Overview
Southeast Asia is an underrated destination for swimmers and somewhere we are always excited to go back to each year. In the water, you will find an impressive diversity of marine animals, like nowhere else in the world. On land, we will enter sprawling rainforests, dotted with rain-soaked rice fields and dwarfed by the steaming calderas of volcanos. Both land and sea are host to fascinating wildlife, from whale sharks to tree-climbing tarsiers. SOLD OUT - JOIN THE WAIT LIST > Our trip takes us south of the city of Dumaguete on Negros Island in the southern Philippines, where we stay at the Atmosphere Resorts & Spa. This is luxury accommodation, surrounded by beautiful coconut plantations and perched between the mountains and the ocean. We are only a short boat ride away from some of the most pristine reefs we’ve ever visited – not to mention clear waters, which offer the kind of visibility swimmers dream of. The spa at the resort is award winning and promotes a balance between a healthy mind, body and spirit as the key to healthy living. Massages and yoga are included as options within our Philippines safari 'extras' package, alongside other dive options also provided by the resort. More detail provided below and you can decide on your choice of options after booking.
Highlights
Enjoy post-swim relaxation at a luxury resort
The luxury Atmosphere Resorts & Spa offers an award winning spa, with yoga and massages included within the safari options. All set in an idyllic location with our swims only a short boat ride away.
Swim Apo Island
Swim the circumference of Apo Island, one of the first marine sanctuaries in the Philippines. There is an abundance of fish and coral species to witness as you swim round.
Explore the island of Siquijor
Featuring some of the best shallow hard and soft corals in the Philippines, the island of Siquijor is a worth going to. Two swims at different sites gives us an understanding of this mystical island.
Itinerary
Our adventure in the Philippines is packed with reef swims, excursions to nearby islands and your choice of additional activities, including diving and yoga. A typical itinerary will look like this:
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Arrival at Atmosphere Resort (Day 1)
You will be met at Dumaguete Airport and from there take a transfer to the luxury Atmosphere Resorts & Spa. When we arrive, we will gather for an acclimatisation swim and your first chance to explore your watery surrounds. Breakfast and dinner will be included for the duration of your stay at the resort.
Swimming Apo Island (Day 2)
Our first day of swimming takes us to the southern reaches of Apo Island. We will take a boat escort from Atmosphere Resort and enjoy another chance to interact with the local reef-dwelling wildlife. This is the perfect opportunity to look for any species you haven't yet seen. Most of our daily swims will be along local coastlines and offshore islands.
Swimming Negros Island (Day 3)
Our second day of swimming and we take a short boat ride from the resort to the nearby Negros Island. Your guides will choose spots defined by their natural beauty, including popular reefs and dive sites.
Rest Day / Activity Day (Day 4)
After our first 2 days of swimming along Negros and Apo Islands, today is a chance to relax and take a day out to either enjoy what the resort has to offer (spas, diving, relaxing, local visits) or to travel to Cebu and the town of Oslob for a swim with whale sharks.
Note: the excursion to Oslob is not on the OSS itinerary and is an extra excursion organised by the Atmosphere Resort at your request.
Swimming Siquijor (Day 5)
On this day we will take an exciting day-long trip to the remote island of Siquijor. Lunch is included, so we will keep you well-fuelled between your salty stints of swimming. Later, we will return to the comforts of the resort in time for dinner.
Swimming the far side of Apo Island (Day 6)
You might be getting used to the relaxation of island life at this point. Our fourth day of swimming takes us to the opposite side of Apo Island after the usual boat ride from our resort. We're close to the end of our trip, so this is also a great chance to make more lasting memories together.
Final reef swims (Day 7)
Our final day of swimming to local spots along the reef, a last chance to take in the rich and diverse marine life before returning to the resort for an afternoon to relax.
We leave the island (Day 8)
Sadly, it's time to leave the island and return to our respective home countries around the world - unless you wish to extend your trip. We take our transfer back to the airport, provided by Atmosphere Resorts & Spa.
What's included
What's Included
7 nights accommodation at the Atmosphere Resorts & Spa
7 days breakfast and dinner at the resort
5 days of swim excursions, including Apo, Negros and Siquijor Islands (lunch included at Siquijor)
1 non-swim day to enjoy the resort and local culture
Choose from 1 of 3 extras packages provided by the resort: 4x dives along the Dauin Coast (note, guests need their own diver certification for this option); Lily Spa package and 3x group yoga sessions or 3x massages; or a combination package (1x Discover Dive/Refresher Dive, 1x Signature Massage, 1x yoga session, plus extra dive or yoga session of your choice)
Transfers to and from Dumaguete airport to the resort
What's Not Included
Flights
Optional extra: trip to Oslob Island to snorkel with whale sharks can be arranged through the resort
Accommodation
Atmosphere Resorts & Spa
Enjoy a luxury resort experience at Atmosphere Resorts & Spa. You will receive the warmest island hospitality, combined with first-class amenities and services. The resort is surrounded by coconut plantations and close to the ocean.
Getting there
Getting to Negros Island, southern Philippines
There are several ways to arrive at the Atmosphere Resorts & Spa, either by plane, ferry or overland. An overnight stay in Manila prior to the safari starting is recommended, with early morning flights operated by Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific direct from Manila to Dumaguete and taking just over one hour. Transit to/from Dumaguete to the resort is included in the safari package. We will coordinate transfers to the resort once we confirm your travel arrangements. Negros Island can also be reached by road from Cebu City, via a 5-6 hour car ride to the southern tip of Cebu Island and a ferry which takes around 30 minutes. Transit to the resort is a further hour.
What You Ask Us
Do you take group bookings? Is there a group discount? Can you help with this?
Yes we can! A group booking can be any number of guests, but typically includes 5 or more swimmers wanting to travel together on one of our safaris. Your group might consist of family or friends, like-minded people you’ve met on a previous safari, or perhaps fellow swimmers from your local swim or surf club.
But however formed, we can help through:
- Advising on suitable safaris
- Arranging the booking on your behalf
- Making an existing trip private or finding your own date if your group is sufficiently large
- Providing a group saving or discount, depending on group size
Send us an email here with your group size, preferred safaris and dates, and we’ll get back to you to discuss options.
Will I be able to swim the distances in the trip itinerary?
We aim for every swim to be a pleasure, not a chore. We are not about swimming the longest distance in the shortest time. We are not about ticking boxes. We are there to soak up the experience of some very special places and moments and some extraordinary water and swim courses. We want everyone to enjoy their swims - we are inclusive, not elitist.
That said, to join us on swims as part of the itinerary for the group we do need you to be able to swim 1km in open water, so we can manage the group safely and enjoyably. You don't need to be fast and you don't need to be a world-beater, and there will be plenty of opportunities to pause and take in the experience.
We generally swim 1.5km - 3km in a session depending on the location and conditions, broken up as the group would like, and reflecting the experience and capacity of the group.
Do I have to take part in every swim?
Absolutely not! This is your holiday and you choose to swim as much or as little as you would like. Join the sessions you want, stay onboard the boat for others, or just take time to relax and enjoy the resort.
How safe are your locations?
The safety of our guests, guides and other local partners is the number one priority in every decision we make.
From monitoring up-to-date travel advice for each location, to making adjustments to a planned itinerary during your time away, the well-being of each and every person who joins our safaris is always at the forefront of our minds.
What will my fellow swimmers be like?
Swimming is a low impact and medium intensity activity, which enables a wide variety of ages and experience levels to take part.
Your fellow guests could include young students, retired couples, solo travellers, groups of friends, experienced open water swimmers or those unfamiliar with life outside the pool.
Whatever the makeup of your group, you can be sure that you’ll have a mix of fascinating personalities from all around the world.
Do you cater for non-swimmers?
We do. In fact, you might not even be a swimmer yourself and may just be accompanying someone on safari who does - some guests do just come along for the ride.
To join the swims themselves as part of the group's itinerary we do require you to be able to swim 1km in open water, but there will be other opportunities for you to take a dip in some locations where you are less confident in the water.
And remember: while swimming is the catalyst for our presence, there's much more to the places we visit than just that, which is why we build other activities into our safaris. The places we take you are rich in culture, history, cuisine, and character, and whether swimmer or non-swimmer we want you to sample as much of that as possible.
Do I need to take out travel insurance before joining a trip?
Travel Insurance is compulsory and a condition of your booking with us. You must take out travel insurance to cover the period of your tour covering loss, theft, damage, illness, accident, and consequent medical treatment, transport and related events.
These contingencies are not the responsibility of oceanswimsafaris.com or their principals or representatives. We will not be responsible if you ignore or act contrary to the directions or advice of your oceanswimsafaris tour leaders, or if you breach the terms of your personal travel insurance.
For information see the Travel Insurance section of our main FAQs.
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