Ren Travel and Tours - Philippine Diving Destinations

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Anilao, Batangas | Puerto Galera | Dumaguete | Verde Island | Donsol, Sorsogon | Malapascua | Palawan | Sulu Sea | Scuba Diving

This summer could be the beginning of your journey into the deep. Diver couple tells how to get started and where to go.
Summer Diving Options
by Anna Joaquin Barrios - Shopwise, Summer 2001

            Summertime beckons once more. It's that time again when we think about heading for the beach, to get some sun and fresh air, and to escape the daily grind of Manila. Here we provide some suggestions for a wide range of destinations for diving as well as other activities that will surely keep you busy, if not happy and coolheaded.

Atlantis Dive Resort, Puerto Galera
Atlantis Dive Resort, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro is quoted by many travel guide books and magazines as one of the most outstanding resorts in the Philippines. Atlantis Dive Resort, Dumaguete

Atlantis Dive Resort, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental - one of the last secret hideaways in the Philippines offers great dive sites including dolphin tours.

Anilao, Batangas

            Two hours away from Manila via the new Calabarzon Highway. Prolific marine life includes dolphins - bottle-nose, spotted, spinners, risso's - as well as pilot whales and dwarf sperm whales (one of the smallest whales in the world). Weekend packages at several resorts of P2,500-5,000 for a weekend (accommodations and buffet meals). "Introductory" dives for the non-diver. Some resorts rent and offer jetskis, windsurfing, and parasailing. Other accommodations: family cottages, inns, native huts.
Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro

            Means "port of galleons." A natural harbor with verdant hills looming over bays and beaches. A major trade center in 1574. Protected from the practice of dynamite fishing, therefore reefs are abundant and alive. Scuba diving, scuba lessons, snorkeling, kayaking, etc. Weekend packages at around P2,500.00 per night, including accommodations and meals. Accessible by car to Batangas, followed by an hour's scenic boat ride up to the island. Night life at Sabang Bay is lots of fun, a real party place, bars open till the wee hours of the morning.

Verde Island
            Luxurious carpet of soft corals as well as gorgonians. Lots of reef tropicals like anthias and surgeonfish cloud the reef as the occasional pelagic visitors tend to cruise by the drop-off. New resort accessible from Batangas (two hours by car followed by an hour's boat ride).

Donsol, Sorsogon

            Must-see destination. Boats of the world's largest congregation of whalesharks - gentle giants, the largest fish in the sea at up to 50 feet long - attracting scientists from all over the world. Our very own personal experience on our first trip: 57 sightings in six hours!

Palawan

            The Philippine's last frontier. A large island, with many places to discover and enjoy. Choice accommodations for the more discriminating travelers. Island-hopping tours, picnics in secluded island coves, cocktails on the beach at sunset. Reasonably priced resorts for visitors on a budget.
Malapascua Island
            Recently discovered dive area near Cebu. Boat transfers from Cebu City to Malapascua Exotic Island. Thresher sharks (if the body is two meters long, the upper part of the tail is also two meters long): A beautiful, extremely rare animal - before Malapascua, I had seen only two (as many as 10 in Malapascua on a single dive). Manta eagle, and marble rays; white-tip reef sharks; tuna; lots of other big fish. Shipwrecks that you can dive (bring along a dive light).

Sulu Sea or Tubbataha Reefs

            The most popular destination in the country, mainly because it offers the widest array of marine life of every shape and size. For the serious diver (definitely a must). Accessible only by yacht or live-aboard dive vessel. Sharks - white tips, grey reefs, hammerheads, threshers, leopard, etc. Also turtles, mantas, eagle rays, schools and schools of fish, etc.

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Scuba Diving
by Louie Barrios - Shopwise Magazine, Summer 2001
            The Philippines 7,000-plus islands, along with a magnificent tropical climate, make our country one of the top international destinations for scuba diving. There are numerous reefs, dive sites, shipwrecks, atolls, caves, and caverns. In short, there is something for every field of interest. Scuba diving offers several different activities: underwater photography, video, cave exploration, and just plain "fun" diving.

            The sea and its environment are like no other. Imagine yourself suspended in a kaleidoscope of color, swimming among schools of fish of every size and shape. Imagine a giant manta ray, with an 18-foot wingspan, as it comes within two feet of you. Dong an underwater ballet in near-weightlessness with this gentle creature is an experience you'll never forget. Unlike other activities, you can dive in the same spot; yet every dive is a new experience with new sights to behold.

            Scuba diving is not a sport; it's an adventure. There is no competition involved - just the relaxing discovery of underwater havens and the resulting camaraderie among those who are moved by the experience.

            Diving is an activity that deals with several physical laws, particularly those involving physiology and pressure. That is why it is absolutely essential that you enroll in a proper diving course. Diving courses are not all the same: one that is properly taught trains you to avoid the possible dangers of diving. You also need to have average swimming skills. The sea is no place for non-swimmers, even with the best scuba equipment.

            Several dive shops offer diving courses, and there are quite a few freelance instructors who conduct courses. Since the diving community in the Philippines is quite small, your best bet is to ask your diving friends who the best instructors are. A basic diving course runs about P12,500.00 (depending on who the instructor is). Remember, you get what you pay for. Beware of "good deals" as far as instruction is concerned.

            How much you spend on diving equipment will depend on which end of the spectrum you choose to select from. Generally speaking, all diving equipment manufactured today are of high quality; but, like everything else, some are more expensive, the reason being better performance. A word of advise: equipment selection guidelines are taught in a diving course. One should wait to be instructed. Furthermore, dive shops are not supposed to sell scuba life-support equipment to a non-certified individual. Equipment cost is one of the factors that discourage some from taking the course, but rentals are available in dive shops and resorts.

            Remember that safety is always the primary concern.

Louie Barrios is a NAUI Scuba Dive Instructor-Trainer and an Underwater Cinematographer.

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Anilao, Batangas \| Puerto Galera \| Dumaguete \| Verde Island \| Donsol, Sorsogon \| Malapascua \| Palawan \| Sulu Sea \| Scuba Diving
	This summer could be the beginning of your journey into the deep. Diver couple tells how to get started and where to go. Summer Diving Options by Anna Joaquin Barrios - Shopwise, Summer 2001 Summertime beckons once more. It's that time again when we think about heading for the beach, to get some sun and fresh air, and to escape the daily grind of Manila. Here we provide some suggestions for a wide range of destinations for diving as well as other activities that will surely keep you busy, if not happy and coolheaded.
Atlantis Dive Resort, Puerto Galera Atlantis Dive Resort, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro is quoted by many travel guide books and magazines as one of the most outstanding resorts in the Philippines.	Atlantis Dive Resort, Dumaguete Atlantis Dive Resort, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental - one of the last secret hideaways in the Philippines offers great dive sites including dolphin tours.
Anilao, Batangas Two hours away from Manila via the new Calabarzon Highway. Prolific marine life includes dolphins - bottle-nose, spotted, spinners, risso's - as well as pilot whales and dwarf sperm whales (one of the smallest whales in the world). Weekend packages at several resorts of P2,500-5,000 for a weekend (accommodations and buffet meals). "Introductory" dives for the non-diver. Some resorts rent and offer jetskis, windsurfing, and parasailing. Other accommodations: family cottages, inns, native huts.	Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro Means "port of galleons." A natural harbor with verdant hills looming over bays and beaches. A major trade center in 1574. Protected from the practice of dynamite fishing, therefore reefs are abundant and alive. Scuba diving, scuba lessons, snorkeling, kayaking, etc. Weekend packages at around P2,500.00 per night, including accommodations and meals. Accessible by car to Batangas, followed by an hour's scenic boat ride up to the island. Night life at Sabang Bay is lots of fun, a real party place, bars open till the wee hours of the morning.
Verde Island Luxurious carpet of soft corals as well as gorgonians. Lots of reef tropicals like anthias and surgeonfish cloud the reef as the occasional pelagic visitors tend to cruise by the drop-off. New resort accessible from Batangas (two hours by car followed by an hour's boat ride). Donsol, Sorsogon Must-see destination. Boats of the world's largest congregation of whalesharks - gentle giants, the largest fish in the sea at up to 50 feet long - attracting scientists from all over the world. Our very own personal experience on our first trip: 57 sightings in six hours! Palawan The Philippine's last frontier. A large island, with many places to discover and enjoy. Choice accommodations for the more discriminating travelers. Island-hopping tours, picnics in secluded island coves, cocktails on the beach at sunset. Reasonably priced resorts for visitors on a budget.	Malapascua Island Recently discovered dive area near Cebu. Boat transfers from Cebu City to Malapascua Exotic Island. Thresher sharks (if the body is two meters long, the upper part of the tail is also two meters long): A beautiful, extremely rare animal - before Malapascua, I had seen only two (as many as 10 in Malapascua on a single dive). Manta eagle, and marble rays; white-tip reef sharks; tuna; lots of other big fish. Shipwrecks that you can dive (bring along a dive light). Sulu Sea or Tubbataha Reefs The most popular destination in the country, mainly because it offers the widest array of marine life of every shape and size. For the serious diver (definitely a must). Accessible only by yacht or live-aboard dive vessel. Sharks - white tips, grey reefs, hammerheads, threshers, leopard, etc. Also turtles, mantas, eagle rays, schools and schools of fish, etc. to top
Scuba Diving by Louie Barrios - Shopwise Magazine, Summer 2001 The Philippines 7,000-plus islands, along with a magnificent tropical climate, make our country one of the top international destinations for scuba diving. There are numerous reefs, dive sites, shipwrecks, atolls, caves, and caverns. In short, there is something for every field of interest. Scuba diving offers several different activities: underwater photography, video, cave exploration, and just plain "fun" diving. The sea and its environment are like no other. Imagine yourself suspended in a kaleidoscope of color, swimming among schools of fish of every size and shape. Imagine a giant manta ray, with an 18-foot wingspan, as it comes within two feet of you. Dong an underwater ballet in near-weightlessness with this gentle creature is an experience you'll never forget. Unlike other activities, you can dive in the same spot; yet every dive is a new experience with new sights to behold. Scuba diving is not a sport; it's an adventure. There is no competition involved - just the relaxing discovery of underwater havens and the resulting camaraderie among those who are moved by the experience. Diving is an activity that deals with several physical laws, particularly those involving physiology and pressure. That is why it is absolutely essential that you enroll in a proper diving course. Diving courses are not all the same: one that is properly taught trains you to avoid the possible dangers of diving. You also need to have average swimming skills. The sea is no place for non-swimmers, even with the best scuba equipment. Several dive shops offer diving courses, and there are quite a few freelance instructors who conduct courses. Since the diving community in the Philippines is quite small, your best bet is to ask your diving friends who the best instructors are. A basic diving course runs about P12,500.00 (depending on who the instructor is). Remember, you get what you pay for. Beware of "good deals" as far as instruction is concerned. How much you spend on diving equipment will depend on which end of the spectrum you choose to select from. Generally speaking, all diving equipment manufactured today are of high quality; but, like everything else, some are more expensive, the reason being better performance. A word of advise: equipment selection guidelines are taught in a diving course. One should wait to be instructed. Furthermore, dive shops are not supposed to sell scuba life-support equipment to a non-certified individual. Equipment cost is one of the factors that discourage some from taking the course, but rentals are available in dive shops and resorts. Remember that safety is always the primary concern. Louie Barrios is a NAUI Scuba Dive Instructor-Trainer and an Underwater Cinematographer.