Arkipelago Divers & Beach Resort

Located in Sabang, Puerto Galera, Arkipelago Divers & Beach Resort has been operating since 2017 as a family-run dive centre and resort. The site is positioned to provide easy access to the diverse marine environments of the Oriental Mindoro coast, combining professional diving services with on-site accommodation.

The centre is an established SSI Instructor Training Center, making it a key destination for those looking to advance their careers in diving. Whether you are visiting for a holiday or to pursue professional certifications, the setup is designed to support both recreational exploration and technical training.

The team at Arkipelago is composed of eight highly qualified professionals, including an internal SSI Instructor Trainer. The staff brings a combined 60 years of experience across recreational, rescue, technical, and professional instruction, ensuring a high standard of safety and expertise on every trip.

Instruction is available in English, Tagalog, Mandarin, and German, making it accessible for a variety of international divers. The centre places a strong emphasis on personalised dive groups, tailoring the experience to the specific skill level and comfort of each diver to ensure safety and enjoyment.

As an SSI Instructor Training Center, the range of courses is extensive. Beginners can start with the Try Scuba Diving Program or the Basic Diver Program, progressing through to Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver certifications.

For more experienced divers, the centre offers specialised training including Nitrox, Deep, Wreck, and Scuba Explorer courses. There is also a focus on professional development through the Instructor Development Course, alongside niche training such as Underwater Photography and DPV use. Safety and rescue training, including React Right and Diver Stress & Rescue, are also core components of the curriculum.

The centre operates speedboats named Pulo and Isla to transport divers to the local sites. These vessels allow for efficient transit to the reefs and various dive locations around Puerto Galera.

The centre provides a comprehensive range of rental kit for those not travelling with their own equipment. This includes BCDs, regulators, fins, boots, masks, snorkels, and wetsuits. For those looking to extend their capabilities, sidemount BCDs and sidemount regulators are also available for hire.

Divers can also rent dive computers and torches for night dives. The facility supports Nitrox diving, and additional 15L cylinders are available upon request. For those interested in technical exploration, the centre offers DPV (underwater scooter) rentals with instructor supervision.

The reefs around Puerto Galera are teeming with life, from large pelagics to intricate coral structures. You will encounter various species of turtles, including Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), alongside reef sharks and whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus). Schools of fish such as snappers, jacks (Carangidae), and various tropical reef fish are a constant presence.

The hard coral ecosystems are diverse, featuring brain corals, staghorn corals, table corals, and large sponges (Porifera). You will also find many varieties of soft corals (Alcyonacea), sea fans (Gorgoniidae), and whip corals decorating the reef walls.

For macro enthusiasts, the area offers exceptional sightings. Look closely for the flamboyant cuttlefish, mimic octopus, and various species of octopus. The smaller inhabitants include pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus bargibanti), ghost pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus), and nudibranchs, providing endless interest for underwater photographers.