Philippines Dive Locations (7/8 nights) - Bohol + Sogod Bay/Dauin/Malapascua?

[J_Mvmt]

Hi everyone - new to the forum here! I am planning a last minute trip to the Philippines over Chinese New Year (Jan 27 to Feb 4/5 - undecided on which day exactly I'll leave), and looking at potential options.

My initial thoughts are:
- Day 1: Fly to Manila (from HK), then internal flight to Bohol
- Day 2-4: Dive in Panglao: Balicasag, Pamilacan, Napaling & Doljo (1 day each)
- Day 5: Move on to either Dauin/Apo Island, Malapascua, or South Leyte
- Day 6-9: Dive at one of the above (adjust by 1 day depending if I fly out on Day 9 or 10)

Jan 31 (day 5) will be mostly a travel day, so that pretty much leaves Feb 1-3 for diving, then Feb 4/5 travel back to whichever airport/internal transfer if needed.

If I go to Malapascua I could for example fly back to HK from Cebu, rather than from Manila.

I'm a recent AOW and fairly new to diving, so am more looking for a variety of dives and not necessarily something specific like macro. Seeing whale sharks (not being fed) while snorkeling is actually on the bucket list, which inclines me to make the trek out to Sogod Bay/South Leyte. I'm even thinking if I should do an internal transfer straight to there (Tacloban airport) from Manila. Then make my way to Bohol afterwards. But perhaps it would be quicker to take a ferry from Bohol, spend days 6-9 there, then ferry to Cebu and international flight back to HK, or go to Tacloban then internal flight back to Manila. Just trying to figure out what is the most efficient use of time.

I've already been speaking to a few dive shops in Bohol, but haven't yet explored the other areas mentioned. Also looking at places to stay (ideally under say US$30 a night, but a private room - I appreciate I'll probably need to spend more if somewhere more isolated like South Leyte). I'm willing to travel a bit further but generally of course want to minimise as much travel time as possible.

Would love any thoughts/suggestions!

 

[Centrals]

I was born and raised in HK and it is known as Lunar New Year to differentiate it from the other one. Korea also has the new year at that time!!!
BTW, if you can read traditional written Han Chinese you will notice it is known as Spring Festival. And you will never ever see the words CNY used.

If you had any travelling experiences in Philippines then you should know your proposed plan is NOT practical.
Ticket to either CEB or MNL should be in big demand over the period you are interested. Flight to CEB is rather limited unlike MNL.
There are only a few dive resorts in Southern Leyte and demand is high because of the whaleshark.

Welcome - Peter's Dive Resort Philippines: Scuba Diving in Sogod Bay, Southern Leyte

www.petersdiveresortph.com

Sogod Bay Scuba Diving Resort, Southern Leyte, Philippines

At Sogod Bay Scuba Resort we are committed to providing divers with a top class diving experience and great value for money

sogodbayscubaresort.com

Contact them and others for vacancy first.
Getting there is NOT that straight forward and takes time:
1. MNL/TAC and land transfer(3hrs by private and longer by public).
2. CEB first and then ferry to Ormoc, finally a 3hrs private transfer. There is a ferry from Cebu to Maasin and a short ride to Padres Bugo but you need to stay overnight in Cebu to catch the early ferry in the following morning.

Malapascua should be very popular over that period.

Evolution Diving Resort in Malapascua, Cebu, Philippines

The Evolution Diving Resort in Malapascua offers amazing recreational diving, the best tech diving facility in the region, and gorgeous beachfront rooms!

evolution.com.ph

Could be fully booked by now.
There are others.

Bohol. This is my least favourite place for diving in the country. Pretty easy to get there. I had dived there on numerous occasions until the onslaught of development ruined the place.
Moalboal. Still needs time to recover from the typhoon.
Dauin. Long transfer from CEB or via MNL to DGT.

Liquid Dumaguete: Philippines Dive Resort - PADI 5 Star CDC Dive Center

Welcome to Liquid Dive Resort, a small boutique resort located on a secluded beach front in Dauin, home to some of the best diving in the Philippines.

www.liquiddumaguete.com

Puerto Galera. Plenty of posts on this place. Private transfer is ridiculously expensive and public takes time.

 

[Centrals]

HKG/CEB
27th Jan to 05th Feb
Cebu Pacific is charging HK3,381.80(checked bag is not included)!!!!
CX charges HK$4,364.00 + extra!!

 

[J_Mvmt]

Hi - got it thank you. I think I’ve ruled out Malapascua this time round just because of the time it takes to get there. I’m trying to work out how long the ferry takes to get to Sogod Bay if I was to leave from Bohol (I think its Ubay to Bato, Leyte), then I would do the outward leg back to Hong Kong from Cebu. Otherwise the easiest/least hassle choice would just be to go to Dauin and Apo Island.

Fortunately for the international flights I can go via standby which allows me to go relatively cheap, although does require a tiny bit of flexibility on the travel day as flights may get full closer to the time, so I just need to keep an eye on those.

 

[diveUAE]

I think your best bet i getting in touch with dive centers and see who have availability.

We were in Dauin during CNY/LNY last year and getting a spot on the boat to Apo was not that easy (or: we could get a spot, but boat was very busy, so we opted to dive from shore instead - but we love muck diving, so was ok for us). So if you go Dumaguette/Dauin make sure you have a space on a boat to Apo.

For a "newbie" diver I would say Bohol is a good place and fairly easy to get to (do book ahead for Balicasag), would recommend to stay put - or maybe just move to Anda? Could also give Siquijor a look.

 

[Centrals]

Hi - got it thank you. I think I’ve ruled out Malapascua this time round just because of the time it takes to get there. I’m trying to work out how long the ferry takes to get to Sogod Bay if I was to leave from Bohol (I think its Ubay to Bato, Leyte), then I would do the outward leg back to Hong Kong from Cebu. Otherwise the easiest/least hassle choice would just be to go to Dauin and Apo Island.

Fortunately for the international flights I can go via standby which allows me to go relatively cheap, although does require a tiny bit of flexibility on the travel day as flights may get full closer to the time, so I just need to keep an eye on those.

PAL is code sharing with CX for HKG/CEB.
Cebu to Maasin is 3hrs but only at 07:00am. Return is 15:00. From Maasin there is cheap connection(jeepney) to Padres Bugos and onward(trike) to your resort and vice versa. Shared trike is only P10.00pp.
Ferry from Ubay to Bato is also once a day(13:00) and Bato is slightly further down the road from Maasin but local transport is available. Start early and you should be able to make it. However, ferry do get cancel for various reasons so be prepared.
Local transport in Leyte is plentiful during day time ie before 17:00 unless there is ferry arriving.

You better start getting in touch with the resorts for accommodation. Time is NOT on your side.
Good luck.