bearteacher.tw:
We plan to dive with Ticao Island Resort and wonder this resort's serive and DM?
Is diving in Manta bowl boring if we are unlucky to see any big things?
How about San Miguel? What can I expect to see there?
PS. Will Cebu Pacific serve food on the flight from Hong Kong to Manila? Or I should buy some in advance.
Thanks!
I went to Ticao in March last year, and only have good things to say.
the DM was a swedish guy, quite knowledgable, had lots of tips to make the most of each dive site, and was very patient with the divers who were far less capable than they claimed to be.
Ticao is pretty much isolated from anywhere else, so when you stay there, you are stuck there, but the food is good, service is great, and the staff are willing to bend over backwards to make sure you have a great trip.
Manta bowl - this is a high current site, you dive down to about 20 - 25m as quick as possible, then hook on to a rock, then you sit, and wait. I didn't see any mantas when I was there, but I did see a whale shark, pretty much everyone sees one or the other, though I did do 3 dives in Manta bowl, and to be honest - if the whale sharks or mantas are a no show, then it is a very boring dive with not much to see. Having said that, everyone that had been to this site when I was there had either seen mantas, whale sharks, or both, so so long as you do at least 2 dives, you should get to see one or maybe even both.
San Mig Island, on the other hand, is an awesome dive site. Lots of macro, lots of caverns, a plethora of sea life, colourful corals, sea snakes, fish... it was a great dive site! And th ebest part is, since it is a small island, it doesn't matter which way the wind is coming from, it is always easy to move to a protected area.
as for Cebu Pacific.. no idea, I flew with PI airways.
Z...
