Similan / Thailand compared to Philippines (Bohol / Duma)

[nks]

Hello,

I am deciding between Similans/Thailand and Philippines (Bohol/Duma) for a 12 day trip in October 2009.

Is there a clearly "better" choice between the two? (As in, Are you crazy go to [X] not [Y].)

Background:
I have about 60 logged dives (Red Sea, Monterey, Greece, Thailand, South Africa). I am traveling with my wife who has about 10 logged dives (Greece and Red Sea). We are recreational divers who do not (yet) own their own equipment. We have both been to Thailand before, neither of us have traveled to the Philippines. We will be traveling out of Hong Kong, as this is part of a larger trip.

1. Which is better in a pure "diving" sense?

2. Considering that we will only dive about 7-8 out of the 12 days of our trip, and plan to mix in cultural/other activities into our vacation, which would you recommend?

3. I read a lot of posts on this board and based on season/cost/other, I narrowed down the choices to Similans/Thailand and Philippines/Bohol/Duma, from a list that included Sipidan, Palau, other Philippines destinations. Was that a mistake? Are there other SEA destinations I should consider for that time of year? (No Indonesia, for sure.)

Thank you in advance.

 

[bobshreve]

I think that you have chosen two good spots. I recommend the Philippines for price. I am planning a trip to the Similans near Phuket in October myself. Until then, I can't compare the diving for you.

Different sites in the Philippines have different kinds of critters. You can be assured of hard and soft corals, sponges, all the non-fish animals. You will also see a lot of varieties of fish, eels, and turtles. Certain spots are more likely to have pelagics.

I just wanted to add, that Thailand has Bangkok and Changmai for cultural diversions. The Philippines has the Banaue rice terraces and various volcanoes. There are mountains in northern Negros, Chocolate Hills on Bohul, and lots to do in northern Mindanao.

Regards,
Bob

 

[h2odragon1]

Your diving $$ will go further in the Philippines, but, you'll be spoiled there also.
Very friendly people, and there is as much to do topside as there is underwater.
Go to Puerto Galera or Anilao, or Bohol. All have great diving, and great macro. Subic or Coron for wrecks, (WWII). Dumagete, or Tubataha also for macro.
You can't go wrong diving in the Philippines!!

 

[Kupu]

I suppose variable conditions and perhaps a bit of luck would come into play when trying to say which choice would be better from a strictly diving point of view. But if diving was the only consideration I still think that my trip to the Similans was probably the best 4-5 days of diving I have ever done. During that trip, I got lucky with perfect weather and several manta and whale shark sightings, and thought most every site we visited was well worth doing. There were a couple sites where the current was quite strong, but mostly the diving was relaxed.

However, that is not to say anything against the diving in the Philippines. Bohol has a number of good sites. I would think it would be easy to spend several days or more based in Panglao and doing dives around Balicasag and Panglao. Also a diving day trip to Cabilao would be good to do. While staying there, you would also have the option to spend a day or two visiting the topside sights, chocolate hills, the tarsiers, perhaps a boat trip on the Loboc river.

I think a few days diving out of Dumaguete would be good also, I have only dove the sites around Apo Island in that area, which would be a day trip from the mainland. Although it is a fairly small island, the diving was very nice when I was there. I hope to visit again someday.

Overall, I think the Philippines would be the better choice based on your criteria. Flexibility for topside activities, great people, tons of options for diving. And FYI, I am biased, I love spending time in the Philippines.

 

[joebubbles]

Hi nks,
I dove the Similans 5X times, Bohol 3X Duma 2X and Sipadan 1X. Keep in mind that for the Similans it is off season in October and the number of Liveaboards will be limited with a greater chance of weather issues. So my suggestion would be to go to Bohol. I would stay at Alona beach and dive balicasag and try and find a shop that will take you to Cabilao (quite far from Alona, but they will take you if they can reasonably fill a boat). I would actually take a pass on Duma and would prefer to do Sipadan! It is very easy and cheap to get to Sipadan from Phils. This is what I'll be doing in December. Fly Air Asia from Clark or Cebu Pacific from Manila to Kota Kinabalu (KK) and from KK to Tawau. BTW KK has a great waterfront and it is well worthwhile spending a day there. From Tawau go to Semporna. No need to stay on overpriced Mabul Island. A lot cheaper to do day trips from Semporna. 12 days is doable for both. My trip in December will be 13 days. I will be spending 5 days in peurto galera, 4 days in Semporna, 1 day in KK. Benefit of doing Bohol and Sipadan is that you will have a completely different dive experience at these two spots. You won't find a dramatic difference between bohol and Duma. If you do decide on Thailand, a 4-day livaboard should be sufficient. If you do decide to go with Sipidan, you will need the dive shop to apply for a permit and this should be looked after several months in advance due to the high demand. Recomended shop in Semporna is Sipadan Scuba. Recommended hotels in Semporna are Sipadan Inn or Seafest Inn. Good luck and enjoy!

oceanic2007's collections on Flickr

 

[nks]

Keep in mind that for the Similans it is off season in October

I thought the Similans season started in October. By off season do you mean choppy seas, cold water and low viz, or do you mean off season for certain pelagic species?

If you do decide to go with Sipidan, you will need the dive shop to apply for a permit and this should be looked after several months in advance due to the high demand. Recomended shop in Semporna is Sipadan Scuba. Recommended hotels in Semporna are Sipadan Inn or Seafest Inn.

The 2 reasons I rulled out Sipidan was (1) worried about my wife diving in tough conditions (though if we go to Phils first I guess she'd be warmed up and ready) and (2) the UNCERTAINTY surrounding permits to Sipidan. If you are saying that Sipidan Scuba can GUARANTEE permits in advance, I would definitely reconsider going to Sipidan.

The multiple posts/reports about permit issues on this board scared me away from Sipdan.

 

[tboxcar]

Stick to the Philippines, October is a transitional month weather wise on the East Coast of Thailand. But with that said it can be hit and miss in PI as well, but you will have more options of where to dive, thus different weather conditions if you choose the Philippines. Either way, it should be fun! Enjoy

 

[joebubbles]

October is usually the second wettest of the year for southern thailand. Storms are less frequent and less intense than those in September. There aren't many tourists around, so it's a great time to have southern Thailand all to yourself. Usually the best time to have Manta encounters would be Dec, Jan. and Feb. at Koh Bon which is always a destination for Similan Livaboards.
As for Sipidan, October is high season and is one of the dryest months of the year. (that is, great viz.) Your first two days of diving would not be at Sipadan. They would likely be at one of the Semporna islands..Probably Sibuan. The dive shops take their student divers there because it is an easy dive. Quite frankly, I would not describe most of the dive sites at Sipadan to be advanced. Yes, they will be deeper than the Semporna islands, but it is unlikely that you will encounter a lot of drift. I would contact Sipadan Scuba to see if they still have slots open during October for Sipadan. They are alloted permits everyday, but they might already be fully book. If they do have slots available, they will give you a one-day permit for 3 dives at Sipadan for every three dive days you book with them. That is, two days diving at surrounding Semporna islands and your third day is at Sipadan. Scuba Junkies is also in Semporna, but they are not a recomended shop if you are renting equipment.

 

[gravity]

Semporna is very low end in accommodations and service compared to the philippines. It is more of a backpacker place. Also, staying in Semporna you won't be able to do night dives at mabul.

I don't consider the diving at Sipadan advanced. It is generally very gentle drift dives, where it is easy to accommodate divers at different depths. I personally wouldn't go back to stay in Semporna. If I were to go to Sipadan, I would save up to stay at a Mabul resort.

I have not been diving in the Similans, but you won't go wrong in the Philippines.