Newbie help; basics about good/cheap diving Philippines

[h2odragon1]

While I agree that Boracay is a great place to go, especially for the beach/night-life, Codmans orriginal request was for good Cheap diving. Boracay Cheap??
Yes i know the diving is cheap but a place to stay? I know there are places off the beach that won't cost an arm and a leg, but it won't take long for them to raise their prices.
Codman; look around, and ask members of this board for any local places to stay for less that the big $$ resorts. When we were in Puerto Galera 2005, we stayed at the Deep Blue Sea Inn $18/night, nest door was a bigger resort, Korean I think, that was more than $125/night.
If you want Boracay, there are places off the beach, near the Balabag, behind the church that won't cost you a lot. They fill up fast, and do not have internet sites to reserve rooms.
Good luck and safe diving

 

[rhadamantus]

aye.

dive rates in Boracay is higher than anywhere else in PI, based on my experience. one DM once joke that it was because they put premium on the sand.

While I agree that Boracay is a great place to go, especially for the beach/night-life, Codmans orriginal request was for good Cheap diving. Boracay Cheap??
Yes i know the diving is cheap but a place to stay? I know there are places off the beach that won't cost an arm and a leg, but it won't take long for them to raise their prices.
Codman; look around, and ask members of this board for any local places to stay for less that the big $$ resorts. When we were in Puerto Galera 2005, we stayed at the Deep Blue Sea Inn $18/night, nest door was a bigger resort, Korean I think, that was more than $125/night.
If you want Boracay, there are places off the beach, near the Balabag, behind the church that won't cost you a lot. They fill up fast, and do not have internet sites to reserve rooms.
Good luck and safe diving

 

[Babydamulag]

I really hate it when I see "CHEAP" and "DIVING" in the same sentence. When you talk to skydivers they never say "Cheap Skydiving"....ever wonder why? That is a rhetorical question by the way. If you are referring to divng with value that makes more sense. I don't know about you but when my life depends on equipment and other peoples technical proficiency I don't want "CHEAP" anywhere near me. Just a thought....think about it the next time you are at 30 meters on one of those "CHEAP" dives....there is a reason it is cheap!

 

[chip104]

I agree with most, i live now in the Philippines three years food just ok they really have not much culture in cooking most are too poor to buy good food ,the fruit is great

Just curious as to how you came to this conclusion? As Jag said Filipino cooking is influenced by Malay, Chinese, American, and Spanish. Even the barbeque available on the street tastes great. Seems that you need to meet up with Jigo so he can take you out to eat!

Many have gave you the names of all tourist traps most are nice good diving but there only there to get your money and more of it.. not that its bad it just cost more. You know in the tourist traps you really do not see any of the Philippines you see what they think you want to see and i also enjoy going to them it is nice to be pampered .So you see you just have to figure out what you looking for ..if night life is big factor cebu maybe better

You need to reword your paragraph here. I would hardly call recommending Sogod Bay or Malapascua a "tourist trap". Everywhere you go you need to spend money - some more than others - but it's relative (theme of the thread!). Philippines is still a very cost effective place to travel around, including all the locations we have mentioned (Cebu Pacific Air domestic flights for $50 only and supercat ferry rides for only $10!!!). Just compare the price of diving in the Philippines versus California or Florida or even in the Carribean. Now since you mentioned Cebu - am I assuming you mean Mactan? If that's the case then It is not fair to compare other places to the likes of Mactan since it caters more to the international travellers and affluent persons/families.

What I think you really want to point out is that there are two ways to enjoy the Philippines (or any other foreign country). You can choose to go through resorts and set up your stay through them. Or you can take the off beaten path and backpack around (one which I also prefer). It wouldn't be fair to disregard one over the other since both will offer completely different, yet fulfilling, experiences.

I am confident that the travelling recommendations and details we give to the guests in the PPD forum are some of the best you will find on the internet. We are not here to cheat anyone out of their money's worth.


Nevertheless, thank you for your post about the diving in davao. Something for me to definitely keep in mind if I'm ever around the area. (which I hope to be! )


@ hank: it's arroz caldo and I <3 it too! mmmmmmmmmm

 

[rhadamantus]

well, babyD, i don't think he was referring to a bargain price. i think what he meant by cheap was "a price that is not considered rip off". sure, some dive shops capitalize on the fact that they've been there forever or that their good, excellent service has been well-known in the diving community already so they can dictate a higher price than the average. but personally, i wouldn't dive with them if i know i can get the same service, dive the same site for a whole lot less. and i don't. thats getting the same satisfaction for less cost.

same assessment on diving places. id rather not dive in boracay and pay US$30/dive when i could dive bohol for US$23-24.

not everything that costs cheap compromise the quality.

I really hate it when I see "CHEAP" and "DIVING" in the same sentence. When you talk to skydivers they never say "Cheap Skydiving"....ever wonder why? That is a rhetorical question by the way. If you are referring to divng with value that makes more sense. I don't know about you but when my life depends on equipment and other peoples technical proficiency I don't want "CHEAP" anywhere near me. Just a thought....think about it the next time you are at 30 meters on one of those "CHEAP" dives....there is a reason it is cheap!

 

[chip104]

Well guys and galls, looking over the websites and drooling at all the diving to do... Another option hit me like a ton of bricks... An option I had never seriously considered before... Doing a DM internship over there!!!!

It would certainly be a great experience! And I'd get lots of diving in a great place. Although it would be a form of work, not just recreational as my previous diving experiences. What do you all think of this option? Have any of you done your DM or Instructor courses over there?

I'm thinking of Malapascua, with Thresher sharks... They seem quite professional and my first contact with them gave me a good vibe. For now, it's just a dream... But...:14:

Thanks all!

hehe that would be a great option to choose Codman! When I was in PG during a PPD dive-o-rama our neighbour in the cottage next to us was a girl from the Netherlands who decided she had enough of her career and was doing her instructor course internship. Had the chance to chat her up and all she would talk about was how much she loved it there. It was definitely an awesome situation for her - living in a sweet cottage in the tropics just scuba diving all day. Maybe someday when I'm tired of the rat race I'll save up enough to do the same.


Btw, where in Canada you located? Toronto boy right here. :14:

 

[greatwolf]

I really hate it when I see "CHEAP" and "DIVING" in the same sentence. When you talk to skydivers they never say "Cheap Skydiving"....ever wonder why? That is a rhetorical question by the way. If you are referring to divng with value that makes more sense. I don't know about you but when my life depends on equipment and other peoples technical proficiency I don't want "CHEAP" anywhere near me. Just a thought....think about it the next time you are at 30 meters on one of those "CHEAP" dives....there is a reason it is cheap!

Well, I would consider diving in the Philippines "less expensive" compared to diving here in Australia.

Just to give you an idea, a double dive on the HMAS Brisbane would set me back
around $140.00, whereas I could do the USS New York(what's left of it) for around $60.00or even less. I'm talking about using my own gear except for the tank and the weights.

 

[Babydamulag]

There you go! Somehow using "cheap" in SCUBA diving just goes against the grain. The term "less expensive" is much more accurate. The guys in OZ need to get control of their prices...wow.

 

[greatwolf]

I forgot to add, we carry our own gear also...hahaha. No senorito diving here. When I did Subic and Bohol last year, I was surprised when someone grabbed my gear to carry it to the boat. I can never get used to it, but hey, I'm not complaining.

 

[rhadamantus]

I forgot to add, we carry our own gear also...hahaha. No senorito diving here. When I did Subic and Bohol last year, I was surprised when someone grabbed my gear to carry it to the boat. I can never get used to it, but hey, I'm not complaining.

when i was diving with Big Apple in PG, my divemaster even carry my fins. always.