MikeCal
Registered
Based on wonderful inputs from the forum I went to Malapascau as my first stop to the Philippines.
Some quick background. Very new diver being certified in April 2024 with 60 dives.
Arrived in Cebu at around 1 pm and i stayed at the Bayshore right across from the North bus terminal.
Took an early bus (left station around 8am) and arrived at Maya Port at 12:30. Met up with 3 others and then told the scam story about the price being higher due to lack of people (400 instead of 200) but they were hot and tired so we ended up paying it
I couldn't get a room at Evolution so stayed at Little Mermaid and found it to be great for the price. Big clean room with good AC though water had some saltiness, and good free breakfast. Not very many guests, think maybe 3 rooms used and staff was friendly. Lots of people diving with evolution stayed at Ocean Vida which looked like a solid option.
Did 9 dives with Evolution including 2 morning thresher dives (2 dives) which leave at 4:45 am. Loved being the only groups first thing. Saw sharks every time and one group on a day I was there said they saw a small tiger. Great site with lots to see other than sharks like snowflake eels, octopus (saw a pair mating), nudibranches, etc.....
Gato 2 dives were good and saw the largest Sea Horse I ever seen. I swear it was a fake one when I first saw it.
Enjoyed Secret Wall for its colorful coral and small stuff
Didn't enjoy Lapus Lapus (only 2 of us which maybe was a sign) or Morad Shoals. Current was a bit strong at both and we had a diver issue at Morad that made the dive short and a bit of a mess. The sites were okay but I wouldn't visit them again over other options.
Thank you again for all the helpful feedback from my previous post to make my first venture to diving in the Philippines a great experience.
Attached video is from a member of my group as I don't have a camera
Some quick background. Very new diver being certified in April 2024 with 60 dives.
Arrived in Cebu at around 1 pm and i stayed at the Bayshore right across from the North bus terminal.
Took an early bus (left station around 8am) and arrived at Maya Port at 12:30. Met up with 3 others and then told the scam story about the price being higher due to lack of people (400 instead of 200) but they were hot and tired so we ended up paying it
I couldn't get a room at Evolution so stayed at Little Mermaid and found it to be great for the price. Big clean room with good AC though water had some saltiness, and good free breakfast. Not very many guests, think maybe 3 rooms used and staff was friendly. Lots of people diving with evolution stayed at Ocean Vida which looked like a solid option.
Did 9 dives with Evolution including 2 morning thresher dives (2 dives) which leave at 4:45 am. Loved being the only groups first thing. Saw sharks every time and one group on a day I was there said they saw a small tiger. Great site with lots to see other than sharks like snowflake eels, octopus (saw a pair mating), nudibranches, etc.....
Gato 2 dives were good and saw the largest Sea Horse I ever seen. I swear it was a fake one when I first saw it.
Enjoyed Secret Wall for its colorful coral and small stuff
Didn't enjoy Lapus Lapus (only 2 of us which maybe was a sign) or Morad Shoals. Current was a bit strong at both and we had a diver issue at Morad that made the dive short and a bit of a mess. The sites were okay but I wouldn't visit them again over other options.
Thank you again for all the helpful feedback from my previous post to make my first venture to diving in the Philippines a great experience.
Attached video is from a member of my group as I don't have a camera
