5 weeks diving in Philippines - list of spots?

[DevonDiver]

Got my 59 day visa sorted now so no worries about that...

I think my plan now is: -

Fly into Manila - down to anilao/verde island for diving

Worth checking out Secret Bay/Garden in Anilao if you like macro.

Back to Manila to fly to Coron, ferry to El Nido (Bacuit Archipeligo)

If you get the opportunity, factor in a trip to the 'Underground River' just north of Puerto Princesa. That's a fantastic sight and was in competition for one of the 'modern wonders of the world'. It's still uncommercialised and authentic. It's nice to explore Puerto Princesa also.. the 'City in the Trees'. The Mayor does a fantastic job of making it one of the 'greenest' cities on the planet....and they deserve any support from tourism that they can get.

Fly from Puerto Princessa to Cebu for diving in the Visayas

Cebu options include Moalboal, Malapascua and Bohol. It's easy to get between them. You could plan to arrive in Cebu, visit Malapascua, then ferry to Bohol. Dive there, plus Chocolate Hills and the mini-monkeys (Tarsiers) and then fly direct from Bohol to Cebu.

Fly Cebu - Manila

In Manila, aim to visit 'Greenbelt' in Makati to unwind and relax. For bargain shopping (fake, seconds or over-run designer gear, DVDs, software etc) visit the Greenhills Centre. The Intramuros area offers some Manila history.

Donsol for whale sharks

That'll involve another flight to Legaspi.

Manila - Banaue/Batad for Rice Terraces

Its a 7+ hour drive from Manila to Banaue. If you're heading north from Manila then I'd definitely recommend a stop-over at Subic Bay. The USS New York is definitely worth adding to your logbook IMHO, one of the best wreck dives in the world. I've got a good friend there, who can definitely help you with anything Subic concerned.

Finished...

Also I want to spend New Years somewhere quiet...I think I'll end up in Coron for this!
And miss the celebrations in Manila?? he he I've never seen anything like Manila at New Year.... not even London comes close.

If there's anything I can help with, just let me know.

 

[Skier]

Just on the anilao/verde island bit -

Anilao is in Mindoro Occidental (South) and Verde is Mindoro Oriental (North). Cebu Pacific fly to San Jose which is good for Anilao but it is a long haul by boat up to Verde. Your best solution is to do Anilao and then go overland across Mindoro or take a boat up to Puerto Galera / Sabang (think it may go to Batangas and then you will have to double back to the above). This means you get to do some of the sites out of Sabang as well (two Verde, plus two others would be a day).

Map Of Mindoro

You can then use the Boat/Bus service back to Manila (which means you don't need to worry about being out of the water for 18/24 hours) or arrange with a hotel in Sabang / Little / Bi LaLaguna for a driver to pick you up in Batangas:

Approx costs
Boat cost - 250 PHP
Port Taxes - 100 PHP
Van - 3000PHP including tolls

If you can find someone to share, even better, if you have money to burn you can do a private transfer (7000PHP) and the cheapest option SIKAT Bus Service

HTH

 

[CODMAN]

Skier, I think you've overloaded on Nitrogen...

Anilao is not on Mindoro... It's on Luzon island and a quick 1.5 h (without traffic 3.5h with traffic) car ride from Manila... Sabang is another 30 minute car ride + 50 minute ferry from there...

I don't know where you go your info from...

Just on the anilao/verde island bit -

Anilao is in Mindoro Occidental (South) and Verde is Mindoro Oriental (North). Cebu Pacific fly to San Jose which is good for Anilao but it is a long haul by boat up to Verde. Your best solution is to do Anilao and then go overland across Mindoro or take a boat up to Puerto Galera / Sabang (think it may go to Batangas and then you will have to double back to the above). This means you get to do some of the sites out of Sabang as well (two Verde, plus two others would be a day).

Map Of Mindoro

You can then use the Boat/Bus service back to Manila (which means you don't need to worry about being out of the water for 18/24 hours) or arrange with a hotel in Sabang / Little / Bi LaLaguna for a driver to pick you up in Batangas:

Approx costs
Boat cost - 250 PHP
Port Taxes - 100 PHP
Van - 3000PHP including tolls

If you can find someone to share, even better, if you have money to burn you can do a private transfer (7000PHP) and the cheapest option SIKAT Bus Service

HTH

 

[Centrals]

I think my plan now is: -
Fly into Manila - down to anilao/verde island for diving
Back to Manila to fly to Coron, ferry to El Nido (Bacuit Archipeligo)
Fly from Puerto Princessa to Cebu for diving in the Visayas
Fly Cebu - Manila
Donsol for whale sharks
Manila - Banaue/Batad for Rice Terraces
Finished...

While you are in Visayas, how about a side trip to Southern Leyte? Whale Shark is also a common sight at Sogod Bay. Diving there is pretty good and if you are lucky.....there is no need to go to Donsol.
There is a kind of ferry between Bohol and Leyte, check it out.
Anilao and PG are very good but Visayas are even better. I would leave them(Anilao and PG) at the very end of the trip if you are still interested in diving or have some spare time to kill.
And how about stop over at Subic Bay(USS New York) or even Angeles(!!!) on the way back from the Rice Terrace. Manila airport is only 2-4 hrs away. There is really no need to spend anytime in the capital.

 

[DevonDiver]

Centrals makes a good suggestion. If you keep your program slightly flexible, then the Donsol portion could just be a 'back-up' if you haven't seen a whale shark elsewhere.

The OP is Australian? Why not just go to Ningaloo when he is at home? Its the same experience as Donsol (although at 100x the cost )

 

[Newbie - 2010]

I think I will make a trip to S.Leyte - saw some incredible pics

Ok so what your suggesting is after I fly into Manila, and fly straight out to Cebu and deal with diving the Visayas first?

Seems like that could work - then move my way up towards Manila

p.s. I am from the UK...not many whalesharks in London

 

[Centrals]

But you do have Basking Shark along some of your coast in UK. Please make sure they are protected. Confiscate the boat that hunt them and treat the crew as pirate.

I am more inclined to start from the furthest ie. Visayas.
If you are going to spend a long time in the province, please make sure you have enough peso!!! Manila offer the best foreign exchange rate while your Sterling or Euro means nothing in those far flung places eg. El Nido, Padre Bugos etc etc.

 

[clgsamson]

I think I will make a trip to S.Leyte - saw some incredible pics

Ok so what your suggesting is after I fly into Manila, and fly straight out to Cebu and deal with diving the Visayas first?

Seems like that could work - then move my way up towards Manila

p.s. I am from the UK...not many whalesharks in London

+1 on Southern Leyte. I enjoyed my 3 trips down there. Don't forget to ask to do a night dive in Padre Burgos (Monday-Wednesday-friday only). You'll enjoy the wall(s) off Limasawa (Adrian's Cove). I'll save Napanatao for last .

lots of S/L threads here in SB.

 

[finbob]

Hi, just returned from Malapascua, you may be interested in this brief report:

6-dives over two days.
1. Pantaw Pantaw (65'/20.3M)
Lots of micro: Sea Horses, Pipe fish, Nudi, Shrimps etc.

2.North Point (90'/21M)
Interesting: Frog Fish, Nudi, Squat Shrimp, Manta shrimp etc.

3. Night Dive Light House (25'/7.7M)
Excellent dive: Mandarin Fish, Nudi, Sea Horses, Giant Slug, Scorpion
Fish, Spider Crab etc. The Mandarin Fish alone made the dive!

Now the bigger stuff...
4. Monad Shoal (65'/21.4M) - 45 Min from Resort.
This was an outstanding dive. Up at 4:45AM diving at 6:00AM. The Thresher
Shark is the main attraction where divers come from all around the world to
this sunken Island which acts as a cleaning station for the Threshers. They
did not disappoint!! Within 10 mins a Thresher passed between our little
group of three divers. Then 20 Mins later a large Thresher came gliding
slowly by me about 6' away! It was an unforgeable experience - overwhelmed
by the immense size, gracefulness & power. In addition we saw:
groupers, Snappers & an octopus. Beware - there are many divers at the
resort who have been disappointed with a 'no show.' The Threshers simply do
not turn up at our bidding!

5. Gato Island (15M/48' -20M/65')- 50 Min from resort.
This is a day excursion with lunch provided. We had two dives at this
site. Saw: Sleeping White Tip Sharks in cave, Commensal Shrimps, Banded
Pipe fish, Clown fish, Nudi etc.

Summary: A fabulous two day dive experience. Would I return absolutely!

 

[tonyN]

I've been to the Philippines only twice and only to the area around Cebu. First time we went on an island hopping from Dauin to Alona Beach and ended in Malapascua. Second time we spent the whole trip in Dauin, mainly because of the spectacular muck diving in the area. So, if you fancy some really cool and weird creatures Dauin is the place. Alona Beach was good, but the main reason I would see to return to Alona Beach would be to go to Balicasag. Balicasag is a small island off Alona with amazing corals and the chance to see pygmee seahorses. Malapascua is of course interesting for the chanses to see threshere sharks and mobula at Monad Shoals and hammer heads at Kimud Shoals. There's also a lot of interesting little critter around the island. Malapascua was a really relaxed place with nothing much to do but hang around.

Below are some links to photos I shot on the trips. They're not great pictures, but they will give you an idea of what you might see.

Dauin 2009
Filippinerna, Dauin ''09

The Pier at Dauin 2009, today sadly closed for divers.
Filippinerna, the Pier DuCoMi '09

Mixed pictures from Dauin, Alona Beach and Malapascua 2008
Filippinerna 08

Also look at these pictures, taken by another diver in Siquijor, Dauin och Moalboal. I know the wonderpus/mimic octopus(?) is from Dauin.
Filippinerna feb-mars 2010

Enjoy your trip. I'm sure it'll be great where ever you decide to go.