Tropical Haven: Dauin's Pura Vida Beach and Dive Resort
For those planning a diving trip to the Philippines, Pura Vida Dauin Beach & Dive Resort in Dauin is a highly recommended destination. This article will guide you through the most efficient ways to reach the resort and introduce you to some of the remarkable dive sites in the area.
Getting to Pura Vida Dauin Beach & Dive Resort
There are three main routes to reach Pura Vida Dauin:
- Fast Ferry from Cebu to Dumaguete and Car Transfer: The quickest and most efficient way to travel from Cebu International Airport to Pura Vida Dauin is by taking a fast ferry from Cebu Pier to Dumaguete Pier, followed by a car transfer or taxi to Dauin and Pura Vida Resort. This journey takes approximately 3.5 hours by ferry and 20-30 minutes by car.
- Direct Car Transfer from Dumaguete Airport: If you prefer, you can take a direct 1-hour drive from Dumaguete Airport to the Pura Vida Resort.
- Land, Ferry, and Car Route from Cebu: This option involves a 3.5-hour drive from Cebu International Airport to Liloan, Santander pier, a 30-minute ferry ride to Sibulan, Negros, and a 1-hour drive to the resort.
Dive Sites in Dauin
Dauin offers a multifaceted house reef, impressive corals, and world-class muck diving for divers. Here are some of the top dive sites in the area:
- The Luca Sanctuary: A short walk from the resort, this site offers a combination of sand and coral blocks, hosting various marine species like stingrays, snappers, eels, morays, frogfish, and colorful shrimps.
- The Pura Vida Housereef: Located near the resort, this artificial reef features wrecks, concrete blocks, and a steel pyramid, home to various marine life such as lionfish, sea-horses, stingrays, snappers, and batfish.
- The Carwreck: Ideal for macro lovers, this site is filled with creatures like robust ghost pipefish, unique crabs, sea moths, moray eels, and other interesting creatures found in its sandy area.
- Banka Wreck: Located near Sarah's place, this site is home to unique marine diversity, including Seahorses, ghost pipefish, sea moths, and is a perfect site for macro lovers, photographers, advanced, and nitrox divers.
- Sarah's Place: Known for schools of yellow snappers, frogfish, nudibranchs, and Seahorses, with a maximum depth of around 26m.
- Bonnet's Corner: A dive site for macro enthusiasts, where unique creatures like mimic octopus, wonderpus, blue-ring, and mototi octopus have been spotted, as well as flamboyant cuttlefish, snake eels, and frogfish.
Dive Centers in Dauin
SEA EXPLORERS PADI 5* CDC Dive Center, located inside the Pura Vida Beach and Dive Resort, offers a well-equipped facility with personalized diving services, regular IDC courses, and a variety of diving facilities and services. They operate in languages including English, Tagalog, French, German, and Dutch, and accept cash and credit card payments.
Additional Information
- Diving is possible all year round in Dauin, with water temperatures ranging from 26-30°C and air temperatures from 25-33°C. A 3-5mm wetsuit is recommended for diving in Dauin, and the maximum depth is up to 40m.
- Pura Vida Dauin resort offers an airport transfer service for PHP 1200.
- Dumaguete does not have Grab or official taxis, but private car transfers are easy to book via your hotel or tour provider, costing around ₱500–₱800 (€9–€14) for routes in and around Dumaguete and Dauin.
In summary, taking a fast ferry from Cebu to Dumaguete followed by a private car or taxi transfer to Pura Vida Dauin is the best combination of speed, efficiency, and convenience. Booking a transfer through the resort is recommended for ease and reliability. Enjoy your diving adventure in Dauin!
- The fast ferry from Cebu to Dumaguete, followed by a car transfer, is the quickest and most efficient route to reach Pura Vida Dauin Beach & Dive Resort.
- Discover the multifaceted house reef and world-class muck diving in Dauin, with exceptional sites like The Carwreck, Banka Wreck, and Bonnet's Corner, teeming with unique marine life.
- For an unparalleled diving experience in Dauin, consider SEA EXPLORERS PADI 5* CDC Dive Center, situated within Pura Vida Beach and Dive Resort.
- In Dauin, diving happens year-round, with water temperatures ranging from 26-30°C and air temperatures between 25-33°C, making a 3-5mm wetsuit ideal.
- To ensure a hassle-free transfer, book Pura Vida Dauin's airport transfer service or reserve a private car transfer from your hotel or tour provider for easy travel in and around Dumaguete and Dauin.
