February 2019 itinerary help

[Centrals]

This is my suggestions:
1. Manila to Tacloban and then either private of public transfer to Sogod Bay.
2. Ferry from Maasin to Cebu City. Thing getting complicate here because there are THREE routes to choose:
a. Travel north to Malapascua
b. Ferry to Bohol or surrounding islands
c. Moalboal
Personally I would choose Malapascua because of the thresher shark and then afterwards to Moalboal because of the sardines.
3. Bus and ferry across from Moalboal to Dumaguete/Apo Island/Siquijor.
4. If you still have time to dive then 6hrs to Sipalay and return to Manila via Bacolod.
5. The only back track is from Malapascua to Cebu City for Moalboal.

If I am doing the trip myself: Sogod Bay, Malapascua, Moalboal and Sipalay,
I would use either Philippine airlines or Cebu Pacific Air for domestic connection. Two singles from two different cities to Manila is more flexible than a MNL/CEB return.

 

[nudisusie]

Lovely photos Luko. I'm not knocking your experience, just sharing mine and the OP stated they specifically like quiet, otherwise perhaps my recommendation would be different

 

[Luko]

Lovely photos Luko. I'm not knocking your experience, just sharing mine and the OP stated they specifically like quiet, otherwise perhaps my recommendation would be different

I understand this point of view about "landside quietness" (quieter than Anda would be holidays in a sanatorium but there are other spots that can be quiet enough without Anda's boredom : Dauin or Cabilao are some of them ), what pushed my reply is the comparison between local dives.
I also guess that the OP is looking first for a dive trip (we are on Scubaboard aren't we?), not just for lounging in a quiet environment, maybe what he/she doesn't realize is that you can have both and that the Visayas/PIs will always give you a chance to find a quiet resort/bungalows/villa even in the most crowded place (with the exception of may be Moalboal) This is not the Florida Keys nor Pattaya.

As much as I despise the kind of circus Moalboal has become, I don't agree at all with the statement that diving Moalboal is dull (your own words), this is why I displayed images to show what diving Moalboal actually is, not only from mine or your subjective opinions.
For Panglao and diving Balicasag, there is no need to stay right on the beach where live music bands play "Hotel California" every night, there are lots of Villas you can find. Your main bother will be roosters singing in the morning, and it will usually cheaper than the ones on Alona beach while it's only 5mn walking distance.

 

[xrcjdx]

You have some good advice from some very knowledgeable people and it's hard to make the call with only 3 weeks to spare. I'll throw in my 2 cents to make things that much more difficult for you.
I agree with Centrals re Sogod Bay. I'm a frequent advocate of the place on the board (I've been living here for a couple years) and no one who visits and dives with the right provider leaves disappointed. The diving can be the best in the Philippines, with some great muck and fantastic walls. (The wall at Napantao is the best in the Philippines, Pescador notwithstanding.) I dive with Peter's and have no problem (and no ulterior motive) recommending them. 2 boat dives in the morning and 1 shore dive in the afternoon,or the afternoon free to explore the area. And there's plenty to explore. The night dive at the Burgos pier is not to be missed. And February is prime time for whale sharks which come and go on their own schedule. Unlike some places in the Philippines. You have limited options for your evening meal, but limited doesn't mean zero.
To reach Bohol, take the ferry from Bato, Leyte to Ubay. Anda is right around the corner. It's true if you base yourself in a resort, and there are some very fine resorts on Anda, you will be isolated. Have a look at a decent mapping application (maps.me) to see why this is so. On the otherhand, if you base yourself in Anda town proper you will get the diving as well as not being cloistered in a resort. Anda town can be a lot of fun, has decent lodging options at a fair price, and has a beautiful white sand beach to boot.
To reach Cebu and carry on, take the Weesam fast ferry from Tubigon, 2x per day.
A far as I'm concerned, the sardines are the main reason to visit Moalboal. 7 days is over kill. Don't do it.
Don't know where in Canada you are, but Cathay flies non-stop to Hong Kong from either Toronto or Vancouver. Cebu is 2 hours away. Skip MNL if possible, it's a dump, unless you decide to dive Puerto Galera. Which is great, but really cold (and crowded) in February.

 

[Centrals]

Three weeks to spend in Visayas and NOT diving Sogod Bay is a crime!!!

 

[Trying Scuba]

Great pictures. Thank you.
Question: do you have any recommendations for Dive Center?
Recommendation for DM?
Recommend resort?

 

[Trying Scuba]

Oops. For Moalboal. We plan to go in November this year

 

[Luko]

Oops. For Moalboal. We plan to go in November this year

NOT Savedra anymore which has become a big dive factory, lots of european instructors who are new to the place, very limited flexibility, whimsical dive shedules that are aimed to attract the more divers rather than dive the best of the sites. I used to go there and come back when it was german owned and managed, the management now has chosen to mimic Koh Tao's busiest dive factories.

I'd recommend two options now :
- the original Nelson's, the cheapest in town, genuinely filipino guides.
- Cebu dive center, nice people, good management by Cameron, small dive center you def need to book ahead.

Resorts :
Cabanas if you don't need a swimming pool, right downtown Panagsama (right where the sardines school is).
If you need all the stuff around a resort (pool, grounds, etc.) , the best ones are outside of Panagasama (Turtle bay, Dolphin house), hence you need to take a tricycle to go and dive the sardines shool early fom the shore, or eat out at the restaurants.

 

[Trying Scuba]

Great. We were considering several particularly Turtle bay. Pls let me know if you have fave DMs you would recommend?

Thank u for your thoughtful analysis.

 

[Luko]

Great. We were considering several particularly Turtle bay. Pls let me know if you have fave DMs you would recommend?

Thank u for your thoughtful analysis.

Nope. i was not impressed with Turtle bay DMs.
That is why each day I took a tricycle and went diving with Savedra (at the time it was german owned).