
Solitude Acacia Resort
★★★★
★ 8.8/10 (242 reviews)
less than 1 km away as the crow flies
Dive centre · Anilao · Philippines
4.5159 Google reviewsExperience the cutting edge of buoyancy with the Philippines' first official Avelo dive centre in the heart of Anilao.
For subtitles in English: start the video firstthen click the gearat the top right of the video, select “Subtitles/CC”, then “Auto-translate” and choose “English”.
Solitude Acacia Resort is situated in Anilao, a location widely regarded as the global capital for nudibranch enthusiasts. The resort is set within a tropical garden landscape, featuring a glass-walled restaurant and a swimming pool, providing a calm atmosphere between dives.
For those travelling from Manila or Clark, the resort can organise transfers to ensure a smooth arrival. The property is designed to blend modern comfort with the natural beauty of the surrounding reefs, making it a convenient hub for serious divers and those looking to combine diving with land-based exploration.
The centre distinguishes itself through its affiliation with Avelo, offering divers access to innovative equipment designed for lighter loads and more effortless buoyancy control. This focus on modern technology is central to the diving experience at Solitude Acacia.
Beyond the technical aspects, the resort caters to the growing community of underwater photographers. They offer dedicated workshops to help you capture the intricate details of the local marine life, from tiny macro subjects to the more elusive creatures found during night dives.
The centre provides a range of training options suitable for different experience levels. Whether you are looking to start your journey or advance your skills, the instruction is geared towards the specific marine environments found in Anilao.
The resort is equipped with contemporary diving gear, including access to Avelo technology to assist with buoyancy and ease of movement. For those who prefer not to travel with a full rig, rental equipment is available on-site.
Night diving is a core part of the local experience, and the centre provides the necessary kit for these sessions. The facilities are designed to support the needs of both recreational divers and those focused on specialized photography.
Anilao offers a vast array of dive sites accessible to all levels. The area is particularly famous for its blackwater diving, where you can encounter rare, alien-like creatures in the open water at night.
The surrounding reefs provide a constant stream of new environments to explore, ranging from vibrant coral structures to sites specifically suited for macro photography enthusiasts.
And some of the dive sites the centre runs.
The waters of Anilao are a sanctuary for macro life. You will find an incredible variety of Nudibranch (Chromodoris willani) and other colourful sea slugs that make this area world-famous. The seabed is home to a diverse array of crustaceans, including various Shrimp (Caridea) and Crab (Brachyura), alongside Ghost pipefish (Solenostomidae) and Seahorse (Hippocampus kuda).
For those looking for more complex subjects, the area hosts various Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) and Cuttlefish (Sepiidae). You may also encounter Frogfish (Antennarius) and Scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae) camouflaged against the reef, as well as various species of pipefish.
The reef structure itself is built upon a rich foundation of corals, gorgonian fans, and basket sponges. These provide the essential habitat for a wide range of reef fish, including Anthias (Anthias), Snapper (Lutjanus), and Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus).
Larger residents of the reef include Moray eel (Muraenidae), Lionfish (Pterois volitans), and various species of sea anemone (Actiniaria). You may also spot more significant inhabitants such as humphead wrasses, giant groupers, and sea snakes (Hydrophiinae).
Hello, I'm Marina, DivingDeal.com's AI assistant. I answer in detail about hotels, dive centres and liveaboards.

Thinking about the whole trip and the flights? Talk it over with Edith →
Marina is an AI. Some links are affiliate links: DivingDeal may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Bookings are made with the partner.