Dive locations and Buddies in the Philippines

[frozenwarp]

GDay, Im heading to the Phillipines at the end of sept and will have a week free (ill be in manila but willing to go else where) then im off too Panay for 2 months and then i have another week around manila.

I'm looking for any suggested dive sites (ive had a look around and so far Coron and Peurto Galera are at the top of the list) but im looking for other peoples suggestions on sights and also any suggestion for dive shops or body over there to help me out with diving.

cheers in advance,
Bradley

[h2odragon1]

Start in Puerto Galera. It's a 2 hour bus ride south of Manila to the Batangas Pier then a 1 hour boat ride. Take the boat to Sabang Beach, if you go into Puerto Galera, you'll have to take a jeepney to any dive area. Sabang, and nearby Little LaLaguna beach have many dive shops and places to stay. Puerto Galera, Philippines. Beach Resorts, Hotels and Scuba Diving Travel Guide and Directory. Dive Puerto Galera, Dive Philippines, Dive Action Divers In 2005 my wife and I dove with Action divers and had them arrange accomodations. Great time!! The most varied diving you coul find; rec.; tech.; wreck; deep you could have a 300 fsw dive to the Queen of the orient.; drift; nature, 600+ species of nudibranchs in the Verde Is. Passage.
You could also go to Anilao, also a two hour bus ride south of Manila Municipality of Mabini, Batangas Philippines The diving is supposed to be a little better, but for Intermediate to experienced divers because of a current.
For Panay, there is not much choice yet. Boracay has diving, but can be expensive for accomodations. You can go to Culaisi in Antique Provense for Panay Explorers Panay Explorers . A new area with few resorts but great diving, I have heard.
If you want another area try Bohol, Panglao Is. My wife and I were there this past Feb., and are planning on going back! Welcome to Bohol, Philippines Welcome to Flower Garden Resort . We dove with Baywatch divers,(sorry no web site for them). baywatchdivers@yahoo.com I dove with Vernon. If you go to Bohol be sure to see the Chocolate Hills, the Tarsiers, and dive Balicasag.
You're in for a GREAT time!!

WARNINGIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES IS THE MOST ADDICTIVE FORM OF DIVING!

[frozenwarp]

Thanks heaps, your information has been very helpful especially the tip about staying in sabang instead of right in Panay.
I cant wait to get over there rigt now im just flat out organising gear and how to take enough gear light enough

Thanks again,
Bradley

[h2odragon1]

Originally Posted by frozenwarp

Thanks heaps, your information has been very helpful especially the tip about staying in sabang instead of right in Panay.
I cant wait to get over there rigt now im just flat out organising gear and how to take enough gear light enough

Thanks again,
Bradley

Panay is in the Visayas, central region. Sabang, (Pureto Galera) in in the Luzon, northern region. if you were going to Panay, then Puerto Galera is closer to Manila, then a flight to Panay or Bohol as I stated. Bohol and Panay are both in the Visayas but separate Is., and you'll need to take a ferry or a pond skipper flight to the next place. Ocean Jet
Look at the web links, the daily rental for equipt. is not that high. My wife and I brought our own masks, and snorkels in 2005 and paid only $5/ dive. Action Divers now offers $4/day.
As far as dive buddies, I belong to online Philippines dive groups. DiveAddicts : DiveAddicts pinoydive : Pinoy Dive scubaphilippines : Share Experiences on Diving in the Philippines
You might mant to ask for dive buddies if you feel you'll want to dive with locals. They do know dive sites other than the tourist sites. (they may try to get you to eat Balut) [Balut is a duck egg that was well on it's way to being a duck before it was removed from the nest ]. San Muigel is the local beer if you are so inclined.
I know you'll have a great time.

[frozenwarp]

Yea whoops i meant Peurto Galera not Panay when i said the above quote, I am doing some reef monitoring with a conservation group in Panay so that is definate but i am hoping to do a side trip tp Peurto Galera coz i hear its awsome, Thanks for the info on rental gear but coz im gonna be there for a few months im taking all my own gear.

Thanks,
Bradley

[Asiadiver]

You will love Sabang. All the dive shops are great, I have been diving with Captin Greggs for 10 years, never had a bad dive with them. They also rent rooms and have some of the best food in the area. Everyone there knows Chuck, he's an Aussie so you should get along just fine.

Enjoy.

[hooligan]

A co-worker of mine has a cousin that runs this resort out there. Portulano Diving Dive Resort in Batangas I'm hopefully going to make a trip out there in the near future.

[frozenwarp]

Hoolagin still hope to catch up with you in Antique as i will be there at some stage i'll send ya an email when i know when i'm gonna be around

[frozenwarp]

OK UPDATE;

Although i was keen on Peurto Galera and Coron i think now i'm gonna make it Peurto Galera and Subic,
from advice from above and a couple of email corrispondance i'm prob gonna stay and dive with CaptnGreggs in PG and maybe Johan's in Subic.
Can anyone offer me there experiance and either of these locations and paricularly if u have stay at either resorts

thanks in advance all,
Bradley

[gbrdiver]

I've used Frontier Divers at PG a couple of times and can recommend their operation. Like all the operators at PG, they can arrange various levels of transport and accomodation options. I like that their operation is a bit more personal rather than just going along with the crowd. Same when I use Boardwalk up at Subic - if I'm doing a tech dive George has all my gases blended ready to go when I arrive. I've always done the wrecks I want to dive as well...not sure Johan's is quite as flexible as Boardwalk.

Capt'n Greggs do have the best beer coolers on PG though!!