Introduce yourself - Get to know the PPD. (No chatting PLEASE!!!!!!)

[Limeroo]

Name: Chris Lim
Age: 26
Occupation: World traveler. Regularly a software engineer with photographic talents
Diving since: This past Saturday
Certification: PADI OW
Dream Dive: Palau? (Going this April)
Been to divesites: Anilao
Equipment: Gull mask, Aquamundo snorkel and wetsuit/booties

Hello diving world!

 

[RRedd]

Name: Ronnie
Age: 23
Occupation: Accounting, Misc Underwater Handy Man, Home Remodeling
Diving since: Yesterday
Certification: PADI OW,ADOW,Rescue,DiveMaster,Equipment Specialist,Deep,Wreck,and EFR Instructor
Dream Dive: Galapagos
Equipment: Dive Rite mask, Knighthawk BC, Delta 4 with FDX10 1st Stage, Split Fins

 

[psynchro]

Name: Julian
Age: 28
Occupation: English instructor
Diving since: this coming July
Certification: you mean for diving?
Dream Dive: my first
Been to divesites: only through the unconscious
Equipment: just a plane ticket to the Philippines so far

I'm really excited to be coming to the Philippines this summer to get my OW / maybe AOW. I've never dived before, but it's been on a special list along with buy a crotchrocket, and the latter has been done here in Korea. I used to play with my older brother's tank in our pool as a kid and the dream stuck.

I appreciate any recommendations, excellent personal experiences, and advice on dive centers and the Philippines anyone wishes to share with me. I would much rather go somewhere where I already have friends, so if you know or are someone I should study with let me know! Thanks so much!

 

[jdo_travel]

Name: John
Age: 31
Occupation: Writer/editor
Diving since: Jan 2008
Certification: PADI AOW
Dream Dive: Tubbataha Reef, Philippines
Been to divesites: Boracay, Apo Island, Panglao, Moalboal, Padre Burgos, Siquior, Donsol, Puerto Galera (all Philippines)
Equipment: Just a mask (Tusa Visualator)

I am new to scuba, and to Scuba Board (although I have already got some useful information while lurking). I am from the UK but currently living in the Philippines, and am lucky enough to have quite a bit of time for diving.

I got my PADI Open Water in Boracay at the end of January, and just did my AOW in Puerto Galera. So far, I'm a big fan of drift dives (the Manta Bowl near Donsol was maybe a bit much for my experience level, although that was also down to faulty equipment - another story...) and walls. Apo Island was great in both respects, and is my favourite location in the country so far.

 

[Dive_pa!]

Name: Jao
Occupation: Buyer
Certifications: Padi OW, AOW
Diving since: 2005
Dive History: Have dived in Malapascua, Apo Island, Balicasag, El Nido, Verde Island (crazy down current!), Puerto Galera, etc.
Favorite dive sites: Black Forest in Balicasag and Chapel (Sanctuary) in Apo Island. =)
Equipment Setup: Old school stuff - Scubapro Classic; MK-20; Uwatec Aladin

 

[munkee_gurl]

Name: Jen
Age: 28
From: Manila
Occupation: food product developer
Certification: NAUI (2004) ; TDI Nitrox (2007).
Diving around Phils. haven't got to the Mindanao part yet.
Most memorable dive : I kept feeding a huge pawikan w/ sea grass for 30 mins. in Coron. The wrecks were amazing btw.
Fell in love with tubbataha, especially the night dives. Going back again this season. ~ getting myself in a dive boot camp AGAIN~

 

[reg_gat]

Name: Reg
Age: 31
Profession: Contractor
Diving since: 2004
Cert: PADI DM
Favourite dive sites: Beatrice (anilao) Canyons (galera) Black Forest (Balicasag)
Dream dive: Tubb
Gear: Atomic Aquatics B2; Scubapro Classic Expedition; Mares Volo
Others: If i'm not in the water, i'm probably playing golf

 

[hanna_banana]

Name: Hanna
Age: 39
Occupation: Businesswoman
Diving since: 1992
Certifications: PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
Favorite dive sites: All of the sites in the Philippines I have been to. Each one is unique
Dream Dive: The rest of the sites in the Philippines I have not been to. Too many for my lifetime.
Equipment: A lot.

 

[rpaintellectual]

Name: Rodel
Age: 33
Occupation: Farmer
Certifications: SSI OW, AOW
Diving since: 2007
Dive History: Balicasag, Anilao, Puerto Galera
Favorite dive sites: Black Forest in Balicasag, Batok-Beatrice in Anilao,

I think I found my real home (underwater)! I'm completely hooked with diving.

 

[kosmonooit]

Nom: Bruce
Age: 47
Occupation: Business person / systems developer / all-rounder / world traveller
Certs: OW, AOW, EAN
Diving since 2007
Kit: Decided to travel with my own BCD (Seaquest) and Regulator (AquaLung Kronos, Seaquest Air Source) after a few encounters with dodgy rental equipment. Also splashed out on Suunto D9, which has worked well.

Five times to Phils, love it there. Got me into diving. Just begun exploring the Islands. Started off diving at Boracay, that was okey but I worry about overdevelopment there and elsewhere in Phils as tourism picks up. Puerto Galeria was my best diving so far.