FAQs

The coral triangle is a geographical term used to describe the region that has the world's highest levels of marine biodiversity. The triangular-shaped area encompasses waters surrounding the countries of the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.

Our schedule generally includes two snorkel sessions, one in the morning and again in the mid-afternoon, each budgeting for nearly three hours of water time! We complement our daily activities with insightful evening presentations on marine ecology, coral reef biology, and underwater photography.

Please note this is a general schedule and may change if we have special activities planned, such as the visits to villages or to take advantage of a special snorkeling or hiking opportunity.

Yes. We charter the entire liveaboard boat to ensure it is 100% dedicated to our snorkeling activities. At land-based resorts, our resort boat is private and at our disposal throughout our stay, making sure we get to snorkel local reefs the way we want to!

-Casual, lightweight, tropical clothing
-Sunglasses (and a spare in case you lose your main pair)
-Comfortable footwear such as active sandals (Teva, Keen, Merrell, etc.)
-Hats. We cannot stress the importance of a hat in the tropics!

A good fitting mask, snorkel, and set of fins. If your equipment is brand new, please try it out in the pool. Determining the fit and function of your equipment in the pool includes doing several laps with all your equipment on. Doing several snorkel dives is also very beneficial. 

It is important to clean your new equipment, especially your mask. Cleaning procedures for your mask include light scrubbing with toothpaste or dishwasher soap to remove the layer of silicon used to preserve the mask during shipping. Clean both sides of the mask. This process significantly reduces the chances of a foggy mask. Mask de-fog sprays will not work as effectively on an un-cleaned mask.

A wetsuit, rash guard, full dive skin, or any type of clothing that can be used for thermal and/or protection from the sun. We suggest bringing a full 3mm wetsuit and some type of core insulation like a vest or shirt made of 1 – 2 mm neoprene (e.g., Lavacore or Sharkskin shirts or vests). These items will not only provide thermal protection but protection from the sun as well.

Head protection like a wetsuit hood, cap, or even a bandana. Anything that can keep the sun off your head is extremely important. It is the most exposed part of our bodies when we are floating on the surface.

Sunscreen lotions can be harmful and even kill tiny larvae (baby marine life). It is fine to wear on land, but we discourage the use of sunscreen lotions, even the biodegradable kind, in the water. A full wetsuit or dive skin will offer better protection from the sun than lotions, and provide thermal protection. It is truly a win-win for everyone and the marine environment.

Many of our departures include  night snorkels, and we suggest having your own underwater light. Even if the resort or boat have lights available, they may not have enough for the entire group, or may not be very bright. Lights should be small and a minimum of 1000 lumens. There are several lights around $30 - $50 that fit these parameters.

In almost all cases, there are at least two dinghies, each with easy-to-use ladders. Our programs are designed so that you to spend as much or as little time in the water based on your own preference. When you are ready to return to the liveaboard boat, simply signal the dinghy drivers to pick you up and take you back. Easy!

We often have one boat that takes us to a nearby reef. Resort boats are large, comfortable, covered, and with plenty of water, fruit and soft drinks, towels, and storage space on board. Ladders on these boats are big and very easy to climb.

Many of our trips include opportunities for dinghy tours or walks on beaches or island trails. They usually happen either in the early morning (before breakfast) or in the late afternoon to take advantage of the cooler air temperatures and less intense sun (plus the birds are more active!). Binoculars are also recommended for the avid birdwatcher.

Yes. All of the resorts and boats we work with are very comfortable handling specific dietary requirements such as gluten-free, food allergies, vegan, and vegetarian. Food preferences are all accommodated with the same attention to taste and presentation.

Yes. Medical evacuation insurance is a very important part of the equation to access life-saving treatment. It is a requirement for participation on CTA trips and from our host resorts and liveaboards. This type of insurance may be a part of your general insurance package or can be purchased as a separate policy from agencies like Divers Alert Network.

Yes. Our tours are all-inclusive, and we budget for tipping our crew / resort staff.

Yes. Our all-inclusive tours are designed to take care of you from the moment you arrive in the destination country to the moment you depart.

A camera is a great way to capture the experience through your eyes. Many of our guests also use cameras to help with identifying some of the marine life they have found. Newer underwater cameras by companies like Olympus and GoPro do a fantastic job of shooting a variety of subjects and in a variety of conditions.

But a camera is not required, and if floating blissfully above vibrant coral reefs is your goal, we have you covered. Both Ethan and I take hundreds of photos and videos on our trips and give them to our guests after each trip.

Yes, please contact us for suggestions and/or additional reservation requests.