moorish8idol
Contributor
Hello fellow ScubaBoard-ers. I am just back from a diving vacation in Western Australia and need to start planning my next dive trip as I am missing it so bad! I am looking at the Philippines in March-April and have narrowed down several locations and am hoping you can provide feedback on suitable dive shops in each of them. I am looking for shops that prioritize safety, respect the marine environment and wildlife and can offer good, solid equipment for rental (BCD and regs – I have the rest) in the following locations:
- Donsol for diving at Manta Bowl/San Miguel Island
- Bohol area for diving at Balicasag
- Malapascua for diving at Monad Shoal (thresher sharks) and Calanggaman Island (I was also considering doing my Rescue/EFR course while here – I was looking strongly at TSD)
- Not sure if I would dive there but recommendations for El Nido on Palawan
And finally, does anyone have experience with the S/Y Sakura for Tubbataha liveaboard diving? I see someone else posted about this recently with no response. They appear to have solid reviews and are about half the price of all other liveaboards visiting Tubbataha. Not only is it friendlier on the budget but I was hopeful that this would attract more down-to-earth, young/young-at-heart fellow divers to share the journey with. Thanks for your feedback!
- Donsol for diving at Manta Bowl/San Miguel Island
- Bohol area for diving at Balicasag
- Malapascua for diving at Monad Shoal (thresher sharks) and Calanggaman Island (I was also considering doing my Rescue/EFR course while here – I was looking strongly at TSD)
- Not sure if I would dive there but recommendations for El Nido on Palawan
And finally, does anyone have experience with the S/Y Sakura for Tubbataha liveaboard diving? I see someone else posted about this recently with no response. They appear to have solid reviews and are about half the price of all other liveaboards visiting Tubbataha. Not only is it friendlier on the budget but I was hopeful that this would attract more down-to-earth, young/young-at-heart fellow divers to share the journey with. Thanks for your feedback!