About Ara Juan

Hi, I’m Ara Juan, a scuba diver, content creator, and ocean advocate behind Diver Bliss.

I’m the author of Dive Into Paradise, a comprehensive guide to scuba diving in the Philippines based on firsthand dive experience, destination research, and years of exploring the country’s underwater ecosystems.

How It Started

I was born and raised in Manila, but I’ve always felt most at home near the ocean. Like many people, scuba diving was something I put off for years. It felt intimidating, expensive, and out of reach.

That changed in 2013, when I was accepted into a program that allowed Filipinos to learn scuba diving for free. I earned my PADI certification through Coral Cay Conservation, and that experience completely reshaped how I saw the ocean and my place in it.

Since then, diving has become more than a hobby. It became advocacy.

Experience & Diving Background

I currently hold a PADI Rescue Diver certification. and have logged 500+ dives across the Philippines and internationally, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, and Fiji.

In 2019, I was selected as one of seven ocean advocates for a month-long environmental tourism campaign in Fiji, where we promoted responsible travel and marine conservation as part of the “Protector of Paradise“ initiative.

Where I have Gone Scuba Diving

Philippines:

1. Anilao, Batangas
2. Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro
3. Verde Island Passage
4. Apo Reef, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro
5. Napantao, Southern Leyte
6. Limasawa Island, Southern Leyte
7. Sogod Bay, Southern Leyte
8. Panglao, Bohol
9. Balicasag Island in Bohol
10. Pamilacan Island, Bohol
11. Mactan, Cebu
12. Malapscua, Island – Thresher Shark Diving
13. Gato Island, Cebu
14. Sardines Run in Moalboal, Cebu
15. Pescador Island in Moalboal, Cebu
16. Dauin in Negros Oriental
17. Apo Island in Negros Oriental
18. Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental
19. Siquijor Island
20. Romblon, Romblon
21. Anini-y, Antique
22. Caluya, Antique
23. Sibaltan, El Nido, Palawan
24. El Nido, Palawan
25. Coron, Palawan
26. Diving with Dugong in Calauit Island, Palawan
27. Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Palawan
28. Sarangani Bay, Sarangani
29. Subic Bay, Zambales
30. Camiguin Island, Camiguin
31. Misamis Oriental

Indonesia:

1. Padang Bai, Bali
2. Tulamben, Bali
3. Nusa Penida, Bali
4. Nusa Lembongan, Bali
5. Komodo National Park
6. Misool, Raja Ampat
7. Halmahera
8. Lembeh, North Sulawesi
9. Bangka, North Sulawesi
10. Bunaken, North Sulawesi

Malaysia:

1. Kota Kinabalu

Australia:

1. Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

Fiji:

1. Taveuni
2. Mantaray Island Resort

Over the years, I’ve dived everything from macro-rich muck sites to pelagic-heavy offshore reefs. But one realization stayed with me:
many international divers knew very little about how exceptional scuba diving in the Philippines truly is.

That realization became the foundation for Diver Bliss.

Why I Created Diver Bliss

I started Diver Bliss to encourage sustainable dive travel, spotlight lesser-known destinations, and help divers make informed decisions about where and how they dive.

What began as a personal outlet eventually grew into a trusted resource for divers researching dive destinations, resorts, liveaboards, marine life, and responsible travel practices.

Writing Dive Into Paradise was a natural extension of this mission. It allowed me to document the Philippines’ dive destinations in depth and share that knowledge with both local and international divers in a structured, practical way.

Beyond Content

Today, Diver Bliss sits at the intersection of diving, storytelling, and digital strategy.

Alongside content creation, I work with dive brands, resorts, liveaboards, tourism boards, and travel partners through collaborations, UGC creation, social media strategy, and consulting. I also organize small-group dive trips, bringing divers together to explore destinations responsibly and intentionally.

Diving played a big role in helping me heal during a difficult chapter of my life. But it also gave me purpose, community, and a way to contribute to ocean conservation beyond words.

Looking Ahead

My goal is simple: to continue diving across the Philippines and beyond, sharing honest, experience-based insights, and helping more people discover the underwater world in a way that respects both the ocean and the communities that depend on it.

Join me in my adventures as I find BLISS above and underwater!

Love my content and are interested in collaborating with me? Visit my Work With Me Page for more details.