Dive with Rowena: Southern Leyte Eco-Resort & Liveaboard Expedition Business Plan

• Business Name: Tiki -Tiki Resort: A Southern Leyte Expedition & Eco Sanctuary

• Location: Benit, San Ricardo, Southern Leyte, Philippines (Panaon Island area)

• Concept: A sustainable dive eco-resort and liveaboard service offering premier

  scuba and freediving experiences with a focus on conservation, community immersion and wellness.

• Mission: To create deeply personal, low-impact, and transformative marine

  experiences while empowering local community and protecting marine ecosystems.

• Vision: To become the leading ethical dive brand in the Philippines, rooted in

sustainability and soulful adventure.

• History: How I acquired an 850square- meters beachfront lot that now I want to develop into an Eco-resort. It was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when the world stood still, that I found myself quarantined in Panaon Island, Southern Leyte—a remote paradise known only to a few. With international travel suspended and dive tourism paused, I turned to the one thing I could still do safely: lots of beach entry diving. What I discovered beneath the surface was nothing short of astonishing—vibrant coral reefs, massive schools of fish, sea turtles, macro critters, and even whale sharks. The biodiversity was world-class, yet the area remained largely untouched by mass tourism. It was during this quiet but profound time that I knew:

This island deserves to be shared—with care.

Moved by its potential and beauty, I made a life-changing decision. To turn the beachfront lot—as a gateway to the reef and a future hub for conscious adventurers that supports marine conservation, empowers the local community, and offers divers one of the Philippines' most underrated marine sanctuaries.

Media Write ups:

• https://ph.oceana.org/press-releases/house-oks-panaon-island-protected-seascape-bill/

• https://islandhoppinginthephilippines.com/visayas/cebu/panaon-island/

• https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/04/16/panaon-island-a-rare-precious-gem/

Business Model Overview

• Low Carbon Impact Eco-Resort

• 6–10 beachside bamboo-style cottages

• Open-air yoga deck + chillout lounge

• Dive center + gear rental and classroom

• Healthy café with local ingredients

• On-site freediving and scuba instructors

Whaleshark Watching and Liveaboard Expeditions

We need:

• One 12–15m traditional banca or catamaran converted into a 8-15 guest

expedition vessel

• 3–5 day trips exploring Sogod Bay, Limasawa Island, Dinagat Island, Napantao Sanctuary, and occasionally Camiguin/Bohol/Siargao.

• Focus: off-grid exploration, macro & pelagic diving, photo expeditions,

  conservation missions

  
  

Target Market:

• Eco-conscious travelers aged 30–60

• Freedivers, scuba divers, and photographers

• Women-led adventure groups

• Dive with Rowena Expedition and Diver guests

• International marine biologists and conservation volunteers

  
  

Competitive Advantages

• Rowena’s personal brand and loyal following

• Deep roots in Filipino dive culture and community

• Lower price points vs. liveaboards in Palawan/Visayas

• Intimate, slow travel experience

• Based in Southern Leyte: less commercial, pristine reefs, whale shark season

  (Nov–May), and potential UNESCO heritage site

Sustainability & Impact Goals

• Solar-powered operations

• No single-use plastic on-site

• Marine life citizen science logs with guests

• Coral restoration partnership (e.g., with NGOs)

• Employment and training of local youth

  

  

  

Phased- Development Plan

• Phase 1: 2025

  • Land acquisition (beachfront, 850-1,000 sqm)

  • Temporary dive camp + gear rental & office

  • Crowdfunding/soft investors

  • Purchase 1 expedition boat (convert as needed)

• Phase 2: 2026

  • Build 5 cottages, restaurant café, training swimming pool and Yoga deck 

  • Full dive center with classroom

  • Liveaboard and Whaleshark expedition schedule opens

  • Begin conservation partnership (reef nursery and monitoring)

• Phase 3: 2027–2028

  • Expand to 10 cottages

  • Add wellness offerings (breathwork, martial arts, yoga retreats)

  • Host workshops and festivals (eco-diving, ocean photography)

  • Consider second boat or more exclusive vessels

    
    

Marketing Strategy

• Organic social media through Dive with Rowena platforms

• Influencer/ambassador collaborations and dive exchanges

• Partnerships with dive travel agencies and magazines

• Email list with pre-booking incentives for loyal fans

• Listing on platforms: Divebooker, PADI Travel, Agoda Eco, etc.

  
  

Revenue Streams

• Accommodation + meals

• Guided scuba and freediving packages

• Expedition liveaboard charters

• Gear rental and merchandise

• Courses (PADI, Molchanovs, EFR, Photography)

• Retreats and group events

  

  

  
  
  

Financial Overview (RoughEstimates)

Initial Capital

• Land Development, Training Pool $40,000

• Boat /Engine /Permits  $33,000

• First 5-6 cottages + Dive center $50,000

• Marketing + branding $10,000

• Staff hiring and training $10,000

Total $143,000 (8 Million Pesos)

Funding Options

• Private investors ($35k/unit or 2 Million pesos/ I’ll be needing four Investors)

• Crowdfunding with diving perks

• Impact investors for eco-tourism

  
  

Exit Strategy & Long-Term Vision

• Break-even expected by Year 3

• Option to sell part-ownership to co-founders or loyal investors

• Franchisable model: Dive with Rowena sanctuaries across Southeast Asia

  
  

Investor Proposal: Dive with Rowena’ s Eco-Resort in Panaon Island, Southern Leyte

One out of (4) Four Investors to allocate $35,000 (2 Million Pesos) share out of the $143,000 (8 M)

Investment Structure Overview

• Investment Share for One USD $35,000

• Ownership Model Co-ownership with timeshare privileges

• Duration 10 years (renewable or transferable)

• Resale Rights After Year 3 with pre-approval

• Profit-sharing on asset sale or partner buy-

out at market value (after Year 5)

Timeshare & Vacation Benefits

Yearly Perks  Inclusions

• 30 nights/year *Complimentary accommodation in the eco cottage

• Diving *10 guided dives/year OR 5 days of freedive coaching

• Discounts *30% off additional accommodations and on courses

• Priority Booking *For retreats, events, and peak season

• Transferable Privilege *Shareable with family or friends

  
  

Financial Benefits

• Benefits *5% annual ROI starting Year 2 (post-opening)

• Dividends *In Semi-annual Installments

• Profit-Sharing *10% of annual net profit distributed among shareholders

• Liveaboard Access *25% off expeditions for investors, upgradable to VIP Trips

  
  

Eco & Social Impact

• Part of your investment funds coral reef restoration and local marine conservation

• You support community training and employment in sustainable tourism

• Option to participate in “Dive with a Purpose” weeks (reef monitoring and cleanups)

  
  

Use of Funds (Per Share of $35,000) Allocation 

• Eco-Cottage Construction  $15,000

• Dive Center + Equipment $5,000

• Solar Power + Infrastructure $5,000

• Land Improvement & Permits  $3,000

• Operations & Staffing $3,000

• Marketing & Legal $2,000

• Contingency $2,000

  
  

Your Role as a Founding Partner

As an early investor, you’ll be:

• Featured as a founding partner on our website & welcome wall

• Invited to exclusive pre-opening soft launches and founding ceremonies

• Eligible for co-branding and collaborative offers (for dive instructors, retreat leaders, photographers)

  
  

Next Steps

Interested? We’ll send you:

• Investor Agreement (with full rights and terms)

• Project Pitch Deck with visuals and land maps

• Option to visit or join a preview dive expedition in Southern Leyte

  
  

Contact:

Rowena Yap

Founder, Dive with Rowena

divewithrowena@gmail.com

WhatsApp / Viber: +639778033100