![[Philippines: Bohol, Panglao, Balicasag] Post-Pandemic Diving Abroad in 2023 — What Could Possibly Go Wrong? feat. Enjoy Islands](/_images/5dbc269a147f-1440w.webp)
Heading Overseas for a Diving Trip in the Philippines
Divers who had been cooped up for two years because of the pandemic
finally got to start planning their long-awaited dive trips abroad at the end of 2022.
But before setting foot on a foreign island and enjoying a relaxed diving holiday,
how many unexpected blunders were bound to happen —
between travelers who hadn't gone overseas in ages and the uncertainties of the post-pandemic era?
This time, the Editor's team joined ATMOS for a visit to Enjoy Islands on Panglao, Philippines,
putting together a rare pre-Christmas dive trip.
Along the way, we had the chance to dive Balicasag — a UN-recognised marine protected area (MPA) —
and witness the spectacular tornado of Jackfish,
while also fitting in a Whale Shark swim, a riverside restaurant, tarsiers, the Chocolate Hills, ATV riding, and a river firefly tour.
The goal was to show that dive travel doesn't have to be non-stop diving —
it can be a chance to slow down and rediscover your own rhythm in the post-pandemic world.
Must-Visit Philippine Dive Destination for Thresher Sharks & Dive Fiesta 2017
Planned content for this series:
- [Philippines: Bohol, Panglao, Balicasag] Post-Pandemic Diving Abroad — What Could Possibly Go Wrong? feat. Enjoy Islands
- [Philippines: Bohol, Panglao, Balicasag] Balicasag — A World-Class Diving Mecca, and the Emotion of Being Wrapped in a Tornado of Jackfish
- [Philippines: Bohol, Panglao, Balicasag] A Packed Land Tour of Bohol: Whale Shark Swim, Tarsiers, Chocolate Hills, ATV, and River Fireflies
- [Philippines: Bohol, Panglao, Balicasag] Slowing Down — Exploring Laid-Back Panglao by Scooter and Experiencing the Warmth of Filipino People
Thank you to our sponsors for this series:
- Enjoy Islands：https://enjoyislands.com
- ATMOS：https://www.atmos.app/zh/
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is a BlueTrend dive trip different from an unknown, no-name dive group?
Choosing us means full peace-of-mind protection and a smooth experience from start to finish. Every trip we run holds to three things.
First, full legal protection and a professional dive leader: we strictly follow Taiwan's travel regulations and provide complete travel-agency liability insurance, travel insurance, trip-inconvenience insurance and dive insurance. Every group is accompanied by a certified, foreign-language dive leader who joins you on both the dives and the land itinerary, liaising seamlessly with local dive shops and operators on your behalf to keep things running smoothly — the person our travellers trust most.
Second, fully licensed with secure payments: every payment goes into a licensed travel agency's account, with multiple safe payment channels (bank transfer, credit card and more) and a legal collect-and-remit receipt, so every transaction is open, transparent and protected, avoiding the fraud and dispute risks of transferring money privately to an individual.
Third, hand-picked quality we vet in person: every trip, dive site and partner shop is scouted on the ground by our own team, from the guides' professionalism and safety standards to the food, lodging, environment and service details on land, all vetted by us so you don't get caught out.
I want to sign up for a dive trip. Are there certification-level or logged-dive requirements?
Each dive site is different, so the entry bar varies. 'Bali Tulamben', for instance, is relatively beginner-friendly. 'Malapascua in the Philippines' is also beginner-friendly, but since thresher sharks tend to cruise between 20 and 30 metres, we recommend AOW certification with 20+ logged dives to enjoy this trip comfortably. For 'the Maldives' or 'Palau', we suggest AOW with 50+ logged dives for a more relaxed experience. If you're not sure whether your experience fits the trip you want, message us and our dive editors will assess it and help you find the trip you'll feel safest on.
Can I join if I'm signing up alone? How are rooms arranged?
Plenty of our travellers sign up solo! For rooms and beds, we prioritise pairing you with a same-gender traveller, and if you'd rather have your own space you can pay the difference to upgrade to a single room. For the diving, our professional leader will pair you with a suitable buddy, and with the happy vibe on our trips you'll quickly make a great group of dive friends. Many people sign up alone, make new friends, and end up organising the next trip together!
Does the trip fee include dive insurance, gear rental, taxes and instructor tips?
It depends on the trip, the destination's regulations and the local operators. Every BlueTrend dive trip has a detailed web page with a clear 'included / not included' list, transparent and with no hidden charges. All payments are collected by a licensed travel agency, with a standard-form contract for your protection.
I'm a new diver / haven't dived in a long time — will I fall behind the group?
Before you complete your booking, our team assesses a suitable trip based on your certification level and experience. Before departure, we strongly recommend taking time to refresh in Taiwan with an instructor, or a fun dive to get your feel back. On the trip itself, our professional dive leader groups and pairs everyone by experience, keeps a close eye underwater on travellers who need extra care, and steps in to help right away.
Will the photos and videos taken during the trip be shared with us?
During the dives, 'safety' is always the leader's top priority, so whenever it's suitable and safe the leader will capture great shots and record the best moments. During or after the trip, we compile a cloud album for all travellers to download, so you go home loaded with memories!
Besides your scheduled trips, can you arrange a private group charter or independent travel for me and my friends?
Absolutely! Besides group trips, we also arrange private group charters and independent travel. We can communicate, enquire and coordinate services with local operators based on your needs, saving you time and effort and taking the language barrier off your plate, to tailor the smoothest, most reassuring dive trip just for you. Contact our LINE support and our editors will arrange it for you!
