Ocean First

August 14 - 24, 2026 Skill Level: Intermediate Solomons Master Liveaboard Tour Leader: Andy Hawk The Solomon Islands are an island nation located in the southwest Pacific, 1,500 miles (2,400 km) west of Fiji and 1,200 miles (2,000 km) northeast of Australia. The diving in this area is exquisite! With a diverse underwater landscape consisting of walls, reefs, pinnacles, WWII wrecks and coral gardens, the Solomon Islands are sure to amaze any diver. The steel-hulled Solomons Master boasts eight double occupancy cabins, each cabin benefits from private, en-suite bathroom facilities and individually controlled air-conditioning. The Guadalcanal & Western Province itinerary is a scuba diver’s dream. With the abundance of marine life and biodiversity only found in the Solomon Islands, there are numerous unspoiled hard and soft corals plus a variety of dive sites ranging from WWII wrecks to caverns and stunning reefs. This is truly a unique way to explore and experience the beauty and diversity of the Solomon Islands.

October 9 - 16, 2026 Skill Level: Snorkeling Trip Magdalena Bay, Solmar V Trip Leader: Kathy Gagliardo A snorkeling trip like none other! Explore some of the world’s most stunning marine attractions in a single journey. In Magdalena Bay you will witness the breathtaking natural phenomenon of the Sardine Run, a spectacle of marine life. Observe striped gray whales, humpback whales, blue whales, bait balls, marlins, loberas, mobulas, and sea lions as they hunt massive schools of sardines. Animal spotting is done aboard small pangas operated by local companies allowing for an authentic and sustainable snorkeling experience while supporting the local community. During your downtime kayak and paddleboard in stunning mangrove forests, or beachcomb along endless stretches of sand. Your home for the week, The Solmar V, is crafted with a strong steel hull and wood interiors, making for a great exploration vessel.

October 10 - 17, 2026 Skill Level: Intermediate Blue Force 3 Trip Leaders: Sage Dalton and Graham Casden The small island nation of the Maldives is arguably one of the best big animal dive destinations in the world. Our Manta Expedition route allows us to combine a large part of the classic route, the best known in the Maldives, with the Baa Atoll, north of the central atolls. In this route we explore the North Male and South Male atolls, visiting the first manta cleaning stations and some thilas to see sharks, such as Kandooma and Guraidhoo. Crossing to the Ari Atoll we will look for whale sharks and dive with mantas at night, and diving in Rasdhoo, where the pelagics await us. We complete the cruise by sailing north towards Baa, in the Dharavandhoo area, next to Hanifaru Bay (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve) where we hope to experience manta ray diving and snorkeling. As you can see, this route represents the most famous diving areas of the Northern Atolls of the Maldives. Manta ray diving is one of the most exciting and unforgettable experiences in a scuba diver’s life.

October 18 - November 3, 2026 Skill Level: Intermediate Misool Eco Resort Trip Leader: Kelly Dananay Raja Ampat remains one of Ocean First’s favorite and most popular destinations. Due to demand we are headed back for another round of incredible diving! Misool Eco Resort in particular has become a frequent destination for Ocean First not only for the spectacular biodiversity, but also because MER upholds many of our same values. This special retreat was built on a former shark finning camp and, after careful management and preservation, has returned to it’s former glory as a nursery for baby blacktip sharks. Working together with the local villages, MER protects over 300,000 acres in this remote part of Indonesia. The effects of conservation are obvious once you put your head below the surface. The reefs surrounding MER burst with colorful reef fish, camouflaged macro creatures, octopus, soft corals, nudibranchs and numerous species of crustaceans. Looking out into the blue you will find graceful manta rays, stealthy mobula rays, blacktip sharks, and enormous schools of baitfish. We love this beautiful part of the world and return time again to share it with our diving and snorkeling friends!

January 21 - 31, 2027 Skill Level: All Experience Levels East Africa Safari Trip Leader: Kathy Gagliardo Embarking on a safari in East Africa is like stepping into a live wildlife documentary where nature unfolds it’s raw beauty and diverse wildlife. This region, particularly Kenya and Tanzania, offer some of the most spectacular wildlife experiences in the world. It is often said to be one of the best places to see the famous Big 5: lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros. The Serengeti is known for having vast herds of wildebeest and zebra moving along their circular route across Tanzania and Kenya. Experience the thrilling river crossing up north or the incredible calving season on the verdant plains as far south as the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, both excellent for spotting lion, leopard, and cheetah.

March 6 - 13, 2027 Skill Level: All Experience Levels Little Cayman Beach Resort Trip Leader: TBD Little Cayman is the epitome of the Caribbean dream with crystal clear, turquoise water and a relaxing vibe that takes you in right from the start. Upon arrival at Little Cayman Beach Resort you will be greeted by warm ocean breezes and beautiful white, sandy beaches. Little Cayman and the surrounding walls have some of the finest diving in the Caribbean and the world, for that matter! Everything from dramatic, sheer walls to never-ending coral gardens can be found right off of the shore. Eagle rays and reef sharks cruise the walls while friendly groupers wait patiently to have their pictures taken. Don’t forget to look in the nooks and crannies for Pedersen cleaner shrimp, decorator crabs, and curious gobies as they dart in and out of their homes. This is a perfect destination for divers of all experience levels and those divers eager to pursue continuing education to hone their dive skills. There really is no better way to escape the winter than in the Caribbean with your toes in the sand! Space is limited on this special trip.

May 1 - 11, 2027 Skill Level: All Experience Levels Murex Manado, Murex Bangka, Lembeh Resort Trip Leader: Oscar Torres & Graham Casden Discover three stunning locations in North Sulawesi, Indonesia with Passport to Paradise. Dive and explore Bunaken, Bangka Island, and Lembeh Straight! Passport to Paradise is a unique diving experience which allows you to explore three distinct diving destinations in one trip. With over 150 dive sites to choose from, and seamless boat diving transfers from resort to resort, if you want to see as much as you can when you visit a region but don’t want to endure hours in transit, this trip is for you! For divers and snorkelers the Bunaken Marine Park is yours to explore! Bunaken is home to some of Indonesia’s best wall diving sites and the shallow coral gardens give you the opportunity to snorkel with turtles. Bangka Island offers such an explosion of color it will leave you spellbound and the Lembeh Strait which has the undisputed best muck diving and most unusual marine life in the world.

May 21 - June 6, 2027 Skill Level: All experience levels Atlantis Dumaguete & Atlantis Adventurer Trip Leader: Kathy Gagliardo Atlantis Dumaguete is located in the epicenter of Dumaguete’s dive scene, Dauin (pronounced Da-win). With its black volcanic sand, Dauin is known as the frogfish capital of the Philippines, and a unique destination for critter diving. Atlantis Dumaguete is located minutes away from over 20 local dive spots. The beachfront dedicated dive resort is built around a lush tropical garden and a waterfront restaurant. They offer up to 5 guided boat dives per day, a spacious camera room, a pool and a spa, everything to create a dive vacation of a lifetime! The Atlantis Adventurer is the perfect place from which to explore some of the best diving in the world. Tubbataha Reef is one of the most biodiverse scuba diving spots in the Philippines, hosting a great variety of small and large marine life. You will explore kilometers in this pristine protected UNESCO World Heritage site located 100 miles offshore and open to diving only 3 months out of the year.

June 5 - 15, 2027 Skill Level: Intermediate Nai'a Liveaboard Trip Leader: Kelly Dananay Located in the beautiful South Pacific, this island nation is known for incredible reefs loaded with colorful fish and corals, and unparalleled Fijian hospitality. Fiji is fortunate that sharks here are less preyed upon than in most other countries. The reefs NAI’A dives have healthy populations of white-tip, hammerhead and grey reef sharks. Black-tip, tiger, bull, nurse, and silver-tip sharks are not uncommon, but you have to be lucky to see one. They’re shy. The most reliable sites for hammerheads are the offshore seamounts of Mt. Mutiny and E-6, as well as the Namena Marine Reserve and Wakaya. NAI’A divers often encounter resident manta rays feeding in the outgoing current or getting cleaned at offshore cleaning stations or, like this one, coming by to say hi! NAI’A features nine passenger staterooms, a massive main salon, dive deck, sun deck, dedicated camera room and stern dive platform.

July 17 - 24, 2027 Skill Level: All Experience Levels Buddy Dive Resort Trip Leader: TBD An unhurried, unspoiled natural paradise with spectacular sunsets, gentle breezes and crystal clear, turquoise waters. Offering 24/7 scuba diving, 365 days a year and access to shore and boat diving, Bonaire is an award winning diving destination that accommodates every skill level, from beginner to advanced diver. Known for some of the best diving in all of the Caribbean. The protected marine park has healthy reefs, relaxed diving, and plentiful marine life. With easy shore diving, Bonaire is a perfect training ground for all levels of certification and for those divers who are pursuing continuing education courses. Buddy Dive is a resort where you can dive, take part in a multitude of activities or just sit back, relax and enjoy the atmosphere. Their personable staff, spacious accommodation, and dive operation has something for every diver that will make your holiday worry-free. No matter which apartment you are staying in, you’re never further than a giant stride away from the beautiful ocean.

August 1 - 19, 2027 Skill Level: All experience levels Red Sea Aggressor IV Trip Leader: Kathy Gagliardo Join Ocean First on one of our favorite itineraries to stunning Jordan, the Red Sea, and Egypt! This special itinerary will be even more amazing with the viewing of a partial solar eclipse on August 2! Our itinerary includes visiting Amman, the Dead Sea, and amazing Petra. There is also one night spent at a desert camp under the stars! Jordan is a fascinating country rich in history and beautiful archaeological sites. This is one of Ocean First’s signature trips and not to be missed! The Red Sea is considered to be one of the 7 wonders of the underwater world, harboring more than 1000 species of invertebrates and over 200 species of hard and soft coral. The high level of endemic species in the Red Sea is one of the main factors that makes diving in Egypt so interesting. Divers can expect unobstructed opportunities to spot tropical marine life in crystal clear waters, ranging from sharks to dolphins to gorgonian sea fans and feather stars. This charter follows the southern itinerary, following the Egyptian coastline. We continue to Luxor to explore the Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temple, and take a sunset cruise of the Nile. There will also be an opportunity for a hot air balloon ride over the Nile for anyone who is interested! Our adventure wraps up in Cairo with tours of the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx and various museums.

September 24 - October 4, 2027 Skill Level: Intermediate Wakatobi Dive Resort Trip Leader: Andy Hawk Wakatobi Dive Resort was one of the first dive resorts in Indonesia to adopt ecotourism and ocean conservation. The connection between the local community and preserving the surrounding marine ecosystem was obvious. The founders realized that the most effective way to protect these prolific reefs was to work with the local villages to establish common ground. Located in south Sulawasi, Indonesia, Wakatobi remains one of the most sought-after dive resorts in the world. Everything the Coral Triangle has to offer can be found here: blue ring octopus, cuttlefish, bobtail squid, nudibranchs, healthy reefs, deep walls, fields of turtle grass, pelagics and pygmy seahorses. If that is not enough the accommodations and hospitality of this exquisite resort will remind you that perfection does exist. A private, chartered flight from Bali brings you to this paradise where you can relax and forget about life for a while!