Planning 2 weeks in Puerto Galera and maybe nearby locations

[Centrals]

^
Bottom of Verde is about 90m so you dive Trimix there all the time or just a bound dive on air.

The legend in PG is the late John Bennett.

 

[Cheryl Petreman]

Lots of trip reports mention Verde Island, and my understanding is this is an option with Asia Divers (or anywhere nearby) if I get a large enough group together, but not realistic if I am solo.

My husband & I were at Asia Divers for 2 weeks last July & managed to go to Verde Island twice. Just tell them when you arrive that you're interested & they'll go as soon as they get a large enough group together. We thoroughly enjoyed the muck diving, but there was always another boat going elsewhere for those who weren't fans.

 

[chillyinCanada]

I'm not going Anyware else soon, time is on my side. As for favors from tourists, the definition of the word favor means an act of kindness that is beyond the usual. I don't need favors, if I help you, I'm doing you a favor, not the other way around. I offered an exchange of service. I own this place, have my own private dive master and boat, and I am a legend here. The other dive shops and all the dive masters and instructors look up to me in awe. I scuba dive for pleasure not for profit. My dives are 90 minutes long not 45. When I dive Verde, I touch the bottom, I'm the only one who does night drift dives, and I go to dive sites no one else ever does. When the weather is bad, and the others are afraid or too lazy to go out, I'm out there enjoying having the whole place to myself. As for advice, here it is, you're going to have to learn the hard way that it's better to know someone here than doing it by yourself. Good luck, cause you're going to really need it.

And you are humble, too. Snort

You also misunderstood bvbellomo.

 

[bvbellomo]

Thanks everyone, one more question:

If I stay at El Galleon, am I better off booking ahead of time, or last minute? The biggest reason I want a resort over a liveaboard is if I have travel delays, the resort won't sail without me. If I book far in advance, and lose a day in flight, or miss the last ferry to PG, I've paid for a day I didn't use. This could be multiple days. However if I book last minute, I run the risk rooms will sell out.

 

[shimmer]

I just checked El Galleon's website as I'm thinking of going there late January. It looks like rooms are get booked fast in that time frame to include early February. So if your plans are concrete, I'd book now.

 

[bvbellomo]

Plans are anything but concrete, but I may have to book or give up the idea of going. It doesn't look like last minute is a realistic option.

Does anyone know about the diving? If I book a room now and book diving when I am at the resort, I am only out the cost of the room if I don't make it. But diving might also sell out. I know they have dive/room combo packages, but they seem more expensive, especially for people willing to book budget rooms.

Should I book the whole trip at El Galleon? Or is it worth a few days at a separate resort in Anilao ?

 

[d^2b]

You should talk to the dive operator, but I had the impression that Asia divers had some flexibility to take last minute divers (at least with 24h notice). They were fairly often running multiple boats. On the other hand I don't know if we were there in peak season.

 

[bvbellomo]

I am thinking about moving my trip to March due to flight availability. Not sure if diving conditions are different.

 

[Fred A.]

This is exactly what I'd want - even 1 trip where I could work in with another group is fine.

Yes, El Galleon is great, cheaper than Atlantis and offers trips to Verde Island. They offer great reef diving, up to 5 dives a day, some of which can be muck dives. I did one, didn't particularly like it. Staff is great, the resort is fine, would definitely recommend it and I look forward to going back. Everything in the Philippines is reasonably cheap, and the food is really good. In Manila we stayed at the Belmont Hotel, a 5 minute walk from Manila airport. Rooms are small, but well appointed and a great buffet breakfast in the morning. Inexpensive too.

 

[YYCLuke]

I'll be at Asia Divers at that time as well doing my DM internship. Give me a wave if you see me, bald chubby white dude haha