Resort recommendations for Malapascua and Duamaguette, Phillipines

Looking for resort recommendations for the above locations. Thanks in Advance,

Jamie

Resort recommendations are tough, not everyone values the same things, but for what it's worth here are mine. In Malapascua I went for the diving and didn't care about the resort so much (but found it to be very good) while in Dumaguete I went for the resort and didn't prioritize the diving (but still had a great time).

In Malapascua I've stayed at Evolution and would certainly recommend it. I chose it primarily for the dive operation, and found them to be excellent - very professional, conservation-minded, and scientifically informed DMs. Other well-known resorts have a lesser reputation, which you can find on ScubaBoard. The rooms are ordinary, the bar and restaurant right on the beach with very good food and drinks. Overall its a super friendly place that you can feel good about supporting. The only other resort we visited there was Tepanee. It is certainly beautiful, but not primarily a dive resort although you can dive from there.

In Dumaguete, you probably want to be in the Dauin area as it is closest to the best sites including Apo island. Atlantis and Atmosphere are the go-to recommendations by most divers, with the best reputations for their dive ops. A newer place tht is getting a good buzz is Acqua Dive. I have stayed at Antulang and loved it - most "rooms" are actually 1 or 2 bedroom villas with totally private pools and patios on the cliff. But it is not a dive resort and you need to arrange for transport and boats to the sites which the resort will help you with.

For Malapascua, hands down, Evolution.

Dumaguete would be Atlantis.

If you are looking for something nice but less expensive than Atlantis, I really enjoyed Pura Vida in Dumaguette. Great staff and dive operation.

Thanks guys, this has been a big help getting started on my research.

Jamie

Malapascua, I would go either with Exotic which are the pioneer diving the threshers (had the pleasure to share the same boat with the great Doug Perrine 15 years ago) or Sea Explorers because they are consistent all over the Visayas and from divers feedback better than others at spotting critters.

One information about Evolution : they don't allow you carrying and using a muck stick, and that's a definite no go for me, 20 years experience diving in the SEA area it's probably the only operation I've seen bannning sticks. They probably can't understand that it's device that allows not touching nor unexpectedly lying on the ground, anyway that says for me a lot about the operation sanctimonious approach. Won't see me...

Dumaguete, I really enjoyed Mike's Dauin beach resort, small operation located very close to the best macro spots, nice guides and less expensive than the pompous Atlantis. Pura Vida wich is also run by Sea Explorers would be my second choice.

Looking for resort recommendations for the above locations. Thanks in Advance,

 

Jamie

 

Acqua Dive in Dumaguete

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