Vegan Travel in the Philippines | Diving & Plant-Based Eats
What if your next vegan adventure included learning to scuba dive, staying at a vegan-friendly dive resort, eating plant-based meals, and exploring some of the most beautiful islands in Southeast Asia?
In this episode of The World Vegan Travel Podcast, Brighde talks to Dana Bell, the owner, operator, and chef behind OMUS Vegan and Dive Camp in Dauin, Negros Oriental.
Dana’s story is not a typical one. She moved to the Philippines after accepting a job as an executive chef, even though she had never trained formally as a chef. Then, when the pandemic changed everything, she started OMUS Vegan from her kitchen table as a home-based food delivery service.
Today, Dana runs a vegan restaurant, dive shop, and resort in the Philippines. She also shares her dream 18-day itinerary for vegan travelers who want to get their PADI Open Water certification, explore world-class dive sites, and enjoy plant-based food along the way.
“Welcoming opportunities no matter what they look like.” – Dana Bell
From Executive Chef to Vegan Dive Resort Owner
Dana has worked in hospitality since she was 17. She started as a dishwasher and worked her way through many different roles, including management.
But cooking was always something she loved.
That love of food eventually led her to the Philippines, where she accepted a position as an executive chef at a boutique resort. She sold everything she owned and moved across the world for a new adventure.
Then the pandemic hit.
With the hospitality industry shut down, Dana lost her job. Instead of giving up, she started OMUS Vegan as a simple food delivery service from her kitchen table. She released one menu each week, took pre-orders, cooked the food herself, and delivered it locally.
Later, when friends began building a resort, Dana was invited to create a restaurant space there. That opportunity eventually grew into Dive Camp, a vegan-friendly dive resort in Dauin.
Dana’s story is a reminder that the best travel stories often begin with one brave yes.
Why the Philippines is a World-Class Diving Destination
The Philippines is made up of thousands of islands, which makes it a dream destination for ocean lovers.
For divers, it offers coral reefs, marine sanctuaries, turtles, sardine runs, giant clams, thresher sharks, and many smaller creatures that make every dive feel different. PADI describes the Philippines as a destination where divers can see marine life such as thresher sharks, sardine balls, rays, and more while also learning or improving scuba skills.
For vegan travelers, the Philippines may not always seem like an obvious choice at first. But Dana explains that things are changing. More plant-based restaurants, vegetarian cafés, yoga studios, and vegan-friendly menus are appearing in places like Dumaguete, Dauin, Siquijor, Bohol, Moalboal, and Cebu City.
That makes this itinerary special. It combines scuba diving in the Philippines with vegan food, nature, and island-hopping.
The PADI Open Water Course: Learning to Breathe Underwater
Dana recommends starting the trip in Dauin, Negros Oriental, where travelers can stay at Dive Camp and begin their PADI Open Water certification.
This course usually takes about three days. It includes online learning, videos, shallow-water practice, and open-water dives with an instructor. Once certified, PADI Open Water Divers are trained to dive to a maximum depth of 18 meters / 60 feet with a certified buddy or dive professional.
Dana says the course starts slowly so new divers can build confidence. For many people, the strangest part is learning to breathe underwater and stay calm while doing it.
Brighde also shares that diving felt different after she became vegan. Seeing marine life underwater gave her a deeper sense of wonder and respect for ocean animals.
That is what makes this kind of trip so meaningful. It is not only about adventure. It is also about seeing animals in their own world and learning to care even more about protecting them.
An 18-Day Vegan Diving Itinerary
Dana created an 18-day itinerary that starts in Cebu and takes travelers through some of the best diving and vegan-friendly stops in the Philippines.
Dauin: The Home Base for Certification
The trip begins by flying into Cebu International Airport, then taking a local flight to Dumaguete. From there, travelers continue to Dauin, where Dive Camp is located.
The first night is a chance to settle in, rest, and enjoy dinner at OMUS Vegan.
Dana also recommends exploring vegan and vegetarian-friendly food in and around Dumaguete and Dauin. Options include Anahaw, a yoga studio and plant-based restaurant in Dauin, and Salaya Beach Houses, which notes that guests can ask about its vegan and vegetarian menu.
Other places Dana mentions include:
- Chia
- Beyond Plants
- Finbar
- Valencia Public Market on Sundays
This part of the trip is about getting settled, eating well, and preparing for the PADI Open Water course.
Apo Island: Protected Marine Sanctuary
The final dives of the Open Water course can include Apo Island, one of Dana’s favorite nearby dive sites.
Apo Island is known for its protected marine area, coral reefs, and rich marine life. Dana describes it as breathtaking, especially for a new diver. It is the kind of place that can make people fall in love with diving very quickly.
For many travelers, this is where the trip starts to feel truly magical.
Siquijor: Vegan Food, Diving, Folklore, and Waterfalls
After Dauin and Apo Island, Dana recommends taking the ferry to Siquijor for days 6, 7, and 8.
Siquijor has become popular with backpackers and travelers looking for nature, beaches, and a relaxed island feel. Dana says this has helped vegan and vegetarian options grow on the island.
Vegan-friendly places to stay or eat include Wonderland Siquijor, which describes itself as having a 100% vegan restaurant, and Belle’s Beach Bar, which offers vegan food by the beach.
Dana also mentions:
- Baha Ba’r
- Luca Loco
- Bahura Dive Shop
- Tubod Marine Sanctuary
- Paliton Sanctuary / Turtle’s Den
- Old Enchanted Tree
- Cambugahay Falls
Siquijor is a good place to continue practicing new dive skills while also enjoying waterfalls, folklore, and island life.
Bohol’s Chocolate Hills and Tiny Tarsiers
On day 9, Dana suggests traveling to Bohol, especially around Alona Beach.
Bohol is famous for the Chocolate Hills and the tiny Philippine tarsier. One important note: tarsiers are primates, not marsupials, so I would correct that in the blog even if the transcript says otherwise. The Philippine Tarsier Foundation describes the species as a vulnerable primate, and the Tarsius Project also refers to the Philippine tarsier as a nocturnal primate.
Dana recommends staying around Alona Beach because it is central and easy for travelers. Suggested places include:
- Alona Vida Beach Resort
- Nautilus Hostel & Hammocks
For food, Dana recommends The Vegan Shack and Shaka. The Vegan Shack describes itself as a fully plant-based restaurant in Bohol, serving Filipino and Asian-inspired vegan food.
For diving, Dana suggests:
- Bohol Divers Club
- Seaquest Dive Center
- Balicasag Island Marine Sanctuary
- Doljo / Napaling
This part of the trip gives travelers a mix of diving, beaches, wildlife, and classic Bohol sightseeing.
Moalboal’s Sardine Run and Canyoneering
On day 12, Dana recommends traveling to Moalboal.
For her, the main reason to go to Moalboal is the diving. The Moalboal sardine run is one of the most memorable dive experiences in the Philippines. Savedra Dive Center describes the sardine run as happening just off the beach, with large schools of sardines moving together in the water.
Dana says the sardines swirl around you, and you do not even have to dive to see them. You can also snorkel.
She also recommends diving at Pescador Island and diving with Savedra Dive Center.
Vegan and vegetarian-friendly places Dana mentions include:
- Lovegan Café
- Moalboal Eco Lodge
- Herbs Guest House & Restaurant near the Sea
- Halle Manna
- Herbalicious
- Hungry Veggies
- Smooth Café
Moalboal is also known for canyoneering. Dana explains that in this area, it usually means hiking, jumping into rivers, and cliff jumping with a guide.
Malapascua: Thresher Sharks
On day 14, Dana suggests traveling to Malapascua to see thresher sharks.
Malapascua is famous for thresher shark diving. Thresher Shark Divers notes that thresher shark dives at Kimud Shoal are usually morning dives and are for certified divers.
Dana has not been to Malapascua yet, but it is still one of her dream destinations. She includes it because it is such a special place for divers.
Places Dana suggests for Malapascua include:
- Buena Vida Resort & Spa
- Villa Sandra Guest House
- Blue Heaven Recreation & Resort
- Villa Potenciana Restaurant
- Hippocampus Beach Resort Restaurant on Bounty Beach
For vegan travelers, it is always worth checking current menus before arriving, especially on smaller islands.
Cebu City: Final Stop Before Flying Home
On day 17, Dana recommends traveling back to Cebu City before flying home on day 18.
This is a good time to rest, enjoy a more comfortable hotel, and have one last vegan meal before leaving the Philippines.
Dana suggests:
- Cebu City Marriott Hotel
- Lunhaw Vegan Café
- Vegan Cebu City
- Healthy U
- Ayala Center
Vegan Cebu City shares whole-food plant-based meals, snacks, and desserts, while Healthy U is listed as a vegetarian and vegan restaurant in Cebu City.
Vegan Food on the Rise in the Philippines
One of the most encouraging parts of this episode is hearing how much the vegan scene is growing.
Dana says the Philippines has traditionally been quite meat-focused, but that more vegan and vegetarian options are appearing. In places like Dauin, Dumaguete, Siquijor, Bohol, Moalboal, and Cebu City, vegan travelers can now find more cafés, yoga studios, restaurants, and resorts that understand plant-based eating.
At the heart of this is Dana’s own work through OMUS Vegan and Dive Camp.
She is also working on a new dairy-free creamery called The Fomagerie. This is another sign that plant-based food is slowly becoming more visible in the Philippines.
For vegan travelers, this itinerary shows that you do not have to choose between adventure and your values. You can dive, explore, eat well, and support kinder food choices along the way.
Safety, Costs, and Practical Travel Advice
Dana says the Philippines is generally a safe destination for travelers, including solo women travelers, as long as people avoid certain areas and use normal travel common sense.
English is also widely spoken, especially in cities and tourist areas. That can make travel easier for people visiting Southeast Asia for the first time.
Costs can vary a lot. Dana explains that travelers can find simple backpacker-style stays or more luxurious hotels. Dive Camp is more rustic and budget-friendly, while other resorts can cost much more.
For diving, Dana says prices also vary, but in her area, a dive may cost around $30.
The most important safety tip is simple: do not dive alone. In the Philippines, dive shops usually provide a dive master or guide, and divers should always dive with a buddy.
Final Thoughts on Vegan Travel in the Philippines
This episode is more than a diving itinerary. It is a story about starting over, saying yes to the unexpected, and building something meaningful from scratch.
Dana’s journey shows that vegan travel in the Philippines is growing. It is now possible to learn to dive, explore beautiful islands, see incredible marine life, and enjoy plant-based food along the way.
From Apo Island diving to Siquijor Island vegan food, from the Moalboal sardine run to Malapascua thresher sharks, this itinerary is full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
And at the center of it all is a simple idea: travel can be exciting, ethical, and deeply connected to the natural world.
Listen to the full episode of The World Vegan Travel Podcast to hear Dana Bell share her story and her vegan-friendly diving itinerary through the Philippines.
Learn More About What is Discussed on the Podcast
Here are some of the places and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Dive Camp: divecamp.ph
- Anahaw Dauin: anahawdauin.com
- Salaya Beach Houses: salayabeachhouses.com
- Wonderland Siquijor: wonderlandsiquijor.com
- Belle’s Beach Bar: bellesveganrestaurant.com
- The Vegan Shack Bohol: Vegan Shack Bohol
- Savedra Dive Center: savedra.com
- PADI Diving in the Philippines: PADI Philippines
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- Soi Dog Foundation: Compassionate Travel in Phuket, Thailand
- Vegan Canyoning in Australia | Adventure in Karijini | Sven Borg
