NEXT EXPEDITION ON 31st OCTOBER 2024 for 7 DAYS

In late 2018, the allure of exploring virginal and or seldom dived deep wrecks in the Philippines ignited a quest for an unforgettable diving expedition.

There’s something about visiting remote difficult to access locations where deep shipwrecks, outside the realms of recreational diving, lie peacefully undisturbed due to their location and depth.

It is these very factors that makes the quest all the more exciting.

We had a reasonable budget in mind for seven to ten days of diving off a 90ft liveaboard, diving wrecks in the 75 to 135m range.

The price needed included everything for a CCR Expedition, except gas and lime, which would be available at cost.

The target that we had in mind was a 14000 Tonne ship that was manufactured in 1974 and capsized and sank mysteriously 18th September 1998 killing 95 people.
The wreck lies on its port side in a depth of 132m.
https://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?151182

At this stage we now needed to find a vessel that was capable of catering for all of our needs.

The individual I spoke with in The Phillipines provided valuable insights to what was being requested and we were was left in no doubt that what was required, would be provided.

Wreck Sites around the Phillipines

The Caribbean Tigress

Our skipper would be Michael Stefuraka and his boat is Caribbean Tigress.
Michael’s passion for exploration was evident as he shared a list of wrecks which included all the information about The Princess Of The Orient

The excitement of the impending expedition was palpable, with plans in motion for a team of eight to ten technical divers to embark on seven days of deep CCR diving. The itinerary was ambitious yet flexible, allowing for exploration of multiple wrecks while catering to the preferences of the dive team.

However, fate had other plans as the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill in March 2020, forcing a hiatus on the eagerly anticipated diving expedition.

It wasn’t until August 2023 that The Philippines reopened its doors, signalling a glimmer of hope for the postponed adventure.

On Sat 18th Sept, I flew out of Dublin to Istanbul with Turkish Airlines where there was a 90 min stopover before an 8 hour flight to Manilla. Arriving in Manilla on Sun 19th Feb I stayed the night at The Savoy £40 per night. A great spot!
Hired a car at the airport and drove down to Subic Bay. It took around a hour to get out of Manilla. Manilla must be unique to drive in, as most of the streets have three lanes for the traffic. The interesting thing about driving in Manilla is that locals have added an extra couple of lanes to the existing 3 however which mostly leaves 5 rows of traffic. Combine this with the couple of hundred moped and motorcycles who wait at the traffic lights , it really brings a whole new meaning to “an interesting city to drive through”.

Three hours after leaving Manilla I arrived in Subic Bay and took a couple of days R&R and meet up with Tim Lawrence & Sam Beane both who arrived in from Thailand.

Subic Bay is one of the most interesting places I have ever visited and two days is just not enough to see all that there is.

On Thursday 22nd Feb we leave Subic Bay and head out to sea, and dived the Kyo Maru on route, which lies in 55m. A beautiful than ensures that our equipment is good to go and all is ship shape. https://www.wrecksite.eu/chartDetails.aspx?2028

Friday 23rd February we dived the MV Coral Island which lies in 70m. https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?109194

Sadly due to unforeseen circumstances, the following could not make it.
Rez Soheil
Karl Haegens
Colin Luke Brennan
Matthias Vertommen

Fortunately, Tim Lawrence & Sam Beane were able to make it and their presence just helped to make the whole event a major success and just so much more safer.

Hopefully looking at heading back again on 31st October 2024 for 7 days, to follow on from where we left off. If this is something you’d like to hear more about, please get in touch.

Sadly due to unforeseen circumstances, the following could not make it.
Rez Soheil
Karl Haegens
Colin Luke Brennan
Matthias Vertommen

Fortunately, Tim Lawrence & Sam Beane were able to make it and their presence just helped to make the whole event a major success and just so much more safer.

Hopefully looking at heading back again on 31st Cotober 2024 for 7 days, to follow on from where we left off. If this is something you’d like to hear more about, please get in touch.

Gallery From Most Recent Trip