The Philippines Aggressor I is a magnificent and modern 41m/135 ft purpose-built steel hull liveaboard, constructed in 2020 in Egypt. The yacht operates 7 and 10 night diving cruises to Tubbataha and to a variety of Visayas destinations, including Malapascua, Southern Leyte, Bohol and Moalboal. These represent much of the best in diving that the Philippines have to offer - large pelagics such as whale sharks, mantas, hammerheads and thresher sharks, plus an unbeatable amount of macro creatures including innumerable varieties of shrimps and octopus. Many claim the Philippines to be The Nudibranch Capital of the World.
24 guests are hosted by the Philippines Aggressor I onboard the liveaboard in 12 cabins with ensuite bathrooms. There are Deluxe Staterooms on both the lower and main decks, as well as Balcony Suites on the upper deck (with private balconies, of course), from where you can drink in the picturesque island seascape of the archipelago. Guests are attended to by the 18 onboard staff, so you can expect the attentive service, characteristic of Aggressor liveaboards.
The Philippines Aggressor I has a dedicated restaurant on the main deck, where meals are taken - breakfast is cooked to order, lunch is a buffet, and dinner is served tableside. One great feature is this yacht is that the sun deck can also be used for al fresco dining when preferred. The menu onboard is varied and the food plentiful. Some examples of dishes include Chicken and Mushroom Pie, Pear Strudel. There are always plenty of snacks available throughout the day too, such as pizza slices and carrot cake. Local beer and wine is provided free of charge throughout the cruises.
Besides having set tables for al fresco dining, the sun deck also has a hot tub - ideal for late afternoon or early evening relaxation. The awning covers the entire deck of the liveaboard, but is retractable so sun worshippers can catch some rays during the day. The upper deck of the Philippines Aggressor I is also a popular relaxation area. It has an open-air cocktail lounge for unwinding after the day’s diving, and an indoor lounge, complete with television sets and various other entertainments, such as movies, games and books.
The dive deck is wide and spacious; each diver has their own tank rack, locker, and seating area. You board the dive tenders from the huge dive platform. All dives are made from the 20 ft / 6m outboard zodiacs capable of carrying 12 divers. The boarding ladders were designed for convenience to make exits and entries a breeze and are accompanied by a warm face towel and a refreshing drink/fruit. Many sites in the Philippines are drift dives so you should be comfortable with a diving in a current. A full line of MARES rental equipment is available aboard. If any of your own dive gear fails while onboard, the Philippines Aggressor crew will loan you equipment free of charge, compliments of MARES. Nice! There is also a photo/video editing center, where you can check out your underwater shots.
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (8 Days / 7 Nights - 22 Dives)
Trip highlights: shark action, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Tubbataha North Atoll: Ranger Station, Shark Airport, Washing Machine, Malayan Wreck, Seafan Alley, Terraces; Tubbataha South Atoll: Black Rock, T Wreck, Ko-Ok, Delsan Wreck, Triggerfish City, Southwest Wall, Staghorn Point; Jessie Beazley Reef; Puerto Princesa
Day 1
You will board the Philippines Aggressor I yacht in Puerto Princesa for this Sulu Sea liveaboard cruise, where snacks and drinks will be served upon arrival. The cruise director will welcome you aboard, assign cabins, conduct a safety briefing, and outline the dive plans for the week. You will relax as dinner is served while the liveaboard yacht departs for the 10-hour overnight crossing to Tubbataha. After a restful night, diving begins the following morning.
Core Days
The Tubbataha Reefs National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the heart of the Sulu Sea, within the Coral Triangle. This remote marine sanctuary is home to over 370 species of coral, 600 species of fish, and 12 species of whales and dolphins.
The diving here is world-class, offering crystal-clear waters, dramatic vertical walls, and unspoiled biodiversity. You’ll experience thrilling encounters with sharks, including whitetip, blacktip, grey reef, silky, hammerhead, and tiger sharks. Whale sharks occasionally cruise by, and the sheer abundance of life makes every dive unique.
Massive schools of barracuda, trevally, and jacks circle in the blue, while turtles, manta rays, and Napoleon wrasse are common sightings. The walls are covered in vibrant soft corals, giant barrel sponges, and numerous cleaning stations buzzing with reef fish. In the shallows, you’ll find hard coral gardens teeming with anthias, butterflyfish, and parrotfish.
Although large pelagics steal the show, the macro life is also exceptional. Keen-eyed divers can spot leaf scorpionfish, ornate ghost pipefish, pygmy seahorses, and nudibranchs among the corals. Night dives often reveal crustaceans, hunting morays, and Spanish dancers drifting through the current.
After 2 morning dives on the final full day near Puerto Princesa, the Philippines Aggressor returns to port, with dinner enjoyed at a local restaurant.
Day 8
After breakfast, you will disembark the liveaboard and transfer to a hotel or the local airport.
Malapascua, Cebu, Bohol & Dumaguete (11 Days / 10 Nights - 27 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers
Dive sites and activities: Malapascua, Gato, Capitancillo, Cebu: Moalboal, Pascador, Oslob, Sumilon, Dumaguete: Apo Island, Siquijor, Dauin, Bohol: Pamilacan, Anda, Olango
Day 1
Step aboard the Philippines Aggressor I in Cebu to begin your Visayas liveaboard adventure. Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed with refreshments as the crew assists you with your luggage and cabin check-in. As the evening unfolds, enjoy a freshly prepared dinner while the liveaboard sets sail from port, beginning its journey toward the first dive destination. Relax on deck or in your cabin and settle into the rhythm of life at sea. After a restful night’s sleep, your diving adventures start the next morning.
Core Days
This Philippines Aggressor itinerary showcases the best diving in the Central Visayas, taking you on a circular route around Cebu Island with a detour to Dumaguete. It offers an extraordinary variety of liveaboard diving, from exhilarating pelagic encounters to world-class macro sites, set in the heart of the Coral Triangle, one of the most biologically diverse marine regions on Earth.
At Malapascua, experience the thrill of dawn dives with thresher sharks, a globally rare encounter, along with mantas and hammerheads that occasionally pass through the deeper waters. Cabilao offers stunning walls and the chance to spot hammerheads and grey reef sharks in the blue. Balicasag Island is a diver’s paradise with steep walls covered in hard and soft corals, home to green and hawksbill turtles, schools of jackfish, barracuda, and snappers.
Cebu's Moalboal is world-famous for its massive sardine run, where millions of sardines move in shimmering formations that attract tuna, trevallies, and whitetip reef sharks - a breathtaking spectacle for both divers and photographers. Sumilon Island occasionally hosts whale sharks, and Apo Island delivers exceptional biodiversity, with vibrant coral gardens, sea snakes, turtles, and large pelagic fish patrolling the drop-offs.
In Dauin and Dumaguete, the focus of the liveaboard tour shifts to muck diving - a macro lover’s dream. Here you can find flamboyant cuttlefish, mimic and blue-ringed octopus, ornate ghost pipefish, ribbon eels, pygmy seahorses, and an endless array of nudibranchs. Night dives reveal stargazers, bobbit worms, and other rare nocturnal species that make these volcanic sands some of the most productive macro sites in Asia.
Throughout the week, expect up to 4-5 dives per day with the Philippines Aggressor I, including night dives and sunrise shark dives, giving you the full range of underwater experiences that the region has to offer.
Final Day
After breakfast, you will disembark the liveaboard and transfer to your hotel or the local airport, ending your unforgettable diving tour through the Visayas onboard the Philippines Aggressor I.
Tubbataha, Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete & Cagayan
Trip highlights: whale sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Tubbataha North Atoll: Ranger Station, Shark Airport, Washing Machine, Malayan Wreck, Seafan Alley, Terraces; Tubbataha South Atoll: Black Rock, T Wreck, Ko-Ok, Delsan Wreck, Triggerfish City, Southwest Wall, Staghorn Point; Jessie Beazley Reef, Bohol: Cabilao, Balicasag; Cebu: Mactan, Olango; Dumaguete: Siquijor, Apo Island, Dauin
Day 1
Step aboard the Philippines Aggressor I in Puerto Princesa for the start of this extensive liveaboard adventure. The voyage combines 2 of the Philippines’ most exceptional diving regions - the Sulu Sea and the Visayas. Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed with refreshments as the crew helps you settle into your cabin. The cruise director will then conduct a full safety briefing and outline the week’s diving itinerary. Enjoy a freshly prepared dinner on board and get a good night’s rest before the diving begins the following morning.
Core Days
The diving cruise begins in Tubbataha Reefs, a national park renowned for its pristine reefs and incredible biodiversity. The park is home to 370 coral species, over 600 species of fish, and 12 species of cetaceans. The dramatic walls of the North and South Atolls are covered in soft corals, sponges, and sea fans, while cleaning stations attract grey reef, whitetip, and blacktip sharks. You’ll also encounter silky sharks, hammerheads, and occasionally whale sharks cruising through the blue. Large pelagics such as dogtooth tuna, giant trevally, and barracuda are common, alongside manta rays, turtles, and Napoleon wrasse. Shallow reef tops burst with hard corals and clouds of reef fish, making every dive a visual feast.
After exploring Tubbataha, the Philippines Aggressor sails toward the Visayas, where you’ll experience a completely different kind of liveaboard diving. At Malapascua, you can witness the world-famous thresher sharks during early-morning dives, while Cabilao offers possible hammerhead encounters along its steep drop-offs. Balicasag is famous for its walls covered in hard corals and its resident turtle population, while Apo Island teems with schools of trevally, snapper, and barracuda. For macro enthusiasts, Dauin offers superb muck diving, where you can find seahorses, devil scorpionfish, pipefish, leaffish and an endless variety of crustaceans.
Diving at Siquijor is also on the liveaboard schedule, offering an enchanting blend of serene beauty and vibrant marine life, perfectly reflecting the island's mystical reputation. Its healthy fringing reefs are adorned with colorful soft corals and sea fans, creating a picturesque landscape for encounters with sea turtles, schools of jacks, and occasional reef sharks. The island is also famed for its captivating underwater landmarks, including a sunken cathedral and a unique 'sanctuary' of submerged statues, adding a touch of magic to every dive.
Final Day
After breakfast, you will disembark the Philippines Aggressor I and transfer to the local airport for your onward journey.
Note: This liveaboard route may operate in reverse, so please confirm the exact embarkation and disembarkation ports before travel.
Cebu, Bohol & Dumaguete (8 Days / 7 Nights - 22 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers
Dive sites and activities: Bohol: Cabilao; Cebu: Sumilon, Moalboal, Pescador, Mactan, Olango; Dumaguete: Apo Island, Dauin
Day 1
Board the Philippines Aggressor I liveaboard in the afternoon in Cebu and settle into your cabin. The crew will conduct a full safety and vessel briefing. You’ll complete the necessary paperwork, familiarize yourself with the boat, and enjoy snacks and drinks while meeting your fellow guests. Dinner will be served as the yacht departs port, marking the start of your Central Visayas diving adventure. After a restful night, the diving begins the following morning.
Core Days
This liveaboard itinerary explores the highlights of the Central Visayas region, featuring some of the Philippines’ most diverse and exciting dive destinations around Cebu Island and Dumaguete. Expect a perfect mix of pelagic encounters, reef diving, and world-class macro life.
Start your safari with the Philippines Aggressor I at Cabilao, known for hammerhead shark sightings, dramatic walls, and vibrant coral gardens. The site offers both deep and shallow dives with sponges, fans, and schooling fish. Experience turtle encounters among lush coral slopes and reef walls alive with anthias, jackfish, and barracuda. The marine sanctuary here is one of the most photogenic in the Visayas.
Dive into the world-famous sardine run of Moalboal, where millions of sardines move in synchronized motion, a mesmerizing underwater spectacle often joined by trevallies and thresher sharks. Enjoy the chance to see whale sharks and manta rays cruising over colorful reefs and coral plateaus. The dives here often feature strong currents, attracting large pelagic species.
Apo Island offers huge schools of trevally, pristine coral gardens, and dramatic drop-offs. Expect plenty of marine life and excellent visibility, making it a highlight of the liveaboard cruise.
Conclude with muck diving at Dauin, one of Asia’s most famous macro photography locations. Search for frogfish, sea moths, seahorses, ribbon eels, mimic octopus, and countless species of nudibranchs and shrimps - a paradise for critter enthusiasts.
After 2 morning dives on the final full day, Philippines Aggressor returns to port in Dumaguete. Dinner will be enjoyed ashore at a local restaurant, offering a relaxed close to your diving week.
Final Day
Enjoy your final breakfast on board before disembarking. The crew will assist with transfers to the local airport, marking the end of your unforgettable Visayas liveaboard diving adventure.
This itinerary makes use of both Cebu and Dumaguete as its ports. Check your specific trip for port details.
Southern Leyte, Malapascua, Cebu & Bohol (8 Days / 7 Nights - 22 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers
Dive sites and activities: Southern Leyte: Sogod Bay - Napantao Fish Sanctuary, Santa Paz, Limasawa, Panaon Island; Camotes, Bohol: Anda, Cabilao, Olango, Malapascua: Monad Shoal, Gato, Capitancillo
Day 1
You will be welcomed aboard the Philippines Aggressor I yacht, where snacks and drinks will be served. The cruise director will greet you, introduce the crew, and provide a safety and orientation briefing. You’ll then be assigned your cabin. Dinner will be served as the yacht departs the port. After a restful night, diving begins the following morning.
Core Days
Your liveaboard adventure with the Philippines Aggressor takes you through the best diving areas of Malapascua, Bohol, and Southern Leyte - 3 of the Philippines’ most celebrated diving regions.
At Malapascua, you can look forward to diving with thresher sharks at Monad Shoal, one of the few places in the world where these rare sharks can be seen almost daily. Depending on conditions, you may also spot hammerheads, manta rays, and eagle rays, along with schools of barracuda, jacks, and snapper. Coral gardens such as Gato Island offer white-tip reef sharks, cuttlefish, seahorses, and banded sea snakes among spectacular soft corals.
In Bohol, dives around Balicasag Island feature massive schools of trevally, turtles, garden eels, and painted frogfish, while Cabilao Island offers stunning wall dives, hard coral plateaus, and the chance to encounter hammerheads in the deep blue.
Southern Leyte is one of the country’s newest wonders. The region is famous for seasonal encounters with whale sharks, which visit to feed on plankton blooms. It also offers some of the best macro diving in the Philippines, where you’ll find hairy frogfish, mimic and blue-ringed octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, stargazers, pipefish, and xeno crabs. Dive sites like Napantao and Limasawa Island feature dramatic walls, giant sea fans, schooling fusiliers, turtles, batfish, and vibrant soft coral gardens.
Across all areas, you’ll experience incredible biodiversity within the Coral Triangle, home to hundreds of coral and fish species, colorful nudibranchs, mantis shrimp, pyjama cardinalfish, and juvenile reef life in every crevice.
Day 8
After breakfast, you will disembark the Philippines Aggressor I and be transferred to the airport or your local hotel.
[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].
