Silver Reef Dive Resort
KM 21 Maayongtubig, Dauin, Negros Oriental
Full-board rates start at U.S. $25 per pax
At a Glance
Room: Made from shipping containers, but as comfortable as your usual hotel room.
Food and drinks: Given great attention.
Staff: Nearby Dumaguete is known as the City of Gentle People, and we now know why.
Why you should stay: Check in for the diving activities, and stay for the food and drinks.
(SPOT.ph) While Dumaguete City has its laid-back charm that instantly pulls you in, nearby municipalities and cities in Negros Oriental also have their own attractions that are worth a visit. Take for example, Dauin, which is known for its marine reserves and dive sites—the most popular of which is Apo Island, a 72-hectare volcanic island surrounded by a rich marine environment. If you’re looking to get certified in scuba diving, wake up to a view of Apo Island, and enjoy freshly baked pastry for a weekend (or for months, even), look no further than Silver Reef Dive Resort in Barangay Maayongtubig, Dauin, Negros Oriental. They opened in October 2019.
Here's everything you need to know about the Silver Reef Dive Resort in Dauin, Negros Oriental:
What immediately sets Silver Reef Dive Resort apart from other resorts along the coast is that the structures are mostly made out of shipping containers.
"We decided to use container vans kasi, number one, mas longer-lasting structurally, mas matibay siya. Nung unang concept, common lang na resort, Bali-style. Kung 'yun yung dinecide namin, tanggal 'yung mga bubong nung bumagyo. [Containers] also use less materials na nakaka-affect sa environment. It use less cement kasi complete na 'yung structure. Hindi kami nakaka-contribute sa quarrying [and] more use of water. And pag tinanong, saan dito 'yung resort na puro container, madaling ma-pinpoint," explains Reggie Reyes, COO of Silver Reef Dive Resort, in an interview with SPOT.ph.
He also said that 80% of the resort is made from repurposed materials, including furniture and fixtures that were bought from defunct restaurants and bakeries, bar soaps made from fruit waste, soap dispensers from repurposed glass bottles, and even plush toys made from shredded packaging.
Despite its sustainability practices, Silver Reef Dive Resort doesn't want to be labeled as an eco-resort.
"May mga tao na natu-turn off pag sinabi mong eco-resort kasi feeling nila, hindi comfortable, walang aircon. Kasi may mga eco-resort na they charge premium, but since eco-resort nga sila, they can get away with non-aircon rooms, [just] basic accommodation. They're just paying high prices kasi nga eco," says resort owner Anna Sison.
"Eco na parang ang usual argument nila [ay] 'yung binabayad mo ay mapupunta sa conservation efforts. Na pwede namang gawin ng normal resort. Kahit hindi ka directly nagdadampot ng basura, trying to avoid trash from being produced is more than enough," Reyes adds.
Practicing what they preach, Silver Reef Dive Resort goes beyond upcycling and recycling. Reyes explained that their guiding principles revolve around three things: Community, Culture, and Conservation.
For starters, they have a collaborative relationship with local fisherfolks, who also benefit from the bounty of the sea. Sison explained that, when they moved to the place in 2019, they took the time to raise awareness about conservation efforts in the ocean as well as the harmful effects of fish cages and fishing nets.
"Usually, binabagsak [ang fish cages] dito sa reef, so masisira 'yung corals. We talk to the fishermen, we even allow them to park their cages first in our property, just to tell them, 'Hindi namin sinisira ang cages niyo, we're just moving it. Kasi if there's no coral, there's no fish. Wala kayong fishing.' Pinapakitaan namin sila ng videos of turtles being trapped sa rope," Reyes adds.
As regular divers in the area even before they established Silver Reef Dive Resort, Sison noticed that the fish population has grown since the regular dialogue with fisherfolks.
"Kung may mga nagne-net man sa harap. They now know na pag hindi na talaga nila [mahatak] 'yung nets nila, kunin na lang nila 'yung weights and floaters. Tapos kami na lang magko-collect. So ngayon, nagkaroon na kami ng collaboration," the owner added. More than 50% of plastic in the ocean are discarded fishing nets, and Sison—alongside the divers they certify—regularly clean these kinds of trash from the waters.
They also see to it that everything used in the resort, from the raw ingredients to the soaps, are all locally sourced. The murals and artworks on the wall are also made by local artists.
What to Do
As a dive resort, the main thing that you do at Silver Reef is well, diving. Dauin itself is home to at least 72 dive sites, and 21 of these are just along the coast.
"Seventy percent daw of tourism here is all diving. Unlikely na hindi pumunta dito to do a dive, or do a fun dive. Or better yet, dito ka mag-course. Kasi the coastal area already has nice reef. Pag pupunta ka pa sa Apo, para siyang mountain of corals talaga," Reyes said.
Their dive center is called the Center for Conservation in Diving, which caters to both technical and scientific divers. They have a classroom for lessons, a deep saltwater pool for training, and a camera room dedicated to underwater photography. Diving packages include casual day dives, snorkeling and diving trips to Apo Island, photography dives, specialty courses, and even rescue diving. Both Sison and Reyes are certified divers also licensed to teach dive instructors.
With diving being a very tiring activity, Sison said that they also put a premium on their beds. All rooms at Silver Dive Resorts have 14-inch thick spring mattresses with 300-thread count sheets.
Room options include the Villa Room, which has a 28-square-meter of space that can occupy up to three people. It has an in-room pressed coffee and tea brewing station, mini-bar fridge, safe deposit box, cabinet with a full-length mirror, and wardrobe space that can accommodate a one-month stay. They have smaller hostel rooms at 13 and 17 square meters as well as capsule suites for solo travelers. Full-board rates start at U.S. $25 (roughly P2,400), which includes breakfast, morning and afternoon snacks, lunch, and dinner. There are also affordable packages for long-term stays, whether three weeks or three months—depending on the diving course.
Where to Eat
Scoot Shack, their in-house restaurant, serves comfort food at an affordable price. Even the usual chicken fingers taste a bit different, especially when you're looking out to the sea. Silver Spoon makes bread and pastries that are available all day at their bakeshop.
"We take the food seriously. If we cater to locals and in-house guests, matagal mo silang aalagaan e. Let's say may mag-course dito, three weeks, anong papakain mo sa kanila? Pizza and pasta forever? Hindi pwede," guarantees Reyes.
"Our price point is Dumaguete restaurant price point. We're one of the few resorts that offer that. Ang concept dito, pag resort ka, pwede kang mag-offer na P1000 per meal. Hindi namin ma-take 'yun. Pwedeng gawin, pero sinong pupunta? Before COVID, we used to have 200 guests dining in here. Walk-in lang. May mga nagda-drive from three hours away para bumiling pandesal," he reveals.
Where to Shop
Silver Reef Dive Resort has a souvenir store in the lobby, where they sell community-made products. Tagpi-Tagpi, which is their series of plush toys filled with upcycled plastic from ocean clean-ups, are made by the women of Dauin.
They also sell hot and cold tumblers, bamboo toothbrush, tablet toothpaste, stainless straws, and washable sanitary pads and diapers. This merchandise promotes a plastic-free lifestyle.
How to Get There
AirAsia flies direct from Metro Manila to Dumaguete City. Flights are scheduled four times a week: every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday—all at 7 a.m. The return flights to Manila are on the same days at 9:05 a.m.
Check out our TikTok video of this dive resort near Dumaguete:
@spot.ph ♬ Shipyard Sample OriginalMix - Official Sound Studio
Silver Reef Dive Resort is at KM 21 Maayongtubig, Dauin, Negros Oriental. Full-board rates start at U.S. $25 per pax (inclusive of breakfast, morning and afternoon snacks, lunch, and dinner). For more information, visit Silver Reef Dive Resort's website.