🏝️

New to Girls that Scuba trips? Find out more about our trips, the Girls that Scuba difference, along with the respect and openness we ask for on these experiences as well as any requirements. Read our full Girls that Scuba Trips Community Norms and FAQs.

This trip is perfect for adventurous ocean lovers looking for a dive-focused experience packed with incredible underwater encounters. We’ll be exploring multiple world-class dive regions across the Philippines, with the itinerary designed around making the most of the diving while still allowing time to relax and enjoy life onboard and between dive days.

You’ll have the option to do multiple dives a day throughout the trip, but everything is flexible and you’re always welcome to sit a dive out and take things at your own pace.

Travelling with a group of 15 like-minded women, many of whom won’t know each other beforehand, this is the perfect trip if you’re looking to make dive friends, feel supported while travelling, and enjoy the ease of having everything organised for you from start to finish.