Facilities
With large open spaces, plush tropical gardens, a wide beach front, many different seating areas, a dedicated massage cabin, fitness center, co-work space and 2 swimming pools, Liquid’s facilities are a match to any larger resort. But with only 14 beach cottages you can be guaranteed plenty of space, privacy and comfort, without the crowds.
OurPADI 5*CDC dive center has a dedicated dive training pool, an airconditioned classroom, a semi open IDC classroom, private customer equipment room, rental equipment room, quiet briefing area and dive office.
Nestled within lush tropical gardens are our swimming pools, bar, restaurant, co-work space, billiard table, chill out area & large gym. Our large beach front is a stunning place to relax and take in the views of Siquijor and Apo Islands while watching the boats sail by.
Whether you want to mingle with like-minded travelers at the pool side bar, grab a bite to eat at our garden restaurant, shoot a game of billiards with your friends, join a functional fitness class, enjoy the view of Siquijor Island from the beach front or relax and read a book in our chill out area; we are sure you will find the perfect place to unwind after a great day of diving or local site seeing.
- Billiard Table
- Local tours and adventure tours
- Private garden spa cottage offering an array of different massages
- Daily housekeeping
- Free safety deposit boxes
- Laundry service available
- Motorbike hire service
- 24-hour receptionist available for contact
- 24-hour security
- Transfer assistance from Cebu, Moalboal & Malapascua
- We accept all major Credit Cards, bank transfer, g-cash & TransferWise
- Only 20 minutes from Dumaguete city and 40 minutes from the airport
Accomodation
.All 14 of our aircon rooms are set on the front of the property close to the beach. Each room has a balcony with a garden and partial sea view. All rooms can have either 1 king bed or 2 twin beds and an extra bed can be added into our deluxe rooms. Complimentary breakfast is included.
Lodge
The lodge is the main building in the center of the resort with views of our bar, restaurant and 2 swimming pools. It is a multi use building and a great place to hang out and relax.
The ground floor holds our billiard table and chillout area and spills out onto both swimming pools. A lovely open air space to chill with friends over some drinks while playing a few games of billiards.
The upstairs is a large open space with great views of our pools and lush gardens around the bar & restaurant. The overflow dining area is large enough to accommodate over 50 people creating the perfect spot for a private celebration or group meal.
With the growth of the remote work industry, we incorporated a dedicated co-work space complete with comfortable chairs, modern desks, TV, white board, lectern, fast wi-fi and plenty of charging stations. This area can be closed in for private presentations, whether it be work related or for underwater photography groups to share their best photos.
Massage/Fitness
Our dedicated massage cottage is designed to help ease away those travelling knots and leave the stress of home behind. At Fluid Fitness, we train for life, not just for fitness. Our supportive, ego-free community welcomes all ages, body types, and fitness levels
PADI 5* CDC Dive Center
- Rated as 1 of only 100 5* PADI CDC centers worldwide
- 2 PADI Course Directors
- In house PADI instructors
- Local PADI divemasters
- Dedicated GoPro Instructor Development Classroom
- Dedicated PADI classroom for all courses from beginner to divemaster
- Boat and shore dives
- Traditional dive bangka, two speed boats and dive jeep
- Guided snorkel tours
- Nitrox available
- Full dive equipment for rental
- Dedicated dive training pool
As divers, we at Liquid Dive are passionate about the ocean and love sharing our knowledge of our local dive sites, while at the same time striving to protect and conserve our part of the Coral Triangle by following eco-conscious practices throughout the resort and on all of our dives.
The PADI 5* CDC rating is the highest award given to PADI dive centers around the world and recognizes those centers that meet the highest standards for diver training and their dedication to the diving industry.
With a comprehensive range of PADI courses from beginner to professional we guarantee small classes taught by experienced PADI instructors, many of whom we have personally trained through our Instructor program. We pride ourselves on offering exceptional training, while also having lots of fun.
Fun diving along the Dauin coast and at the neighboring islands is world class. Our dive center policy guarantees small groups led by our certified local PADI divemasters. Whether it is muck diving or reefs that you are after, Liquid is perfectly situated to offer fantastic diving.
Pool Bar & Garden Restaurant
The pool bar is situated within a lush tropical garden nestled in between our 2 swimming pools and offers a wide selection of cocktails, local and craft beers, fruit smoothies and soft drinks as well as daily happy hour specials. With plenty of comfortable seating, a billiard table, good music and chill vibes the pool bar is a central part of Liquid.
The garden restaurant is located at the pool bar and offers a selection of Philippine, Asian, European and healthy meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. All produce is locally sourced and we strive to make every dish memorable. Daily specials and a wide selection of vegetarian and gluten free meals are offered and group meals or special dinners can be arranged at any time.
Beach Front/Swimming Pools
Our beach front is the perfect place to relax and watch the sun rise over Siquijor Island before a great day of diving and enjoy the evening sun sets at the end of your day. Romantic beach side meals or family dinners can also be arranged.
We have 2 large swimming pools in the center of the resort, giving plenty of space for all our guests to relax by. One pool is a dedicated diver training pool where you can watch our students take their first breaths underwater
“The sea once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever”
- Jacques Cousteau
As a PADI 5* CDC dive resort, our commitment to the health of the ocean is paramount in everything we do. From our weekly beach and dive site clean ups to our continuing no single use plastic campaign, we strive to be the best environmentally aware dive resort that we can.
As a result of our continued environmental efforts, Liquid received the PADI Green Star Award and is the first Green Fins resort in Dauin. Liquid also has a close affiliation with I-Sea Horse and PADI AWARE.
Our environmental initiatives include:
- Weekly beach and dive site clean ups
- No plastic straws
- No plastic bottles
- Complimentary drinking water and sale of reusable eco-friendly water containers
- No single use plastic including garbage bags, shopping bags and containers
- Refillable complimentary shampoo & shower gel in all bathrooms
- The resort uses bamboo for design, all of which is sourced from a locally sustainable supplier
- Linen and laundry policy designed to limit excess water wastage
- LED light bulbs throughout the entire resort
- Complimentary PADI AWARE programs included for all our dive professional courses
- Dive against debris bags utilized by all staff members and available for purchase
- Retail items include reef friendly sun screen and locally sourced items from local artisans
The reason for our continued dedication to environmental responsibilities is to give back and preserve the thing that has given so much to us – our Ocean.
A few facts that most of us learnt in school and most of us have since forgotten!
- Oceans cover 71% of the Earth’s surface and contain 97% of its water
- Humans have explored only 10% of the world’s oceans
- Without water our planet would be just another lifeless rock floating in space
- It is estimated that over 90% of the World’s biodiversity lives in the oceans most of which lives in the deep blue aka the Abyss
- There are 5 oceans separating the World’s major landmasses, and numerous marginal seas, gulfs and connecting straits (Can you name them all?)
- The Pacific is the largest ocean occupying 1/3 of the earth’s surface – which is bigger than all land masses combined!
- The Philippine trench is the 3rd deepest trench in the world reaching 10540mts. The 5 deepest areas of the ocean can all be found in the Pacific including the Challenger Deep, the deepest point on the planet, reaching 11034mts in the Marinas Trench just east of the Philippines
- The continents are surrounded by shallow shelves, which extend a variable distance from the shore before descending into the deep ocean basins.
- These basins contain the flattest parts of the Earth’s surface, called the Abyssal plains. However the basins also contain the greatest extremes of elevation, from deep ocean trenches to the World’s tallest volcanoes
- The largest mountain range is located in the ocean and is called the Mid Ocean Ridges
- Hawaii Mauna Kea is 1353mts taller than Mt. Everest and is mostly submerged
- 90% of all volcanic activity occurs in the ocean
- The ocean contains nearly 20million tons of gold
- The ocean provides necessary minerals and medicines including corals that can be used to repair and even replace human bone
- More people are killed each year by elephants and bees than by sharks, yet we kill over 100 million sharks a year primarily for shark fin soup
- Many fish can change sex!
- The fastest fish is the ocean is the blue fin tuna
- The largest animal ever is the blue whale, whose heart is the size of a Volkswagen beetle
- Over 60% of the world’s population lives within 60miles of the coast and 75% of our mega cites are directly on the coast
- Fish supply the highest % of protein consumed by humans, yet we are fishing the ocean at levels above their maximum sustainable yield
- Coral reefs comprise less than 0.5% of the ocean floor yet 90% of marine species are dependent on them, in the next 30 years 60% of these reefs are in danger of being lost forever
Dumaguete
Liquid Resort is located in Dauin, a small barangay (village) just outside of Dumaguete City which is the capital of the province of Negros Oriental. Negros Island is in the central part of the Philippine archipelago, adjacent to the islands of Cebu and Siquijor.
While Dumaguete is a bustling university town, with a number of hospitals, malls, bars, restaurants, an airport and a pier, both serving local islands, Dauin is a quiet neighbourhood village filled with local families and a scattering of local and international resorts, a small market and a few bars and restaurants, all within easy reach of Liquid.
Located on a quiet stretch of beach, we have the perfect location to lose yourself to the tranquillity of the Philippines, yet, only 30 min from Dumaguete city or 5 min from Dauin centre.
Negros Oriental, like many island in the Philippines, is renowned for its outstanding natural beauty. Mt Talinis creates a stunning backdrop for Dumaguete and Dauin and offers fantastic trekking, volcanic sulphur vents, waterfalls and lakes. The coast line of Dauin, has world class muck diving, coral reefs and an amazing array of marine life from tiny critters to turtles and abundant fish life.
Things you should know when you book your next holiday in the Philippines
In order to enter the Philippines you have to have proof of onward travel. This can be in the form of either an air ticket or a ferry ticket. You also need to complete the online entry application that can be found at etravel.gov.ph. This does not cost anything and needs to be completed within 72hrs of arrival
Entering and Visas
In order to enter the Philippines you have to have proof of onward travel. This can be in the form of either an air ticket or a ferry ticket.
Upon entering you will receive a tourist visa that lasts for 30 days. It is possible to extend this visa at any time. There is an immigration office in Dumaguete City which is open Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm.
Visa extensions are easy to get. The first extension is for 38 days and costs approximately Php3870. The second extension is for 60 days and costs approximately Php5500. For any tourist staying in the country longer than 2 months it is now required to purchase an I-Card, which is a temporary form of official ID that lasts for 1 year and costs approximately Php3500. This is automatically done whenever a second visa extension is processed. Prices may vary and processing fees are not included, they are normally around Php500. For any tourist staying in the country longer than 6 months an exit visa is required. This takes up to 5 days to process and can only be done in Cebu or Manila, prices vary depending on length of stay from Php2000-9000.
(prices may have increased since writing)
Language, money and general info
The main spoken language throughout the entire country is Tagalog, however most people also speak English. In Dumaguete and the surrounding islands, Tagalog gives way to Visayan. If you learn a few basic phrases such as please (palihug) and thank you (salamat) the locals will treat you like a long lost friend.
The main currency is Philippine Peso, though many of the larger establishments will accept US dollars and Euros. Always have a handful of small notes or coins as making change anywhere can be a difficult. If you choose to pay using a credit card most places will have a surcharge of anything from 3-6%.
Travelling from one destination to the next is pretty easy and normally free of hassle. Expect every now and then to pay a ‘tourist tax’, if you research the regular fares beforehand then you can judge for yourself how much ‘tax’ you are happy to pay.
With over 7000 islands creating the Philippines there are many places to visit and though they may look nice and close on a map, travelling from 1 place to the next usually takes 1 to 2 days. Instead of trying to cover the whole country in a few weeks, we recommend focusing on one region at a time and exploring it thoroughly.
Tipping is not customary though it is greatly appreciated. There is no real protocol for this and certainly no % amount. Use your own judgment on how much you like to tip but on average 10-20% in a restaurant is always good; 50-100Php for a taxi driver on long distance; 30-50Php for a porter and 100-150Php for any type of spa/hair or massage treatment.
Philippine people are generally very nice, helpful and calm. It takes a lot to anger a local and to be honest, you shouldn’t need to. A calm head will see you through most situations you might find frustrating much more effectively than letting it get to you. Most locals take pride in their work and if you criticize them about it they will take that as a personal affront. Strangely, try not to take offense if a local calls you fat or makes other such observations about your appearance, it’s not personal.
Seasons and weather
Each region has its own micro climate, but most tend to follow the simple pattern of hot summer during the months of May – September and then slightly cooler from October – April. It is a good idea to research the rainy season for each region before booking that beach holiday. Of course the weather is something that is ever changing, if you want on the ground info just contact us. After all it’s right out our window.
Dumaguete has 3 distinct seasons. The hot season is from June – August. During this time air temperatures can exceed 30 degrees, with June and July being the hottest months. With the heat comes the thunderstorms, usually during the nighttime. The cooler months are traditionally from September – January. This time of year the air temperature drops slightly to mid – high 20 degrees. The weather can be changeable with some lovely sunny days interspersed with some rainy days. The seas can be a little rougher at this time of year due to the change of wind direction. February – May, is peak season and usually the weather is normally perfect with clear blue skies, air temperatures in the mid – high 20 degrees and the occasional rainy day. Luckily diving is accessible and amazing all year!
Average water temperature is 29 degrees with the coolest time being February when temps can drop to 26 degrees and the warmest time being June – July when water temp can hit 31 degrees.
Typhoon season is officially from June to October and hits the northern end of the Visayan region. Being below the official typhoon belt Dumaguete does not tend to have a typhoon season.
Insects
Mosquitoes are a given anywhere tropical and tend to be most active at sunset. If you are prone to being eaten alive then it is advisable to stock up on ‘Off’ or ‘Deet’ or whatever your lotion of choice is. All these products can be bought here along with mosquito coils. Another easy way to avoid nasty bug bites is to simply wear long trousers and long sleeved tops at sunset. Luckily we do not have a big mosquito problem.
Certain areas carry the risk of Malaria and Dengue, although recent Philippine government statistics claim that Dumaguete is a low risk region.
There are lots of other weird and wonderful insects in the Philippines; most are harmless and more afraid of you than you are of them. The most prevalent is the gecko that will find a home in any room and trust us you want them in there as they eat the annoying mosquitoes, but do make a very odd sound.
Safety in the Philippines
The Philippines is a wonderful country with many fantastic places to visit. Remote beaches, stunning mountain ranges and world class diving are a few of the reasons tourists flock to the country yearly. However as with all developing countries there is an element of concern.
The local people of the Philippines are generally friendly, happy go lucky types who are welcoming of tourists and honored that you would take the time to visit their wonderful country. Please be aware that many locals have not got much and therefore we remind all tourist to be respectful and not flash around cash, fancy jewelry and cameras.
The current political situation has raised a number of questions around the world. The Philippines consists of over 7000 island of which 1 is currently fighting against extremists. Avoiding this area would be advisable.
If you are concerned about any region that you plan to travel to, we advise you to contact the resort of your choice and ask them directly about the situation in their area.
Traveling around Dauin & Dumaguete
Unlike most areas in the Philippines, our region does not have ‘taxi’s. There are 2 forms of local transport, the jeepney or a tricyle. Both are good fun, cheap and what the locals use.
Jeepneys stick to the main roads and an average journey is anywhere from Php20-50. There are no jeepney stops, so when you see one wave your arm to flag them down. Getting off is similar, either call out to the ‘conductor’ or tap a coin against the metal hand rail and hop off wherever you need to.
Tricycles will usually take you door to door and prices vary from Php50-500 depending on distance. Not all tricycles are willing to travel out of their zones, so don’t be put off if the driver simply shakes his head and moves on. It is possible to share tricycles with random people, or you can pay a little more for private use.
A lot of tourists will rent a motorbike to help them explore the region. There are many different bike rentals in Dumaguete and our reception can also assist you with rentals from Dauin. You will need a driving license and ID to rent a motorbike and we advice that you always wear a helmet. The driving in the Philippines can be interesting!