Trying to Decide

We have enough FF miles to fly and go here Atlantis Resort Puerto Galera Philippines, or fly to Bali and do Scuba Seraya for 5 days and then Lembeh Resort for about 8 or 9 days... which would you do? thanks

We have enough FF miles to fly and go here Atlantis Resort Puerto Galera Philippines, or fly to Bali and do Scuba Seraya for 5 days and then Lembeh Resort for about 8 or 9 days... which would you do? thanks

If these were my two choices, I'd fly to Bali because I like those two places better, think the macro photo opportunities are better. Did stop by Atlantis, looked quite nice.

Other things to consider. Think Philippine diving is great, but there are better places than PG. Anilao, on the other side of the bay, has much better photo opportunities, and diving there tends to be less regimented. If you are nudi photographer, Club Ocellaris cannot be beat.

Other good places I have been in Phil. include Apo Island, Bohol [Panglao Island], Siquijour. Many rate Dauin high for macro, but I found the opportunities disappointing.

If you like "night life", such as it is, only Puerto Galera has this to offer, restaurants and girl bars. I like Mermaid Divers there. Most places are in the harbour, which is pretty busy.

Just came back diving these 2 months ago, and do Bali & Lembeh most years. Lembeh Resort is a wonderful [though expensive] resort. Bastiano's is another favorite of mine. Scuba Seraya is also one of my favorites, small, relaxed, private, and personal. Right on the beach.

You can also stay in "town", about a block long, and Tulamben Wreck Divers is small, nice, inexpensive.

Back to Lembeh [NAD] and Scuba Seraya in Nov, then Philippines around April.

All depends what you want to see, and how you want to spend your time and money.

I have never been to Atlantis, but have been to both Bali and Lembeh Straits numerous times and I keep going back.

So for me its easy, Bali and North Sulawesi.

If you've not done any of them, I'd go to Lembeh.

My first choice would be Lembeh also!

Cheers

thanks guys, looks lembeh it is, fall is the best time of year?

I've been to Lembeh Straits in October and in November. The weather was mid 80's with 82 degree water. It might shower a little, but its no big deal since it is light and warm. I've stayed at Kungkungen Bay Resort (KBR) on my trips there but they have changed hands and the dive operation is no longer ECO Divers so I can not comment on how it is now. Wherever you stay I would recommend you hire a private dive guide, it is well worth the extra $50 per day. You just give him a list and he finds the critters for you. Lembeh Straits is maco heaven!!

I'd stay away from Atlantis in PG, it's in the nastier part of town, rowdy and smelly, though from the inside, the resort looks nice, step beyond the gates, you'll get all the girly bars, hookers and hawkers selling you anything from cheap sunglasses to bootleg dvds.

Stay at El Galleon and Asia Divers, http://www.asiadivers.com/elgalleon/ in Small La Laguna or don't cross the bay and stay in Anilao and stay with Dive Solana www.divesolana.com

Cheers

Stu

We've stayed at El Galleon which was nice for that part of the world, but for a photographer I would never recommend Asia Divers. They have a truck and train approach to diving where you absolutely have to stay with the group. I got so fed up with that that I only did a couple of dives with them which was a shame as they were a professional outfit - just not flexible enough.

Having said that there really is very little choice between PG and Lembeh. Lembeh ALL the way - shouldn't even been in the same discussion

Cheers, Simon

Scott,

Lembeh is a perenial favorite for the macro fiends and some of the ops do make trips out to the eastern side of the island where there is some decent coral growth (but not very fishy).

PG is isn't comparable to Bali in critters, pelagics or culture. Bali has the best easily accessible wreck dive there is (I'll give the Yongala the best wreck dive I've ever done) and of course at Lembongan/Penida, you get coral, mantas and molas. I use Scuba Seraya exclusively at Tulamben.

As others have said, PG is known more for nightlife and a weekend getaway than must do dive destination. There's plenty of discussions about what's available at Lembeh, Bali and PG.

For eg:

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=37910

As a counter point to Simon's experience with Asia Divers, I will say that diving with Asia Divers with the Wetpixel Staff members just a couple of years ago, we were given all sorts of freedom as photographer. We never felt rushed (except by the currents) and we all pretty much did our own thing. Note that I've not dived with Asia Diver without my own group for a long time so I don't remember what it's like to go as a loose single or pair.

I go to PG occasionally from Anilao for a few days only to change things up because it's a relatively short distance away from Anilao. Lots of better places to dive than PG in PI.

As a counter point to Simon's experience with Asia Divers, I will say that diving with Asia Divers with the Wetpixel Staff members just a couple of years ago, we were given all sorts of freedom as photographer. We never felt rushed (except by the currents) and we all pretty much did our own thing. Note that I've not dived with Asia Diver without my own group for a long time so I don't remember what it's like to go as a loose single or pair.

I go to PG occasionally from Anilao for a few days only to change things up because it's a relatively short distance away from Anilao. Lots of better places to dive than PG in PI.

Like I said they were professional but not flexible at all. When I discussed this with them after the first days diving they were pretty adamant that they treat everyone the same way, even going as far as to say that Peter Scoones and Leonardo Blanco had stayed with them a few months previously (on a jolly not on a 'shoot') and were constantly hurried along and made to stay with the group. It was perhaps more of a contrast after arriving there from a month in Lembeh, but even so I don't generally mind diving in large groups as long as I can tag along at the back and have a degree of flexibility. These guys had a DM firing a torpedo up my backside if I spent more than 30 seconds filming something and like I said I only did a handful of dives as a result. If it hadn't been a stop over for us and this was going to be my main diving on a trip then I would have switched operators for sure.

Cheers, Simon

Like I said they were professional but not flexible at all. When I discussed this with them after the first days diving they were pretty adamant that they treat everyone the same way, even going as far as to say that Peter Scoones and Leonardo Blanco had stayed with them a few months previously (on a jolly not on a 'shoot') and were constantly hurried along and made to stay with the group. It was perhaps more of a contrast after arriving there from a month in Lembeh, but even so I don't generally mind diving in large groups as long as I can tag along at the back and have a degree of flexibility. These guys had a DM firing a torpedo up my backside if I spent more than 30 seconds filming something and like I said I only did a handful of dives as a result. If it hadn't been a stop over for us and this was going to be my main diving on a trip then I would have switched operators for sure.

I'm not saying what happened to you isn't true, Simon, nor am I discounting your annoyance over what happened. I'm just recounting my experiences at Asia Diver over the years, which is exactly opposite of your single trip there. On my last trip, there were only 4 of us and they never put us on "general population" boats. They cleared a room to act as a photo gear set up stage and kept things safe under lock and key. They've dealt with photo groups before and know how demanding we can be. Our guide, Ruben, was very relaxed with us, although he stuck with James most often because James probably needed help with his ginormous 70-200 macro setup. Or maybe James looked like he was big daddy tipper? Who knows?

I still remember testing a housing with a WA lens only while James et al were shooting macro and I swam round the entire dive site alone while those freaks didn't move more than 3 m with the guide pointing out stuff. I was the one who harassed the divers to move along by taking video of them shooting little stuff.

Unlike your experience, my trips over the years have been very flexible and unhurried. And so have all the people I know who've dived with them. The daily madness of the morning dives is somewhat of a drag sometimes.

Re Atlantis PG:

Atlantis is on the noisier side of PG at Sabang Beach. The drains did use to stink a bit but that's been cleared up. It is located behind a row of buildings so the seaview rooms overlook buildings. Otherwise the standard rooms faced the pool or each other. While El Galeon has better seaview rooms, Atlantis has better (albeit quirkier) decor and was the more liveable. But the nicer rooms are all on the upper floors which make lugging your rig 3-4 times a day a light workout. Atlantis also has only a few real seaview rooms.

I prefer the restaurant at Atlantis over El Galleon for food but the ambience is rather stifled by location. No seaview and people walking by isn't all that fun.

El Galleon's seaview rooms are probably the best they offer in terms of view, although their Waimea wing have better decoration and amenities. The decor is rather typical and not as well thought out as Atlantis. The surroundings are quieter and more spacious around the pool due to the larger space.

Drew I understand and I know that you were not saying that what happened to me wasn't true, but my experience is probably more valid to the general forum. To Asia Divers I was Joe Public who arrived off the boat and who was not in an organised photo group from a well known underwater imaging internet forum! The way they treated me was the way they would have treated 99.9% of the divers who pass through (100% by their claim), so it is probably more of a fair representation of what really goes on.

The staff were highly professional and Asia Divers were a well organised set up, but they had zero flexibility for me or for Zoe who was shooting stills and was diving independently of me as we were taking turns looking after Gracie as we didn't want to leave her with anyone while in PG. If I'm ever in the area again I would absolutely stay at El Galleon, but I wouldn't dive with Asia Divers if I was serious about filming/photographing there. For fun diving it was more than adequate.

Hey it is a mute point now - looks like Scott is heading to Lembeh!

Cheers, Simon