Shore diving and local culture recommendations

[Divingswede]

Hello.

My wife and I put our diving on hold when kids came along. Our kids are now getting their Open Water certifications and we are excitedly looking at potential family trips to both see the wonderful cultures of the world and do some diving, when restriction allow. I’m looking for advice for locations in the Philippines that preferably provide the following:
- Off the beaten path, non-touristy opportunity to experience local culture and nature.
- Avoiding resorts.
- Access to shore diving on our own.
- Reputable dive shop to rent gear from.
- Beautiful beaches are a bonus.

Thanks very much for the help! We’re excited to get back into it.

Good diving,
Henrik

 

[Centrals]

Southern Leyte.
However, not too sure if the dive operator would let you do any shore dive without guiding.
Unfortunately no sandy beach but pebble version if that is good enough.
Off the beaten track for sure.
As for culture or nature, you have to ask the operator. There are only a handful few.

Another off the beaten track alternative but with sandy beach this time is Sipalay. However, I would not recommend Sipalay between Nov and Feb because the NE monsoon might bring rough sea to the area.

I have never dived Romblon so my comment.

 

[Divingswede]

Centrals, thanks very much for the information! A great starting point for research.

As far as guides go, we usually do the first down very at a new location with a guide.

 

[gkis]

Hello.

My wife and I put our diving on hold when kids came along. Our kids are now getting their Open Water certifications and we are excitedly looking at potential family trips to both see the wonderful cultures of the world and do some diving, when restriction allow. I’m looking for advice for locations in the Philippines that preferably provide the following:
- Off the beaten path, non-touristy opportunity to experience local culture and nature.
- Avoiding resorts.
- Access to shore diving on our own.
- Reputable dive shop to rent gear from.
- Beautiful beaches are a bonus.

Thanks very much for the help! We’re excited to get back into it.

Good diving,
Henrik

9
I would suggest taking the family to Bonaire for shore diving, it's easy, beautiful, give them a chance to build confidence, improve their skills and make it enjoyable so you hook them for ever, then you can step up the game and go to more advanced places like So.Leyte.

 

[Centrals]

My next suggestion is NOT in Philippines but still within the coral triangle; Raja Ampat in Indonesia.
No LoB or fancy expensive resort it is right down to earth!!!

Stay Raja Ampat: The best Raja Ampat accommodation & travel information source

No idea how the pandemic affecting the place. Check it out.
Some of the sites are for experienced only but there are plenty of easy one as well as snorkelling opportunity. Chance to meet dugong!

 

[gkis]

My next suggestion is NOT in Philippines but still within the coral triangle; Raja Ampat in Indonesia.
No LoB or fancy expensive resort it is right down to earth!!!

Stay Raja Ampat: The best Raja Ampat accommodation & travel information source

No idea how the pandemic affecting the place. Check it out.
Some of the sites are for experienced only but there are plenty of easy one as well as snorkelling opportunity. Chance to meet dugong!

Can't wait to take my family there too!!! Still working on my wife's comfort with the strong currents/drift diving in So.Leyte

 

[Shasta_man]

@Divingswede I mention that Bali might be appropriate for you. Just that it has good diving, there is shore diving but also lots of land stuff to do vis a vis culture..

 

[Shasta_man]

Not sure what any of these places are doiing with Covid but Papua New Guinea in the same general area as Raja Ampat is reporting that Covid is ramped up significantly and they have about 500 doctors and 5000 hospital rooms for X million people.

 

[Centrals]

Can't wait to take my family there too!!! Still working on my wife's comfort with the strong currents/drift diving in So.Leyte

Make sure she is equipped with several signaling devices FIRST.
Not a comfortable feeling when you find yourself couldn't fin against the current and being carried away.

 

[gkis]

Make sure she is equipped with several signaling devices FIRST.
Not a comfortable feeling when you find yourself couldn't fin against the current and being carried away.

One day, while two of us were trying to do some work on an artificial reef project very close to the shore, the current all of a sudden went nuts, we tried holding onto the pipes on the reef and buy some time but soon that became exausting so we ended up surfacing safely and swam back to the shore. Yes signaling devices are a must.