Connect with us
background

News

Take in the Atmosphere

Published

on

Reflecting on our visit to Atmosphere Resorts & Spa in the Philippines, looking through our images, reminds us that whilst this is, for sure, a world class site for diving and underwater photography, it is much more than that. As you arrive, the beauty of the place is apparent immediately, with well spaced bungalows lining the lush gardens leading down to the bar, restaurant, pool, dive centre and shoreline.

You are made to feel welcome and part of the family as soon as you start the check in process and we decided to take advantage of a welcome treatment at the spa right away to refresh our travel weary bodies. The spa is incredible. I have never seen such a beautiful and tranquil place, with ponds and running water reflecting the flowers, trees and massage areas. A treatment here is the best way to start and end a diving trip.

The dive centre is very well organised and there is a large and well-equipped camera room alongside the spacious briefing area that boasts large maps of the area as well as a recent sightings board. The staff cannot do enough for you, always carrying heavy equipment to the boat for you, helping rise and dry equipment, and the guides are always available to discuss the next weird critter you would like to find and photograph.

The bar overlooks the infinity pool that looks right out to the sea, past the black volcanic beach. The staff host a cocktail evening once a week, where everyone gets together for a couple of drinks and nibbles as the sun goes down. The restaurant serves incredible food, with excellent vegetarian and vegan options, from a varied and interesting menu. You dine overlooking the sea, and we were lucky enough to also get the meet the knowledgeable in-house sommelier and do a wine tasting experience in the climate-controlled wine cellar that looks onto the restaurant. Here we got to taste some of his favourite wines on the extensive wine list and talk about what bottle we would select for our final night. This is an activity well worth adding to your itinerary.

The diving here offers incredible reefs (like those at Apo Island), and world class muck diving. As discussed in a previous blog, Atmosphere even have their own frogfish expert on site. We saw a host of amazing critters in our short stay here and would go back in a heartbeat to dive here again.

Our final day, which was of course non-diving, saw us head out of the resort to take a little local flavour. The team ordered us a local form of transport that is basically a motorbike, with a large sidecar attached and this took us to the local village of Dauin to visit Finbar, a restaurant and craft ale bar that is popular with staff and guests alike. The journey alone is worth the experience!

Alas that is it from our stay at Atmosphere Resort & Spa. It also marks the end of our trip to The Philippines. It is an amazing country and dive destination, with a diverse range of diving opportunities that would keep any diver entertained. Be sure to experience it for yourself…


Equipment Used:

  • Olympus OM-D EM-1 MKII
  • Nauticam Housing
  • Olympus TG5

For more information about Atmosphere Resorts & Spa visit their website by clicking here.

For more information about visiting the Philippines click here

Nick and Caroline (Frogfish Photography) are a married couple of conservation driven underwater photo-journalists and authors. Both have honours degrees from Manchester University, in Environmental Biology and Biology respectively, with Nick being a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, a former high school science teacher with a DipEd in Teaching Studies. Caroline has an MSc in Animal Behaviour specializing in Caribbean Ecology. They are multiple award-winning photographers and along with 4 published books, feature regularly in the diving, wildlife and international press They are the Underwater Photography and Deputy Editors at Scubaverse and Dive Travel Adventures. Winners of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Photo-journalist of the Year for a feature on Shark Diving in The Bahamas, and they have been placed in every year they have entered. Nick and Caroline regularly use their free time to visit schools, both in the UK and on their travels, to discuss the important issues of marine conservation, sharks and plastic pollution. They are ambassadors for Sharks4Kids and founders of SeaStraw. They are Dive Ambassadors for The Islands of The Bahamas and are supported by Mares, Paralenz, Nauticam and Olympus. To find out more visit www.frogfishphotography.com

News

Palaemon Divers shortlisted for top Business Award

Published

on

North West-based Dive Centre, Palaemon Divers, has been shortlisted for Leisure and Tourism Start Up of the Year with Start Up Awards 2023.

Palaemon Divers is delighted to be named a finalist in the Awards which celebrate Start Up Businesses and what they have brought to the economy within three years of their launch.

Palaemon Divers was started by Leanne Clowes in the midst of COVID lockdowns. Leanne walked out of her well paid corporate sales job with no savings after a redundancy in a previous role and spending the majority of the year before COVID to follow the dream! After the redundancy and COVID, life struck just a little differently and the pull to become a full-time dive instructor became impossible to ignore!

So with that… notice was handed in, no savings, nothing physical to start being a full time dive instructor other than personal kit at the time – oh and the fact, Leanne was actually an Assistant Instructor at the time and hadn’t attended the instruction exam at that point as there had been none going on through COVID obviously!

However, the first Instructor Exam that was happening out of COVID was booked onto – no pressure at all with no full time job, no money as a back up, mortgage and bills to pay…

Leanne started freelancing as an instructor in the North West using various outdoor locations for training, and the business snowballed and quickly gained its first physical dive centre in January 2022 along with finding their own private in-water training facility at Princes Dock in Liverpool. Since then, 100s of new people from Liverpool and further afield have been introduced to the amazing sport of scuba, and experienced the abundant life under the surface of the dock itself.

In a time of no travel to outside your area or abroad, Palaemon Divers found something new and exciting to introduce the city of Liverpool to those who spend five days a week in the office looking down at the dock and not really being able to appreciate what the dock actually means to Liverpool!

It became apparent during 2022, that although Liverpool was fantastic, more growth was on the cards which came in the form of a second location, Palaemon Divers – Warrington. The second dive centre is an ex micro brewery in Warrington with a central location close to the M6, M62 and M56, spread over two floors which includes a classroom, workshop, compressor and a floor dedicated to retail.

The efforts in building this business have not gone unnoticed with the shortlist for Startup Awards, and also another shortlist which will be announced in the next month.

For more, email or visit: 

Continue Reading

Gear Reviews

Gear Review: Quilted Polar Hat from Otter Watersports (Watch Video)

Published

on

In a video shot exclusively for Scubaverse.com, Jeff Goodman reviews the Quilted Polar Hat from leading drysuit manufacturer Otter Watersports.

For more information, visit www.otterwatersports.uk.

Continue Reading

E-Newsletter Sign up!

Competitions

Jump on board the latest addition to the Emperor fleet and enjoy diving the famous sites of the Red Sea with this fantastic special offer. Great value for money and perfect for small groups of buddies. Price NOW from just £1195 per person based on sharing a twin cabin/room including: Flights from Gatwick to Hurghada with 23kgs baggage 7 nights in shared cabin 3 meals a day, soft drinks, red wine with dinner 6 days’ diving, guide, 12ltr tank & weights, Marine Park fees and port departure fees Free Nitrox Booking deadline: Subject to availability – limited flight seats at this price. Alternative departure airports available at a supplement. Call Diverse Travel on 01473 852002 or email info@diversetravel.co.uk. More Less

Instagram Feed

Popular