It's been said but I'll add-
You'll get a sim card at the airport when you arrive.
You can take a taxi but if lines are hour+long, which I've had to endure more than once, there is Uber in Manila.
I'd take the bus down. If you leave in the morning then you're there by lunch. It's a comfortable ride.
I stayed and dived with Blue Ribbon last may. Great location and great staff.
Diving in Sabang is easy and pretty good. There's better elsewhere in the Philippines but you won't be disappointed with Sabang. And it's one of the few dive beach towns with a little 'night life' for single men if you'd like that option.
Dive knives are usually never a problem. Dive gloves are depending on the dive centre- some prefer you not to thinking it will encourage you to touch coral.
Philippines in general is safe. Especially the smaller towns. Dont let gun toting McDonald's doorman worry you. Philippines does have a gun culture. Manila and Cebu are like any other big Asian city. There is petty crime so use common sense walking around alone at night.
I always carry USD and change it in country. A little at the airport for the first day of travel and then change the rest as I go along. In my experience hotel safes have been reliable. Even in smaller hotels.
I discovered solo dive travel a few years ago and have since almost always travel solo. You'll get friendly with whoever is on the dive boat with you or you can choose to chill by yourself with a book on the beach. Best of both worlds imo. Its always a good idea to offer your DMs a round of drinks at night. They'll be your best tour guides.
I'll be in Cebu area middle of may if you are around. The diving around Cebu/Vysayas is debatably the best in the region if not south east Asia. Holler if you want more options on dive spots in the Philippines.
You'll get a sim card at the airport when you arrive.
You can take a taxi but if lines are hour+long, which I've had to endure more than once, there is Uber in Manila.
I'd take the bus down. If you leave in the morning then you're there by lunch. It's a comfortable ride.
I stayed and dived with Blue Ribbon last may. Great location and great staff.
Diving in Sabang is easy and pretty good. There's better elsewhere in the Philippines but you won't be disappointed with Sabang. And it's one of the few dive beach towns with a little 'night life' for single men if you'd like that option.
Dive knives are usually never a problem. Dive gloves are depending on the dive centre- some prefer you not to thinking it will encourage you to touch coral.
Philippines in general is safe. Especially the smaller towns. Dont let gun toting McDonald's doorman worry you. Philippines does have a gun culture. Manila and Cebu are like any other big Asian city. There is petty crime so use common sense walking around alone at night.
I always carry USD and change it in country. A little at the airport for the first day of travel and then change the rest as I go along. In my experience hotel safes have been reliable. Even in smaller hotels.
I discovered solo dive travel a few years ago and have since almost always travel solo. You'll get friendly with whoever is on the dive boat with you or you can choose to chill by yourself with a book on the beach. Best of both worlds imo. Its always a good idea to offer your DMs a round of drinks at night. They'll be your best tour guides.
I'll be in Cebu area middle of may if you are around. The diving around Cebu/Vysayas is debatably the best in the region if not south east Asia. Holler if you want more options on dive spots in the Philippines.
The food there is excellent as well. Sabang is a tiny stretch - it won't take you long to find your favourite spots.
