M/Y Resolute Liveaboard overview

By
Sarah Turnbull
Contributor at DIVEIN.com
Sarah is a writer, PADI instructor and underwater photographer based in Mauritius. Diving across 5 continents, she has a love of all things ocean-related and an...
Rebecca Strauss
Editor at DIVEIN.com
Rebecca has been an avid traveler and scuba diver for many years. She began her editorial career by updating travel guides, which took her all over...

Experience the thrill of diving in the Philippines, with excellent visibility (often exceeding 100 feet/30 meters) and vibrant coral reefs teeming with diverse marine life. Divers may encounter whale sharks, large pelagics, playful dolphins, and schools of colorful fish.

Stunning macro critters like pygmy seahorses and nudibranchs are lurking about too, offering photographers the opportunity to capture some incredible images.

Built in 1974 in Vladivostok in the former USSR, M/Y Resolute is a former Soviet spy ship that was converted into a full-service dive vessel in 1998, though it underwent a refit in 2019.

At 113 feet (34.6 m), it carries 16 passengers in eight individually air-controlled, ensuite cabins. M/Y Resolute offers dive itineraries to Tubbahata, Apo Reef, the Coron wrecks, and Cebu with 7-day/6-night trips. Divers can expect 21-22 dives per trip.

Let’s dive into our review of M/Y Resolute liveaboard.

About this review

To help you find a that will fit your needs, we’ve tested, researched, and reviewed the best ones available today.
We test both in the water, diving in various conditions - and in our lab - so we can give you accurate answers on quality, performance, and the overall value.

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Things we like:

  • Excellent choice of itineraries
  • Good quality food
  • Unique boat history
  • Large pelagics including whale sharks, hammerheads and dugong

Things we don't like:

  • Shallow draft may cause some guests to experience seasickness
  • In need of some updating

Diving on the M/Y Resolute liveaboard

With a selection of exceptional itineraries—mostly 7-day/6-night—the M/Y Resolute offers divers the opportunity to dive off the beaten path in the Philippines. Pristine dive sites with excellent visibility offer the chance to see large pelagics, including whale sharks, sharks, dolphins, turtles, and even a rare dugong.

Suitable for experienced divers of Advanced Open Water or equivalent and above, itineraries take in wrecks, reefs, and drift dives in a host of spectacular settings.

A mecca for underwater photographers, wide-angle is popular, capturing well-preserved Word War II Japanese wrecks at Coron as well as large pelagics and schools of large fish like jacks, trevally, and sardines in open water. Macro photographers can capture pygmy seahorses and nudibranchs in this diverse underwater world.

M/Y Resolute has a dinghy and two large fiberglass tenders to transfer guests to dive sites in comfort. With 21-22 dives on a 7-day/6-night trip, divers have plenty of opportunity to blow bubbles. Gear rental is available on board but should be booked in advance.

Divemasters are skilled and safe, providing excellent, detailed briefings. Guests enjoy their professionalism and that they give guests the freedom to explore independently once they’ve been assessed.

Highlights:

  • Up to 22 dives on a 7-day trip
  • Excellent for photographers
  • Opportunity to dive independently
  • Frequent shark encounters

Onboard the M/Y Resolute

M/Y Resolute is an older boat, having been built in the early 1970s, but has undergone refits and refurbishments, the last being in 2019. It is clean and well-maintained by a friendly and professional crew.

Both public and private areas benefit from daily housekeeping and a laundry service is available for guests. The eight cabins are located below the main deck and feature individual air-conditioning and an ensuite bathroom. The cabins are a little snug, but are fitted with comfortable twin or double beds.

The air-conditioned salon features comfortable bench seats and large bean bags for guests to relax and socialize. The spacious area has an audio and video entertainment system and a library with magazines and books.

On the upper level you’ll find an outdoor salon with comfortable seating and alfresco dining. There are several spaces for guests to sunbathe and take in the views, with loungers and leisure furniture scattered about the boat.

The dive deck is extremely spacious with log bench seats on three sides and separate storage baskets for divers to keep their gear. There is a large space that serves as a camera corner, fantastic for divers to prepare, store, and safekeep their photo and video equipment.

Highlights:

  • Spacious dive deck
  • Alfresco dining
  • Comfortable salon and cabins
  • Daily housekeeping and laundry service

Dining onboard M/Y Resolute

Dining is alfresco on M/Y Resolute and guests enjoy this experience along with the excellent quality food, offering plentiful local and international dishes. Predominantly buffet-style, vegetarian dishes are offered as standard with other dietary requirements accommodated with prior notice. The buffet normally features at least five main course dishes.

The food is plentiful, with a light breakfast before the first dive and a more substantial breakfast afterward. Lunch and dinner are bookended by mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks. Tea, coffee, fruit juice, and water are available all day and included in the price. Alcohol is available on board and charged extra.

Highlights:

  • Food is plentiful and well-prepared
  • Alcohol is available and charged extra

Things we like:

  • Excellent choice of itineraries
  • Good quality food
  • Unique boat history
  • Large pelagics including whale sharks, hammerheads and dugong

Things we don't like:

  • Shallow draft may cause some guests to experience seasickness
  • In need of some updating
Key Facts
Year Built 1974
Max Divers 16
Price Range Mid-range
Trip Length 5-7 Nights
Internet No
Nitrox Yes ($)
Equipment Rental Yes ($)
Camera Station Yes
Air Conditioning Yes
Min. Logged Dives No minimum
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Wicher Le poole
Wicher Le poole

We booked the M/Y resolute and got stranded on the Tubbataha Reef with a broken engine. The owner knew there was trouble before we set sail but was only in it for the money..

The agent; Maldivian charter club/ time to dive, as well and the owner refuse to take responsibility.