Hi guys - husband and I are planning to retire in the Philippines (I was born in Manila but grew up in the US). We are beginning our research but would love any advice on places to check out initially (plan is to live at different places for 6 months at a time before settling down)....which would you recommend as the top 2?
Here's more about what we are hoping for:
* Mix of shore and boat diving.....prefer reef / walls but can appreciate a good wreck or two if there's life. Enjoy spending a lot of time looking at the little stuff so more sites with mild or no current is preferred.
* Would love to have at least a couple of dive ops to get to know, but eventually would also like to be able to go out on our own (we will be on fixed income eventually, right?) ;-) (a cool bar nearby to decompress after dives would be great too!)
* Town -- definitely NOT a city, but reasonable distance to an international airport - would want it to be small enough to have the opportunity to be a part of the community. Definitely do not want to be 'near' shopping malls but within a couple of hours to one is good. High speed internet a must over tv.
* Weather - not sure what options there are with this yet, so insight (especialy dive conditions most of the time) would be appreciated....6 - 9 months of good weather doable?
Anything else I'm forgetting? Oh - yeah...we also like to fish (legally and with the utmost respect so prefer fish that are edible - no interest in sportfishing for the large ones)
Salamat!
Here's more about what we are hoping for:
* Mix of shore and boat diving.....prefer reef / walls but can appreciate a good wreck or two if there's life. Enjoy spending a lot of time looking at the little stuff so more sites with mild or no current is preferred.
* Would love to have at least a couple of dive ops to get to know, but eventually would also like to be able to go out on our own (we will be on fixed income eventually, right?) ;-) (a cool bar nearby to decompress after dives would be great too!)
* Town -- definitely NOT a city, but reasonable distance to an international airport - would want it to be small enough to have the opportunity to be a part of the community. Definitely do not want to be 'near' shopping malls but within a couple of hours to one is good. High speed internet a must over tv.
* Weather - not sure what options there are with this yet, so insight (especialy dive conditions most of the time) would be appreciated....6 - 9 months of good weather doable?
Anything else I'm forgetting? Oh - yeah...we also like to fish (legally and with the utmost respect so prefer fish that are edible - no interest in sportfishing for the large ones)
Salamat!