Crystal Blue Resort

Dive resort · Philippines · Anilao, Batangas · Official Website

Booking by Tour Leader Club

3 room types · house reef

Crystal Blue sits in the heart of Anilao — in the village of Bagalangit, municipality of Mabini, Batangas province, two and a half hours by road from Manila. The resort fronts the Arthur’s Rock marine sanctuary: the house reef here is protected water, and you walk into it from the shore.

Anilao is called the critter capital. Underwater photographers come from all over the world for the frogfish, rhinopias, nudibranchs, mimic octopus and everything else that lives in the black volcanic sand. Crystal Blue is built around them: a camera room with 25 double-wide bays plus four large video bays, dual 220 V sockets in every bay, climate control, storage for cases and a night lock-down.

All diving is guided. The guides are trained to find the small things and to work with photographers; there are no more than four divers to a guide on the boat, and you can hire one privately. The boats are Filipino banca outriggers with twin outriggers, three of them, each carrying oxygen. The crew moves and rinses the gear: from the office to the dive deck and back, you never carry your own kit. Most diving is to 20 metres or less, with dive times of 70 minutes and more.

In the morning the boats go out for two dives, one more follows after lunch, and a night dive is optional. Blackwater is a story of its own: drifting in the open ocean at night over deep water while the plankton — and everything that feeds on it — rises out of the dark. The Crystal Blue team was the first to run these dives in Anilao, finding the places and the timing from bathymetric charts. You need 50 logged dives and a checkout dive before your first blackwater.

Ashore there is an open-air restaurant looking over Balayan Bay and the Philippine sunsets, the F-Stop bar across from the camera room, a spa working by appointment, kayaks off the beach and trails into the hills behind. The resident photo pro, Mike Bartick, runs private and group instruction, and several times a year the resort hosts full photo workshops.

No markup

You pay exactly the rate the resort publishes. On top of that, only the actual bank costs of currency conversion and the international transfer — no commission of ours.

We run the deal

Correspondence with the resort, holding the room, the contract, booking confirmation and all paperwork are on our side. There is nothing for you to arrange yourself.

Card payment

We accept payment by card through Stripe and issue an invoice. The transfer to the resort is our job — you do not have to find a way to pay abroad.

Support all the way

We help you choose the room and dates, work out the dive package, answer questions about flights and gear, and stay in touch until you are home.

The exact amount is confirmed when we hold your booking: it includes the resort's rate at the day's exchange rate plus the actual transfer costs. No hidden fees.

About the resort

Country: Philippines
Location: Anilao, Batangas
Nearest airport: Manila, either airport — about 2.5 hours by road
Transfer: Arranged by the resort, charged separately from the package
House reef: The Arthur's Rock marine sanctuary right in front of the resort, shore entry
Dive centre: The resort's own, all diving guided
Nitrox: Own nitrox machine, nitrox is part of the standard packages
Staff: No more than four divers per guide, private guides available
Internet: Shared, restaurant and lounge only, the signal is weak

At the resort

Open-air restaurant overlooking Balayan Bay

F-Stop bar by the sunset viewing deck

Camera room with 25 double bays and 4 video bays

Covered dive deck with rinse tanks and showers

Separate rinse tanks for camera gear

Rental gear shop on site

Spa, massage by appointment

Kayaks off the beach

Coffee station open around the clock

Free drinking water at the restaurant, bar and dive deck

Air conditioning, fridge and safe in every room

US, EU and USB sockets in the rooms

Diving

House reef inside the Arthur's Rock sanctuary, shore entry

All diving guided, no more than four divers per guide

Anilao's world-class sites minutes from the resort

Two boat dives in the morning, one after lunch, a night dive on request

Blackwater dives, pioneered in Anilao by this team

Three Filipino banca boats, each carrying oxygen

Nitrox from the resort's own machine

Most diving to 20 metres or less, 70-minute dives and longer

Atomic and Beuchat rental gear by the day or the week

Valet diving — the crew carries, sets up and rinses your kit

The compressors are checked by the Philippine PCSSD, and the whole crew — guides and boatmen — goes through mandatory training every year: CPR, wound management and administering oxygen. Blackwater requires advanced certification and at least 50 logged dives, with a full briefing and a checkout dive before the first one.

Food

Open-air restaurant with vaulted ceilings and a view of the bay

The kitchen opens at 6:30 with coffee and fresh fruit

Breakfast buffet from 7:00 with a made-to-order omelet station, à la carte too

Lunch and dinner buffet-style — signature soups and two or three mains

Asian, Thai, Western and Filipino cooking

Vegetarian and vegan options at any time

Room service 7:00 to 21:00

Coffee station with teas, homemade cookies and fruit around the clock

Seafood, produce, chicken, beef and pork are bought fresh, some of it farm-to-table. The kitchen can cover most dietary needs with prior notice. Filtered drinking water is free and stands in the dining room, the bar, the dive deck and around the property.

Beyond diving

Snorkelling on the house reef from the shore

Kayaking off the beach over the shallow coral heads

Hikes into the nearby hills for views of Batangas and Balayan Bay

Island hopping with a picnic on a secluded beach

Massage at the resort spa

The F-Stop bar and the sunset viewing deck

Underwater photography instruction with Mike Bartick

Photo instruction is private or semi-private for two to four guests, half day or full day. A half day is theory, in-water instruction and a review of your images; a full day adds an afternoon and a night dive with the follow-up review. Group seminars run monthly, led by Mike Bartick with visiting photographers: macro, super macro, wide angle, animal behaviour, lighting, snooting and backlighting. Massage is booked through the office, last appointment 21:00.

Rooms

Villa

View: Garden

Beds: Two bedrooms with queen-size beds

Two separate bedrooms with queen-size beds, each with its own air conditioning, and a shared family area with a centre table and chairs between them. Newly renovated bathroom with hot and cold water, a fridge and a lanai. A small extra bed can be added in the main room if needed.

Two separate bedrooms Air conditioning in each bedroom Shared family area with table and chairs Lanai Newly renovated bathroom, hot and cold water Fridge Safe Bedside lamps US, EU and USB sockets Room for a small extra bed

Room

View: Garden

Beds: Two queen-size beds

Spacious rooms with newly renovated bathrooms, hot and cold water and full air conditioning. The garden view suits guests who care more about the quiet.

Air conditioning Newly renovated bathroom, hot and cold water Fridge Safe Bedside lamps US, EU and USB sockets High thread count linens and towels

Room

View: Property, ocean and sunset

Beds: A queen-size bed in type A, two single beds in type B

Type A has one queen-size bed and a balcony with views of the property, the blue water and the sunset. Type B has two single beds in one room and the same sunset view. Both have newly renovated bathrooms with hot and cold water and full air conditioning. The resort's packages are priced on this category.

Air conditioning Balcony with ocean and sunset views Newly renovated bathroom, hot and cold water Fridge Safe Bedside lamps US, EU and USB sockets

Rates

2026 packages — single traveller

	Air	Nitrox
3 nights, 6 boat dives	$1,144.89	$1,173.84
5 nights, 12 boat dives	$2,097.62	$2,155.50
7 nights, 18 boat dives	$3,050.34	$3,138.32
10 nights, 27 boat dives	$4,480.01	$4,610.82
14 nights, 39 boat dives	$6,385.46	$6,575.31

Prices in US dollars per person, Deluxe room, full board, a guide on every dive and tanks. The season runs 2 January to 14 December 2026. Columns are air or 32 % nitrox.

2026 packages — two sharing

	Air	Nitrox
3 nights, 6 boat dives	$758.25	$787.19
5 nights, 12 boat dives	$1,371.78	$1,429.67
7 nights, 18 boat dives	$1,985.33	$2,073.31
10 nights, 27 boat dives	$2,905.64	$3,036.45
14 nights, 39 boat dives	$4,132.73	$4,321.41

Prices in US dollars per person, two sharing a room. The full price list runs from 3 to 15 nights, each with a choice of two dive counts. A 10 % holiday surcharge applies 1 December 2026 to 1 January 2027.

Blackwater

	Price
Per dive per person, two or more divers	$55
Two dives per person	$100
Swapping a regular dive for a blackwater dive	$35
Solo diver, per dive	$95

Advanced divers only, with at least 50 logged dives. A 30-minute briefing, one or two dives per outing, and a checkout dive before your first one.

Gear rental

	Price
Full gear package, computer not included	$45
Regulator with gauges	$10
BCD	$10
Wetsuit	$10
Fins	$10
Mask	$5
Booties	$5
Suunto Zoop dive computer	$10
15 litre tanks, two, air only	$10
32 % nitrox fill, 15 litre tank	$7

Prices in US dollars per day. Package rates are available for three days or more.

Rates and availability can change. Message us — we will confirm current dates and prices.

When to go

Best time: The dry season from October to May or June — the best visibility and the least swell
Water temperature: 24–29 °C depending on the season
Air temperature: 21–35 °C depending on the season

The resort describes four periods. Wet and hot from June to September: water 28 °C, air 28–35 °C, a high chance of storms, some sites closed by waves and surge, visibility fair to exceptional, critters still active, a 3 mm suit. October to December is the cooling trend: water 26–28 °C, air 21–30 °C, medium storm risk, a hooded vest over the suit, medium to high pressure on the sites. The cool dry season from January to March: water 24–26 °C, air 23–29 °C, almost no storms, visibility good to exceptional, critters very active and the lowest pressure on the sites all year — 3 to 5 mm. The hot dry season from mid-March to May: water 27–29 °C, air 29–35 °C, good visibility, but the busiest sites of the year. The resort suggests planning on ten days or more.

Getting there

The resort is in the village of Bagalangit, municipality of Mabini, Batangas province, in the heart of Anilao. From Manila it is about two and a half hours by road; pickup can be from either of the two Manila airports. The resort arranges the transfer, but it is not part of the package and is charged separately.

The air-conditioned vans take four or five photographers with dive gear; group transfers are coordinated with the group leader around each guest’s arrival time. Each terminal has its own meeting point, and the driver waits with a “Crystal Blue” sign.

The resort asks you to check your passport in advance: you need at least two blank pages and a minimum of six months’ validity from your arrival date. The visa stamp is issued at customs and is good for 21 days. It is easier to change dollars into pesos at the airport and to ask for small bills.