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#1 of 3 hotels in Sabang
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Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Puerto Galera is well known for its numerous scuba diving spots; the area was designated a Man and Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO in 1973 and has some of the most diverse coral reef diving in Asia located at the very heart of the 'Coral Triangle'. The area also features numerous pocket beaches and stunning tropical scenery. Atlantis Puerto Galera is beautifully built into the hills of Sabang Beach of Puerto Galera and has a great beachfront location; in many travel guidebooks and magazines, Atlantis is quoted as one of the most outstanding resorts of the Philippines with its award-winning (Flintstones) design. Want to explore more of the Philippines why visit our Dumaguete resort
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
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First, I should state up front that my wife and I are dive industry professionals so we see everything; the good, the bad, and the ugly. Thankfully, I only have good things to say about the Atlantis Puerto Galera resort. For those that don’t like to read long reviews, here’s the bottom line: The service at Atlantis Puerto Galera was outstanding. The diving was outstanding. The experience was outstanding.
From the reservations department, to the van drivers and boat captains, to the front desk, to housekeeping, to the masseuses, to the restaurant, bar and the dive operation, the staff always over delivered. We couldn’t possibly be more pleased. And while I’ll name some specific staff here, unfortunately there were some names of staff that we didn’t get. Nonetheless everyone there was professional, attentive, and friendly.
Starting with the booking and reservations process. We worked with Roni. She is simply the best. No question is too trivial and she always replied to me quickly (most of the time nearly instantly). Because we were booking a week at Puerto Galera and an additional week aboard the Azores in Tubbataha (see separate review of the Azores) we also worked closely with Mench, who works on site at the Puerto Galera property. Mench was super professional, always answered my questions quickly and was very helpful with planning ground transfers, extra baggage allowance, domestic airfare, hotel stays in Manila, water taxis, and much more. Mench was invaluable. Her advice was spot on and everything she booked for us went off without even the slightest hitch. We honestly can’t imagine booking this trip without Roni and Mench.
When we arrived in Manila we stayed at the Belmont Hotel near the airport. This was recommended and arranged by Mench. It was a quick $10 (US) taxi ride from the international terminal. It’s a nice place and we wouldn’t hesitate to stay there again.
The next morning, we were picked up by a driver from Atlantis (unfortunately we missed his name). He was not only on time, he was actually early. Side note: This commitment to punctuality was the beginning of a trend that lasted the entire trip. When Atlantis staff tell you something will happen at a specific time, it absolutely happens at that time (or even a bit early if you’re ready). Our driver showed up in a very clean small passenger van. Each seat was a leather bucket seat and was very plush. We had our own air conditioning controls and were quite comfortable for our 2 1/2 hour drive to catch the water taxi. Traffic in Manila is pretty chaotic compared to anywhere we’ve ever traveled, but despite not quite comprehending the rules, it seems to work quite well.
Once we arrived at the marina, we had a small rain storm. Our diver found us a dry place to hang out while we waited only a couple of minutes for the water taxi to arrive. He ensured our luggage was loaded on the water taxi and, after a safety briefing, we made the 30-minute crossing to Puerto Galera. Upon our arrival at the dock, we were met by James from Atlantis. He was very friendly and professional. He escorted us along the boardwalk to the Atlantis Resort while other staff ensured our luggage was taken to our room.
When we got to the resort we were greeted by Enzo, the resort manager, Mench, and numerous other staff in what I can only describe as a welcome fit for royalty (of which we certainly are not). Each of the staff present represented a different aspect of the resort and presented us with all the information we needed to know. During this time, we were given a welcome beverage and a variety of local fruits to enjoy. We even got a neck and shoulder massage. The staff gave us the option to begin diving right away, however we chose to wait after such a long journey. We agreed to meet with them later that afternoon for our dive orientation. In what turned out to be a trend of exceeding our expectations, we discovered that Roni had arranged for an upgrade of our room to the honeymoon suite. Our first (and lasting) impression of the staff was that they were the most professional, most accommodating and hardest working staff we’ve ever encountered. More on this later.
The Atlantis Puerto Galera Resort is on a hillside. The honeymoon suite is at the very top of the hill. It’s 92 to 95 steps to the top depending on which route you take (we counted more than once), but the view and privacy are absolutely worth each step. The architecture is unique (think Flintstones) and the room is very spacious. We had our own large private balcony with a table, chairs and lounge chairs. Inside we had a small refrigerator with a minibar (filled with soda, beer and chocolate) and each day housekeeping brought us two large glass bottles of fresh water. The water is great for showering, but is not potable.
We’ve been around a lot of diving operations, both as customers and as diving professionals. We can say that this is one of the most efficient and well-organized dive operations we’ve ever had the pleasure of diving with. Regardless of our professional ratings, the dive guides and boat captains took nothing for granted when it came to safety. They evaluated our dive ability just like they would any other diver and were always vigilant. Having said that, after evaluating our dive skills, they treated us with the perfect amount of attention based on our experience and specific needs on any given dive. Our dive guides were Rodil, Jeff, Orville and Obet. We also had the pleasure of diving with Wilson, a divemaster candidate. Each of them was professional, safety oriented, and had excellent dive skills. They were all great at pointing out the critters during our dives (especially Wilson - he can find anything). When we had less experienced divers on board, they made sure to group us accordingly so each group got the most of out the dive. In all we did 20 dives during our week. We could have done as many as 31 dives, but we were happy to have a nice relaxed pace.
A couple of other details regarding the dive operation. We took advantage of Atlantis’ unlimited nitrox plan. The way it worked was that we paid for our first three (or less) nitrox cylinders on any given day. We were not charged extra for Nitrox cylinders for dives four and five. While I’m on the topic of cylinders, they had 63cf/9liters, 80cf/11liters and 100cf/13liters aluminum tanks. If you want anything other than the standard 80 you need to advise them ahead of time to ensure availability.
A couple of days into our diving one of our primary computers had a malfunction with its proprietary battery. We asked the dive staff if they knew where we could get a replacement battery. One of the crew (unfortunately we didn’t get his name) walked us to the nearest dive shop that sold our brand of computer and translated for us. We weren’t able to find the battery, but we were able to buy a new SPG. This type of customer service was the rule at Atlantis Puerto Galera not the exception.
During the week I was using my iPhone to capture the dive site coordinates. When diving I simply left my phone in a small dry bag on the boat. At one point I realized I misplaced my phone. The staff quickly mobilized to help me find it. They began checking the surveillance cameras to see if I set it down somewhere. Wilson grabbed a mask and within about five minutes came back with a big smile on his face. I had dropped it when getting off the boat and he found it under the boat. (Like I said, Wilson can find anything!) I can’t even imagine what a pain it would have been if he hadn’t found it, but he saved me a ton of trouble. And it was just another example of how everyone there goes above and beyond.
As for the diving. Well, it’s incredible. There as some muck dive sites where you can find seahorses, flamboyant cuttlefish, giant frogfish, ghost pipefish and a bunch of squid. Most of our dives were on the reef; with incredible structures and tons of life everywhere. We lost count of the number of sea turtles we saw. We also saw pigmy seahorses, sea kraits, lots of nudis, octopuses, electric clams, blue spotted stingrays and much more. One of the most memorable dives was the Sabang Wreck, which is essentially the house reef. There is a small wreck at the bottom. If you kneel in the sand and rub your fingers together you get swarmed by dozens of butterflyfish. It was one of the most unique dive experiences we’ve ever had.
The food was beyond delicious. Marlin (or “Chef” as well called him) runs an incredibly organized kitchen. Every morning we had numerous breakfast options from the menu. For lunch and dinner there were two large chalk boards colorfully decorated with the day’s meal options. For both meals there was a soup or salad option. The main course always had four options. Usually there were choices between pork, chicken, beef, fish and non-meat dishes. There was also always a dessert option. The amount of food was always more than we could actually eat, so most of the time we were too full for dessert.
Our servers, Mia, Gemma, Cha, Dian, Jenessa, and bartenders Hans and Zeus were all amazing. Hans and I had a great time exchanging one liner dad jokes all week. The server we saw the most, Vanna, was beyond wonderful. She was already informed about our meal preferences when we first met her and she gave us great suggestions regarding the meals. She was always a spark of positive energy whenever we saw her.
On our last night there, right after we finished dinner the entire restaurant staff surprised us with an anniversary cake. I had completely forgotten that I mentioned it months earlier when filling out our registration paperwork. And while my wife and I had a great time in each other’s company, that gesture from the staff was simply the perfect way to end our week there.
As dive industry professionals, we have been all over the world. We have led large teams of staff and we understand how physically demanding dive industry jobs are. Like I said earlier, we see everything. We’ve been to some of the top diving destinations in the world with some of the top diving operations there are and the operation at Puerto Galera under the Enzo’s leadership was absolutely the best we’ve encountered. If I were the owner of Atlantis Puerto Galera, I would be beyond proud of the work the staff does each and every day to make it the best overall diving vacation experience possible. Since I’m not the owner, I will simply offer this advice: Be thankful for the team you have, because they are the reason for your success.
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Spend the night in Manila before going to the resort. Use the restroom before the drive because...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Louise Capewell, General Manager at Atlantis Dive Resort Puerto Galera
Responded May 13, 2024
Thank you, Rich, It is always wonderful to hear such positive and thorough feedback. The staff appreciate the kind words and we look forward to having you return.
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My wife and I attended a workshop at the Atlantis Resort and spent 12 nights at the resort and were totally impressed with the staff and the dive operation there. Located on Sabang Beach the resort features beautifully cared for grounds and a resort that has been kept up and maintained. Rooms were well appointed with great internet connectivity everywhere. Nice pool, beautiful spa, nicely laid out camera room with a small classroom next door. The restaurant is well run with great wait staff and a trained chef, Marlon who oversees a friendly staff who will cater to any dietary requirements you have. Dive operation is well run with new boats that take you to the nearby dive sites. The dive masters are well trained and can help find the smallest of critters for photos. The 50 Bar is located by the dive operation and facing the beach and is a good place for a drink after a day of diving. The bartender Ton Ton is friendly and has a good playlist of music that we enjoyed in the evening after dinner. This is a great dive resort and worth the trip for a wonderful vacation.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from AtlantisDiveResort, Public Relations Manager at Atlantis Dive Resort Puerto Galera
Responded Feb 5, 2020
Thanks Barry for joining us along with your wife for our January Photo Workshop. We truly hope you both gained valuable photographic tips during your various underwater and classroom sessions. Your wonderful words are greatly appreciated - and we think your review is GREAT too!!
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Just returned from a stay at the Atlantis Dive Resort and a Azores Live-aboard dive trip and all I can say was it was absolutely fabulous! Our group of 11 were met in Manila by the Atlantis Resort team to transport us and gear for the 3-4 hr shuttle van/ferry boat trip to the resort. The one night resort stay before and after the Azores Live Aboard cruise ( more later) was very nice, with attentive staff, good food and drink options, wonderful massage therapists, and a relaxing tropical resort feel.
That all being said, the week we spent diving on the Azores was the highlight of the trip. With spectacular dive sites led by exceptional guides (Cipooz, Long, and Rodil); Gourmet food prepared by Chef Charlie and his crew; and the remaining crew members that constantly prepared and attended to our dive gear (up to 5 dives per day) and every need! It was a trip all of us (and we hope the Azores crew) will remember for a long time!
The one negative on the Azores was the size of staterooms. With limited storage, counter, or closet space, and no place to sit other than on the bottom bed/bunk, it was very tight quarters for 2 people in each room. However, this was highly overshadowed by all pluses!
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from AtlantisDiveResort, Public Relations Manager at Atlantis Dive Resort Puerto Galera
Responded Feb 13, 2020
Thanks Garym for joining us both at the resort and also on our liveaboard. It sounds like you had a fabulous trip with your group, and we’re quite sure that our staff will remember you all for a long time! We totally agree that the Azores cabins are compact, but luckily there is plenty of common areas throughout the boat that are air conditioned or open air, covered and uncovered to entice our guests not to want to spend much time in their cabins. We greatly appreciate your ‘Nirvana’ review!!
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I stayed in a basic but comfortable single room, the restaurant has good food with vegetarian options, and the spa gives a great massage. However you come here for the diving! My dive master Rodil was excellent, the diving is full service, and all of the dive sites are very close. If you love diving, this is where you want to be. Easy transfer to Manila, good value for money. I'll definitely be returning. Thanks!
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Date of stay: January 2020
Cleanliness
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from AtlantisDiveResort, Public Relations Manager at Atlantis Dive Resort Puerto Galera
Responded Feb 4, 2020
Thanks Tonya for saying we’re the best!! But of course ‘the best’ for us is that you’ll definitely be returning.
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This is my second trip to this resort. It has been over 2 years since I was here and the staff all greeted me by name and welcomed me back.
The main function of this resort is to take divers out to some excellent dive sites. Everyone is friendly and interested to hear about your dive and your experiences of the day.
They have a nice spa that is situated next to the pool and the staff is friendly and attentive.
When you spend all day diving you tend to get very hungry. They have a superb restaurant and chefs. If there is something that you want or need that is not offered on the menu they were usually able to accommodate us without any problems.
When we arrived they served us a lime punch and gave as a plate of assorted fruits. After every dive there was usually pastry, cookies or breads along with some sort of warm drink or soup. They offered dessert at both lunch and dinner and ALL OF THEM WERE GOOD. I believe they have their own baker as there were always fresh, hot breads with dinner.
I walked the entire length of the beach in this part of the island and this resort appeared to be the nicest looking one out of the 4 different beach areas I walked through.
I will be planning a trip back here. They made me feel like I was coming home.
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Date of stay: April 2022
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Reservations Manager, Owner at Atlantis Dive Resort Puerto Galera
Responded Apr 20, 2022
Thank you, We don't say arrive as a guest, leave as a friend for nothing :) everyone who comes to Atlantis becomes part of our very large extended family. We look forward to your next visit home :)
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Everything was great from the spacious accommodations to the diving to the food. The dive staff assembled your dive gear and loaded it on the dive boats. Most dive sites were just minutes from the resort where 4 or 5 divers were led by a seasoned dive master who pointed out things we may never have noticed. At the end of the day they washed our gear and put it away.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:The rooms are up a steep hill. The higher you go the better the view but more steps
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from AtlantisDiveResort, Public Relations Manager at Atlantis Dive Resort Puerto Galera
Responded Jan 12, 2020
Thanks Larry for spending Christmas with us and for your wonderful 5 star review!!
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I returned with 16 customers to once again enjoy this resort. The staff and facilities did not disappoint. Everyone had a great time. There was some weather going through and our group seemed to have arrives just in front of the storm. The dive staff at this location adheres to the rules of the marine park and safety. If someone is a diver that doesnt like rules are safety then this resort may not be for you, however for the 99% of us who enjoy beauty in a safe enviroment this is the perfect resort. After each dive the Chef had hot soup and treats served to the divers.
The rooms were clean and had all the comforts of home. The pool was gorgous and very private that allowed for sunbathing and relaxing. I loved the hot stone massage in the Spa so much i did it twice! Over all the staff was extremely friendly and quickly learned all our names. My only regret was not being able to take them all home with me.
Because i lead dive travel i am open to see other resorts that customers have visited and think would be a good fit for my groups. I took 3 of my current travelers and we walked to a resort close by. After getting a tour of the other resort everyone told me there was no comparison to the rooms and facilities of Atlantas.
We look forward to returning and will be using a Atlantis Resort.
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Date of stay: February 2023
Value
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Reservations Manager, Owner at Atlantis Dive Resort Puerto Galera
Responded Mar 14, 2023
Thank you, It is always good to see you and we look forward to your next visit :)
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Everyone from the reservation staff, dive staff and to housekeeping, they all want to make your stay memorable. Meals are extraordinary and they will prepare a la carte dishes as well.
A quick THANK YOU shoutout to Mench, Dyan, Camilla, Hazel, and Obie. Thank you all!
My first visit to this resort was in January 2007. Making a very positive impression, I've returned multiple times over the years. I've been scuba diving since 1987 and this property is still my first choice after staying in literally dozens of dive resort properties throughout the Caribbean and Indo-Pacific regions.
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Date of stay: February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from AtlantisDiveResort, Public Relations Manager at Atlantis Dive Resort Puerto Galera
Responded Mar 6, 2020
Thanks David for returning time, after time, after time … as a friend! We greatly appreciate you also taking the time to thank our wonderful staff and we all look forward to your next visit with us!
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We had a life changing time at this resort. The entire staff of this resort are the best humans on the planet.
The diving was beyond spectacular in nature and only made better by the greatest dive guide I've ever had - Van. Van has one of the greatest critter spotting eyes I have ever experienced. He genuinely listened to us, and picked all of our dives sites with safety and our critter spotting goals in mind. He checked off almost all of my bucket list critters within the first day!! We were supported by Captain Bai - who was so on top of things we were blissfully floating from dive to dive unaware of all the hard work happening behind the scene. My backplate bolt had unfortunately loosened, and was lost on a dive and Bai replaced it himself while the rest of the dive team went to the hardware store to look for alternatives! All while I sipped on a soda and enjoyed the company. To top it off, Norm FOUND said bolt on his dive, and they refused to take the spare back an insisted I keep it as a back up part.
Speaking as a manager of a dive company for the past 6 years, the ENTIRE dive team at Puerto Galera, along with their passion and efforts are 100% unmatched.
Verde Island day trip, and Black Water dive are a must. However, the local sites (all less than 10 minutes boat ride away) were all mind blowing as well.
The resort itself is quaint and very unique. The rooms, albeit a bit small, were fully functional for a couple with loads of dive gear. The spa experiences were incredible and the restaurant staff knew our coffee order by the second day! Ogie - the restaurant manager surprised us with unique, personalized latté every morning. The food was absolutely incredible and they always made sure we were hydrated, full and happy! We'll never forget our time here, and tears were shed as we departed with hugs from our dive team and warm smiles from the entire staff at Atlantis.
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Book your spa appointments right away! You'll be wanting more after each one!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Louise Capewell, General Manager at Atlantis Dive Resort Puerto Galera
Responded Dec 1, 2023
Thank you, Maddi, we appreciate all the kind words and we look forward to your return.
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My 15 year old son and I visited Atlantis PG for three nights before our liveaboard trip. It was my second time at the resort and my son’s first. We loved every aspect of our stay from the amazing dive sites to the unfailingly gracious and friendly hospitality of the Atlantis staff. The food is excellent, spa services high quality and reasonably priced and the dive team is extremely professional. Be sure to do the Verde Island trip as the Pinnacles dive site is second to none. Special thanks to Ton Ton for great conversation and music at the 50 Bar when diving was done!
We’ll definitely travel with Atlantis again and are eager to check out the Dumaguete property!
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Try the fluoro dive for a unique experience!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Reservations Manager, Owner at Atlantis Dive Resort Puerto Galera
Responded Jun 20, 2022
Hello Jaye, Thank you for the wonderful review, Dumaguete is looking forward to your visit :)
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Hi Les, Many guests stay with us for 2 weeks or more. Some opt to stay the entire time at one resort (either Puerto Galera or Dumaguete), but many will spend the first week at one resort then transfer to our other resort for the second week. Our reservation staff will be happy to assist you with either option.
"Understand that there is a Red light district close by for all accommodation choices. Parental guidance is recommended if you are travelling with children.
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