SWV @ Mabul
I just got back from a trip through asia with 3 days of diving on Mabul at the SWV. At first, my impressions of the resort were very high. I loved the rooms, layout of the resort, the people, food was good. After I'd dived a day I was really excited about the life around the islands but was less enthralled by the diving schedule. To put it mildly, I found it strict and suffocating for photography. Three dives a day at approximately 45 minutes each dive wasn't nearly enough to get in any decent photography, and especially not any really decent macro. Some of the guides were nicer than others, but I was also a little put off by being grouped onto boats of all Japanese, with a Japanese only guide and being the only two English speakers. Furthermore, there is a lot of talk about "conservation" and "protection" of the reefs but I noted several divers repeatedly lying, grabbing, sitting, and walking, YES WALKING on the reef with no comment at all from the guides.
Essentially, I loved Mabul and would like to go back, but I wonder from the others with more experience how easy it is to pursuade the guides/boats to allow longer dive times. I realize it's possible to dive the house reef all day, but that is a little limiting and small not to mention.
