who wants to save cost and join us manta diving and whaleshark snorkeling in Donsol?

[mroding]

We (married couple) are traveling to Donsol on the 20th of March and want to go diving at the Mantal Bowl for a day on the 21st of March and go snorkeling with whalesharks the day after. We are currently in the process of finding a diveschool/tour operator. But the prices we have received for two people are ridiculously expensive.

Sharing the tour with other people would cut prices:

-3 dives at the mantal bowl would be 12400 peso a person with two people, but 4500 peso a person if we find two other people.

-the whaleshark snorkeling is 3500 peso to hire the boat, and the more people the better if you share the costs of the boat.

Who wants to join us? Or if you have tips for cheaper tours please let us know.

 

[rab1412000]

did you guys push thru?
see any whalesharks and mantas?
im planning on going myself maybe late april

 

[mroding]

did you guys push thru?
see any whalesharks and mantas?
im planning on going myself maybe late april

As for the whalesharks, grouping up is quite easy as there are loads of people wanting to team up at the info centre. Getting a group together before the departure-day might help getting on that 7am batch. We went with the 11am batch and around 1pm the viz went from poor to worse.

Our homestay (Marilyn Razo aka Anguluz) helped us find a diveshop (Fun Dive Asia, located opposite of the tourism info centre) to dive with, which helped lower the cost.

The dives however weren't that great. With a maximum bottom time of 35 minutes (mind you, it's only 19m deep) at the manta bowl, there's little chance of seeing the manta's in our opinion. Adding the factor that we were joined by inexperienced divers who lasted only 20 minutes, it was quite a waste of money. We seriously doubt whether the diveshop grouped people by their mutual experience-level.

It was quite a dissapointment for us, as we really wanted to see the manta's (and didn't) and hearing that the dive wouldn't last more then 35 minutes was... no fun. The other dives are about 45 minutes as well.

 

[dutchpickle]

spot on mroding,

It's easy to get a group of 7 for the snorkeling in the nearby Donsol Bay

Donsol Whaleshark Center

Donsol Whale Shark Center - Philippines

The cost lands up being only around 11 USD each if you can get 7 snorkelers together, if you rent fins and mask that will be an additional 300 pesos, plus there is 300 peso park fee for snorkeling in Donsol Bay

The reason that diving the Manta Bowl off Ticao Island is so much more expensive is that it is about an hour and a half distant from Donsol and the fuel costs are high. The costs will drop considerably with each extra diver joining to share the expense.

People lucky enough to see the mantas are usually on an adrenaline high for a few days because these mantas are the really big ones. (the whalesharks are a huge rush too! and they are a 100 percent chance of encountering in March)

unfortunately - the mantas are more hit or miss

Two weeks with Meg in the Philippines - including Donsol and Mt Mayon

Meg in the Philippines - Philippines

Late Feb and March is the prime time for whaleshark watching in Donsol.

cheers

dp

 

[Mampsa]

... the mantas are friendy in manta bowl. Please do go back, next time try diving with steady eddie.