Planning a trip to Anilao and looking at Buceo Anilao or Crystal Blue. Never been to either place and looking for input, especially but not only anyone who can compare the two.

Thank you

I've been to both and you can't go too wrong with either.

I have plans to go back and I will head to Buceo Anilao. The staff were outstanding.

Thanks for your response. I am actually surprised more people did not have opinions on this, considering the popularity of Anilao.

Many people have indeed had opinions, as a search here (and at the old site) will reveal. You can find my summary of Anilao resorts in this thread, and there are others scattered around.

Anilao resorts

1 hour ago, Troporobo said:

Many people have indeed had opinions, as a search here (and at the old site) will reveal. You can find my summary of Anilao resorts in this thread, and there are others scattered around.

Anilao resorts

Thank you. For some reason, when I search, your post that you linked does not come up, although the thread does, so I did not see your description of the two places. When I searched before I did see a variety of posts about Anilao and about Mike Bartick/Crystal Blue and Photo Academy doing blackwater dives, but did not find, and was hoping for, some additional comparisons between the resorts I am considering. I did not check the old site, although I should have, I guess. Being one of those who was booked on the infamous Red Sea trip to nowhere, the website reminds me of that whole mess and I try to stay away, despite the wealth of accumulated knowledge to be found in the forums.

No worries. One thing I didn’t mention before is the amount of open space at each place. Crystal Blue essentially takes up the slope with buildings and decks and has little in the way of gardens around it. Buceo is much more open feeling with lots of green. They are not so far apart so there is no difference in access or travel time to dive sites. Maybe Tim will chime in too about Buceo, I know he liked it very much.

Both are nicely done in their own way and I don’t think you can go wrong at either. Being around Mike and his vast experience and enthusiasm for a week should be factored into the decision as well.

Good points. Thank you. If Tim does not chime in, I may send him a message. I can see that both are solid choices. Do you feel the shore dives on the house reefs are more-or-less equal or is one of them "better." Not sure I wold spend much time there given the number of boat locations available, but curious.

Yep, we stayed at Buceo but way back in December 2017. Black sand diving, definitely macro, accommodation was arranged up a steep hill, all boat diving with no house reef.

Thats about the best I can do!