Puerta Galera, PI

[Centrals]

@azgetaway
You are lucky to be able to return HK on Tue because it was more or less closed for 24hrs from Wed afternoon because of this super typhoon Ragasa. Typhoon Signal NO. 10 was hosted(second time this yr which is very very rare) and last just over 10hrs.

Ragasa becomes most distant typhoon to trigger T10, second longest in post-war history

Super Typhoon Ragasa made meteorological history as it became the first typhoon on record to trigger a No. 10 Hurricane Signal without passing within 100 kilometers of Hong Kong, demonstrating that direct hits are not necessary for extreme impacts.

www.thestandard.com.hk

Philippines has a big escape from this super typhoon, a frontal assault will probably result in hundreds if not more lives lost.
HK is a concrete jungle so strong wind has not much effect except on the window but not the case in Philippines. Thatched roof and house built with native materials would not have a chance to survive in wind speed in excess of 200km.

Typhoon Ragasa's 270km/h winds make it 'world's strongest storm this year'

Super Typhoon Ragasa is threatening Hong Kong with its powerful winds while demonstrating frightening intensity over the Pacific. Canadian climate experts report that satellite monitoring shows Ragasa has sustained winds of 270 km/h, making it the strongest tropical cyclone globally so far in 2025.

www.thestandard.com.hk

Best time of the year to dive in Philippines?
Jan to Mar but water will be very cold especially in PG. 18-20C is normal but good chance to see Thresher shark.
I experienced typhoon twice in PG on Boxing Day.

 

[Centrals]

We will probably go there during the kids' summer vacation, late May to late August. Is that a good time of the year to dive there? Also, do they have activities for the non-diving wife and young kids, 10 & 8? The kids would love to snorkel, but don't know about the wife

May to June is usually fine in Philippines but it will be hot.
Later than that then I believe you are better off on the East coast of either Malaysia or Thailand.

Granted the Ragasa typhoon was once in a 100 year storm, praying for the people of PI that they find safety.

It is definitely not once in a 100yrs storm for both HK and Philippines.
Haiyan/Yolanda in 2013 with huge destruction over a huge area in the country and lost of lives especially in Tacloban(Leyte Island). Around 6,000 lost their lives and plenty of them were just carried away by the sea and never accounted for.
The strongest typhoon to hit the country was in 2020 with one minute sustained wind speed of 315km/hr(195mph).

Typhoon Haiyan - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Viewer discretion is required because of the content.

 

[azgetaway]

There is a typhoon here now

How are you? I saw it was a bad one.

 

[azgetaway]

There are issues with Verde trips at the moment. Local regulations have changed making it very difficult, if not impossible, for the local shops to run the boats out there. It's a massive shame, and I'm sure it will be resolved soon, but at the moment there are serious difficulties getting to Verde.

We went there two weeks ago with Scandi Divers no issues.

 

[azgetaway]

@azgetaway
You are lucky to be able to return HK on Tue because it was more or less closed for 24hrs from Wed afternoon because of this super typhoon Ragasa. Typhoon Signal NO. 10 was hosted(second time this yr which is very very rare) and last just over 10hrs.

Ragasa becomes most distant typhoon to trigger T10, second longest in post-war history

Super Typhoon Ragasa made meteorological history as it became the first typhoon on record to trigger a No. 10 Hurricane Signal without passing within 100 kilometers of Hong Kong, demonstrating that direct hits are not necessary for extreme impacts.

www.thestandard.com.hk

Philippines has a big escape from this super typhoon, a frontal assault will probably result in hundreds if not more lives lost.
HK is a concrete jungle so strong wind has not much effect except on the window but not the case in Philippines. Thatched roof and house built with native materials would not have a chance to survive in wind speed in excess of 200km.

Typhoon Ragasa's 270km/h winds make it 'world's strongest storm this year'

Super Typhoon Ragasa is threatening Hong Kong with its powerful winds while demonstrating frightening intensity over the Pacific. Canadian climate experts report that satellite monitoring shows Ragasa has sustained winds of 270 km/h, making it the strongest tropical cyclone globally so far in 2025.

www.thestandard.com.hk

Best time of the year to dive in Philippines?
Jan to Mar but water will be very cold especially in PG. 18-20C is normal but good chance to see Thresher shark.
I experienced typhoon twice in PG on Boxing Day.

Thanks for this good information Centrals!

 

[azgetaway]

We got stuck in a typhoon at PG last year. Wrecked the rest of our travel plans. We ended up doing two weeks in PG. Definitely too long and PG is definitely NOT for kids.

The biggest draw for me at PG were the two dives at "Giant Clam" and the Hill. The clams are enormous and could be snorkeled by your kids. No more - the sites were closed when I was last year and no more diving is allowed. A great pity.

Hi tridacna,

That explains it, we dove the giant clams last week but we didn't go to the same protected site we had gone to in years past. I remember the dedicated site had a guard shack watchin gover the clams, the site we went to had five or 6 giant clams in good health but not the dozens that we had seen in the past. So you can still see giant clams just not as many. Do you know waht happened to the protexcted dive site?

 

[Ray and Pam]

BM-Don’t forget a trip to Verde Island from PG. One of the best dives you’ll ever do. Definitely not macro. I think I saw more blue triggers in 5 mins than in all of my dives in the past 40 yrs. Quite spectacular.

Most of our diving is in the Caribbean, we've been to Fiji and Philippines once.
Verde Island was easily the best dives we have ever done. Was able to make it there two different days during our stay last year. Observe the moon phases.

 

[BoltSnap]

@azgetaway How long do you usually stay when you visit? Is two weeks too long or too short?

Have you ever been to Anilao? Do you think it's practical to visit Anilao and PG on the same trip if you're staying for a week at each location?

 

[tridacna]

@azgetaway How long do you usually stay when you visit? Is two weeks too long or too short?

Have you ever been to Anilao? Do you think it's practical to visit Anilao and PG on the same trip if you're staying for a week at each location?

Burhan-2 weeks is way too long in PG and it’s really not a great place for family. Too many ladyboys and expats. Downtown is pretty awful.

 

[Centrals]

It only takes a few hr to travel from PG to Anilao even by public transfer as I had done it recently.
Unfortunately Anilao is more or less an eat/dive/sleep destination for diver. Non diver would not be really happy there. AFAIK, the top side attraction: Taal Volcano and the Heritage Town, there might be others but I am not familiar with them.