I think PG is likely your best bet, affordable and easy to get to, with little time wasted on transit. Lembeh will cost you more, esp. if travelling alone,
Unless you charter a boat to take you across at night [expensive], you will need to stay over
until morning.
Swagman Hotel will give you free transport from the airport if you book a room. They have a
service called "Fly the Bus" which leaves in the morning to take you to the ferry crossing.
You want to go to Sabang Beach, not Puerto Galera, which is further away..
CityState Hotel has similar service.
I suggest you dive with SeaRider
SEARIDERDIVECENTER.COM
They are on Small LaLaguna Beach, just next to Sabang Beach.
There rates are very good, and quite flexible with schedules, more personalised. I prefer them over others I have tried. They can arrange a room for you near by to fit your budget.
Sabang has many dive operations, plus many places to stay with affordable rooms.
Check with them for current water temps. Last year was unseasonably cool in the spring. Of course, being from Montreal, you might not even notice.
I've not been there this time of year, usually go April-June timeframe. Diving should be good. Depends what you want to experience.
No ATMs in PG.
I've attached some notes below that I've gathered from the internet. I have more...
____________________________
After your arrival at the Manila airport, you may take a yellow Metered Taxi (left from the
exit). The metered taxi will implement a PHP 90 flag down rate for the first 500 meters and
an additional PHP 4 for every succeeding 300 meters. Important: Make sure that the driver
uses the taximeter!!!
If you plan to go to Sabang, you may stay overnight at the Citystate Hotel (Ermita, Manila,
Tel. +63 2 4007351 +63 2 4007351 to 61);
you have to purchase your ticket to Sabang from the Si-KAT office at the hotel lobby (Tel.:
+63 2 521 3344 +63 2 521 3344 ).
The Manila to Puerto Galera schedule is as follows:
8:30 AM Si-KAT Bus departs at Citystate Hotel, Mabini St., Ermita, Manila
10:30 AM Arrival at Batangas Pier
11:00 AM Bangka leaves for Puerto Galera
12:15 PM Bangka arrives at Sabang Beach
The Puerto Galera to Manila schedule is as follows:
9:00 AM Bangka leaves Sabang Beach for Batangas Pier
10:45 AM Si-Kat Bus leaves for Manila
1:15 PM Arrival in Mabini St., Ermita, Manila, Citystate Hotel
Ticket Prices:
ADULT: One-way - P700.00, Round-trip - P1,400.00 (any return ticket issued is open.)
CHILDREN: One-way - P350.00, Round-trip - P700.00 (any return ticket issued is open.)
_________
From Manila Public buses leave from various parts of Manila to the port of Batangas frequently. If you are leaving from the Malate/Ermita part of Manila, you'll want to take a taxi to the Buendia bus station and get the next bus to Batangas. From there see above for simple arrangements to transfer to a ferry for the trip over. An only slightly more expensive and much more convenient alternative from Malate/Ermita is the Sikat bus/ferry, a private service run out of the City State Tower Hotel in Ermita. The bus leaves at 8AM and after arriving in Batangas you are lead to the connecting ferry by a Sikat agent. Whichever bus alternative you take, you'll usually be on the beach in Sabang for lunch
______________
Sabang Terminal
At Sabang, porters carry your luggage for PHP 50 (small) to PHP 100 (heavy) to your room.
Many recruiters are waiting at Eddie's Place, they bring you to selected resorts
___________
For the adventurous traveler go to Buendia LRT station in Manila and from there you will see buses and shuttle services going to Batangas pier. It cost around P180 from Buendia to Batangas pier. And when you get to Batangas pier all you need to do is to ride a ferry boat going to Sabang.
_______________
Most visitors to Sabang are attracted by the excellent SCUBA diving provided by the protected marine sanctuary. There are a number of dive shops in the area (estimated at around 35) that provide access to a micro (i.e. small life) heaven. The dive sites that feature a large variety of small sea life with the occasional shark or turtle. Several sites are drift dives and often turn into (strong) current dives with the best diving (for coral and small life) being at 18m or 60 feet. Almost all of the dive sites are within a 10 minute boat ride of Sabang which allows you to spend your surface interval on the shore and it also allows most shops to offer as many as four dive trips (single tank) each day. Prices for a single dive are around $18~$32 for a single tank dive, including equipment rental, boat and dive guide, with discounts for more dives and if you have your own equipment.
* ABWonderdive [4] is a PADI 5 Star Dive Beach Resort owned and operated by Danish couple Alice and Bjørn Askholm located in Small Lalaguna. Offering all level of PADI courses from entry level up to Dive Master, as well as a wide variety of specialties taught in English, Scandinavian, German, French and Tagalog. Accommodation is in their own nicely appointed rooms or in one of the many resorts nearby.
* Action Divers [5] is a smallish dive shop has been in Small Lalaguba for more than 10 years but is very proud of its high level of customer satisfaction and safety.
They generally run 3 dives a day at 9AM, midday and 3PM. Local guides know all the good spots and understands the tides in the Verde Channel. If you contact them they can put together diving and hotel packages to suit your needs.
* Asia Divers [6] is a reputable dive shop that has been around Sabang for over ten years. The divemasters, hailing from Britain, Germany, and Canada, are friendly and dive in smaller groups (usually four divers and one divemaster). They typically run four dives each day, including one night dive, and put together some nice hotel/dive packages with their sister resort, The El Galleon, located adjacent to their dive shop.
* Atlantis Dive Resort [7] is a Five Star PADI Career Development Centers; two of only few dive centers with such a rating in Asia, you will find the highest standard of dive education, first class facilities and world class dive guides.
* Big Apple Dive Resort [8] is the place for all your fun and scuba diving requirements in Puerto Galera. The resort is in the middle of Sabang beach and is central to and within a few minutes walking distance of all the famous nightlife and restaurants. The bar and restaurant are open 24hrs, serving a wide range of food and beverages. With two full size billiard tables in the bar overlooking the bay of Sabang it's a great place to make new friends and enjoy the fun loving atmosphere. A wide range of accommodation to suit all budgets from cottage style fan rooms to luxury air conditioned apartments with standby generators guaranteeing 24hr power. For the sporting fans there is 'Super Sports' Satellite TV showing live sports events from around the world. Fully equipped dive shop adjacent to the best swimming pool in Sabang offering PADI and SSI courses from open water to dive master at competitive rates.
* Mermaid Resort and Dive Center [9] is a world-class resort offering accommodation, nature tours, and diving services. It has over 30 spacious guest rooms and suites that are newly renovated. The resort offers both international and local cuisine as well as a fully equipped beach-front shop with new and top-of-the-line compressor room. Email:
manilaoffice@mermaidresort.com.
* Frontier Scuba [10] - Owned and run by Rick Kirkham an instructor trainer with over 20 years experience diving in Puerto Galera (yet still loves to dive everyday). Froniter Scuba is TDI / SDI 5-Star Instructor Training Facility, one of only a handful in Asia. Packages are arranged including direct private transfers from Manila airport and excellent resort accommodation. Their partner resort have more than 40 rooms all with hot shower, cable TV and airconditioned and are very reasonably priced. One night aircon accommodation in twin share with full meals and three guided boat dives is U$98 per person. The dive center has trained naturalists as guides. Recreational courses are offered from the Discover Scuba 'try dive', PADI Open Water up to Divemaster and SDI courses up to and including the Instructor Course and Exams. The Technical dive center offers nitrox, Advanced Nitrox, Advanced Wreck, Extended Range, Trimix and Advanced trimix courses as well as Technical Instructor courses.
* Sea Rider Dive Center, e-mail
searider_mark@yahoo.co.uk +63 29215885994, e-mail
searider_mark@yahoo.co.uk, [11] . The cheapest dive and courses rate in the island with excellent macro & pelagic spotter. Berde island trip and night diving are always part of their daily activities. They arrange accommodation and transporation from Manila Intl airport & Clark Field Pampanga Intl airport to Sabang vice versa. Free intro dive for Non Nitrox Divers. Free boat pick up for public commuters from Sabang pier or Muelle pier to Sea Rider. Free slot for group organizers and commissions awaits!
* South Seas Divers [12] ]. Friendly and fluent instructors in Jappanese, Korean, Tagolo, Spanish, and French. PADI courses offered at reasonable rates.
* Song of Joy Divers [13] ] is located right on the Sabang beachfront and with accommodation options including a range of rooms with sea or poolside views, or the private penthouse suite. All rooms come with full facilities. Resort facilities include a freshwater swimming pool, restaurant specialising in International and Korean food, verandah bar overlooking the beach, wifi internet access and in-house massage. Dive Instruction on offer includes PADI courses from first time try discover scuba diving to professional divemaster or experienced diver education from the speciality programs.
* Tech Asia is the technical branch of asia divers. Run by an extremely experienced and dedicated team, they've been around for pretty much as long as asia divers have. They can provide trimix and advanced nitrox diving and courses, and also supply essentials for rebreather diving such as sofnalime. They are reasonably priced, with a trimix dive (including gas) coming in under $100 They offer IANTD and GUE courses. The instructors also appreciate supplies of english tea bags, curry powder and Fray Bentos pies!
___________
