SUMMER 2024 EXPEDITION

APO ISLAND / DUMAGUETE, PHILIPPINES

JULY 25TH - AUGUST 3RD, 2024

Join the expedition as a student in the Field Scientist Program and dive with the fascinating and exotic critters of Dumaguete, Dauin, and Apo Island.

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The Mission: The Open Science Network Project

Students on this expedition will be trained as research divers, completing multiple surveys during the trip. One of these surveys will be at scouting location for a smart data buoy deployed to advance ocean sampling. Students will assist with the updates to the hardware, and pair indicator species data to the site.

FIELD SCIENTIST PROGRAM: Students learn a set of underwater research skills that universities, NGOs and AAUS scientific professional research divers use to collect data for the advancement of science, marine conservation and restoration. During the course students will act as community scientists crowd sourcing data collection that will be used by researchers. Students on this expedition will be trained and certified as research divers, completing multiple surveys during the trip.

Local High School Students

US based students on this expedition will be joined by local students from the Zamboanguita National Science High School and the Dauin National Science High School.

The world’s future leaders in the fields of ocean conservation, ocean restoration, climate change adaptation, and sustainability must emerge independent of background, or economic status. We identify, mentors and develop students from around the world, while fostering multiculturalism and diversity in all our solution focused conservation work. The Future Leaders Project provides all our students committed mentorships that lead directly to internships, jobs and career development domestically and globally. We regard the incredible diversity in our global student network as a divergent thinking superpower.

Decompression Day:

On the last day of the expedition we will travel to a nearby beach town and students will snorkel with whale sharks.

WHALFALL is donating the cost of the basic dive training, research diving, and dive leadership in Dumaguete. Additionally we are supporting the local students in Dumaguete with financial aid to participate in this program. Please contact vsmith@whalefall.ngo if you are interested in supporting more local students with financial aid, including your student’s local dive buddy in Dumaguete.

All expedition students will participate in the making of a micro-doc about the experience in Dumaguete, Dauin, and Apo Island.

Join the Expedition - Very Limited Space

NOT INCLUDED:

  • Airfare. Liz Sanders <liz@roatancharter.com> can assist with booking airfare. Some flights back to the US have a very long layover. Many people have booked the Belmont Airport Hotel for the long overnight layover.

  • Marine Park Fees - These fees are set by local Municipalities and change at any time. The current per dive fee is $3.80 USD per day dive, and $9.05 per night dive.

  • Optional Nitrox Fills: $219 per diver

  • Atlantis staff gratuity (Cash only. Est. $350 USD)

  • DAN dive insurance (Required for all divers)

  • Travel insurance (Highly Recommended) Wanderwell is the recommended travel insurance for this expedition.

  • Basic essential dive equipment (Required for all divers- Discounted student package available, and staff will size during the first session) These items include: Mask, snorkel, fins, boots, bag, SMB w/ reel, and logbook.

  • Spa services

  • OPTIONAL SPECIALTIES ($200/ea)

    • Night Diving Specialty (Night Diving certification or enrollment in this class is required to participate on night dives)

    • Nitrox Specialty

INCLUDED FOR ALL GUESTS:

  • The place-based experiential learning curriculum of WHALEFALL

  • 4 Students to 1 dive leader in-water ratios

  • Research diver training and certification (Field Scientist Program)

  • Academic sessions to learn research diving techniques and marine biology (Field Scientist Program)

  • Rental scuba equipment

  • Rental night diving equipment

  • Rental filming equipment (Conservation Media Program)

  • Unlimited scheduled boat diving (up to four-day dives and one night dive per day)

  • Two trips to the Apo Island marine reserve

  • One day trip to snorkel with whale sharks

  • Psychedelic mandarinfish mating ritual night dive

  • Accommodation in deluxe rooms

  • All meals at Toko's Restaurant (chef-prepared breakfast and three-course lunch & dinner)

  • Coffee, tea and filtered water available from 6:00 am to 9:30 pm (Italian and speciality coffees are not included after breakfast)

  • Unlimited internet access

  • Airport Transfers

Flight from SFO to Dumaguete:

Bruce Hamren, a dive leader and physics teacher at The Athenian School, is the chaperone for students on this expedition. If you would like your student to travel with Bruce to the resort, here is the flight information that he will be on:

JUL 24 / 12:45A United Airlines UA 189 San Francisco to Manila arriving JUL 25 @ 05:55A

JUL 25 / 8:25A Philippine Airlines PR2545 Manilla to Dumaguete arriving JUL 25 @ 9:50A

AUG 03 / 2:50P Philippine Airlines PR2544 Dumaguete to Manila arriving AUG 03 @4:10P / Overnight at the Belmont Airport Hotel, Manila

AUG 04 / 8:40A United Airlines UA 190 Manila to San Francisco, arriving AUG 04 @ 6:40A

Flights not included in expedition price

Training & Certifications

  • Open Water Diver Track

    Students who are not yet scuba certified divers will be on the Open Water Diver track. Open Water Certification will be issued as a pre-requisite to the research diver training. Both Nitrox and Night Diving are recommended optional dive specialties. Open Water Diver track students will be limited to 60ft on this expedition.

  • Advanced Diver Track

    Previously scuba certified students will be on the Advanced Diver track. These students will complete additional training in night diving, underwater navigation, and underwater videographer. Advanced certifications will be issued with the completion of four specialty classes and a min. of 25 logged dives. Advanced track students will be limited to 100ft on this expedition.

Open Water Diver Track Students have the option to also enroll in the Nitrox & NIGHT Diver Course

Diving nitrox is highly recommended on all expeditions. The higher percentage of oxygen means less nitrogen in your gas mixes. Less micro bubbles of nitrogen is always going to be be a positive thing. The only downside of diving nitrox is the added gas fill cost. Nitrox training is included for students already certified before the trip. New divers have the option to enroll in the Nitrox course for an additional $200.

Open water track students may also enroll in a night diving specialty if they would like to join us for the mandarin fish mating dive, as well as two additional night dives during the time on the island.

All Students are trained & certified in Research Diving

Scuba eLearning & Review

  • The SDI scuba eLearning will be sent out to students in April 2024. The program will be on the SDI Platform. You will activate your unique code on the SDI website page: www.tdisdi.com/elearning.

    Open Water Track students will receive 1 online code. (More if enrolled in the optional nitrox or night diving course)

    Advanced Track students will receive 3 online codes for night diving, navigation, and nitrox diving.

    The online training will take approx. 8 hours. All online training is due by the June 30th.

  • Please upload a signed copy of your final exam for each online training here.

SCHEDULE

  • Pre-Trip Schedule

    Virtual Pre-Trip Meeting: Monday, May 6th @5:30pm.

    Rental Gear Delivery, Bay Area Friday, July 12th

    Island Schedule Coming Soon

PAPERWORK

RECOMMENDED ITEMS

All ordered items will be delivered to Students with rental gear

Non Reef-Safe Sunscreen is not allowed and may be confiscated at the airport.

Students are required to have a log system in place before the dives. Smart phone apps are accessible. This is a nice simple way to log dives w/ waterproof paper.

SCUBA EQUIPMENT

The following rental dive equipment is included in the expedition price: Dive Computer, Regulator, BCD, 3m Full Wetsuit, Tanks, Weights, Mask, Snorkel, Fins, Boots, Mesh Bag, and an SMB for advanced track students . Please visit our partner for student discounts if you would like to purchase your own personal equipment: https://www.immersegear.com/studentgear

This video from SCUBAPRO shows how to pack your BCD for the trip in the provided carry-on backpack

Please Reserve Your Equipment Sizes Below

Your Expedition Equipment will be delivered to the Bay Area Friday, July 12th or via mail for remote students. You will keep the gear until you return it after the expedition.

Once delivered to students, if a student fails to bring equipment to a session or on the trip, that student is responsible for additional equipment rental charges. Students are responsible financially for the replacement value of any lost equipment, including GoPro cameras used for filming, and research equipment.