U/Wdiva
Registered
Warning: long message ahead 
My PI grand tour is now fast approaching, time to stop fantasising and start planning.
Aside from a Tubbataha trip second week of April, nothing is yet decided. In the last few months I`ve been reading, searching, researching and sifting through dozens of places and tons of information in an attempt to narrow the list down to the most interesting/appealing spots from my perspective. Still I came up with a very long `short list` that will, sadly, have to be narrowed down further.
The trip will be divided into 2 periods, the first, a month long I`ll be travelling on my own, for the second one I`ll be joined by my husband a week prior to leaving for Tubbataha, after which we`ll have 2-5 days before we leave for home (tickets are not booked yet-still contemplating whether to fly to MNL or CEB) .
What I`m looking for are first class dive sites where the reef is healthy and rich with lot of fish,some pelagic, special attractions and big stuff are very welcome, of course. We are very spoiled and have high standard as far as diving goes since our point of reference is the Red Sea.
As I said, the short list is long and I have to decide not only which places to drop but also which to do on my own and which to keep for when my husband arrives. He has already announced he doesn`t want to have to travel long hours or move around too much (lazy bugger) and hotels need to be ++ preferably with a masseur on hand.hbrother: I`m much less fussy, want to explore as much as I can and go for some of the off the beaten paths places, accommodation wise-simple and clean but with toilet/shower in the room and no Karaoke in or around the premises.
Here`s my list, in no particular order:
Sogod Bay-would love to dive with whale sharks, time should be just right-March/April, travel time and getting there seems to be a bit tricky though.
Northern Mindanao/Misamis Oriental/Camiguin
Bohol-Panglao/Balicsag/Cabilao etc.
Cebu-Moalboal/Pescador Island
Southern Negros-Dumaguete/Dauin/Apo Island/Siquijor
Mindoro-PG/Anilao and Apo Reef/Verde Island
Palawan-El Nido, obviously we`ll have to be in PPS for Tubbataha. I would really love to join one of Tao Philippines expeditions from Coron to El Nido or vice versa, but not sure if they`ll have one that correlates with my schedule, if they do it will entail spending a few days in Busuanga as well.
I left Malapascua out, not for lack of interest, less in Thresher Sharks and more in the opportunity to see Manta Rays that I simply adore. I read in some reports of blasts heard whilst diving, which is just to annoying and upsetting in my mind.
Any advice on the choice of places, comments, tips on and for diving, accommodation, which to do on my own and which to leave for part two, did I miss anything worth seeing or is there something not worth doing, would some areas be better by safari, how to get from one place to the other-which ferries are best and which best avoided, how much time in any given place, anything at all, please share you thoughts and wealth of knowledge and help make this trip a memorable one.
:sos:
My PI grand tour is now fast approaching, time to stop fantasising and start planning.
Aside from a Tubbataha trip second week of April, nothing is yet decided. In the last few months I`ve been reading, searching, researching and sifting through dozens of places and tons of information in an attempt to narrow the list down to the most interesting/appealing spots from my perspective. Still I came up with a very long `short list` that will, sadly, have to be narrowed down further.
The trip will be divided into 2 periods, the first, a month long I`ll be travelling on my own, for the second one I`ll be joined by my husband a week prior to leaving for Tubbataha, after which we`ll have 2-5 days before we leave for home (tickets are not booked yet-still contemplating whether to fly to MNL or CEB) .
What I`m looking for are first class dive sites where the reef is healthy and rich with lot of fish,some pelagic, special attractions and big stuff are very welcome, of course. We are very spoiled and have high standard as far as diving goes since our point of reference is the Red Sea.
As I said, the short list is long and I have to decide not only which places to drop but also which to do on my own and which to keep for when my husband arrives. He has already announced he doesn`t want to have to travel long hours or move around too much (lazy bugger) and hotels need to be ++ preferably with a masseur on hand.
hbrother: I`m much less fussy, want to explore as much as I can and go for some of the off the beaten paths places, accommodation wise-simple and clean but with toilet/shower in the room and no Karaoke in or around the premises.Here`s my list, in no particular order:
Sogod Bay-would love to dive with whale sharks, time should be just right-March/April, travel time and getting there seems to be a bit tricky though.
Northern Mindanao/Misamis Oriental/Camiguin
Bohol-Panglao/Balicsag/Cabilao etc.
Cebu-Moalboal/Pescador Island
Southern Negros-Dumaguete/Dauin/Apo Island/Siquijor
Mindoro-PG/Anilao and Apo Reef/Verde Island
Palawan-El Nido, obviously we`ll have to be in PPS for Tubbataha. I would really love to join one of Tao Philippines expeditions from Coron to El Nido or vice versa, but not sure if they`ll have one that correlates with my schedule, if they do it will entail spending a few days in Busuanga as well.
I left Malapascua out, not for lack of interest, less in Thresher Sharks and more in the opportunity to see Manta Rays that I simply adore. I read in some reports of blasts heard whilst diving, which is just to annoying and upsetting in my mind.
Any advice on the choice of places, comments, tips on and for diving, accommodation, which to do on my own and which to leave for part two, did I miss anything worth seeing or is there something not worth doing, would some areas be better by safari, how to get from one place to the other-which ferries are best and which best avoided, how much time in any given place, anything at all, please share you thoughts and wealth of knowledge and help make this trip a memorable one.
:sos:
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