Question December-25: Puerto Galera - Dauin/Anilao

[ArskaDiver]

Hi, I am new to SB…have had some 6 years break in diving…now reactivating.

I am looking for a dive trip to the Philippines, diving with my adult daughter, but will have non-diver wife and second daughter (adult) joining as well.

I am preliminary set for Puerto Galera for 1st 6 days (7 nights) for its variety for diving, hope to visit Verde Island. Looking for rich variety of marine life and corals, knowing it’s primarily smaller fish and creatures.

Thinking of combining with second location, have been looking into Anilao and Dauin/Oriental Negros, around 4 days (5
nights).

The timing is around Dec 13 (fly to Manila), fly home from Manila Dec 26.

I have understood pre-Christmas time would not be super busy in PG (info from local Action Divers).

What do you guys think…good choices for the time of year? I know water temps are towards cooling down in PG from Dec onwards.

FYI: my daughter is AOWD, I am going to upgrade to AOWD also in July at Malta. We both have some 30+ dives in the log book.
The other daughter may do OWD in PG but not sure yet.

 

[ArskaDiver]

…I was initially looking for Anilao (for world class muck diving and some variety from PG) to avoid domestic flight. But the non-divers would have very little to do there, for that reason was thinking of higher class accommodation like Solitude Acacia, but that turned out super expensive for 4. Buceo seems recommended and good price/value but again non-divers would be stranded there.

Thus started planning for Dauin which is convinient short flight and just half an hour drive to resorts. Bonus would be access to Apo island, additional to cool shore diving (primarily much + some artificial structures).

Thinking of Pura Vida in Dauin, good quality on site dive operation (Sea Explorers), and a proper resort for non-divers, access to land based activities. Salaya Beach Houses another option, but a bit more pricey.

Would it be worth the domestic flight for change of scene, considering the timing (it would be over Christmas in Dauin, flying out Dec 25 to be day prior to long haul in Manila)?

In PG I am set for Action Divers (seems smaller scale operation with very good reviews, their manager has been super clear with information so far) and the connected Out of Blue Resort (excellent pricing for spacious villas, good restaurant on site, located in Big La Laguna so should not be super busy area)

 

[Damselfish]

I’d be on the fence about the transfer. Any shorter I might not do 2 locations, any kind of transfers there tend to take longer than you’d expect and wipe out whole a day, aside from any dive time/flying conflicts. Walk through all flights, ferries, ground transfers, waiting around time etc
to see if you’ll really get all the dive days you are hoping for.

Was maybe 8 years ago, but we really liked Pura Vida and Sea Explorers. Roomy grounds, nice beach area, dining areas, and a cute little spa. (Much preferred it to the more expensive Atlantis Dumaguette, which is well run as everything Atlantis is, but felt hot and claustrophobic to me. )

I think avoiding the Sebang beach area as you are is a good plan. If I return to PG I would not go back there. Not because of the red light area, but just too crowded and dirty for my taste.

 

[Centrals]

PG + Anilao.
There is no reason to travel to Dauin with Anilao just around the corner from PG. No flying penalty means more time for diving.
Both Actions Divers and Out of the Blue are in Small La Laguna. There are only two dive resorts in Big La Laguna.

Not that many local will travel on Christmas Day so traffic will be extremely light.

 

[Damselfish]

PG + Anilao.
There is no reason to travel to Dauin with Anilao just around the corner from PG. No flying penalty means more time for diving.
Both Actions Divers and Out of the Blue are in Small La Laguna. There are only two dive resorts in Big La Laguna.

Not that many local will travel on Christmas Day so traffic will be extremely light.

The OP expressed concern there was little in Anilao for their non-divers. And thats why they were considering Dauin.

 

[ArskaDiver]

Thanks both for your viewpoints, yes - seems I mixed up La Lagunas, Big and Small. I was actually initially looking for Scandi in Big LL…until I came across Action and Out of the Blue…thinking it will be more convinient for non-divers with a villa, for better quality for accommodation.
Yes, I understand I would loose 2 diving days if transfering to Dauin vs not flying domestic. On the other hand my daughter may not be willing to max the diving i.e. dive every day (well I might..) .
Good to know Christmas day is less hectic for moving…I was not sure about that. I have also considered if we should change entirely to Dauin and spend whole time there, may be few days in Siquijor…but the variety of diving available in PG is attracting me, as well as easiness to reach from Manila without need for additional flight (will use private van+taxi boat).

Whether wise there is no difference mid - Late December between Anilao vs Dauin? One that I have figured out is that in case of typhoon would hit, in Anilao we would be just land transfer to airport, so on a safer side with that. I recall someone experiencing a typhoon on boxing day.

 

[diveUAE]

Did you consider Bohol? Tons of stuff for the non divers and good diving (make sure you book Balicasag prior to your travel).

We did a combination of Malapascua and Bohol with my MIL and 8 year old daughter. They weren’t big fans of Mala (we as dives loved it), but Bohol they really, really liked.

You could do a combination of Dauin and Bohol - fly into Cebu, makes everything much easier. Or Dauin and Moalboal (also plenty to do for non divers).
We did not bring any non divers on our trip to Dauin, so did not explore what there was besides diving, but did not seem to be a lot? (I may be very wrong about this).
I would be tempted to do Bohol and Moalboal (do Bohol first, as from Moalboal you drive to the airport), to keep the non divers happy, while also getting some good diving in.

 

[Blackcrusader]

Hi, I am new to SB…have had some 6 years break in diving…now reactivating.

@ArskaDiver

As you have not been diving in many years you would may be asked for refresher dives even if you did some dives in mid year in Malta. Also Verde Island has dangerous currents and two divers died that were caught in down currents there last month. Verde Island is known for dangerous currents and is not really the place for the inexperienced diver.

I would do Panglao Bohol where diving is more relaxed and you will see wonderful things. Also for non divers if they snorkel they can join the day trips to Balicasag Island and snorkel there. They do BBQ on the boats which are large. Dumaguete you could also do. I just did two dive trips in Moalboal February and March 2025. Savedra Divers in Moalboal is who I dive with as I know the IDC Course Director who manages the operation. Their guides are good at taking care of divers. From Moalboal you could do the snorkel tour with whale sharks in Oslon or do trips to some waterfalls for a day. You can also snorkel the sardines in Moalboal or do it as a shore dive.

Her partner manages a differnet dive resort I'll ask the name. Lots of people stay there as it is very quiet, has its own good restaurant and pool and you can snorkel there.

Lots of Europeans and Australians have vacation in Philippines throughout December. I've been there in December and yes it can get busy.

I was lucky to dive with Bob and Debby from New York in Moalboal who made this youtube below.. We got on the same dive group for several days as we all do video and photo's.

This from March 2025

 

[Centrals]

Thanks both for your viewpoints, yes - seems I mixed up La Lagunas, Big and Small. I was actually initially looking for Scandi in Big LL…until I came across Action and Out of the Blue…thinking it will be more convinient for non-divers with a villa, for better quality for accommodation. Yes, I understand I would loose 2 diving days if transfering to Dauin vs not flying domestic. On the other hand my daughter may not be willing to max the diving i.e. dive every day (well I might..) . Good to know Christmas day is less hectic for moving…I was not sure about that. I have also considered if we should change entirely to Dauin and spend whole time there, may be few days in Siquijor…but the variety of diving available in PG is attracting me, as well as easiness to reach from Manila without need for additional flight (will use private van+taxi boat). Whether wise there is no difference mid - Late December between Anilao vs Dauin? One that I have figured out is that in case of typhoon would hit, in Anilao we would be just land transfer to airport, so on a safer side with that. I recall someone experiencing a typhoon on boxing day.

1. Big La Laguna is only 5 mins walk away from Small.
2. Diving in Anilao is better than Dauin(my own view).
3. I had experienced typhoon twice on Boxing day!
4. Forget about the idea of Alona Beach which is full of non divers. You are at least 15yrs too late to enjoy the tranquility of it. Moalboal? Typhoon Odettet has done a good job couple of yrs ago. I was there last Oct and you will not see me there in another 5yrs.
5. Taal Lake and and its surrounding, day trip from Anilao.
6. It is your holiday after all, plan carefully because you really do not have that much time. Flight to Dumaguette just before Christmas will be expensive and in big demand.

 

[ArskaDiver]

Thanks all, good viewpoints! This is excellent forum for advice! I think I have considered almost all destinations in Phills worth diving, incl. Bohol Panglao/Anda, South Leyte, around Cebu…. For the limited time window I would avoid long land/sea transfers. Moalboal, thanks Centrals for the heads up on typhoon damages, I also recall reading rather fierce stray dog situation there (someone got recently bitten and needed to seek rabies shot).
Meanwhile, I found that I could get Solitude Acacia in Anilao with substantial discount via booking dot com, and that is now about to resolve my consideration (prior to that Dauin seemed cheaper even with flight tickets) Acacia seems quality accommodation my family would enjoy, it is actually over Christmas days we will be there…and I get to dive different corner of Verde Island Passage, with a possibility for some island boat trips with family, and Taal might be an option for inland tour (thanks Central for that tip too)

I am aware of the Verde Island incident, that is one reason to carefully select my dive operator. And a refresher is extremely cheap with Action Divers, will dive plenty for practise prior to considering Verde Island.