Questions about Cebu, El Nido, Coron, etc..

[qwimjim]

Hi everyone, I'm planning a trip for the first two weeks of December next year, I'm planning early because it's part of a 3 month trip and we have a lot to figure out.. Our plan at the moment would be to fly into Manila and onto Cebu where we'd spend a week. Some of the things I'd like to do are:

1. Oslob whale shark snorkel, are they really there year round?

2. Moalboal sardines, are they really there year round? Are they very deep, would it be a good snorkel for family members that can't dive? Is the dive generally done as a shore dive?

3. Monad Shoal off of Malapascua Island has thresher sharks, is this also year round? Is the the dive to do in that area? Anything else to not miss?

4. Apo Island, snorkel with turtles. Are there any "can't miss" dive sites?

Are these good choices of dives and snorkels? Are there any that my 11 year old could dive? They're Junior OW so the dives would have to be easy, no challenging currents, and under 40ft/12m.

Then for the second week we would go to El Nido, and possibly Coron. I've read that El Nido doesn't have great diving, but then when I look at youtube videos.. it looks pretty good to me!
Is there good snorkeling in El Nido, all boat access I assume? Also, what's the deal with all the islands in El Nido, I know there are tours that take you on a circuit A B or C to visit them during the day, but can you just get dropped off and pitch a tent on a remote beach island somewhere and get picked up the next day, or after a couple of days of kayaking around somewhere the tours don't go?

I know Coron has wreck dives, and stuff like Barracuda lake.. but for coral, and schooling fish, etc.. is El Nido better?

Thanks!

 

[Searcaigh]

I'm afraid Typhoon Odette has screwed things up a bit on the west coast of Cebu, so I wouldn't be looking to go to Moalboal.

Skip to about 5 mins in to see what the coastal road is like


Alegria is just south of Moalboal

Personally I would head down to Negros Oriental (Dumagette / Dauin) where I believe the effect of the typhoon wasn't so bad.

 

[qwimjim]

Thanks I wasn't clear,

I'm afraid Typhoon Odette has screwed things up a bit on the west coast of Cebu, so I wouldn't be looking to go to Moalboal.

Skip to about 5 mins in to see what the coastal road is like


Alegria is just south of Moalboal

Personally I would head down to Negros Oriental (Dumagette / Dauin) where I believe the effect of the typhoon wasn't so bad.

Thanks wow that is a lot of damage, I should have been more clear though I'm planning the trip for 2023, not 2022. Do you think the roads would be repaired by then?

 

[Centrals]

I'm afraid Typhoon Odette has screwed things up a bit on the west coast of Cebu, so I wouldn't be looking to go to Moalboal.

Should be repaired by then because it is the only road on either side of the island.

Hi everyone, I'm planning a trip for the first two weeks of December, assuming we don't get another covid curveball.. Our plan at the moment would be to fly into Manila and onto Cebu where we'd spend a week. Some of the things I'd like to do are:

1. Oslob whale shark snorkel, are they really there year round?

2. Moalboal sardines, are they really there year round? Are they very deep, would it be a good snorkel for family members that can't dive? Is the dive generally done as a shore dive?

3. Monad Shoal off of Malapascua Island has thresher sharks, is this also year round? Is the the dive to do in that area? Anything else to not miss?

4. Apo Island, snorkel with turtles. Are there any "can't miss" dive sites?

Are these good choices of dives and snorkels? Are there any that my 11 year old could dive? They're Junior OW so the dives would have to be easy, no challenging currents, and under 40ft/12m.

Then for the second week we would go to El Nido, and possibly Coron. I've read that El Nido doesn't have great diving, but then when I look at youtube videos.. it looks pretty good to me!
Is there good snorkeling in El Nido, all boat access I assume? Also, what's the deal with all the islands in El Nido, I know there are tours that take you on a circuit A B or C to visit them during the day, but can you just get dropped off and pitch a tent on a remote beach island somewhere and get picked up the next day, or after a couple of days of kayaking around somewhere the tours don't go?

I know Coron has wreck dives, and stuff like Barracuda lake.. but for coral, and schooling fish, etc.. is El Nido better?

Thanks!

I am pretty sure you won't be able to cover all those 4 places in 1 week.
1. ??
2. I have no idea what is the latest situation regarding the sardines. They were usually find in shallow water.
3. They are but is too deep(24m) for your son. Of course there are other sites eg Gato Island.
4. There are two ways to dive Apo Island: 1. Stay on the island(rustic). 2. Join day trip from any dive operators on Dumaguete or Dauin.

El Nido: Not sure if you can fly directly from Cebu City. It is a long drive from Puerto Princesa. Make sure you stop over in Sabang for the Underground River.
Camping? Why would you want to do that in El Nido? How about the trash(inorganic and organic).
As for Coron. The wrecks are nice but not too convinced if your son would like it. The Barracuda lake is nice.

I have travelled extensively in the country and one important thing I learnt is PATIENT. 5-6 hrs to cover 160km by bus.

 

[qwimjim]

Should be repaired by then because it is the only road on either side of the island.

I am pretty sure you won't be able to cover all those 4 places in 1 week.
1. ??
2. I have no idea what is the latest situation regarding the sardines. They were usually find in shallow water.
3. They are but is too deep(24m) for your son. Of course there are other sites eg Gato Island.
4. There are two ways to dive Apo Island: 1. Stay on the island(rustic). 2. Join day trip from any dive operators on Dumaguete or Dauin.

El Nido: Not sure if you can fly directly from Cebu City. It is a long drive from Puerto Princesa. Make sure you stop over in Sabang for the Underground River.
Camping? Why would you want to do that in El Nido? How about the trash(inorganic and organic).
As for Coron. The wrecks are nice but not too convinced if your son would like it. The Barracuda lake is nice.

I have travelled extensively in the country and one important thing I learnt is PATIENT. 5-6 hrs to cover 160km by bus.

Thanks, so it's not possible to dive Apo island from a dayboat from Cebu?

As for why would I want to camp in El Nido, well, I think the idea of camping on a pristine remote beach quite appealing It's something fairly common that people do in parts of Canada, we go canoe camping in the remote wilderness for several days. For trash, we put it in a bag and haul it out.. feces we dig a pit and bury it. I think kayaking around the different islands and beaches for a couple of days, and finding a quiet beach somewhere none of the boats stop at, to set up a tent, and have a sunset and sunrise all to ourselves would be fantastic But is it allowed? Or what would be the best way to find out if it's allowed?

 

[Centrals]

1. It is pretty far even from the southern tip of Cebu Island.
2. This is Philippines and a lot of places are privately owned. Better enquire while over there.

 

[Mod63]

Both Oslob and Monad Shoal are overcrowed and IMHO overrated. As stated above, travel times can be atrocios, it will take a day to get from Malapascua to Oslob alone. If you want to enjoy the trip and get in some quality time both diving and sightseeing, stay in one area.

 

[qwimjim]

Both Oslob and Monad Shoal are overcrowed and IMHO overrated. As stated above, travel times can be atrocios, it will take a day to get from Malapascua to Oslob alone. If you want to enjoy the trip and get in some quality time both diving and sightseeing, stay in one area.

Yeah but where else am I going to easily get to see whale sharks and sardine bait balls

 

[Searcaigh]

Thanks, so it's not possible to dive Apo island from a dayboat from Cebu?

I doubt it, we went from Negros Oriental from a dive op just south Dauin.

As for why would I want to camp in El Nido, well, I think the idea of camping on a pristine remote beach quite appealing It's something fairly common that people do in parts of Canada, we go canoe camping in the remote wilderness for several days. For trash, we put it in a bag and haul it out.. feces we dig a pit and bury it. I think kayaking around the different islands and beaches for a couple of days, and finding a quiet beach somewhere none of the boats stop at, to set up a tent, and have a sunset and sunrise all to ourselves would be fantastic

Mmm you've not been to SE Asia before

 

[drk5036]

Hi everyone, I'm planning a trip for the first two weeks of December next year, I'm planning early because it's part of a 3 month trip and we have a lot to figure out.. Our plan at the moment would be to fly into Manila and onto Cebu where we'd spend a week. Some of the things I'd like to do are:

1. Oslob whale shark snorkel, are they really there year round?

2. Moalboal sardines, are they really there year round? Are they very deep, would it be a good snorkel for family members that can't dive? Is the dive generally done as a shore dive?

3. Monad Shoal off of Malapascua Island has thresher sharks, is this also year round? Is the the dive to do in that area? Anything else to not miss?

I've done the first 3. We did 2 and 3 combined in a 10 day trip. I feel like doing any less time than that and you couldn't really appreciate them both. Doing all four is certainly not possible, unless you want to spend all your time in bumpy, packed cars. It takes about 6-7 hours total to get from Moalboal to Malapascua island.

Regarding their presence, and least before the most recent typhoon, they were all present year around. I'll be interested to see if the sardines are still there after the typhoon. You could see the sardines by snorkeling (it's hard to miss) but it's crowded. I think it's better as a shore dive.

Monad Shoal was cool and is definitely a fun bucket list dive. I don't think I'd want to do it everyday. We did it 2 of our 4 or 5 days of diving which was enough I think.

Oslob was definitely a tourist spot, but I thought it was enjoyable. It really depends on your feeling about the ethics of feeding whale sharks. My take is that whale sharks have to eat a lot, and while they do come around for the feeding, it's not making up the majority of what they eat in a day. Also, it prevents fishing them and lets the locals appreciate that they can make a living by showing off the sealife, rather than dynamite fishing them into extinction (which we unfortunately saw evidence of in Malapascua).

In general I think Philippines diving is good, and out of the water life is fun. For overall quality of the diving it's not the best place in asia, but it's cheap, easily accessible, and a good time.