MY Stella Maris Explorer

MY Stella Maris Explorer operates liveaboard dive cruises in some of the Philippines best dive sites. This 36m steel-hulled yacht visits Tubbataha and Apo Reef with a maximum of 21 guests on board.

There are 10 ensuite cabins across 3 decks ranging from economy to deluxe, all quite generously sized. Deluxe cabins even have touches of class such as a Nespresso machine plus a flatscreen TV and DVD player.

Guests can hang out in the saloon/dining area with entertainment facilities. The top deck is often used for al fresco dining, as well as soaking up the sun. The sun deck is partially covered and also features sun loungers for those who want to soak up the tropical sun. You can even slip into the Jacuzzi and sip a drink from the bar.

The guest-to-crew ratio is 1:1 so personal attention is clearly a focus of the staff, and dive groups are a maximum of 5 divers to every 1 guide. Nitrox is included in the price for suitably qualified divers and 15 litre tanks are free of charge, so you can maximise your bottom time in these rich waters. There are 4 showers on the dive deck so you can quickly and easily rinse off the saltwater after returning to the mothership. Rebreather diving and sidemount diving can also be accommodated.

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Dive experience: The operator suggests divers have an advanced open water certification or at least 30 dives logged.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner (except final night), snacks, water, juice and hot drinks, local airport transfers, dives (as detailed in the cruises above), nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers, experienced English-speaking divemaster(s) (max 5 divers to 1 DM), tanks (incl. 15 liter), weights and weightbelts, all taxes.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment (complete set incl dive computer US$ 38 per day), dive computer, port/park fees - Tubbataha US$ 270 (to be paid in advance), Tubbataha & Apo Reef US$ 370 (to be paid in advance). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash or credit card).

Optional extras: Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks, torch (US$ 4 per night), dive insurance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.

How to get there: MY Stella Maris Explorer uses 2 ports:
Puerto Princesa: This port is used for cruises exclusively to Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. The local airport is Puerto Princesa Airport (PPS). There are direct flights from Cebu City and Manila, as well as from Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea. In Puerto Princesa, you will be collected at the local airport at 4 pm and transferred to the yacht.
Anilao: For 'Tubbataha & Apo Reef' trips, Puerto Princesa and Anilao Port are the 2 ports used. Anilao is a 3 hour drive south from Manila International Airport. Manila is the capital city and is well connected with direct flights to much of Asia, Australasia, North America and the Middle East. The national carrier is Philippine Airlines, but there are countless other major airlines that operate flights to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL). Note there is no transfer included between Anilao and Manila.
You must be onboard by 6 pm for cruise briefing, dinner and departure. The last dive of the trip will be 2 pm on the penultimate day. Disembarkation and relevant airport/hotel transfers will be at 8 am. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving.
For more details, including airlines, see our Philippines travel information section.

Non-diver rate: US$ 200 off the full published price.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travelers may choose to share a cabin or pay a supplement of 80% of the normal published price.

Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 10 guests, and 1 extra person can join the cruise in an Economy cabin free of charge (total 11+ guests).

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Please check with us.

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (7 Days / 6 Nights - 18 Dives)

Trip highlights: shark action, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Tubbataha: Shark Airport, Washing Machine, Seafan Alley, Ranger Station, Amos Rock, Black Rock, North Wall, Light House, Delsan Wreck, Staghorn Point

Day 1
You will be greeted at Puerto Princesa Airport (PPS) upon arrival on the day departure and transferred to the MY Stella Maris Explorer. Boarding is from 16:00 hrs, when the cruise director will welcome you. He will assign your cabin to you, give a boat safety briefing, crew introductions, and explain the plans for the week ahead. You will have time to complete the necessary dive paperwork, familiarise yourself with the vessel and settle in. Dinner will be served as you depart from the port at around 18:00 hrs for the 10 hour crossing. After a good night's sleep, the diving will commence the next day.

Days 2-6
The Tubbataha Reefs National Park is an UNESCO World Heritage site lying in the Sulu Sea in the heart of the Coral Triangle. There are 370 types of coral, 600 species of fish, 12 species of cetacean. The walls are adorned with beautiful soft corals, barrel sponges and lots of cleaning stations. The shallows are made up of hard coral gardens. Due to their isolation, the atolls are a great area for shark action with species such as guitar, blacktips, white tips, grey reef sharks, silkies, hammerheads and whale sharks. Although the macro life is fantastic here, it take a back stage to the big marine life action, such as dogtooth tuna, giant trevally, barracuda, turtles and manta rays. All dives are day dives.
The chef will prepare 3 gourmet meals daily served buffet style. Guests can expect a blend of local flare along with French and Italian influence. A choice of at least 2 entrees is offered at lunch and dinner accompanied by fresh vegetables, a salad, pasta and rice. Snacks and exotic fresh fruits are always available.
After 2 or 3 morning dives at Jessie Beazley Reef on the final full day of the trip, Stella Maris Explorer returns to port.

Day 7
After breakfast, you will disembark at 8 am and be transferred back to the local airport or local hotel.

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Tubbataha & Apo Reef (8 Days / 7 Nights - 19 Dives)

Trip highlights: shark action, dolphins, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Apo Reef, Santa Filomena Shoal, Cuyo Island, Tubbataha: Bird Island, Ranger Station, South Rock, Black Rock, Lighthouse Islet

Day 1
You will be greeted at Puerto Princesa Airport (PPS) upon arrival on the day departure and transferred to the MY Stella Maris Explorer. Boarding is from 16:00 hrs, when the cruise director will welcome you. He will assign your cabin to you, give a boat safety briefing, crew introductions, and explain the plans for the week ahead. You will have time to complete the necessary dive paperwork, familiarise yourself with the vessel and settle in. Dinner will be served as you depart from the port at around 18:00 hrs for the 10 hour crossing. After a good night's sleep, the diving will commence the next day.

Days 2-7
The Tubbataha Reefs National Park is an UNESCO World Heritage site lying in the Sulu Sea in the heart of the Coral Triangle. There are 370 types of coral, 600 species of fish, 12 species of cetacean. The walls are adorned with beautiful soft corals, barrel sponges and lots of cleaning stations. The shallows are made up of hard coral gardens. Due to their isolation, the atolls are a great area for shark action with species such as guitar, blacktips, white tips, grey reef sharks, silkies, hammerheads and whale sharks. Although the macro life is fantastic here, it take a back stage to the big marine life action, such as dogtooth tuna, giant trevally, barracuda, turtles and manta rays. All dives here are day dives. Apo Reef is a great place to see whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, but also manta rays are sometimes spotted here, as well as hawksbill turtles and bumphead parrotfish.
The chef will prepare 3 gourmet meals daily served buffet style. Guests can expect a blend of local flare along with French and Italian influence. A choice of at least 2 entrees is offered at lunch and dinner accompanied by fresh vegetables, a salad, pasta and rice. Snacks and exotic fresh fruits are always available.
After 2 or 3 morning dives on the final full day of the trip, Stella Maris Explorer makes its way to Anilao.

Day 8
After breakfast, you will disembark at 8 am. Please note this itinerary may operate in reverse order. If disembarking in Puerto Princesa you will be transferred back to the local airport or local hotel.

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[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].

There are 10 ensuite cabins: 3 Deluxe cabins on the main deck (2 double bed, 1 twin bed), 4 Standard twin bunk bed cabins on the upper deck, 1 Premium Economy triple bed cabin, and 2 Economy twin bed cabins on the lower deck.

All the cabins have: No. of bathrooms / showers - 10 / 14 - hot water

Customer reviews:

"The boat and equipment was good considering it is Philippines. Dive Masters were kind and professional I would say they did good job I was supported by Salma At Dive The world who was always helpful , following up the topics and willing to help. Good job." - Sergio Guadamillas, Switzerland, 18 April 2023 ...