I spent 3 weeks there in Sept/Oct. I only have ow so I couldn’t go to Pamilican Island. I dove most days at Balicasag. Also dove a bit at the Alona house reef and Doljo point. I had a great time.
It was my first time diving there so I don’t have comparison, but the dive operator said that a couple of the sites on Balicasag were wiped out by the typhoon. But there were 2 or 3 that were still great. The larger fish are gone because the locals had to survive off them for food during covid. But there are turtles and schools of Jack Fish and sardines, and the reef looks alive.
The Alona house reef looked a bit damaged to me, definitely not as much aquatic life as out at Balicasag.
Shore wise I can compare because I was there in 2019. Infrastructure is fine. A majority of tourists from China and Asia have not returned, some places have not reopened from the pandemic. But there are plenty of places to stay and eat and drink. Beach looks cleaner than 2019.
I am going back for a week in January to get my aow. Then going to take a ferry to Siquijor for a week.
