5/31-8/13/09-Trip Report: Budget Diving Adventure in SE Asia!

[kathydee]

Hey Kathy if you find your self in Bangkok you know we got contacts there also... especially Don

Ah Thanks! Bangkok, maybe next trip! But if you have contacts in the north of Sumatra, the north of Sulewesi, Komodo or Bali leemie know ! Did a nice dive this morning down to 100f.

Vis is kinda poor, but nice coral. Heading out in a few to burn a tank on practice in the shallows & waiting for the muck night dive which is awesome! May head to Puerto Galera to dive for a few days - while waiting for meet up dates with my new PI friends. Thinking about heading to Indo around July1st after 2 more weekends with these awesome divers ;-)!

 

[glenver]

And did a crazy dash (bus/jeepeny (crazy public minivan-jalopy hybrid) /motorcycle side car) alone down to Anilao.

wow.. impressive! lived in manila all my life, and i doubt i can pull this dash off.

thanks for the trip report kathydee... we 're real excited with how much fun you are having. the PI diving folks are the nicest bunch (wackiest too).. i'm sure you'll have a blast.

 

[kathydee]

wow.. impressive! lived in manila all my life, and i doubt i can pull this dash off.

thanks for the trip report kathydee... we 're real excited with how much fun you are having. the PI diving folks are the nicest bunch (wackiest too).. i'm sure you'll have a blast.

Hi there! Yes you have a fantastic country with great people & dive sites !

But it seems the only way to pull off any sort of "dash" in traffic congested Manilla is to start at 4:30am when the streets are pretty empty - like I did !

The Public transportation is kinda fancy - check out this jeepeny ;-)

 

[kathydee]

6/18 Ok so here are a few pictures. Had my head underwater 3.5 hours today and its been raining so havent really shot much & have to say my little underwater camera is not really working too well :depressed:. Sorry.

I am staying in Anilao at a friends vacation place. It is a little two storied apartment in a local "resort." Simple basic room with kitchen & wifi - which means lots of scubaboard! It is pretty isolated from the town and a world of its own but the good news is that I only have to roll out of bed and go diving. The great sites must wait for boat diving and more tourists to show up to split the costs. Will be boat diving Saturday & checking out the better sites.

But for now, the night dives are awesome! Saw a beatiful shimmering squid tonight, another mandrin fish, two octopus, lots of very cool sea urchins, tons of nudis, a spanish dancer, lots of crabs, cute little puffers, lots of razor fish, lion fish/scorpin fish galore. Still trying to get some of the shots from my guide - things move slowly here.

But for now here are some views from my back yard:

 

[drbill]

Good to chat with you via FB IM and keep up on your fantastic trip via FB and SB. Of course I'm jealous, but I had the chance. Wish the economy wasn't in such a state.

 

[kathydee]

6/20 Was depressed that the GUE divers couldnt make it to Anilao, but one set me up with a fantastic day of boat diving! Will head to another dive site soon & try to meet up with the gang for diving next weekend.

If not - plenty of new stuff to lean underwater when I get home to my partners and the drysuit learning curb ;-) Bookin tickets towards Indonesia!

Now I am exhausted - in the water for over 4 hours today and dropped down to 100 again ;-). Did some fantastic dives filled with littl cuddle fish, octopus, loads of coral, tons of fish. Really beautiful.

Got a taste of Anilaos boat diving beauty and although vis is better tyhoons in March-June (I believe). A I cant complain about 60ft ;-). But with 100ft vis sites like Bahura promise to be spectacular. Today Bahura was very nice with a 9ft white tip shark and schools and schools of reef fish! The night diving is fantastic! Still this guide has not given pictures. Gonna ask a local diver friend to post some pictures. Maybe she'll be nice ;-)!

Anilao has a string of resorts along a quiet shore. Many visitors are weekenders from Manilla or asian tourists but a few westerners are sprinkled in even if off season.

 

[mobeeno]

Any pics of Dive guides above and underwater?

 

[kathydee]

Hi Robin,

Hope you are getting some great local diving & enjoying your new bp/w !

Here are a few more pics

Kiko & Alfonso (guides/padi instructors)

And a token shot of me

 

[bobshreve]

Kathy,
I hope you continue to have a great trip. Anilao is a great place to dive and it looks like you're finding your way around ok. We saw a whale shark at Kirby Rock, near Basura on 6/14, so you are in the right place.
Bob

 

[masterof0]

Enough of this already.... All you are doing is making us jealous!!!!
Just messin. Glad you are having a great time. Keep posting, just like reading a book. Enjoying the pics as well.