Aquaventure Reef Club

We spent a week at aquaventure to do our open water certification, and the training was great. Gen Paras knows her stuff, and we felt safe and comfortable with her the whole time. She was funny and easy to talk to, which made it so much better. The course sites had lots of fish and amazing views, with hardly any current and good visibility. They also made us comfortable for the emergency exercises. After getting certified, we did a couple of dives with their dive master and fell in love with diving. We borrowed a kayak for free as guests and went snorkeling nearby. It was super relaxing, and we saw big schools of fish and turtles. The hotel is simple but feels like home. The food was amazing, with a good variety each day, some great Philippino home dishes, and they accommodated our requests. Everyone was genuinely friendly and cared about whether we were comfortable or needed anything. I can’t think of a better place for training or just relaxing. We’ll definitely come back next year, and you should too!!!

The calm, private setting makes Aquaventure a nice option for families as well as divers. There’s lots of parking and direct road access, so bringing a car or taking a tricycle was easy. The restaurant served delicious food and handled my husband’s vegetarian and my vegan dietary needs without any trouble. I also got my SSI Nitrox certification here. Gen and Steve supported me throughout when I was having a hard time, and I felt cared for from start to finish. The whole staff was accommodating, and it was a lot of fun. I can’t wait to return. They also mentioned karaoke machine rental and relaxing massages as other services, which I might try next time.

This was our second stay at Aquaventure, and we liked it even more after deciding to take a diving course instead of just snorkeling like we did the first time. Gen was a great instructor, really knowledgeable and funny. After the course, she and Richard took us on our first dive, an experience we’ll remember forever. We’ve already booked another stay because we’re hooked. The resort has beautiful sunsets, and the whole crew was friendly and helpful. Ma’am Razzell was especially caring, and the chef served delicious meals. It’s pet friendly, too, so we brought our puppies and let them swim in the ocean. We can’t wait for the next trip and our second dive!

Instructor Gen helped me get my confidence back in diving. My earlier PADI Open Water course in Cairns, Australia, was disappointing: one instructor had six students, there wasn’t much personal attention, and the instructor was itinerant and didn’t know the local area. Learning SSI Open Water with Gen at Aquaventure Reef Club was completely different. She’s the only DAN instructor in the Philippines, and I found her professional, patient, and very responsible. I was lucky to have one-on-one lessons, especially in the pool. I struggled with clearing my mask at first, but she patiently walked me through it until I could do it. She also gave special attention to my equalization issues, having me practice in the pool and then keeping a close eye on me during the next day’s open water dives so I stayed safe and comfortable. The skills training was part of fun dives, which made it relaxed and interesting. We visited boat sites, feeding areas, and reef sites that looked like underwater “aquariums.” The accommodation and meals were a pleasant surprise. The staff felt like family and adjusted meals to what I liked. I tried Filipino, Chinese, and Western-style dishes. In-room massages were available on request, a thoughtful touch. The price was much more reasonable than in Australia and felt like great value. The SSI system’s focus on safety gave me peace of mind. I’m already planning to come back for the Advanced Open Water Diver course with Gen. I’d recommend this place if you want to learn in a professional, safe, and warm environment.