ANILAO Dive Anyone?

[clgsamson]

Hi guys,

does anyone have any info on these anilao dive sites?

* Mainit Bubbles
* Red Palm
* Aphol's Point
* Grotto
* Bonito
* Light House

These are the ones I haven't been to yet (or Beatrice...but I already have info on that and Bethlehem's closed to divers) and I'm trying to prioritize my next 3 dives - money's running low . Any help greatly appreciated!

btw, you don't need to know every dive site on the list. If you've just dove one site, that's cool - I'd love to hear about it and it'll definitely add merit to the thread!

Bethlehem is open to diving Red palm is not. Light house also known as Chicken Feathers or Malajibo manoc is actually near Pisa/Bonito.

Nothing to see at Bethlehem except flatfish, the usual lion and scorpion fishes and a small boat wreck. During your SI and at low tide you can snorkel over it. Chicken Feathers is just not what it was before anymore.

Mainit Bubbles is just that, sandy area with bubbles rising from the sea floor. They say the trench under it is connected with Taal Volcano . Mainit (main) is one of my favorites but treacherous if there is ripping currents. Your reward? sharks and turtles sightings.

Grotto is over at or near northern verde island, a drift dive over fantastic corals. But be careful, it is under a busy ship lane.

Aphol's point? sorry bro no info.

 

[clgsamson]

We have booked the whole resort of El Pinoy for Nov. 26-28. There are 10 slots left. PM me if you wanna join and i'll give you the rates. *glub, glub, glub*

meh cable car na dun?

 

[chip104]

wow, thanks koya!

I'll just go visit grotto when I visit verde I guess. Not interested in bethlehem anymore. Is this the same grotto near bonito? (number 25) in attached pic.

Shame about lighthouse. Still interested to check it out. For my next three dives I'll probably check out: mainit, bonito (or grotto), lighthouse.

 

[clgsamson]

Ah no, sorry. Its more on the eastern side of the map.

No. 12 dive site actually has a secret mini site of its own. A small and short reef but full of fish life, sort of a cleaning station actually. It's called BAYAG !.....no kidding!

 

[Matthew]

Shame about lighthouse. Still interested to check it out. For my next three dives I'll probably check out: mainit, bonito (or grotto), lighthouse.

Paul Evans' Maricaban Island Resort in Pisa listed about 14 sites in the Bonito area. Some of my favorites were Nonie's Point, Sharkys, Hot Springs, Emperors Reef, Brian's Point, Garden Wall, Coliseum, etc. but you need an experienced guide (or Paul himself), as well as a good boatman familiar with the area. In the past Anilao divers unfamiliar with the area tried to dive there but ended up seeing only sand and rocks or getting swept off by the currents. I havent been to the area in years so I dont know how things are now.

 

[Norman Garcia]

Bethlehem is good for macro photography, tiny creatures abound the site.

 

[moonlighting]

get the room/diving rates ha.

Opu, Koya.

 

[moonlighting]

pier uno is simply one of the best.

rooms are awesome....clean bathrooms.... plus the staff are so mighty helpful...kulang na lang they'd fin for u while diving. especially one of the DMs there (his name is salbe)it aint very expensive as well.... food is good too.

if u go with our group pa...we get discounts pa because we know the owner from way back. as in way back when it wasnt a resort yet.

u cant go wrong. i've had a couple not-so good experiences in anilao. butwith pier uno we're jsut hands-up and all praises.

stay safe!

Hi. Do they accept plastic money over there?

 

[chip104]

Bethlehem is good for macro photography, tiny creatures abound the site.

hmm... I like macro. And I've never seen flatfishes in anilao yet.

Paul Evans' Maricaban Island Resort in Pisa listed about 14 sites in the Bonito area. Some of my favorites were Nonie's Point, Sharkys, Hot Springs, Emperors Reef, Brian's Point, Garden Wall, Coliseum, etc. but you need an experienced guide (or Paul himself), as well as a good boatman familiar with the area. In the past Anilao divers unfamiliar with the area tried to dive there but ended up seeing only sand and rocks or getting swept off by the currents. I havent been to the area in years so I dont know how things are now.

holy jeeze that's a lot of sites missed! It sounds like it's better to just have a entire trip dedicated to the Bonito area. Thanks matt. The next step is finding a DM familiar with the place!

edit: found a website: http://www.marinedivers.com/MARICABAN.html but is there anything better (gives rates, contact info, etc.)?

 

[Spoon]

maybe we can check out the other sites next time