We won AGAIN! LaLaguna Villas wins PADI “Outstanding Contribution to the dive industry” award for second consecutive year
LaLaguna Villas is thrilled to announce that we have won a coveted PADI “Outstanding Contribution to the dive industry” award, for a second year running.
These sought-after accolades are reserved for the very best dive operators. Only 14 were awarded this year across more than 260 PADI dive locations nationwide.
They are presented by PADI, the world’s leading scuba diver training organization, in recognition of exceptional work by individuals, centres and resorts. Very few resorts win the award in consecutive years, which reflects “a consistency in excellence” according to PADI.
PADI regional manager for the Philippines Lee Butler said that LLV stood out from its peers in respect of the quality of our facilities and service as well as for our marketing and promotion of the dive industry.
LLV managing director Daniel Stracey said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to bits.
“I want to thank PADI for this very humbling recognition of all our hard work but more importantly in a way I want to thank the team that did that work.
“It’s no secret that the diving industry has had a challenging few years with the pandemic affecting our business as much if not more than any other sector.
“It’s not easy to have continued to go forward into such headwinds but we have continued to invest in the best equipment and the best people, and continued to strive to provide a fantastic experience for our divers each and every dive.
“I’m thrilled PADI has chosen to recognise that hard work.”
Operations director Luke Spence said: “We’ve worked hard to build our team over the last couple of years so winning the Outstanding Contribution award two years on the bounce says to me it’s the whole team and our commitment to excellence, not just the work of any one individual, which is putting us in a place to be recognised as being among the very best in the industry.
“And we really do care about giving every guest the best possible experience on every dive – that takes investment and dedication.
“Our boats are fast and new and spacious and covered, so you’re not fighting for space or suffering from sun exposure. There’s always cleaning fluid for your mask and a water tank to put your camera in.
“We take safety and preparedness incredibly seriously, so there is a comprehensive first aid kit including medical oxygen on every boat on every trip, as well as spare tanks, spare fins, spare masks for the occasional forgetful diver.
“Every boat has a two-man crew as well as our dive professionals on board, so any guest who wants help in or out of their gear can have that even while the captain is mooring up or maneuvering to pick up other divers, there’s someone to hand your camera up to, there’s someone to hand you a hot towel at the end of the dive.
“All of our equipment is new and top-notch – we’re the only authorised ScubaPro service centre in the area – and guests can choose between jacket and wing-style BCDs, full wetsuits or shorties, and all our masks, fins and regulators are in superb condition.
“I’m so proud of our team of PADI Instructors and Divemasters too. They’re personable, they’re professional, they speak multiple languages, and we have enough strength in depth in the team that we only ever take out a maximum of five divers per instructor or divemaster – more often only two or three per dive pro.”
The PADI 5-Star Lalaguna Villas dive operation runs up to five dives a day, including a night dive, with three speedboats available which can transport guests to Puerto Galera’s thirty or more dive sites in a matter of minutes.
The LLV dive shop provides the newest ScubaPro BCD jackets and modern wing-style BCDs, as well as ScubaPro regulators and fins and boots and wetsuits are available in every size from XS to XXL.
Nitrox enhanced air is available to every diver on every dive, and courses are available from Discover Scuba Diver and Open Water up to Divemaster. See the Diving Courses page for details and prices.
LaLaguna Villas has been providing premier luxury accommodation in Puetro Galera since its founding in 2011 and launched its dive operation in 2018.
It is now ranked the number one resort for value for money out of more than 250 locations in Puerto Galera, according to the independent reviews of thousands of TripAdvisor users.
PADI Asia Pacific regional manager for the Philippines Lee Butler, a platinum course director with more than ten years’ experience in dive centre management, said: “From myself and everyone at PADI, congratulations to the team at LLV on receiving the prestigious award for their outstanding contributions to the dive industry.
“This well-deserved recognition reflects Lalaguna Luxury Villas’ unwavering commitment to excellence and their significant impact on the diving community.
“This award serves as a testament to their passion, expertise, and innovation in creating unforgettable dive experiences.
“We applaud Lalaguna Villas’ team for their remarkable achievements and look forward to their continued success in the dive industry.”
He said the Outstanding Contributions to the Diving Industry award is handed out to individuals, organizations, or establishments that have made exceptional and influential contributions to the diving community.
They aim to acknowledge those who have gone above and beyond in advancing the sport of diving, promoting environmental awareness, safety standards, education, and conservation efforts.
Here’s what some recent guests have had to say about diving with us, on TripAdvisor where we have just won the Travelers’ Choice award for 2023:
“The diving in the area is also world-class, with all the best spots just minutes (like <10) from the resort. My comparison would be places I have visited in eastern Indo (Komodo, Raj Ampat), Thailand (Phuket, Samui) and the Caribbean (Bonaire).. Puerto Galera is right up there as one of the BEST! All the LLV dive equipment was up to date and obviously well-maintained. Felt 100% safe and secure at all times, plus had a chance to see amazing marine life – from soft/hard corals to zillions of different fishes, many turtles and loads of colorful/unique nudibranches. Diving included wrecks and drift dives as well. I can’t say enough about how awesome my visit was.” – Jeff B stayed May 2023
“The dive shop is fantastic. Definitely 5*. Great support from all the staff. The dive masters/guides were great. Thanks to Anto, Robert, and Mike. Their ability to spot critters was amazing. Thanks to the boat crew. I loved not having to carry my equipment to and from the boat daily. They rinsed daily. This left me more time to focus on my camera gear and prep for the next dive. It left me with more energy for diving. Great opportunities with 4 boat dives a day: typical 2 morning and 2 afternoon with the night dive on demand. Oh, and you get a hot towel on every dive! It was a nice touch for the colder divers.” – dfbjumps, stayed in April 2023
“The Dive Center was the highlight. Every staff member was incredibly kind as we learned. Our OW instructor, Jha, was patient with us and made learning our skills easy and fun! The dive locations on this coast of Mindoro were absolutely incredible. We didn’t realize at the time we book just how special this location is and how world renowned.” – Britt H stayed March 2023
So come and enjoy the best dive resort in Puerto Galera. Click over to our Accommodation Page to book a stay, or our Diving page to look at the courses and diving we offer, and get in touch: Phone: +63 917 570 3415 | WhatsApp / WeChat / Viber: +63 917 570 3415 | Email: info@lalagunavillas.com.ph | Go to our Contact Us page
