seamonster
Registered
Does anybody have any experience with Sea Explorer Cebu, especially in Malapascua, Dumaguete and Bohol? Comments on the dive operations and resorts would be most appreciated. Thanks.
Sea Explorer Scuba Cebu
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I was at El Dorado Resort in Dumaguette this past November and can recommend the Sea Explorer there. If you do any photography or are interested in macro stuff, Ricco is the diveguide you want. The dive operation at El Dorado is well organized and I don't have much complain there.
The resort is comfortable, the room is clean, a bit basic but for the price, I certainly can't complain. Atlantis is better but is also quite a bit more expensive.
The food at El Dorado is very cheap. Certain items on the menu are quite good while some are not so great. I was there for 6 days and paid about $US75 for all the lunches and dinners there (and a couple of alcoholic beverages here and there).
The resort is comfortable, the room is clean, a bit basic but for the price, I certainly can't complain. Atlantis is better but is also quite a bit more expensive.
The food at El Dorado is very cheap. Certain items on the menu are quite good while some are not so great. I was there for 6 days and paid about $US75 for all the lunches and dinners there (and a couple of alcoholic beverages here and there).
scubashooter
Contributor
I've used them at Malapascua and Dumaguette. Agree that Ricco is their best man at Dumaguette. I can also say that Atlantis is just as competent and well run. Can't go wrong with either. Both are very clean but out of town so you'll have to eat at either places most times. I prefer the rooms in Atlantis a little more for personal reasons.
However will not say the same for the SE ops in Malapascua. They use the Cocobana resort which is clean and on the beach. No A/C but mosquito nets and the rooms were cleaned daily. It is located right in the center of the main beach so it's very convenient, not that there's a lot to do on Malapascua (nor is it very big)
Their dive boats are slower and usually more packed to the brim. They didn't do calangaman island often because of the slower boats. Lastly, their dive guides tend not to rein in errant divers, especially on Monad Shoal where the threshers are. They allowed people to chase sharks for photo/video and ruining opportunities for others. I spoke with them about that but it still happened so I jumped to another ops, Bubble07.
Bubble07 on Malapascua is brit run but they have a fast boat and often very competitive prices. I normally go to local run dive ops vs foreign owned ones but Malapascua is one of those places I want a faster boat. You only do 3-4 dives aday. They also had a great marine biologist student who has the same enthusiasm as a new diver when looking for critters. We found winged pipefish, Hippocampus Denise and other small and wonderful things. He is unfortunately no longer there. Bubble07 also does tech dives on the WWII wreck, quite interesting when the viz is good. He has twins setups available.
The SE Bohol setup is also decent looking but I've never used them there so I can't say. I will say Bohol is a nice place to dive and quite fishy, although it's not top class but worth it for a few days at least.
However will not say the same for the SE ops in Malapascua. They use the Cocobana resort which is clean and on the beach. No A/C but mosquito nets and the rooms were cleaned daily. It is located right in the center of the main beach so it's very convenient, not that there's a lot to do on Malapascua (nor is it very big)
Their dive boats are slower and usually more packed to the brim. They didn't do calangaman island often because of the slower boats. Lastly, their dive guides tend not to rein in errant divers, especially on Monad Shoal where the threshers are. They allowed people to chase sharks for photo/video and ruining opportunities for others. I spoke with them about that but it still happened so I jumped to another ops, Bubble07.
Bubble07 on Malapascua is brit run but they have a fast boat and often very competitive prices. I normally go to local run dive ops vs foreign owned ones but Malapascua is one of those places I want a faster boat. You only do 3-4 dives aday. They also had a great marine biologist student who has the same enthusiasm as a new diver when looking for critters. We found winged pipefish, Hippocampus Denise and other small and wonderful things. He is unfortunately no longer there. Bubble07 also does tech dives on the WWII wreck, quite interesting when the viz is good. He has twins setups available.
The SE Bohol setup is also decent looking but I've never used them there so I can't say. I will say Bohol is a nice place to dive and quite fishy, although it's not top class but worth it for a few days at least.
OP
seamonster
Registered
Thank you both for your insight. Should be doing both Malapascua and Dumaguete next month.
Dumaguete really is a great place to be!
I can't give you much info about the Sea Explorer. I've only seen the boat in front of El Dorado.
So, all I can say is that it looks good. :54:
Well, there are plenty of dive sites near Dumaguete. You can take up day trips to Apo Island or Cebu for example. El Dorado has the best house reef ever! It's probably about 10 meters from your room. You should really try it! Seen some awesome stuff there!
And above water... the girls in the restaurant were so cute. hahaha.
Anyway, I'm sure you'll have a great time! And like said earlier... The food will hardly cost you a dime.
Enjoy.
Ramon
I can't give you much info about the Sea Explorer. I've only seen the boat in front of El Dorado.
So, all I can say is that it looks good. :54: Well, there are plenty of dive sites near Dumaguete. You can take up day trips to Apo Island or Cebu for example. El Dorado has the best house reef ever! It's probably about 10 meters from your room.
You should really try it! Seen some awesome stuff there! And above water... the girls in the restaurant were so cute.
hahaha.Anyway, I'm sure you'll have a great time! And like said earlier... The food will hardly cost you a dime.
Enjoy.
Ramon
scubashooter
Contributor
I'll be in Malapascua the 2nd week of March... See you at maldito's if you're there.
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