I have very mixed feelings about my stay at Turtle Bay Dive Resort.
First, the positives. The diving was absolutely fantastic. The dive sites are beautiful, and the dive guides are among the best I’ve ever dived with. They were professional, knowledgeable, and outstanding underwater. The resort itself is clean, well maintained, and, in my opinion, finished to a very good standard for the Philippines. The staff are friendly and welcoming, making the overall atmosphere very enjoyable.
Unfortunately, a tragic event during our stay completely changed my perspective on the resort’s safety standards.
A guest from another group drowned in the swimming pool. While this was a tragic accident, what happened afterwards was deeply concerning. It quickly became apparent that none of the resort staff were trained in basic first aid or CPR. There was no one able to take charge of the emergency, and there was no AED (defibrillator) available on site.
My group consisted mostly of Rescue Divers and higher-level divers, so we immediately pulled the victim from the bottom of the pool and began CPR. We continued resuscitation efforts for approximately an hour until emergency services arrived. Throughout this time, the resort staff appeared unsure how to respond and were unable to assist with lifesaving care.
The incident also highlighted several concerns about the swimming pool itself. During our stay, there was no lifeguard or anyone actively supervising the pool, despite it being open 24 hours a day. The depth markings at the deep end were difficult to see, and the pool appeared deeper than the markings suggested. The rescue equipment available around the pool was very limited and, in my opinion, inadequate for a facility of this size.
As a dive resort, I believe emergency preparedness should be a top priority. Every member of staff should have basic first aid and CPR training, and an AED should be available on site. I would also expect emergency oxygen to be clearly available and its location known to both staff and guests. These are basic safety measures that can make the difference between life and death.
I sincerely hope the resort learns from this tragedy and invests in improving its emergency procedures and safety equipment. The people are wonderful, the diving is world-class, and the resort has so much going for it. With better safety standards, it could be an exceptional place to stay.
For the diving alone, I would happily return. However, I also hope that meaningful improvements are made to guest safety before another emergency occurs.