Discover the spectacular dive sites and fascinating underwater worlds of the Philippines or, depending on the season and tour, Palau in Micronesia with the Solitude One.
Diving in Tubbataha Reef - the crown jewel of the Philippines
Tubbataha Reef in the middle of the Sulu Sea is an absolute dream for divers - remote, protected and full of life. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it offers unspoilt reefs, spectacular drop-offs and an impressive diversity of species that will amaze even experienced divers. Here you can encounter shoals of barracudas and jackfish, majestic manta rays, white-tip and grey sharks, huge turtles and, with luck, even whale sharks. Visibility is often crystal clear and the reef is in perfect condition - a true underwater paradise.
Only accessible by liveaboard between March and June, Tubbataha promises adventurous, world-class expedition diving - wild, authentic and unforgettable.
A must for every diver looking for the extraordinary!
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The Solitude One - your comfortable diving yacht for adventures in Palau and the Philippines
The Solitude One is an elegant, 52-metre-long diving vessel that originally served as a merchant ship. Completely renovated in 2013, it now offers maximum functionality, sophisticated design and first-class comfort for divers from all over the world with its robust steel hull.
Comfort on board:
The yacht has 10 cosy cabins, all equipped with:
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Individually adjustable air conditioning
Private bathroom
Flat-screen TV with USB connection
Additional amenities such as a hairdryer, bathrobe and other feel-good extras.
Dive groups are deliberately kept small. Professional, experienced dive guides ensure personalised support and maximum safety.
Perfect for underwater photographers: digital camera studio on board
Set-up and maintenance area for camera equipment
Separate cleaning stations for cameras so you can optimally capture your impressive experiences on the diving safari.
Relaxation between dives:
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A spacious lounge with comfortable seating invites you to linger.
Enjoy the fresh sea breeze on the sun deck - with a bit of luck, dolphins will accompany the ship on its journey.
Culinary delights:
The on-board chef will spoil you around the clock with a varied selection of freshly prepared dishes and snacks.
Day 1 - Embarkation (Puerto Princesa) begins at 1400 hrs
Embarkation in the harbour of Puerto Princesa begins at 1400 hrs. Only transfers from Puerto Princesa domestic airport are included in the cruise package.
Upon boarding the Solitude One, you will be greeted by the rest of our crew. Orientation and registration (remember your (-cards and/or logbooks!) will begin after the welcome. We recommend that you fill out your registration and general liability release forms prior to embarkation. This will save you some time at orientation and you can use it to settle in and relax! If not, no need to worry as you can fill them out after orientation to give to your cruise directors. Permit and national park fees are also collected at registration.
Dinner is included.
The Solitude One sets off for Tubbataha Reef National Park at sunset (estimated journey time is 10 hours)
Day 2, 3 & 4 - 3 or 4 dives daily, North and South Atoll
As the dive sites in the Tubbataha Reefs are in close proximity, dive sites are planned based on tides/currents as well as communication with other liveaboards in the vicinity to avoid overcrowding at a particular dive site.
Day 5 & 6 - 3 or 4 dives daily, North Atoll & Jessie Beazley Reef
As the dive sites in the Tubbataha Reefs are in close proximity, the dive sites are planned based on tides/currents as well as communication with other liveaboards in the vicinity to avoid overcrowding at a particular dive site. Your final dive must comply with our 18-hour no-fly/no-altitude policy.
The Solitude One will make its way back to Puerto Princesa after the 3rd dive of the last dive day (estimated travelling time is 9 hours).
Day 7 - No diving, disembarkation (Puerto Princesa) at 1100 hrs
Between 07:00 hrs and 08:00 hrs you will be informed by a member of our crew on your invoice (if you have payments for satellite communication, equipment hire, EANitrox, alcohol etc.). Please check that it is correct and make your payment conveniently before 0930 hrs. We only accept CASH in USO (preferred) or Philippine Pesos (PHP).
After a hearty breakfast, we will organise a recognition meeting followed by final disembarkation for our guests. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate late check-out requests as we have to prepare for the new cruise the next day.
A typical day on board ...
The daily routine, except on embarkation and disembarkation days, is as follows:
light breakfast> diving> big breakfast> dive> lunch> dive> afternoon snack> night dive> dinner
Marine life: Manta rays, white tips, turtles, frogfish, pipefish, nudibranchs, flamboyant cuttlefish, mandarinfish, whale sharks.
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Quad cabin lower deck
- 4 single beds (bunk beds)
- En-suite bathroom
- adjustable air conditioning
- max. 4 guests
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Deluxe cabin lower deck
- 1 double bed, king size
- En-suite bathroom
- adjustable air conditioning
- max. 2 guests
Deluxe Twins cabin lower deck
- 1 double or 2 single beds
- En-suite bathroom
- adjustable air conditioning
- max. 2 guests
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Stateroom double cabin main deck
- 1 double bed
- En-suite bathroom
- adjustable air conditioning
- max. 2 guests
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Deluxe double cabin lower deck
- 1 double bed
- En-suite bathroom
- adjustable air conditioning
- max. 2 guests
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Deluxe double cabin main deck
- 1 double bed
- En-suite bathroom
- adjustable air conditioning
- max. 2 guests
Included: VAT, harbour dues, airport transfers, hotel transfers, soft drinks, tea & coffee, drinking water, snacks, beach barbecue, full board (all meals), dive packages, kayaks, stand up paddleboard, towels for use on deck, cabin towels, complimentary toiletries.
Required extras: National park fees (35-250 USD), fuel surcharge (30 USD), environmental tax, room tax $10 p/p per night.
Optional extras: Travel insurance, diving insurance, tips, alcoholic drinks, special dinner, rental equipment, Nitrox (8 USD per activity), Nitrox course, private dive guide (150 USD per day), diving courses, snorkelling guide, snorkelling set, laundry/ironing service, WLAN (20-100 USD).
Prices for rental equipment
Rental equipment is available on this ship. Please indicate on the booking form what you need. Details below of what is included and the additional prices.
- Regulator 10 USD per day
- BCD 10 USD per day
- Fin 5 USD per day
- Mask 5 USD per day
- Nitrox bottle 8 USD per activity
- Signal buoy Included
- Torch 8 USD per day
- Dive computer 10 USD per day
- Full equipment (with: regulator, BCD, dive computer) 40 USD per day
- Wetsuit 10 USD per day
- Air temperature: Warm all year round with average temperatures between 26.5 °C in January/December and 29.0 °C in May.
- Water temperature: Stable temperatures between 27.0 °C in January/February and 29.5 °C in May/June, ideal for diving.
- Rainfall: Drier months from January to April; wetter period from May to October, with the highest rainfall in August.
Geographical location:
The Philippines is a Southeast Asian island nation in the western Pacific Ocean, consisting of over 7,600 islands. The country lies to the east of Vietnam, between the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea. It forms a geostrategically important bridge between Asia and the Pacific region.
People & Population:
With around 115 million inhabitants (as of 2024), the Philippines is one of the most populous countries in Asia. The population is young, friendly and culturally diverse. Many ethnic groups live on the various islands, with Tagalog and Cebuano being among the most widely spoken languages. English is also widely spoken and is the official language.
Economy:
The Philippine economy is diverse: the main sectors are services, agriculture, industry and, increasingly, the tourism sector. An important economic sector is the return flow of foreign money through Filipino workers abroad (remittances). In addition, many international companies are investing in business process outsourcing (BPO), IT and electronics production.
Religions:
The Philippines is the only predominantly Christian country in Asia. Around 90 % of the population belong to Christianity, of which around 80 % belong to the Roman Catholic Church. Islam is mainly represented in the south (Mindanao). Religious festivals and processions characterise social life.
Diving & underwater tourism:
The Philippines is one of the best diving destinations in the world - located in the so-called "Coral Triangle", a hotspot of marine biodiversity. Diving paradises such as Tubbataha Reef, Apo Island, Malapascua (thresher sharks), Anilao, Bohol or Palawan with El Nido, Coron and the wrecks of WWII offer spectacular experiences for beginners and professionals. Diving tourism is an important economic factor for many coastal communities.
Importance in the regional context:
The Philippines plays a strategic role in the ASEAN region - both economically and in terms of security policy. The country is an active member of regional economic and security cooperation and is an important partner in the Asia-Pacific region thanks to its large domestic market and labour-friendly population. The Philippines is also becoming increasingly important as a logistics hub and investment location.