Dive trip with Marie-Ines - 6 nights

Boat

MV Marie-Inès is a purpose-arranged liveaboard for scuba diving and snorkelling expeditions in the Philippines. Launched in June 2019, she measures 25 metres long, 6.5 metres wide and has a published draft of 1 metre. Her normal cruising speed is approximately 10 knots, and the operator caps accommodation at 16 passengers. The public page says the vessel has been refurbished, but it gives no completion date or detailed scope; a future listing should not turn that statement into a dated “latest refit” claim without written confirmation.

All eight guest cabins occupy the main deck. The upper deck is organised around an air-conditioned restaurant, adjoining galley, lounge, bridge and aft working area. Meals are presented as self-service buffets, while the lounge provides seating, a television and numerous charging points. Above, a broad sun deck extends over most of the vessel, with canvas shade, benches and tables for surface intervals and open views. No lift, accessible cabin or step-free route is published, so guests with limited mobility should ask about stairs, thresholds, deck surfaces and tender boarding before booking.

The technical sheet lists two 185 hp marine diesel engines, two 30 kVA generators, a 1,300-litre diesel capacity and 24-hour 240-volt electricity. Universal adaptors are provided in each cabin according to the operator's FAQ. Power remains a marine service, so high-draw personal appliances should only be used with crew approval and batteries should never be charged unattended.

The operator's freshwater figures conflict. The descriptive page states two 10,000-litre tanks, whereas its technical table states 10,000 litres plus an Alfa Laval desalination unit. Both establish onboard watermaking, but they do not establish one reliable total tank capacity. The correct figure should be confirmed directly, and guests should still follow the crew's freshwater-conservation guidance.

The stern dive platform has individual equipment positions, lockers, two outdoor showers, towels and a separate rinse tank intended for cameras. A low platform near water level supports direct entries when the site is suitable. For sites that the mothership cannot approach, the boat carries a published 5-metre fibreglass tender with a 25 hp Yamaha four-stroke outboard and stated capacity of 14 people. The crew decides whether diving begins from the main platform, by tender or in more than one shuttle.

Published emergency equipment includes two liferafts, lifejackets, lifebuoys, marine and satellite radios, AIS, visual and audible signals, emergency oxygen and first-aid supplies. The bridge also carries the navigation systems required by the operator. Equipment lists can change and do not replace the embarkation briefing; every guest should learn the muster station, alarm signals, oxygen location, tender procedure and lost-diver protocol onboard.

The public boat page describes 11 team members, while the technical table breaks this down as 10 crew plus one course director. A separate tipping FAQ refers to 12 people because it includes an office secretary in the tip pool. The clean operational description is therefore 11 people assigned to the vessel, with final staffing dependent on the departure.

Food combines Filipino and international dishes prepared from locally sourced ingredients where available. A typical diving day starts with tea, coffee and fruit, followed by breakfast after the first dive, lunch, an afternoon snack and dinner. Water, coffee, fruit juice and other non-alcoholic drinks are included; alcoholic drinks are sold separately. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free diets can be supported with sufficient advance notice. Severe allergies and medical diets require a written discussion because an offshore galley cannot guarantee a completely separate preparation environment.

Wi-Fi is advertised as included, and a guest refrigerator is available. Remote reef itineraries may spend days outside dependable mobile coverage, so neither speed nor continuous connection should be promised. The operator also mentions refrigeration for medication requiring approximately +4°C; a guest relying on temperature-controlled storage should confirm space, backup power and monitoring before travel.

Cabin

The most defensible inventory is eight main-deck cabins for up to 16 guests. Every cabin is described by the operator as having a private toilet, hot shower and individually controlled air conditioning. The current deck plan resolves a confusing sentence in the technical table and supports the following layout:

• 2 Main Deck One-Bed Cabins — maximum 2 guests each: one queen-size bed shared by two occupants, private ensuite bathroom with hot shower, individual air conditioning and access to cabin charging points with a universal adaptor. These two rooms sit forward, one to port and one to starboard.
• 6 Main Deck Two-Berth Cabins — maximum 2 guests each: two separate sleeping berths, private ensuite bathroom with hot shower, individual air conditioning and access to cabin charging points with a universal adaptor. The current plan marks each room “2 BED,” and the operator's archive photos show a compact staggered/tiered arrangement rather than a conventional side-by-side hotel twin. The exact upper/lower orientation and mattress dimensions should be confirmed for the selected room.

This interpretation reconciles three pieces of evidence. The technical page says “2 queen size bed & 6 double bed,” wording that could incorrectly suggest six double-bed cabins. The deck plan instead shows six rooms labelled 2 BED and two labelled 1 BED. Operator-hosted cabin photographs show one shared queen-style layout and one separate two-berth layout. The website should therefore sell two queen cabins plus six two-berth cabins, not eight double rooms and not an invented mix of twins and doubles.

The two labels above are functional descriptions, not official fare categories. Some sellers call the six two-berth rooms “Deluxe” or “bunk-style,” but Napoleon Divers does not publish those category names on its primary boat page. Use the cabin name and bed arrangement printed on the passenger's actual confirmation.

No public source provides cabin numbers, floor areas, mattress widths, storage measurements or a guaranteed window specification. Operator archive images show compact rooms with shelving, curtained glazing and a washbasin near the bathroom door, but those photographs date from 2019 and the operator now says the vessel has been refurbished. They verify the vessel and original arrangement, not the exact colour scheme or soft furnishings on every current sailing.

The ensuite statement is clear: all eight cabins have their own WC and hot shower, rather than shared bathrooms. Towels are mentioned in the dive-platform description, but the public pages do not define the number of cabin towels, replacement schedule, toiletries or hairdryer. A safe, USB socket, minibar and daily linen change are also not published and should not be added as standard amenities.

One-bed cabins suit couples or two people comfortable sharing one mattress. They should not be assigned to friends requesting separate beds. The two-berth rooms are the appropriate sharing option for friends and matched solo travellers, but a guest unable to use a raised or staggered berth should obtain a room-specific photograph and written allocation before payment.

Maximum capacity is straightforward: two queen cabins at two guests each plus six two-berth cabins at two guests each equals 16 guests. No third berth, sofa bed, family cabin or triple occupancy is published. Rates are commonly sold per person on shared departures, but the operator's public pages do not state a universal single supplement or cabin-sharing policy. Sole use, roommate matching, child acceptance and minimum age must be confirmed for the exact cruise.

All cabins are on the main deck, but reaching the restaurant, lounge, sun deck and dive area still involves marine stairs and exterior passages. No accessible bathroom or adapted berth is documented. Guests should disclose mobility, balance, sleep-apnoea power or medication needs before booking so the operator can assess them rather than relying on a generic cabin description.

Diving

Marie-Inès is configured for repetitive recreational diving. The operator plans routes around up to four dives per day, adapting depth and site choice to the group. Its FAQ describes the first dive as the deepest, around 30 metres maximum, followed by progressively shallower profiles. Four dives is a planning target, not a guarantee: crossings, weather, currents, marine-park rules, diver experience, medical issues and the pre-flight interval can reduce the total.

Divers are divided at a published ratio of one guide to four guests. The general recommendation is Open Water certification with at least 30 logged dives. For Tubbataha, the operator recommends Advanced Open Water with 50 logged dives. An Open Water diver remains within the certification depth limit, and any upgrade course must be arranged in advance; its published example price is time-sensitive and should not be embedded in a package without reconfirmation.

The stern station keeps each diver's equipment assembled at an allocated place, with nearby lockers, two deck showers and a camera-only rinse tank. Camera users should still bring protective caps and follow the boat's rinse etiquette; a rinse tank does not guarantee a padded camera room, dry charging bench or individual editing station.

The fill system consists of two Bauer Poseidon compressors and a Nitrox membrane. Standard cylinders and weights are included according to the FAQ, while Nitrox is optional. The public information does not specify cylinder material, standard capacity, valve type, maximum Nitrox percentage or whether Nitrox is sold per fill or per trip. Certified enriched-air divers should have those points and the price written on the booking.

A personal dive computer is mandatory. Rental equipment is available, but the operator's public “essential package” contains an unclear translated item (“holder”) and must not be paraphrased into a regulator unless the operator confirms it. The same page lists regulator, BCD, 3 mm wetsuit, boots/fins and computer as individual rentals. Sizes, mask, torch, SMB, reef hook, 15-litre cylinder and full-set composition must be checked before arrival; public prices are examples, not permanent rates.

Direct entries are possible from the low stern platform when the site allows. The 14-person tender supports more distant drops and pickups, although the vessel can host 16 guests; exact group sequencing belongs to the crew's daily plan. Negative entries, current dives, wreck penetration and blue-water ascents require the relevant experience and guide approval. A route name never authorises a diver to exceed certification or enter an overhead environment.

Non-divers are welcome. Supervised snorkelling, kayaks and paddles are promoted, while Discover Scuba Diving and refresher training can be arranged. These programmes depend on medical screening, conditions, instructor availability and additional charges. Snorkelling access may be limited at deep walls, high-current sites or locations reserved for scuba operations.

Specific dive-injury insurance is mandatory. The operator strongly recommends coverage for hyperbaric treatment and also advises comprehensive travel insurance covering medical expenses, hospitalisation, evacuation, repatriation, cancellation and electronics. Guests sign a Philippine liability waiver. Insurance should explicitly cover the planned maximum depth, liveaboard evacuation and any wreck or technical activity; ordinary travel cover is not automatically sufficient.

Other Information

Marie-Inès is sold through direct schedules, shared-space agents and private charters. Inclusions can differ by route and sales channel, especially for Tubbataha permits and domestic transfers. The dated confirmation and invoice always override a general website summary.

The operator's public information supports these standard inclusions:

• Accommodation in the booked cabin for the stated cruise nights
• Buffet-style full-board meals, morning fruit/tea/coffee and an afternoon snack
• Water, coffee, fruit juice and other routine non-alcoholic drinks throughout the cruise
• Standard air cylinders, weights and weight belts
• Planned guided recreational dives, normally designed around up to four per active day, subject to itinerary and conditions
• Dive-guide service at the published ratio of one guide to four divers
• Use of the fixed dive stations, lockers, deck showers, towels and camera rinse tank
• Included onboard Wi-Fi, with no guarantee of offshore speed or continuity
• Kayaks and paddles; supervised snorkelling opportunities for non-divers where conditions allow
• Dietary adaptation with sufficient notice, within the limits of an offshore galley

The following are extra, conditional or not confirmed as part of one universal base price:

• Beer, wine and other alcoholic drinks
• Nitrox fills
• BCD, regulator, wetsuit, boots, fins, mask, dive computer and other rental equipment unless specifically bundled
• Discover Scuba Diving, refresher, Advanced Open Water or other training and certification fees
• International and domestic flights, excess baggage and hotels before or after the cruise
• Passport, visa, vaccination, medical-certificate and insurance costs
• Tubbataha or other marine-park/conservation fees, port charges, fuel surcharges and local government fees unless the invoice expressly says they are included
• Private guide, special cylinder size, technical/rebreather support and speciality gases unless contracted
• Crew gratuities, souvenirs, personal purchases and land excursions
• Guaranteed mobile signal, streaming-quality internet or private workspace