Pura Vida Homes. Fourteen luxurious two- bedroom villas each are handcrafted with rich hardwoods and have breathtaking views of the mountains and sea.The resort sits on a beautiful beach with three infinity pools, restaurant, gym, spa and a wedding chapel. Being that it was our 10th wedding anni- versary, we could not resist the opportunity to renew our vows at sunrise. Owner Chris Heim was delighted to give me away. Biggs accepted as my maid of honor, and the local pastor presided, as his lovely daughter sang. I have no words for how special Sea Explor- ers made us feel throughout our trip.They treat everyone like family. There were mountain villages to explore, and infinite pristine reefs teeming with fish to dive, like Apo Island which provided end- less views of colorful soft corals, punctuated with my favorite, turtles! We could have stayed a month and not been bored. Oslob to dive with whale sharks on our way to Bohol aboard our banca boat Dako, we were able to dive in 35 feet of warm, clear water while observing these gentle giants feeding on krill. I had only been diving with whale sharks in the Galapagos, and it was fabulous in these much warmer waters. Kids and families can snorkel or dive this any time during their stay. Amun Ini is a small 16-room, five-star dive resort and the most luxurious little gem we found yet. Family-owned and family- run. Amun Ini means “This is mine,” and I can understand why as anyone would want to claim it for themselves.
A beautiful, private white sand beach, infin - ity pool and large spacious rooms greeted us at this eco-friendly, holistic and organic scuba retreat. The owner’s daughter and her husband are the gourmet chefs, who create local dishes that will tantalize your taste buds and make you feel like you’re dining in one of the top 10 restaurants in the world. Did I mention its kid friendly? The chef’s two little girls, ages 3 and 5, joined us each day. I loved seeing the smiles on their faces when I told them about Kids Sea Camp and all the kids we would return with to play together in the ocean. Beyond diving, I must mention the things Tom thought were more than note- worthy. Everyone in the Philippines plays basket- ball, and they are really good at it too! Tom played a few games after diving with the dive team, and it was almost as good as the diving. In addition, there are sunset massages, culinary classes, yoga or kayaking.We also enjoyed the many hugs from some of the happiest children we encountered through- out our trip.These are a humble people who prize family and each other above all things. The diving had the most incredibly healthy and vibrant reefs I have ever seen. Biggs asked me if I wanted to do some muck div- ing. I had read about this type of addictive diving, hunting for the tiniest of critters on the sandy bottom. I found tiger shrimp the
size of rice, multicolored frogfish the size of a gumballs and pygmy seahorses all well camouflaged to the eyes of any would be predators. Stops along the way, The journey between Dauin and Amun ini included some stops along the way.A few of our favorites: Chocolate hills, hanging bridge and zip line. If conditions permit, we will make this majes- tic journey via private boats, and dive along the way. There are opportunities to experi- ence a plethora of schooling fish turtles, rays, sharks and even wild dolphin. These boutique island resorts offers a personal closeness that is perfect for our small groups and Kids Sea Camp.We can customize independent trips, arrange and accommodate every detail for a romantic get-away or private groups. All in all, we have given a good chunk of our hearts to the Philippines, as we found it to be one of the most welcoming, safe and smile-driven places we have encountered to date. If you’re ready to take a break from your virtual world,We invite you to experience the Philippines with us. Allow us show you a world that will bring your imagination back to life. Join us for an extraordinary journey to the Philippines. I encourage you to open your eyes to a humbleness, a happiness and a new way of looking at life that will be remem- bered forever.
www.familydivers.com 803-419-2556 dive@familydivers.com
www.oceanwishes.org
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