Status of Philippine Diving

[pyrodiver]

Hi All!

Just new in the forum and also new diver... started diving a year ago... I got hooked. I lived mostly in Manila but grew up in Norther Samar. I've seen dynamite fishing and butchering of Mantas, 18ft Tiger Shark, in the market... Also grew up with news of shark attacks almost every other summer in my childhood... This keeps us away from the ocean... Before moving to Manila for education, resorts started coming out. It was mostly run by Europeans. One was really beautiful but they had to shut down... 2 divers died by dynamite fishing... THIS WAS 18 YEARS AGO!!! Ok, I don't want to reveal my age!

Anyways, I always like the water as I grew up near it all my life... Been doing a lot of water sports, well, wakeboarding for a couple of years... didn't really improve much but I love the speed...

I stumbled upon the thread "Why Philippine Diving is snubbed??" Well, I think Philippine tourism in general is snubbed!! Is it still the case at present or are we doing better??

I've been to Coron, Anilao and PG. I want to visit more places and see what they have to offer UW... We did explore Samar... now that's a different story... I will touch on that later. First I want to explore Samar UW more. I know there are at least 2 wrecks in Samar. I don't know what era or the status of the wrecks. Capul Island is in the area. Capul being short for Acapulco (Mexico). It is the last stop of the Spanish Armada during the Galleon trade. I'm going off topic...

So what do foreign and local think of the diving industry now? Is it getting any better? Are we still the big secret? Do we want to tell the world what we have here? I surely want to improve the livelyhood of the country side.. I hope tourism can do this. It might also cut down the exodus of Filipinos working abroad.

Will be planning a dive trip to Samar for next year. Late March or early April... Best time to go... Now the winds are starting to change and the seas will be rough. No hotels there so it will be spartan living. Let me know if interested.

Cheers!

D.

 

[Diver Dennis]

I stumbled upon the thread "Why Philippine Diving is snubbed??" Well, I think Philippine tourism in general is snubbed!! Is it still the case at present or are we doing better??

The US and Canadian governments have warnings about traveling to the PI. While I still travel there along with many other North Americans, it is not the best promotion for holiday travelers. I know the Philippines is no more dangerous and sometimes less dangerous than anywhere in the world.

 

[pyrodiver]

I guess that's true. My cousin who just visited from Chicago had a blast. He only heard bad stories about the P.I. He never expected what he experience when he was here for 3 weeks. At this rate, we will be Asia's secret... I think there are more people going to Vietnam and Burma for travelling. Dive wise, I know there are many Koreans and Japanese.

 

[Diver Dennis]

There seems to be quite a few Europeans too. Too bad so many are missing out on such a terrific holiday destination. I would discuss the reasons for the government warnings from North America but that is a political situation and political discussion is not allowed here.

 

[Xizang]

Sadly the diving industry in the Philippines is on vacation... the only groups making enough are a few foreign owned resorts who rely on their own advertising and PR efforts to promote their little corner in the Philippines directly in countries where they have come from.

Locally, an instructor friend says that diving is not doing as well as it was doing during the period of 1989 to 1998. He says that back then 12 students every weekend was the norm up until the peso devalued sharply against the dollar and the kidnappings by the the abu sayaf started. It has recovered slightly the past 3 years but will probably not reach the same levels again considering the poor economic outlook and as mentioned the security advisory in many countries.

 

[_Bella_]

My local Singapore Airlines webpage is advertising the Phillipines as the destination of the month. Manila, Cebu, or Davao for EUR 650,- Cathay is double that price!
Too bad I don't have time or money for any more travel.

 

[Mike Veitch]

8 trips to solomons... or one to PI?!?!?!?

next year julie...

 

[_Bella_]

Ok, I meant before the end of the year Next year is planned and booked already. :blinking:

 

[clgsamson]

Yes Julie, just one for the PI...