Subic Bay Wreck Diving/Dive Shops

[Bill22]

Can anyone make any recommendations for dive shops in the Subic Bay area. Specifically I want to dive on the USS New York and some of the other wrecks there in the bay.

[RikRaeder]

I had a very good experience with Johan's Adventure Dive Center last year (I'm going back in T minus 88 days). The style of diving is quite relaxed (boat will leave about 10ish) but sometimes that's a good thing. He's quite strict on procedures and safety, however. It's not your up at 6:30 in the water at 8:00 pee at 8:05 kind of diving, but he is the wreck king for the area (with very frequent trips to the New York if the USN isn't around).
http://www.subicdive.com/default.php

There is also an outfit called The Bluerock up the beach from him:
http://www.bluerocksubic.com/

Didn't dive with them, but stopped in for dinner one night and the restaurant staff were nice. Don't know anything about their diving. I know there are a couple of other outfits around there, but no info on them. Enjoy your trip.

[Bill22]

Originally Posted by RikRaeder

I had a very good experience with Johan's Adventure Dive Center last year (I'm going back in T minus 88 days). The style of diving is quite relaxed (boat will leave about 10ish) but sometimes that's a good thing. He's quite strict on procedures and safety, however. It's not your up at 6:30 in the water at 8:00 pee at 8:05 kind of diving, but he is the wreck king for the area (with very frequent trips to the New York if the USN isn't around).
http://www.subicdive.com/default.php

There is also an outfit called The Bluerock up the beach from him:
http://www.bluerocksubic.com/

Didn't dive with them, but stopped in for dinner one night and the restaurant staff were nice. Don't know anything about their diving. I know there are a couple of other outfits around there, but no info on them. Enjoy your trip.

Thanks! :-) This guy certainly seems to know his stuff. The dive part of the operation looked very good... the only thing that put me off a little was all the "rules" for the hotel they had. Blue Rock looks promising though. I got a different vibe... at least from their website ;-)

I still haven't decided that I won't make a run back over to Puerto Galera when I get to Manila from Cebu. I'll have to decide at some point since they're in opposite directions of each other. I had heard that this was not the optimum time of year for Subic Bay. Can you shed any light on that. What was your experience?

[RTBROWN]

I dove with the Blue Rock people. We dove on some ships and some coral formations. It was all good.

[Bill22]

Originally Posted by RTBROWN

I dove with the Blue Rock people. We dove on some ships and some coral formations. It was all good.

Ahh... good someone who has been there, since Blue Rock is on the short list :-) A few questions if you don't mind. Did you stay with them also? How many dives a day were they doing? What time of year were you there? What was the visibility like? How did they deal with the photographers (we tend to get a little side-tracked ;-)). Did they buddy up experienced divers with each other or did they put everyone together with a guide and make them stay with them the entire time?

Thanks!! :-)

[LCFrigon]

BlueRock Dive Center is good! Been there a couple of times...they have good guides that know the best spots and are very proffesional without being to anal....

[RikRaeder]

I'm not sure when Prime Diving is in Subic. I went in December. It isn't a tropical reef, but we go a couple of days with ok visibility. The rules on Johan's site are a new addition since last year. I should think not much has changed, just covering himself in case of troublemakers. I think any of the established outfits around there will probably take good care of you. Johan seems to be pretty strict about cert. levels (max depth, etc) but I've also seen him be EXTREMELY leinent with those who had the goods. We were going out with about 6-10 divers a day (in several groups). It seems that Subic isn't teaming with divers. In two weeks we ended up at the same spot as another boat maybe twice.

[Bill22]

Originally Posted by RikRaeder

I'm not sure when Prime Diving is in Subic. I went in December. It isn't a tropical reef, but we go a couple of days with ok visibility. The rules on Johan's site are a new addition since last year. I should think not much has changed, just covering himself in case of troublemakers. I think any of the established outfits around there will probably take good care of you. Johan seems to be pretty strict about cert. levels (max depth, etc) but I've also seen him be EXTREMELY leinent with those who had the goods. We were going out with about 6-10 divers a day (in several groups). It seems that Subic isn't teaming with divers. In two weeks we ended up at the same spot as another boat maybe twice.

Thanks to everyone, this is good info and I'm sure I'll use it when I go on my next trip. I ended up opting to stay in Malapascua for a few extra days and then went and did Moalboal. Check out my trip report over in the Asia Diving section. It's work in progress... still have a ways to finish up.

I"ll save Subic for when I do my wreck trip. I was thinking a few days in Subic and then to go to Coron for a week. About 11-12 dive days. Course I'm also considering another trip to Cebu also and I hear Bohol is very nice.... thats the problem with the Philippines.... just too many great places to go dive :-)

[gbrdiver]

I have used Boardwalk dive centre for the six or so times I have dived Subic. Most times I was travelling on my own so I dived tech with either the owner or DM which was great...good penetrations throught the New York and LST, a couple of trimix dives to wrecks not shown on most dive maps. Vis in Subic is not always good though. Remember, if it is the former USS New York you wish to dive, phone ahead before arriving. Due to its location in the bay, whenever a visiting navy ship is in port, diving this wreck is off limits. Earlier this year this site was closed for a few months.

[Bill22]

Originally Posted by gbrdiver

I have used Boardwalk dive centre for the six or so times I have dived Subic. Most times I was travelling on my own so I dived tech with either the owner or DM which was great...good penetrations throught the New York and LST, a couple of trimix dives to wrecks not shown on most dive maps. Vis in Subic is not always good though. Remember, if it is the former USS New York you wish to dive, phone ahead before arriving. Due to its location in the bay, whenever a visiting navy ship is in port, diving this wreck is off limits. Earlier this year this site was closed for a few months.

That's good information to know. I'm planning two trips for next year. One will be a Leyte, Bohol, Cebu trip, and the other will probably be the wreck trip, Subic, Coron, and finish up with Tubbataha.

You've been there six times, so you probably have a better feel for this. What's the best time of year, visibility-wise? Or is it impossible to really know?