CHange of Plan for the Philippines - Dumaguete, Moalboal, and Bohol

[dirtfarmer]

Well that's all good news. I don't think I will be going back to the Carib after this trip.

People ask me why I travel so far to the Coral Triangle to dive? I tell them that yes it's a long way from home but the quality and diversity of diving makes up for the travel time and expense. The price for accommodations, diving,and food, can be cheaper than many locations in the Caribbean, when I add in the quality of diving, it makes up for the airfare and travel time.
I am hopelessly addicted to the diving in the coral triangle.

 

[Mantra]

We have spent ten weeks diving the Philippines in the last two years. I agree with Luko about Anilao. It's incredible there for macro. Dauin we liked for the macro but also the diversity of dive sites and having Apo and Siquijor islands so close.

Luko - who do you use as a guide here in Tulamben? We aren't seeing anything like the density of macro we saw at either anilao or Dauin. But maybe we could use a better critter spotter. Will be doing Padang Bai again the day after tomorrow too so if you have a favorite guide there we would appreciate your recommendation.

(I have some friends diving romblon at the moment, and they agree with you Luko. They work in a dive shop in Alona but are Raving about the macro in Romblon.)

 

[Luko]

Luko - who do you use as a guide here in Tulamben? We aren't seeing anything like the density of macro we saw at either anilao or Dauin.

Uji from Liberty dive centre. I have used him four years in a row. Try the liberty slope on a night dive with Uji, i'd be disappointed if you tell me you haven't seen as much interesting mollusk and crustacea as Anilao (Anilao is better for octopi though).

In Padang Bai ask Cedric from GekoDive to book Gobang (he's a free lance, so that will be additional charges probably), but Cedric also has good inhouse dive guides.

 

[maat1976]

Right folks: We are about to go on our Philippines trip. The three locations are Moalboal, Bohol, and Dumaguete.

What are the dive sites for these three areas not to miss??? I know we can't dictate where the boat goes, but we can probably chat with the guys to influence where possible.

Thanks!

 

[Luko]

Moalboal : Pescador obviously that you will want to dive each morning, otherwise the "sardine run" on Pangsama wall in front of Savedra beach bungalows. The rest of the dives is less glowing IMO.
Bohol : dive trips in Balicasag like Fish sanctuary, Black forest or Divers heaven. If you are a nudibranch lover, there are rare white/red okenias (Nakamotensis and Kondoi) on Kalipayan wall and wreck on Alona, as well as good opportinites to spot Blue ring octopus on night dives in Alona.
Dumaguete : Car wreck is very good for macro, going to Apo island ask for diving on the north eastern side this is where the fish are, although can be very currenty (Coconut point, Cogon) .

 

[Centrals]

Moalboal: The Sanctuary which is realtively quite far away. So unless there is demand the operator tends not to go there. Big sea fans at around 40m+.

 

[maat1976]

Update to this thread: we're here in Moalboal now and it's amazing!!!!!!! Tomorrow we're off to Dauin/Dumaguete.

Here in Moalboal we did Pescador (both sides) the sardine one (Panagsama?), Oslob for whale Sharks, and a bunch of other local dives. Amazing corals and if feels like we're diving in an aquarium. Nudies, turtles, sea dragons, huge froggies, Pygmy sea horses, hairy crabs and shrimp, glass shrimp, a million anemones and clownfish, etc.

Our little RX100 is serving us well and the bait balls were so big I needed to video and not photograph.

Ill update this after the next two locations. If all goes well I will hit 100 dives on this trip.

 

[saila]

Hi maat1976,
you have such a fabulous timing for your trip! I'm telling you, if you like frogfish, you are going to be spoiled to rotten in Dauin. We have 8 different species around right now, and you might see even 20+froggies on one dive (like our guests did yesterday). The best sites for frogfish now are maybe Shallow Cars, Ginamaan, Thalatta Point and then Acquadive's house reef more down south in Zamboanguita (where the mentioned 20+ frogfish were seen).

And our very own Atmosphere House Reef is not bad either, we have there for example hairy frogfish, the only pygmy seahorses in the coast, mandarin fish, lots of seasnakes, occasional blue ring octopus, ornate ghost pipefish etc - all in all great variety of marine life.

In Apo Island my personal favorite sites are Rock Point West and Rock Point East, and preferably a one way dive from East to West. Such a stunning coral slope that seems endless, often a nice small current pushing you forward, lots of turtles and a resident bumphead parrotfish couple. We have also been seeing some tresher sharks there lately (from boat while breaching and during a dive) which is quite rare. But now there has been so many encounters recently (and I heard through grapevine that at least the SeaEx guys have seen them too) that there's something very interesting and super cool going on. Never a promise since it's not a zoo, but it will definitely add another level of excitement to those dives!

 

[maat1976]

Hi Saila. Well, we start today and I'm hoping to get in three dives per day. Shouldn't be difficult. I'm really excited about seeing macro- im not a top photographer but I do enjoy shooting. I find that I'm getting better shots more quickly, and judging if a critter is in a "photo easy" situation much faster.

I just mentioned the turtles and possible (though unlikely) thresher sharks and the husband is now chomping at the bit.

Cant wait at till dive time!!!

 

[Jordan23]

Don't worry, on a single dive in Dumaguete you will probably spot more critters you may have seen in one trip in Bonaire, plus the ones that you will never see in the Caribbeans.
In Moalboal, the walls on Pescador will simply blow your mind with colors, and I bet you never seen such a large fish school as the sardine run on Panagsama.

I was certified in Bonaire 20 years ago but after 3 trips never went back in teh Caribbeans once I dived Asia. I wouldn't be very worried with that.

what is better romblon or dumagute? )i dived in sabang and anileo as well)