Sunset Cove Beach & Dive Resort — SDI Macro Photography Dive Resort Romblon
Sunset Cove Beach & Dive Resort is Romblon’s premier SDI dive resort for macro photography and blackwater diving. We are located on Alad Island — just a 10-minute boat ride from Romblon town.
The resort is operated by Ronny Oliwka and his wife Charolyn Oliwka. Ronny is an SDI/TDI instructor for recreational and technical diving. He crossed over from PADI in 2024, combining technical diving expertise with macro photography guidance. Furthermore, Charolyn crossed over to SDI/TDI in 2025, bringing over 15 years of teaching experience.
Together, they founded and operated Submariner Diving Center in El Nido, Palawan. Additionally, Sunset Cove is an authorised Aqualung & Apeks Partner Center. Therefore, our guests enjoy the highest standards in scuba diving, macro photography, and education. For us, diving is about fun, joy, and capturing extraordinary underwater images.
Outstanding Service
When you scuba dive and shoot macro photography with us, everything is easy. Upon arrival, simply come to our shop, sit down, and we will take care of the rest. Furthermore, we carry your equipment and underwater camera gear to the boat, set it up, and assist you into your scuba unit. After the dive, you won’t need to worry about carrying your kit back to the shop — the team will handle that for you. Additionally, we believe that as you are on holiday, you should have the hard work done by someone else. We rinse your kit and camera housing at the end of every day. Therefore, you can have a seat at our bar, relax, enjoy a drink, and our instructor, photo guide, and divemaster team will join you to fill in your logbooks and discuss your macro finds of the day.
Scuba Fun & Macro Photography Community
You, as the customer, are the most important to us. We do everything to ensure that you have the best macro diving and underwater photography experience in Romblon. The diving here is amazing, and our expert photo guides want to show you the best macro critters and blackwater subjects Romblon has to offer. Furthermore, everyone here — from the owners to the boat staff — loves diving and dives regularly. The staff is always laughing and joking, making the boat a fun and relaxed place to be.
Additionally, the fun does not end with diving. There is always someone around for a chat about macro photography techniques, or you can browse through our fish & critter ID books and dive magazines, or enjoy our free Starlink Wi-Fi. Moreover, our bar is a great place for a cold beer and has a lively happy hour and evening crowd.
Quality, Professionalism and Safety
Sunset Cove Beach & Dive Resort began operations in May 2019 with a team of eight dedicated staff members. We are an authorised Aqualung & Apeks Partner Center, offering the highest quality gear for scuba diving and underwater macro photography.
Your air and Nitrox fills are pumped by a Bauer PE300 Nitrox Compressor with a P21 Purification System. Additionally, in 2025 we added a brand new Coltri TPS compressor, giving us double compressor capacity and guaranteed fills for every diver every day.
Our consistent reputation is built on high standards of customer service, professionalism, and dedication to macro diving, blackwater diving, and underwater photography. Safety has always been our main priority. Additionally, we conduct regular maintenance on all equipment, and our staff undergo continuous training on the latest diving safety protocols.
Ronny and Charo bring a wealth of expertise to the resort, having operated diving resorts in the Philippines since 2007. Ronny is an SDI/TDI Scuba Instructor for recreational and technical diving, as well as a certified technical cave diver. Furthermore, Charo is an SDI Scuba Instructor and TDI Extended Range diver with more than 15 years of teaching experience. Therefore, when you dive and shoot macro photography with us in Romblon, you are in the most experienced hands on the island.
Underwater Photography Hub & Camera Station
Sunset Cove is designed with underwater macro photographers in mind. Furthermore, our dedicated camera cleaning station features two large rinse tanks outside, allowing you to safely rinse your housing, strobes, and video lights after every dive. Additionally, compressed air is available to blow-dry your camera equipment quickly and thoroughly before opening your housing.
Our ground floor camera hub is the heart of the resort for underwater photographers. Therefore, it is the perfect place to service your camera, change lenses and diopters, and charge all your batteries between dives. Moreover, the camera hub showcases the best underwater macro photography images taken around Romblon on its walls — making it an inspiring meeting place where guests share tips, review images, and discuss the day’s macro finds together.
However, we understand that not every photographer prefers a communal camera area. Therefore, every room is also equipped with a dedicated table and charging station, giving you the privacy and comfort to service your camera equipment at your own pace. In conclusion, whether you prefer the social atmosphere of our camera hub or the privacy of your room, Sunset Cove has the perfect setup for every underwater photographer visiting Romblon.
Our Dive Boats
We use a traditional local banca boat, perfectly suited for small groups and designed with underwater photographers and macro divers in mind. Furthermore, the layout is ideal for divers carrying underwater camera systems, with dedicated space for camera boxes, strobes, and video lights. Additionally, our banca is fast and stable, getting you to the dive sites quickly so you can spend more time in the water shooting macro photography. With a maximum capacity of 12 divers, our boat ensures an intimate and personalised experience on every dive. Moreover, a large sunroof and comfortable cushions allow you to relax during surface intervals while enjoying water, coffee, tea, or a snack — discussing the macro critters you found on the dive.