Howdy, All! the Philippines have been on the list for a while and I'm trying to lock in a visit in the next 12 months. I am geographically challenged so am popping a thread up here that is going to be probably more general that totally specific. Here's the info I can give you:
- projected duration: 14+ days; I'd like to do 21ish but depending on budgets and sites I might combine this trip with another location
- time of year: no idea, pretty flexible bar June/July 2013 so far. want great diving and reasonable weather. It doesn't need to be picture postcard every day but I'd like the best chance to not get done out of dive days due to bad conditions.
*I'm not a huge fan of moving all the time so I'd like one or two or three destinations max. Each must offer a variety of sites and tons of critters. I just stayed at NAD Lembeh for 14 days and it wasn't long enough.
- my experience: yup, I can dive I always dive with a camera.
- critters I like: small, funky stuff rocks. Big schools are all well and good for ten minutes, then show me the neat things. Beautiful corals are, well, beautiful, but if they aren't hiding all manner of creatures then they only hold my interest for a few minutes.
- accommodation preferences: comfy bed, air-con (if needed), a good hot water shower and I'm good to go. I do not need luxury and I don't share bathrooms. Comfortable and modestly priced - I'd rather spend finite funds on diving
- traveling alone at this stage
- misc underwater stuff: not a fan of currents. big fan of being able to spend time with creatures, taking photos and just generally enjoy being underwater. depth means nothing to me, I don't have to dive deep to prove how cool I am.
- dive operators: need ops that are flexible with guides and letting me just get on with it. don't buddy dive/babysit strangers.
- other stuff: prefer being close to local divers so we can at least catch up for a beer or three after the dive day! Would love to meet as many SBers as I can. Do not need the post-pubescent let's get totally ****-faced every night party scene. Simple, local (maybe, no idea what the local food is LOL), inexpensive food - don't need 4* restaurants. In Bali I predominantly eat from the food carts and warungs that cater to the local guides etc.
I have only done a very modest amount of research into places so far. I really don't like to build expectations or pretend to know everything about the place I'm going to visit - first time I went to Lembeh I didn't even know where it was or even really what I was going to see beyond "super tiny & unusual creatures", just got on a plane
Thanks in advance - excited to try to get this trip locked in!
- projected duration: 14+ days; I'd like to do 21ish but depending on budgets and sites I might combine this trip with another location
- time of year: no idea, pretty flexible bar June/July 2013 so far. want great diving and reasonable weather. It doesn't need to be picture postcard every day but I'd like the best chance to not get done out of dive days due to bad conditions.
*I'm not a huge fan of moving all the time so I'd like one or two or three destinations max. Each must offer a variety of sites and tons of critters. I just stayed at NAD Lembeh for 14 days and it wasn't long enough.
- my experience: yup, I can dive I always dive with a camera.
- critters I like: small, funky stuff rocks. Big schools are all well and good for ten minutes, then show me the neat things. Beautiful corals are, well, beautiful, but if they aren't hiding all manner of creatures then they only hold my interest for a few minutes.
- accommodation preferences: comfy bed, air-con (if needed), a good hot water shower and I'm good to go. I do not need luxury and I don't share bathrooms. Comfortable and modestly priced - I'd rather spend finite funds on diving
- traveling alone at this stage
- misc underwater stuff: not a fan of currents. big fan of being able to spend time with creatures, taking photos and just generally enjoy being underwater. depth means nothing to me, I don't have to dive deep to prove how cool I am.
- dive operators: need ops that are flexible with guides and letting me just get on with it. don't buddy dive/babysit strangers.
- other stuff: prefer being close to local divers so we can at least catch up for a beer or three after the dive day! Would love to meet as many SBers as I can. Do not need the post-pubescent let's get totally ****-faced every night party scene. Simple, local (maybe, no idea what the local food is LOL), inexpensive food - don't need 4* restaurants. In Bali I predominantly eat from the food carts and warungs that cater to the local guides etc.
I have only done a very modest amount of research into places so far. I really don't like to build expectations or pretend to know everything about the place I'm going to visit - first time I went to Lembeh I didn't even know where it was or even really what I was going to see beyond "super tiny & unusual creatures", just got on a plane
Thanks in advance - excited to try to get this trip locked in!