travelbuddy03
Registered
We're planning a 3 week trip next March (2016) to the Visayas and we like the idea of Island Hopping with Sea Explorers. We've been to Anilao twice before so we want to go somewhere else in the Philippines. My husband is an UW photographer while I am not. We both want a variety of muck diving, wall diving, pelagic critters, and macro so the Island Hopping option seems perfect.
We're thinking of this itinerary:
Day of arrival Transfer from Cebu to Malapascua
Days 2-4 Dive Malapascua, including one day trip to Gato Island
Day 5 Long car/ferry transfer to Dauin. Non diving day.
Days 6-12 Dive this area (including day trip to Apo, day trip to Oslob, possible day trip to Siquitor)
Day 13 Dive boat transfer to Cabilao, hopefully diving Balicasag on the way
Days 14-17 Dive around Cabilao (including another day trip to Balicasag)
Day 18 Off gas by taking a land based tour to see Tarsier monkeys
Day 19 Start trek home
I know it will take a full non-diving day to get from Malapascua to Dauin. I've read mixed reviews about Malapascua so my first question is whether it is worth 3 full diving days.
We're also choosing not to go to Moalboal and Alona Beach. Of the 5 destinations (Malapascua, Moalboal, Cabilao, Alona Beach, and Dauin) which would you skip and why? We could fit one of these in time wise, but it adds another transfer and it seems that Cabilao and Alona Beach are somewhat similar.
Finally, how difficult are the transfers regarding equipment and packing/unpacking hassles? How helpful is the staff at Sea Explorers in this regard? We don't mind moving around a little but don't want a vacation like "it's Tuesday so we must be in Venice". So anyone who has done the Island Hopping tour with Sea Explorers - would you do it again or would you stick with one land based resort? What was the packing/unpacking like?
Thanks for comments and suggestions!
We're thinking of this itinerary:
Day of arrival Transfer from Cebu to Malapascua
Days 2-4 Dive Malapascua, including one day trip to Gato Island
Day 5 Long car/ferry transfer to Dauin. Non diving day.
Days 6-12 Dive this area (including day trip to Apo, day trip to Oslob, possible day trip to Siquitor)
Day 13 Dive boat transfer to Cabilao, hopefully diving Balicasag on the way
Days 14-17 Dive around Cabilao (including another day trip to Balicasag)
Day 18 Off gas by taking a land based tour to see Tarsier monkeys
Day 19 Start trek home
I know it will take a full non-diving day to get from Malapascua to Dauin. I've read mixed reviews about Malapascua so my first question is whether it is worth 3 full diving days.
We're also choosing not to go to Moalboal and Alona Beach. Of the 5 destinations (Malapascua, Moalboal, Cabilao, Alona Beach, and Dauin) which would you skip and why? We could fit one of these in time wise, but it adds another transfer and it seems that Cabilao and Alona Beach are somewhat similar.
Finally, how difficult are the transfers regarding equipment and packing/unpacking hassles? How helpful is the staff at Sea Explorers in this regard? We don't mind moving around a little but don't want a vacation like "it's Tuesday so we must be in Venice". So anyone who has done the Island Hopping tour with Sea Explorers - would you do it again or would you stick with one land based resort? What was the packing/unpacking like?
Thanks for comments and suggestions!