Did I make a mistake?

[cetacean]

lol...I stand by the examples I provided. Direct experiences are not absolute, they're relative, it can vary by the time of year, the currents, the viz, etc. I'm not saying this is you; when someone says "I dove there, I didn't like it" do you just take their word for it or do you do more research? Thank you for suggesting I travel more, I tell everyone the same thing...No matter how much you travel, you can and should always travel more

Since I guess folks want to go back and forth with posting lists here's another...We can do this for days...lol

Scuba Diving Bucket List: Top Dive Destinations

So many scuba dive sites so little time! Does your bucket list need a refresh? From Indonesia to the Red Sea, these top dive destinations offer some of the best marine life, reefs and beaches in the world. Here are the top dive destinations you must add to your bucket list from our Diventures...

www.diventures.com

@Volleyball

You started by posting:

" Palau is a top 3 diving location in the world on nearly every best diving location list. While Tubbataha is considered the best diving in the Philippines, it rarely appears in the top 20 list of the world's best diving locations."

And you follow this by posting the "Top 9" list from a dive shop in Arizona? You definitely are coming across as a noob...

Palau has a number of world class dives. Here's the thing - they were even better 20 years ago. Tubbataha is like Palau was 20+ years ago... the difference? Diver pressure... even with Palau's very effective conservation efforts, ~40,000 divers visit Palau each year, Tubbataha gets <3k divers a year.

LoL (not).

I get it, you can't afford the time (or $ ?) to dive Tubbataha. Don't suggest it's not world class if you haven't even done the research on it.

Palau is a country, Tubbataha is a reef system (within the Philippines)... There are only a couple of dives in Palau that I would rate higher (on average) than Tubbataha (and that's only when you don't find whale sharks at Tubbataha).

 

[Volleyball]

@Volleyball

You started by posting:

" Palau is a top 3 diving location in the world on nearly every best diving location list. While Tubbataha is considered the best diving in the Philippines, it rarely appears in the top 20 list of the world's best diving locations."

And you follow this by posting the "Top 9" list from a dive shop in Arizona? You definitely are coming across as a noob...

Palau has a number of world class dives. Here's the thing - they were even better 20 years ago. Tubbataha is like Palau was 20+ years ago... the difference? Diver pressure... even with Palau's very effective conservation efforts, ~40,000 divers visit Palau each year, Tubbataha gets <3k divers a year.

LoL (not).

I get it, you can't afford the time (or $ ?) to dive Tubbataha. Don't suggest it's not world class if you haven't even done the research on it.

Palau is a country, Tubbataha is a reef system (within the Philippines)... There are only a couple of dives in Palau that I would rate higher (on average) than Tubbataha (and that's only when you don't find whale sharks at Tubbataha).

There is no need to keep this p!ssing match going, we agree to disagree. If anyone is considering diving between ANY two locations/sites, they shouldn't rely on the words of two bickering on the internet, they should look up recent youtube videos to get a better sense of what they're going to see to make their decision. Thanks for the laughs and cheers

 

[Clernix]

@Clernix - Sangalaki (and the surrounding region) offers some very good diving, the best time to dive it is usually March through October (so likely lines up with your visit to SE Asia).

The mantas can be hit or miss (but when they are there, you can come across 30+ in a train...), otherwise the nudibranch variety is really good.

I just heard back from Scuba Junkie Sangalaki. They have availability. So its 10 days Sangalaki and I'll fly back to Manilla head down to PG and see if I can dive Verde Island a couple times since I am there. I planned this trip last minute. I wanted to take advantage of a deal Singapore Airlines was offering so I didn't really research like I should have. This thread has put Tubbutha reef on my radar so thank everyone for that.

 

[Centrals]

Scuba Junkie Sangalaki is a good choice but getting there(Derawan) takes time. Which airport are you flying into, Berau or Tarakan?
Love to return.

Special trip to Verde island is available everyday(weather permitted) but the cost is pretty high if no one sharing it.
Good luck.

 

[cetacean]

There is no need to keep this p!ssing match going, we agree to disagree. If anyone is considering diving between ANY two locations/sites, they shouldn't rely on the words of two bickering on the internet, they should look up recent youtube videos to get a better sense of what they're going to see to make their decision. Thanks for the laughs and cheers

"Pissing match..."

No. You posted an uneducated (and incorrect) statement and you got called on it.

Youtube is one place to get information, but not always a balanced source... one of the primary reasons people use this forum is to hear first hand commentary from those that have been to a destination.

Simple solution - stop offering up opinions on places you haven't been.

 

[Volleyball]

"Pissing match..."

No. You posted an uneducated (and incorrect) statement and you got called on it.

Youtube is one place to get information, but not always a balanced source... one of the primary reasons people use this forum is to hear first hand commentary from those that have been to a destination.

Simple solution - stop offering up opinions on places you haven't been.

If you're this passionate about Tubbutha being better than Palau, find every list including the ones I included that put Palau ahead, and write to them sharing your passionate opinion

 

[cetacean]

If you're this passionate about Tubbutha being better than Palau, find every list including the ones I included that put Palau ahead, and write to them sharing your passionate opinion

Again - the (incorrect) statement you made:

" Palau is a top 3 diving location in the world on nearly every best diving location list. While Tubbataha is considered the best diving in the Philippines, it rarely appears in the top 20 list of the world's best diving locations."

I never said Tubbataha was better or worse than Palau (I've been to both multiple times). They are different in both the number of divers you will encounter and in their remoteness.

My point remains you made an incorrect (and uneducated) statement. It was clear when you made it you didn't have any personal experience with at least one of the locations (now I wonder if you've been to Palau as well).

Here's a suggestion - go dive Tubbataha and then let us know what you think.

 

[Volleyball]

My point remains

Ditto!

 

[Clernix]

Just an update. I have decided to stay in the Philippians for the three weeks. I am diving Malapascua , Southern Leyte and PG. With PG I might just hit Verde Island a couple times and get some down time in before I head back.

I figured I am going to be in the Philippians might as well dive it. I put off Sangalaki till Nov.

I have done some research on Tubbutha and it does look pretty amazing. So I am hoping this trip turns out great and I might come back to dive Tubbutha.

thank you everyone for your input. This is a great place to get advice.

 

[cetacean]

Ditto!

I guess ignorance is bliss for you... good job!