Aqua Ventura Divers

Located in Dauin, approximately 20 minutes south of Dumaguete City, Aqua Ventura Divers serves as a gateway to some of the most diverse marine environments in the Philippines. The centre is positioned to explore the waters of Negros Oriental, from the vibrant reef flats and walls of Apo Island to the unique muck diving opportunities found in the local sanctuaries.

For those looking to combine their diving with a seamless stay, the centre offers Dive & Stay packages including beachfront accommodation. These packages are designed to cover all essentials, including full board, transfers from Dumaguete airport or the maritime port, and access to the local marine sanctuaries.

The centre is led by owner Gary Finney, an experienced diver with over 10,000 dives, ensuring a high standard of professionalism and safety. The team is trained to provide personalised service, focusing on small groups and a deep understanding of the local underwater topography.

Instruction is conducted in English, and the team is dedicated to marine conservation and safe diving practices. Their expertise extends across a wide range of disciplines, from introductory dives for beginners to advanced instructor development programmes.

Aqua Ventura Divers is a RAID affiliated centre, offering a comprehensive range of courses from the very beginning of your journey. Beginners can start with Discovery Scuba Diving (DSD) in a pool or at sea, or progress through the RAID Open Water 20 and Scuba Diver certifications.

For those looking to advance their skills, the centre provides RAID Advanced Open Water, Explorer 30, Advanced 35, and Deep 40 courses. They also offer specialised training such as RAID Nitrox and the RAID Master Rescue Diver programme. Professional divers can pursue the RAID Divemaster and Instructor Development pathways through their structured training programmes.

The centre provides full equipment hire for divers, ensuring you have access to reliable kit for your excursions. For those needing specific items, dive computers, torches for night dives, and compasses are available for hire.

Nitrox is available for use, catering to divers looking to extend their no-decompression limits. The facility is set up to support both day trips and overnight excursions, with some full-day packages including lunch on board.

The region is a haven for large pelagics and reef residents. You can encounter Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) near the reefs, alongside Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), jacks (Carangidae), and various reef sharks (Carcharhinus). In certain areas like Moalboal, you may also spot thon and hammerhead sharks.

For macro enthusiasts, the volcanic sands and reef flats are teeming with life. Keep a close watch for the Ornate ghost pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus), Seahorse (Hippocampus kuda), and the elusive Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti). The area is also home to a vast array of Nudibranch (Chromodoris willani), flamboyant cuttlefish, mimic octopus, and various species of octopus (Octopus vulgaris).

The reef architecture itself is a vibrant display of life, featuring branching hard corals, soft corals (Alcyonacea), and various gorgonian sea fans (Gorgoniidae). You will find many crustaceans, including crabs (Brachyura) and shrimp (Caridea), tucked away in the sponges (Porifera) and sea fans.

Diving conditions in Dauin are generally favourable from November to May, when the swell is typically calm. During this period, you can expect reliable conditions for both reef and muck diving.

While many sites like the Dauin Sanctuary offer low currents, other areas such as Apo Island can experience moderate currents. It is always important to check local conditions with your guide before heading out to ensure your level of experience matches the site's requirements.