Philippine Diving

HI everyone.

I'm leaving next week for 12 days of diving in Philippines. Mainly Puerto Galera in Mindoro Island and a couple of days in Anilao .

Does anyone has any info about Bohol area? I would like to spend the last 3 days diving there but not familiar with that part of the Philippines.

Questions for the experienced ones:

Can I travel directly from Puerto Galera to the Tagbilaran airport avoiding Manila?

Any recomendation about a good hotel/dive resort in Bohol?

Good photo/dive sites?

Is it a dive only type of location or some night life can be expected?

Thanks in advance for any help.

I will put togheter a trip report at my return.

Hugo

Hi Hugo,

I'm envious! PG is like my 2nd home whenever I'm in the Philippines. Bohol has some great diving, Panglao, Cabilao and nearby Balicasag are great dives, I spent 5 days in Balicasag, fantastic wall dives, stayed right at Balicasag, the resort is run by the Dept. of Tourism. I did all my diving through Scotty's Dive Center in Mactan...but there should be some good operators in Bohol. Scuba World was where my wife stayed before: http://www.scubaworld.com.ph/

I doubt you'd be able to bypass Manila, so just grin and bear it. If you're flying locally, on PAL, I suggest you get the Flying Sportsman's Package so you get an extra 20kg on you baggage allowance.

If you want the absolute best food anywhere in Puerto, look up Scubaplus Dive Center in Small La Laguna. Martin Muller is the proprietor and his wife Cecilia is an absolute wonder in the kitchen. In 8 years of diving in PG, I've never gone anywhere else.

Have a great time! My March trip is looking SOOOOO FAAARRRR AWAY!

Stu

Hi!

Bohol offers great diving around Panglao island. If you need nightlife and infrastructure exceeding diving facilities stick to the east coast on Panglao. There are a couple of hotels and dive operators.

The west coast is pretty rural area. there's just Coral Point Resort at Momo Beach right in the middle of nowhere. Ferry who is running the place has diving experience since the 1950ies and does UW-video. Great dive sites for macro.

Balicasag offers great walls and landscape. Don't miss the "Balicasag soup" at the restaurant there. It's worth the trip alone!

Cabilao has two nice dive sites but usually it takes about one hour to get there by boat from Panglao.

You may find a domestic flight to Cebu city. There's a speed boat to Bohol and Panglao from there. Quite comfortable.

I'm not a bit envy about your trip. I booked mine to another remote part of the Philippines today ;-)

Helge ;-)=)

Hi

We didn't dove in Bohol (time limitations) but if you get there don't miss the Chocolate hills and the option to see the Tarsier.

Hi,

I dove the Philipines in february this year. I stayed in Mindoro with the El galleon resort......dived with dive asia and tech asia had an excellent time with all the people there, very freindly.

I am going in october and taking my camera this time....i was doing courses last time so i left my camera behind.........never again.

I do recall seeing leopard shark and a large octupus in the canyon site, v. strong current though.

Does anyone now which other dive sites are good for photography?

Hi Hugo,

the best parts of the Visayas are Cabilao and Apo Island.

I'm not too hot about Cebu and Panglao...

There are Sea Explorer resorts/operations in Cebu, Cabilao, Dumaguete, Siquijor etc... They are very professional and every group I ever brought was happy...

The contact details for the Sea Explorer head office in Cebu:

Tel. +63 32 2340248

cebu@seaexplorerscuba.com

www.sea-explorers.com

Another option is Atlantis Resort in Dauin near Dumaguete and diving in Dauin and Apo Island... You can get infos at the Atlantis Resort in Puerto Galera and check out theire webpage:

www.atlantishotel.com

Also very good service!!!!

You'll have to go through Manila to fly to Tagbilaran (Bohol), Cebu or Dumaguete...

Have fun!

Cheers from Manila

Torben

Hi Hugo,

If you're flexible with your time in the Philippines you may want to visit Coron for a few days. I just spent two weeks there diving the WW2 wrecks in Coron bay. Great wreck diving in 20-40m depths. Visibility is poor at this time of year (about 8m) but the wrecks are still well worth exploring, pretty intact, and absolutely covered in masses of corals. You have ships from smaller gunboats through to large tankers, refrigeration ships, and even a plane tender.

Have fun!

Marco

Hi

For thoose that is planing to go to Sabang in Philippines to dive and looking for apartment i do have a brand new 2 room apartment whit aircon for rent.

50sqm apartment 15sqm balcony overlooking all sabang.

if intrested just send me a massage here or to my email

danne@dagphoto.de

Diving here is the best been diving now here for 6 month as divemaster.....