Pura Vida Beach And Dive Resort

We spent New Year's Eve in Dauin for the first time at the Pura Vida Resort and went diving with Sea Explorers (8 nights, 15 dives). Aside from the somewhat long journey from Europe, we would almost certainly come back – especially if you love macro photography, Dauin is fantastic. Diving in Dauin on the island of Negros is superb. From the Sea Explorers base, many local dive sites are reachable in just a few minutes, and that's where we had our highlights. The dive center operates three relatively large local outrigger boats, called bancas, each with space for about 16 divers. Most of the time, however, the boats weren't full, which made everything more pleasant. A bit of luck is always needed for critter sightings, but with a skilled guide and spotter like Gio, it feels like you have a much better chance. We saw many different nudibranchs, several frogfish (one about 8 mm long), and even a blue-ringed octopus twice in a row. We were even taken to see the seahorses upon request :-) Our groups were never larger than four divers per guide – top-notch organization, punctual departures, and a professional experience. Safety is taken seriously, and buddy checks are conducted without being patronizing. Oxygen is available on every boat, and even small details like vinegar for (rare) jellyfish stings are provided. Between dives, coffee, fruit, and delicious cookies are served. For longer trips, such as to Apo Island (with fantastic drift dives), you can order a packed lunch the evening before, which is then delivered directly to the boat. Nitrox and sanctuary fees are extra, but there were no hidden costs. We only went to the house reef for one night dive. It had a current and wasn't particularly spectacular overall – the highlight, however, was seeing some really cool blue harlequin shrimp. The resort itself was spotlessly clean and very pleasant overall. The food was okay – we could have done without the Swiss dishes, personally. Luckily, there are several really good alternatives nearby, such as Finbar, Vitamin Sea, or the vegan Omu’s. Two things were a bit disappointing: Our air conditioning broke down and couldn't be repaired because of the holidays. This meant we were without air conditioning for three days and only had a ceiling fan. It was bearable, but not ideal – and because the resort was fully booked, we couldn't change rooms. And on New Year's Eve, the music at the table was so loud that we practically fled after dinner. Nevertheless, a huge thank you to the entire team at Pura Vida Resort and to Sea Explorers. Gio's guiding was especially fantastic. We also have very fond memories of Gary with his infectious laugh and Elina with her enthusiasm for the underwater world.

I spent two months in the Philippines, and this was by far the best resort in the country! Swiss punctuality, Filipino friendliness. Superb professional diving team. Huge Christmas party. The staff were friendly and attentive to guests. Everyone was cool and appreciative.

🌟🌟🌟🌟☆ Had dinner at Pura Vida Beach Resort’s restaurant and ordered the pork ribs—outstanding! 😋🍖 Came with fried rice 🍚 and the meat literally fell off the bone. Left a savory taste that made me want more. Only suggestion: add an indoor dining option—Philippine heat + humidity can be intense. ☀️💦 Also loving my stay at Vida Homes (their sister resort).