Philippines Dive Trip 2016
 

I'm heading out to the Philippines next year with the local diving shop. They put a group together every year and go on an adventure. This year they(we) are going to Puerto Galera, Mindoro (I think I got that right) for 15 days. Staying at a dive resort with unlimited dives so we'll be diving with Nitrox to make full use of this! Can't wait!

Anyone been to the area? Any tips (dive related or not)? I've never been to Asia before.

I'm was born 70 kms South of Puerto Galera. They have nice beaches there, reefs are ok. But if you want to see the best reef in the Philippines you must go to Palawan Islands. Or head further South to Apo Reef in Sablayan Occidental Mindoro.

How long are you going for total? if you have time to visit other dive locations i can recommend some
I second crimpers recommmendation, palawan reefs are a must see.
I'll be there in Jan-Feb

Crimper said it all.

Tubbataha Reef in Palawan is a must see. But of course I'll promote my local reef... and one of the best reef out there...

Apo Reef in Sablayan Occidental Mindoro, that's about 350 kms South of Puerto Galera, and about 5 hours drive.

I've been to Cabilao Island a few times(2005 and 2006) and the diving was great. It's a marine reserve so not as much fishing as other places. Consequently tons of fish.

Here is the website for the dive resort I stayed at. It was quiet and primitive when I was there... just the way I like it. Food was good and people were friendly. Mango shakes are to die for.

https://www.polaris-dive.com/

Be aware that they sometimes get swarmed by jellyfish so diving becomes impossible. I don't remember what time of year it happened.

Aw, looks like I'll be missing out on the best. The Palawan Islands look amazing, but I bet a trip that way would cost a lot more, especially considering I've already paid for the dive resort on Mindoro. It looks fairly difficult to get to Palawan from Mindoro - I can only find a ferry that runs across and takes 23 hours. To go from Manila to Palawan there are many options.

I'll probably be right behind you - mid Feb for 15 days.

Is it worth a day trip? Kinda far for a day trip though.

Going to Palawan from Puerto Galera is a grueling land and ferry ride. If you have time constraint, don't do it.

Going to Apo Reef in Sablayan could work if you leave and travel at night then you'll have the entire day to dive. :smile:

Keep us posted... and video/pics please. :wink:

[quote=crimper;971269]Going to Palawan from Puerto Galera is a grueling land and ferry ride. If you have time constraint, don't do it.[quote]

That's the conclusion I came to. Thanks for confirming it. Maybe another time. I've never been to any part of Asia before, so I'm sure I'll be impressed nonetheless. :)

I talked to the guy who arranged the trip (local dive shop owner) and says that the Apo reef is on the radar, so some of us may make the trip. There are 12 of us I think.

Me and my wife just got back from 30 days backpacking Indonesia last week, got lots of diving in and also did a week long live aboard in Raja Ampat . Epic, like every dive was like national geographic, i want to go back there and then to Palawan and do the Philippines next.
Im now currently sorting through 500 clips of go pro footage cause I want to put it all in lol

Take lots of pictures and video

Raja Ampat looks incredible! Looks like I know where next years vacation is :biggrin: thanks Craig!

I would have preferred Indonesia too, but this opportunity came up to go with the dive shop here, so I figured it would be great. Jeez, 500 clips?? That's going to take awhile! :D I haven't actually done any diving in tropical waters, so I'm excited to dive somewhere that I won't freeze my butt off and I'll see something other than trout! Haha!

15 days of diving! That should be so amazing. I'm hugely jealous!

O well you are in for some awesome stuff, !

Got my open water at Nogas marine sanctuary (south of Iloilo) and have dived Boracay, Panglao, Palawan and last time went to Coron mainly for the wrecks but snorkelling in area was truely amazing.

Every where I've been has been great, sure you'll enjoy yourself.

Also not sure where you are going exactly but worth spending the money to get name brand malaria pills we were on Malarone zero side effects, and due to malaria resistant had to take priquine after we left the area also zero side effects

And order 100% DEET from amazon it was like 10$ and stuff worked like insane never seen bug spray actually make bugs mad and leave the area before never using anything less while camping again

I'm looking into this and Hep A&B shots. Last year, the diving shop here visited a different island in Philippines, and he says they didn't even see a mosquito, but they didn't go inland at all.

That stuff will kill you too! :lol:

Ah yea If your not going inland then way lower risk didn't know if you were on like a dive boat or diving from a home stay or resort type thing. probably won't see any of your on a dive boat unless your docked really close to land

It's a dive resort on land. I do plan to take an inland adventure though.

Forgot to mention, there is a closer reef sanctuary to Puerto Gallera (Mindoro) that is worth checking. It is called the Verde Island (Batangas) Passage Marine Bio Diversity Conservation. It is an island before you reach Puerto Gallera (Mindoro). About 45 minutes boat from Puerto Gallera.

here's a dive video
https://youtu.be/pkc_I7Lu5yc

here's a Documentary video
https://youtu.be/GaJO8Xl63V0

There are tons of amazing coral reefs in the Philippines, enjoy your trip. :wink:

Wow thanks for the videos!! The first one isn't working for me, but I'll track it down. I'll definitely mention this to the group. It looks amazing!!

Sent from my SM-G870W using Tapatalk

yup, just search Verde Island in you_tube and you'll find several dive videos in there. international divers says that Verde Island has the most diverse sea creatures on earth.

I'm all over it. :D

since in the area, check out Taal Volcano. Huge caldera, there's an island in middle of lake which has a lake in middle of it with other little island.

So there's a volcano
...that has a lake
...and that lake has an island
...and that island has a lake

...Whoa man...:hippie:

and that last lake has it's own little island. And all of this is on the main island of Luzon

That looks pretty cool! We'll be driving right by it on the way to the boat to Puetro Galera. It's a group vacation though, so I'm not sure we'll get a chance to stop in. Is it freshwater??

Save this for your next Big Dive...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOuH5X-HdpU

Just to add, Palawan was voted as the best Island in The World 2014 and 2015. :wink:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/tr...r-readers.html

Tubbataha is definitely on the bucket list. Must focus on what I can get to this time though! Haha!

Wow, and there is some serious competition too!

Here's 2015 Top 20. Bora-bora only comes 2nd. I was surprise Great Barrier Reef only came 6th and surprisingly Vancouver Island came 7th. :smile:

http://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/...awards-2014/20

Trust me you won't be disappointed, my co-worker went there for their honey moon and he said that's the best place they ever been and will be back there in a couple of years.

Hubby bought me a Suunto Zoop for Christmas. It's Nitrox-ready. :) Now all I need is a wet suit, and I'm all ready to go! :D

I'm jealous! Can't wait to see the dive videos.

Heres some pics of a dive on our last trip off the northern tip of Cebu. Shortly after this we entered an island with caves filled with white tip sharks. Really cool dive

http://i.imgur.com/MnII2qH.jpg

That's a good computer. I have been using one for a few years and when my wife's old Mosquito packed it in Bonaire last March we bought her one too.
If you like logging your dives high-tech style pick up the data cable so you can download your dives to a computer. I also bought a DC Buddy for wireless downloads to my iPad, but now I use a Surface Pro 4 and will use the data cable.

10 more sleeps! :multi:

Check out the dive sites: http://www.atlantishotel.com/scubadi...e_sites_pg.php

We're going to do a day trip to Verde Island. :D

Thanks for the tip! I guess I'll have to bring my laptop. :D

The last 10 days is the longest! :)
We are in Cozumel now and having some great dives!

Awesome, I loved Cozumel when we visited! :)

So I've officially been to the area now. Spent two full days plus an afternoon there. Reallllly wanted to dive but the weather.... :(
Went snorkelling though near coral gardens resort. I'll post some pics when I get back.

Getting to Galera was pretty easy, we took an ALPS bus from Cubao station in Manila to Batangas Pier. 164 pesos for trip, the ALPS busses are he biggest and nicest on average and have A/C and WIFI. When you get off the bus (last stop) you'll be approached by some locals. Wanting to carry your bags, or tell you the last boat has left. I just say no thank you or better yet bring a Filipino with you like I did they're much more effective :) we still got led to the ticket booths by 2 guys after saying no we don't need your help.
Anyhow just exit the bus loop cross the street and head to pier 3, it's on the far left. We had 2 options on boats to take, just choose which ticket window. Either MSL (Minolo shipping lines) (275p+30p port fee), or FSL (father and son lines) (270p+30p port fee. We took MSL there and FSL back. I would recommend the FSL. Bigger boats on average which should mean a more comfortable 1hr 15min trip. You'll be going direct to Sabang I'm assuming. The trip back on FSL was 230p, no port fee.

Once there you might wanna tour around the island a bit if you have time. Sabang is a bit of red light district at night. As is White Beach where we stayed. You may wanna check out the one or 2 water falls further down island or the lookout at Pandora at sunset between Puerto Galera town proper and White Beach. (Take a left just before the Fil Oil station) you can see all of Galera from up there. The locals recommended this as the waterfalls are cold, haha they don't know what cold is.

Getting around is easy but can be expensive if you plan on touring around much. Tricycles are the most common method of transport, they can take up to 20 people... Kidding, 2 adults in the side car, but the locals really load these things up, it's quite funny. It'll cost you about 100 peso to go to Galera town one way, or 250-300 one way to white beach. If you or the hubby is confident on a motorcycle I would recommend just renting a scooter or dirt bike while you're there. The road especially between Sabang and Galera is a bit dangerous (unmarked hairpins and broken concrete) but it will save you a fair bit of cash and time in the long run if you plan on cruising around. Just remember to stay to the right and watch for oncoming trucks and other motorcycles! Scooters run about 400p per day and 2100 per week and dirt bikes are more but didn't ask about the price. If someone tells you a price for anything just bargain with them

Don't drink the tap water in Galera, which is the case with anywhere in the Philippines. The water there comes from underground and has a bit of an off smell. And when using toilets if you use toilet paper put it in the trash bin or use the spray nozzle to clean up (I find this to be quite awkward) I think their sanitary system uses septic tanks

For food I would recommend El Galleon anytime of day, great menu and quality. We had a pork chop special for dinner before we left that was amazing. About $12cad... Also there's a pizza/Italian place near the Muelle port (Robbie's pizzeria). And while you're in the Philippines you have to try one of these... Balot (partially developed duck egg), chicken or pork Isaw (intestines on a skewer), Sisig (fried pigs ear dish)

I'll try to post some pics when I get back home on the 7th. We're catching a direct flight to El Nido today for 5 days, will hopefully get to do some diving there :)

Hey thanks for the detailed response!!!! How long is the trip from Manila airport to Batangas? I read reviews on Trip Advisor that said the Sabang area has plenty of hookers at night. Just what I was looking for! ;)

Thanks for the info on the scooters too. I was thinking I might like to rent one. I'm not sure I'll be doing a whole lot of exploring because hubby is actually staying at home and I'm traveling with a bunch of people that I don't know very well, so I may end up being a bit of a chicken. :eek: I would love to see some of the waterfalls and other sights I've heard about though.

I love to try new foods, but there's no way I'm eating weird meats. That's where I draw the line!