Phillipines Diving

Hi,

I have some frequent flyer mileage from previous trips and would like to hear from people who have dived Tubattaha Reef or Dumaguette/APO Island? How are those places compare with other destinations, i.e. PNG, Sipadan, Bunaken/Sulawesi etc... I'd really like to consider Raja Ampat, however, getting there sounds like a major ordeal (also way more expensive $$$). Basically looking for the best bang for my buck (sounds like I'm buying a car?)

Any feedback would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Blueline

Tubbataha is a spring only trip, the waters get too rough in the Sulu Sea during typhoon season, diving in Tubba is amazing and you do get to see lots, a few folks this year saw whalesharks, my trip 2 years ago, we cavorted with Mantas. YMMV. Dumaguete/Apo won't have the larger critters as Tubbataha but is less weather dependent, well, the trip to Apo can be. I was caught in a squall on a trip to Apo and the normal 40 min boat ride turned into a 2-3 hour roller coaster. Photo opportunities at both are pretty awesome. You wont' regret either spot.

Stu

Tubbataha is a spring only trip, the waters get too rough in the Sulu Sea during typhoon season, diving in Tubba is amazing and you do get to see lots, a few folks this year saw whalesharks, my trip 2 years ago, we cavorted with Mantas. YMMV. Dumaguete/Apo won't have the larger critters as Tubbataha but is less weather dependent, well, the trip to Apo can be. I was caught in a squall on a trip to Apo and the normal 40 min boat ride turned into a 2-3 hour roller coaster. Photo opportunities at both are pretty awesome. You wont' regret either spot.

 

Stu

Thanks Stu.

Can you recommend a liveboard there for Tubbataha or a diving resort(s) for Dumaguette?

send me an email stewart@stewartsy.com

Thanks Stu.

 

 

Can you recommend a liveboard there for Tubbataha or a diving resort(s) for Dumaguette?

Tubba/ Apo Reef is very good diving in PI. Dumaguette, to me, is not worth the trip if Ducomi is off limits. The other dive sites are no better and they milk the tourist with charges for cameras and such. But they seem to keep the dive sites protected. This is especially true for Apo Island, a reserve where locals can still fish within the reserve (they pulled 2 thresher sharks out while I was there to shoot the breaching threshers!)

It really depends on what you want to see. Macro is very decent in Dumaguette outside of Ducomi. The coral growth in Ducomi is very picturesque and great for coral sunballs. But there's been some clearing of the pillars and I hear they may be closing it down again for some work. best to check before you go.

I'd personally prefer Bohol and Balicasag over Dumaguette/Apo. More fishy and biodiversity is a bit better. Anilao to me is great for macro. Lots of nice places in PI. Just depends on what you're looking for.

I second everything Drew said and I would add in Sabang/Puerto Galera as a personal fav. The diving is good. Verdy island drop off is every bit as good as Apo Island. And the Macro at the Giant Clams dive site is great. Good hotels and restaurants and dive shops round out the mix.

Another place with good scuba but less infrastructure is Moalboal, south of Cebu.

Good hotels and restaurants and dive shops round out the mix.

Whoa... careful there... I'd never say PG had great cuisine, although I'm very partial to beef adobo for its simplicity.

Drew,

There was a place in PG that had awesome food, one of the few places in the PI where pasta was cooked perfectly al dente, (some high end restos in Manila don't even do that!) but they've now moved on and hopefully are opening up just a bit further south. =)

S.

Stu

Food is always subjective anyhow. I survived on worse food in indo at certain locations. Then you get gem restos which do 2 star Michelin grade food for $70 in Bali.

Are you talking about the old Atlantis Italian resto?

Tubba/ Apo Reef is very good diving in PI. Dumaguette, to me, is not worth the trip if Ducomi is off limits. The other dive sites are no better and they milk the tourist with charges for cameras and such. But they seem to keep the dive sites protected. This is especially true for Apo Island, a reserve where locals can still fish within the reserve (they pulled 2 thresher sharks out while I was there to shoot the breaching threshers!)

It really depends on what you want to see. Macro is very decent in Dumaguette outside of Ducomi. The coral growth in Ducomi is very picturesque and great for coral sunballs. But there's been some clearing of the pillars and I hear they may be closing it down again for some work. best to check before you go.

I'd personally prefer Bohol and Balicasag over Dumaguette/Apo. More fishy and biodiversity is a bit better. Anilao to me is great for macro. Lots of nice places in PI. Just depends on what you're looking for.

Which of these dive sites has the best stony corals (acropora etc..)? Can't seem to find a decent HD video on Tubba/Apo reef or even Anilao. Moalbal is featured on Sport diver mag this month; some nice shots of healthy reefs.

I've only done a liveaboard in Thailand(Similan/Surin Islands). For anyone that knows both locations, how do they compare?

Blueline

Ducomi is open in Dumaguete, but the dives I did there weren't great. Actually, none of my dives in PI were great, visibility was very bad (about 20-30 feet at the most) and there was a lot of suspension in the water, but there was a heck of a lot of coral, I give you that. I was sad to see all the fishing, I think the biggest fish I saw was about 5 inches long. I started a thread in the gallery area with some photos from Dumaguete, will pose a few more soon:

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=30234

Hi Drew

No, the smell outside of Atlantis always puts me off any food. ;-) This was a friend's small shop in Small La Laguna beside Mabuhay. Now closed and he's moved down to Dumaguete, given the increase in the transfer rates from the Mainland to PG ($100 each way almost), I might as well fly to Negros than brave the on average 4 hour trip to PG, return business class seats from Manila are about $100.

I heard from someone who was just there that it's really slowed down in PG with a few shops (my friend's included) closing down.

Rocha, I heard this year was a bit off for vis due to early typhoons and rains. Dumaguete was fun for Macro but I would rank Balicasag and Dohol (near Camiguin Island) as very nice for wide angle and good vis, then again it's hard to beat the vis at Tubba.

Blueline, Tubbataha has the best reefs in the PI though the reserve area in Balicasag is really nice.

Stu

I've only done a liveaboard in Thailand(Similan/Surin Islands). For anyone that knows both locations, how do they compare?

Nothing in Similan/Surin compares with the hard corals in the Coral triangle. Of course in PI, finding an unmolested place is like looking for virgins in a maternity ward. As Luiz says, the fishing is pretty rampant and they do use bombs in many areas. Also remember PI resorts aren't all that luxurious in places like Balicasag. If you have family, stay on Bohol (Alona beach (do a search in the forums) and take the boat across to the good dive sites. There are a few travelaboards (mega-bangka dive boats that bring you from one place to another and you stay at resorts at night) but I hate to pack and unpack daily so never took those.

If you do a search in this subforum, you'll find some information on Bohol.

Ducomi is open in Dumaguete, but the dives I did there weren't great. Actually, none of my dives in PI were great, visibility was very bad (about 20-30 feet at the most) and there was a lot of suspension in the water, but there was a heck of a lot of coral, I give you that. I was sad to see all the fishing, I think the biggest fish I saw was about 5 inches long.

Yes the fishing is bad, but then again you went to the wrong places for pelagics!

No, the smell outside of Atlantis always puts me off any food. ;-) This was a friend's small shop in Small La Laguna beside Mabuhay. Now closed and he's moved down to Dumaguete, given the increase in the transfer rates from the Mainland to PG ($100 each way almost), I might as well fly to Negros than brave the on average 4 hour trip to PG, return business class seats from Manila are about $100.

 

I heard from someone who was just there that it's really slowed down in PG with a few shops (my friend's included) closing down.

 

Rocha, I heard this year was a bit off for vis due to early typhoons and rains. Dumaguete was fun for Macro but I would rank Balicasag and Dohol (near Camiguin Island) as very nice for wide angle and good vis, then again it's hard to beat the vis at Tubba.

Blueline, Tubbataha has the best reefs in the PI though the reserve area in Balicasag is really nice.

I'd just skip Negros and Mindoro altogether, even if there's good italian food.

Re PG, I think everywhere is being hit big time. Although I thought the mid price places like would do ok but I guess the swine flu scare just took the last bit of wind out of the sails.

The liveaboard situation in Tub is at best half decent compared to the boats in Thailand.

Psst Stu... keep some of the insider spots quiet for a while longer... things have a way of leaking out on WP.

Hi Guys,

Hope you don't mind me butting in here for a moment.

I've been to PG on a past trip and enjoyed it, and I'd like to make a return trip to the PI.

Not long ago, I won a free of charge trip through John Wee's liveaboard fleet to Tubbatta but I'm not sure whether to take it.

I know people who booked his boat in Chuuk, only to show up and be told the charter wasn't going to happen, they handed them a refund and put the group on land-based stays there. What a way to arrive.

When I won the trip, the Philippine tourist people were so excited for me, but Mr. Wee acted like it was a nusance, and he's the one who offered up the trip as a prize. Yes, I'd love the freebee, but to be honest, I also dont want to travel 20+ hours to get there and have the rug pulled out from under me. Have you guys been on his boats, can make any recommendations of which to do, which to avoid, etc for a trip to Tubbatta? I've been wanting to go there for a long time since I was in PG and talking with my friends who used to run the one of the places there. If its a matter of passing on the free spot, that's okay if it its worth it to go with someone else.

I've done lots and lots of liveaboards, my wife prefers ensuite, so that's an important option.

In addition, I'd like to combine Tubbatta with a land based stay while there. Do you have any recommendations of something that logistically would work well. When in PG, I stayed at the Atlantis Hotel, in Indo, I've stayed at Kasawari (I could be happy with any stay like that, really, as long as its clean and hospibitable, I'm good.) both were just fine. I'd prefer some place other than PG. Verde's wall was excellent and we enjoyed good dives all around but it would be nice to try some place else as well that would work with the flights, etc to Tubbatta.

Hope this makes sense?

Any help or suggestionions you can offer would be great. I'll do the research and leg work, just need a nudge in the right direction.

Thanks for letting me butt in.

paquito

With regards to the just mentioned operator, when I was last in Tubbataha, one of their boats ran aground on the reef IN the park! Apparently cut a 30-50 meter swath on top of the reef. I had a nice chat with the Park Manager when we got back to Puerto Princessa regarding the fines to be levied on them, prior to that, another of their boats ran aground in Honda Bay (the jump of point on regular Tubba trips from PP). I had one friend who was on one of their boats and were apparently packed like sardines and one one night dive, the boat crew literally were pushing divers in the water from the tender and another diver's tank cut her head open. Luckily there was someone on board (a guest) who was a doctor.

I prefer to take my Tubba trips on the Palau Sport, they used to have a dedicated Tubba boat, the Tristar but it floundered in a typhoon while in Manila Bay a couple of years ago. Topnotch service and I'm hoping to go back maybe next spring.

If you want to try other parts of the PI, then I'd echo Drew's post on Bohol, you can dive in Cabilao or Alona and go to Balicasag. I'd say the reefs there are healthier than Dumaguete's. The drop offs at Balicasag are IMHO better than Verde's

The only hassle about the PI is that you'll have to return to Manila or sometimes Cebu if you're planning on flying in and out of the different islands. There are high speed ferries that are really nice but do take a longer time. So if you're doing Tubba then the easiest would be to head to Anilao upon return to Manila or simply hop on another domestic flight to Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete. Domestic overweight charges are only like 50 cents per Kg.

I'd be happy to answer more specifics by PM or email, ie contact info for Palau Sport etc...

Stu

Thank you Stu, will be in touch.

Hmmm, it seems there's no conversation about Tubba without mention of the old Island Explorer incidents. That was a big mess ecologically speaking and they got off lightly. However, that is the problem that the Pinoy has to deal with themselves. I've been on the Stella Maris Explorer and the old Big Blue Explorer. The ops was ok. Dive crew were competent and they left me alone to do my thing, which is all I want. The Stella Maris has a jacuzzi which wasn't working when I was on it.

Besides the Expedition Fleet (the aforementioned Explorer boats) and Palau Sport, there's also the Oceana Maria (aka Ocean Hunter II from Palau) complete with ensuite and of course the Dschubba (formerly the moon shadow) which is non-ensuite. I've been on the Ocean Hunter II in Palau but don't know how things are in PI.

Tubba is very good diving. The biggest school of parrot I've ever seen was in Tubba (over 100). But the weather is finicky and can keep you off the better sites sometimes.