Bangkok to Manila - Where to find great diving on the cheaper end of the scale?

[jdfmail]

I'm going to take a cheap flight to Manilla from Bangkok and have a small budget once there. I'm looking for 4 days of diving. I would love to see some of the best diving while keeping the price as low as possible. Would anyone recommend something that fits that description without having to take an extra flight? or do I have to fly to another area to find the best diving?

For me, I like reefs, plentiful sealife, pelagics and funky stuff. Really I like most diving with good viz and lots to see.

I've never dove Philippines so any advice steering me in the right direction is much appreciated.

 

[DevonDiver]

A short (2-4 hour) road journey will get you to either Subic or Anilao. A slightly longer drive, plus ferry (on a par with getting to Koh Tao from Bkk) will get you to Puerto Galera.

Subic - World class wreck diving.
Anilao - Fantastic macro critters, some pelagics.
PG - A nice mixture, some pelagics.

An internal flight will get you to Cebu or Bohol. You can access Malapascua, Moalboal etc from there.... Better for pelagics and wall dives.

 

[jdfmail]

Thanks DD What would you say is the best diving while still on a budget would be for me. I see the domestic flights are quite cheap so I guess that's not a big deal.

 

[sonar]

keep in mind that Ph. is much more expensive than thailand. Accomodation will cost you easily 20$ a night, a meal is 2$+ 'on the street' and 7$ and up in a 'normal' restaurant. I was quite surprised about the prices when i arrived

think anilao is the most logic destination for 4 days of diving.. If you book a manilla flight at least

 

[DevonDiver]

If you can afford the budget internal flight..... go for Malapascua and/or Moalboal.

 

[Centrals]

I like reefs, plentiful sealife, pelagics and funky stuff. Really I like most diving with good viz and lots to see.

I've never dove Philippines so any advice steering me in the right direction is much appreciated.

Anilao is the ONLY place around Manila that suit your requirement but minus the big stuff. There are occasional big marble rays inside the Maricaban Cave at around 45m but do not count on it.
One thing that you have to take into consideration is that diving in Anilao is more or less resort based.
Puerto Galera will offer you more freedom but the viz is SUCK. However, the overall cost is lower than Anilao.

Somone mentioned on another thread that it is possible to spend less than US$70.00 per day on THREE dives + full board + beer!! But he yet to reveal this paradise.

If you can stretch your budget then Malapascua IS the place for macro, pelagics and good vis.

 

[jdfmail]

How about El Nido in northern Palawan and Bohol - Balicasag island.

How would those compare to Malapascua? Diving, travel and price?

Thanks again for the advice!

 

[Midget]

That's exactly what I'm going to do in September.....take a Cebu Pacific cheapo flight from BKK to MNL and go dive Anilao.

Sonar, I found Thailand dive prices to be much more expensive than what I was seeing for the Philippines. Maybe food & rooms are cheaper in Thailand, but the cost of diving is less in the Philippines.

 

[sonar]

oh ok, i only did my OW there so I am not familiar with the thai dive prices..

whats an average dive there?

 

[Midget]

Koh Tao is cheap. I should have clarified that diving Thailand where the diving is good is more expensive......on the Andaman side.