Scuba Diving
 Five and a half kilometers (3.4 miles) of white sand beaches surround Pamalican Island with coral reefs from 50 to 300 meters (55 to 328 yards) offshore, where one will encounter a wide array of colorful tropical fish, corals and other interesting marine life. The average water temperature is approximately 26 degrees Celsius (78.8 degrees Fahrenheit), with underwater visibility ranging from 20 to 30 meters (21 to 27 yards).
Amanpulo is an ideal place for both the novice and experienced diver. The waters in front of the Beach Club are usually very calm, and the drop-off is gradual. For certified divers, there are many exciting dive sites on both sides of the island, about 300 meters (328 yards) from the shore, easily accessible by boat.
The Dive Shop,organized by our associate dive company, Aquaventure, offers PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) courses ranging from introductory to advanced open-water diving. Amanpulo's dive operation is classified as a 5-star PADI Gold Palm Resort.
Equipment Available: US Divers regulators, Sea Quest Bouyancy compensators, Sunto Dive computers and gauges. Technisub/US Divers and snorkels, Sea Quest fins. Deep See boots, Bare and Sea Quest wetsuites, weights belts and Technisub underwater lights, Luxfer/CIG cylinders and Coltri compressor. Emergency oxygen is also stored in the shop.
Discover Scuba Diving Course: A three-hour introductory experience consisting of a short classroom session, a shallow water or pool session and 1 open-water dive, including use of equipment (non-certification). This course introduces the novice diver to the theory and basic skills of diving, as well as enabling beginners to enjoy their first open-water dive. It allows the diver to dive again with a PADI Divemaster or Instructor within two weeks of the experience.
Scuba Diver Course: Two full days PADI certification course. This new PADI course is a pre-entry level certification that is perfect for vacationers or people who only plan to dive a couple of times a year. The course includes three lectures and donfined-water sessions and two open-water dives. With this certification, you can dive under the supervision of an instructor or dive-master up to a depth of 40 feet. Credit earned in this program can be used towards th eOPen-water Diver certification. The course is quite intensive and guests may wish to complete it over three days instead of two.
Open-Water Scuba Course: Four full days PADI open-water certification course. The course includes five lectures and confined-water sessions, and 4 open-water dives. Written quezzes are given after each module, and one final exam after completion of the course. Guests are given a book.
Advanced Course: For certified divers,a 2-day PADI certification course. The course includes a short lecture to brief the divers, and 5 open-water dives including navigation dive, deep dive and three elctives. There are seven elective or specialry dives that guests can choose from at the resort: boat dive, drift dive, multi-level diving, serarch and recovery, underwater-naturalist, underwater photography and night dive. The course includes a student manual and use of equipment.
Experienced and certified divers: For divers who present a certified card and/or curent logbook, our dive masters will provide you with diving options and plan your underwater itinerary. Diving equipment and a guide are provided (Day Dives & Night Dives) Night Dives are generally taken from the bach in front of the Beach Club.
Referral Program: For student divers who wish to complete their certification here in Amanpulo, a referral program from PADI where they took the first courses is also accepted. Participants must submit their referral forms and medical certificates to avail themselves of this program. For those who want to start their courses here and finish them elsewhere, this program is also applicable.
Important Notes:
- For safety and health reasons, guests cannot fly within 12-24 hours of diving
- Minimum participant age is 12 years. Between the ages of 12 and 15 a PADI Junior Scuba Diver or Junior Open-water diver and Junior Advanced Diver certification program is available, at the same cost as adult programs.
- A medical certificate is required for all divers over 45 years of age or with any pre-existing medical condition that may affect their ability to dive. A medical questionnaire must be completed by all non-certified dviers, a copy of which can be faxed in advance, for review.
- Rates include boat fees and equipment
- Rates are exclusive of 10% service charge and applicable government tax.
- There is no re-compression chamber on Pamalican Island.
DIVE SITE SUMMARY OF PAMALICAN ISLAND
House Reef: Facing the Beach Club, this is a good site for beginners or divers not wanting a long boat ride. The reef starts as shallow as three meters (10 feet) and ends in a sloping area at 15 meters (50 feet). A wide array of coral and fish can be found. It is not uncommon to catch sight of hawksbill turtles in this area.
Windmill: Located at the northeastern end of Pamalican, facing Concepcion Island, the Windmill is rich with coral and pristine condition. The fish are plentiful too. A resident stingray, anout three meters (10 feet) in lengh, is said to lurk in this area. While the are may drop to 37 meters (120 feet), a diver need not go to the bottom to enjoy the area's natural beauty.
South Point: Located just offshore, South Point is surrounded by lovely coral heads and colorful fish. Tuna, skipjack and other pelagics can also be found, along with green turtles and hawksbill turtles. Certified divers in particular will enjoy this site.
Casita 40: Only about 500 meters (545 yards) from the shore, opposite casita 40, this site is blessed with hard corals, a great many colorful tropical fish and the occasional pelagic. The drop-off begins at about 12 meters (40 feet) and goes down nearly 37 meters (120 feet).
The tip or Shark's Playground: Here at the southeastern tip of the island, divers can swim among white-tip reef sharks, tuna, jackfish, wahoo, manta rays and eagle rays. The reef begins at about 11 meters (35 feet) and descends to about 29 meters (95 feet). Some barrel sponge and a stunning variety of hard and soft corals are visible.
Casita 29 and the South Point: At the dive site located in front of casita 29 you can see nice table corals and small tropical fish. About 1 kilometer (0.6 mile) away from the shore at the south point, one can experience marine life at its best. Interesting corals and colorful fish surround the area, including pelagics like tuna and jacks along with hawksbill and green turtles. This is a perfect site for certified divers who also enjoy a boat ride.
The Pier: The pier is a very convenient, and surprisingly beautiful site for diving and snorkeling. Divers can go right off the end of the pier and explore the rock formation under water. There is an abundance of sergeant majors. jacks, fusillers and other interesting fish. One can also spot big-eye and blue-spotted stingrays roaming around the area.
DIVE SPOTS AROUND THE NEIGHBORING ISLANDS
Jalah: Located on the eastern side of Manamoc, Jalah is only a 10 minute boat ride from Amanpulo. A coral wall here drops from about 12 meters (40 feet) down to 38 meters (125 feet). The wall, which runs in a 360-degree circle, gives the feeling of diving into a volcano. Aside from plenty of coral and fish, Jalah is a graveyard for ships' anchors.
Quiniluban Island: Fifty minutes northeast of Pamalican, this island has a population of 2,500 inhabitants for which fishing and seaweed-farming are their primary sources of income. This site is one of the best diving spots around. The dive terrain drops to 10.7 meters (35 feet) and the wall drops up to 24.4 meters (80 feet) with an overhang and crevice, then with a gradual slope up to 36.6 meters (120 feet). There is a good chance of seeing pelagics like tuna, mackerel, sharks and sometimes manta ray and turtles. Diving at this site is dependent upon sea conditions.
Access to these dive sites is by Dophin I or II (hourly rates apply for boat charters). Please consult the resident dive master and/or instructor for dive site recommendations, which he will make depending on the diver's experience and prevailing weather conditions.
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Amanpulo's fleet of boats is available for a wide variety of activities and excursions, as well as private charters.
Renew your vows with a "wedding blessing"; a sentimental poetic ceremony performed by a Filipino wedding officer in a romantic setting of your choice. This very special service offered by the staff of Amanpulo is truly unique and memorable experience.
Amanpulo welcomes families with children of all ages. Babysitters may be arranged and cribs, cots, strollers, highchairs and bottle sterilizers are provided free of charge. A limited supply of diapers and other suppliers are available in the Boutique and arrangements can be made to pre-stock certain items in advance.
The resort's resident masseuses combine Swedish reflexology with shiatsu massage and offer a range of aromatherapy treatments in the privacy of guests' casitas or in the open-air massage sala. Manicures, pedicures and Thalgo facials and body treatments are also available:
