Kevster
Contributor
Trip Report Part 2- Cabilao, AlonaBeach, Malapascua, Feb 2010
See link for part 1 PG, Anilao, Coron
Trip Report Part 1 - PG, Anilao, Coron - ScubaBoard
After arriving back in Manila I had to overnight before I flew to Tagbilaran. I stayed in The Lotus Garden hotel (2500 Php). Was better/more expensive than the City state tower.
Cabilao
I flew Philippine airlines to Tagbilaran (1300 Php + 600 Php excess baggage.) I got a van from the airport (1000 Php) to the small harbour (travel time approx 30 mins) where I got a small outrigger (500 Php) to the resort on Cabilao Island.
I stayed and dived with Polaris. The resort is fantastic and is excellent value for money. I would go as far to say this is the best dive resort I have ever visited. My large tree house room was 1750 Php/night. There was a large choice on the menu and the meals were great. There is a nice sun downer bar near the shore. Facilities included a large pool, lots of hammocks, pool table, free wi-fi, small shop. The resort was really quiet, less than 10 guest during my stay. This place is perfect for families or non diving partners.
The Diving.
I did 7 dives over 4 days.
Best dive – View point. (Great slope/reef with lots of soft coral)
Most of the dives were walls dives with some great slopes above 10m. Several sites had sea grass, soft corals above 10 m. My favourite part of the dives was always in these shallow areas. Viss varied from 12m to 20+m.
1. End of dive
Water temps generally 27-28 C. No real time limits on the dives. I logged my longest dive at 94 mins. There is one boat dive in the morning at 9am and one in the afternoon at 2pm. Not much fish in the blue water or big stuff (I missed the manta moment). I was the only one in the group not to see a large manta as I was “focussed” on taking photos of a frecking clown fish on the wall. (What is really annoying, the photos were rubbish!)
Highlights- Several Pigmys, soft coral crabs, lots of shrimps, good macro, the soft coral. Nice sea grass areas above 10m.
2. Pigmy
Summary
Cabilao & the Polaris dive resort were first class. I would have liked to have extended my stay. The diving was a great mix of wide & macro. I highly recommend a visit to Cabilao/Polaris. Definitely one of the better places I have visited on my recent travels. This is the 1st place i have been to in the Philippines that felt like paradise (sun ,blue water, palm trees ,hammocks)!!
Alona Beach
It was a short transfer down to Alona beach (approx 90 mins). I stayed at Alona vida (Cheapest room 2400 php) resort and dived with sea explorers. I would not recommend a stay at Vida. My “cheap” room was near the front and was noisy in the evenings. Breakfast was not included. Also the food was average/poor. After 2 meals I ate at other places during my stay. I enjoyed Opps bar which is next door to Vida.
The Diving.
Sea explorers were very professional & they gave me a detailed introduction. They are the only dive op that has asked to see my log book. The dive shop has good rinse & storage facilities. Large bangkas were used. I would use sea explorers again. I was very tempted to try a re-breather as they offer a days introduction but it was expensive.
I did 4 dives over 2 days. Sites visited Snake island, BBC, Black forest, Sanctuary
Water temp was 27 C, viss was disappointing at 10 m. There was current at all 4 sites. Some pumping current, some gentle drift dives.
Snake Island- This dive was EXCITING. The current was pumping and there was no where to seek shelter. I struggled to get down the mooring line to 10 m. Once at 10 m it was difficult to try to hold position, the current was so strong. I saw 6 or 7 snakes in 15 mins. 2 snakes were mating. These snakes are black & white but are not the common banded sea snakes. I aborted the dive after 24 mins due to the strong current.
3. Sea snake
BBC- Sandy slope, wreck of a jeep. Sea snake, snake eel.
Black forest- Good dive. Drift dive. Big group of barracuda, jacks hunting.
Sanctuary – Average. Poor viss. Drift dive.
Overall the diving was a mixed bag. Some good, some exciting, some average.
Summary
Great sandy beach, some exciting diving and a lot of topside options for eating, drinking. Another bit of paradise in the Philippines.
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I travelled to Cebu on the Supercat ferry (500 Php), journey time approx 2 hrs, seas were calm. Spent 1 night in the Kiwi lodge (1350 Php) which is a decent budget option. The following day I caught the bus (110 Php) and travelled north to Maya. The journey took approx 3 ½ hrs. Not sure what the land speed record is between Cebu & Maya but I am confident the bus driver broke all exiting records. Once at Maya I shared a boat (400 Php ) over to Malapascua island.
See link for part 1 PG, Anilao, Coron
Trip Report Part 1 - PG, Anilao, Coron - ScubaBoard
After arriving back in Manila I had to overnight before I flew to Tagbilaran. I stayed in The Lotus Garden hotel (2500 Php). Was better/more expensive than the City state tower.
Cabilao
I flew Philippine airlines to Tagbilaran (1300 Php + 600 Php excess baggage.) I got a van from the airport (1000 Php) to the small harbour (travel time approx 30 mins) where I got a small outrigger (500 Php) to the resort on Cabilao Island.
I stayed and dived with Polaris. The resort is fantastic and is excellent value for money. I would go as far to say this is the best dive resort I have ever visited. My large tree house room was 1750 Php/night. There was a large choice on the menu and the meals were great. There is a nice sun downer bar near the shore. Facilities included a large pool, lots of hammocks, pool table, free wi-fi, small shop. The resort was really quiet, less than 10 guest during my stay. This place is perfect for families or non diving partners.
The Diving.
I did 7 dives over 4 days.
Best dive – View point. (Great slope/reef with lots of soft coral)
Most of the dives were walls dives with some great slopes above 10m. Several sites had sea grass, soft corals above 10 m. My favourite part of the dives was always in these shallow areas. Viss varied from 12m to 20+m.
1. End of dive
Water temps generally 27-28 C. No real time limits on the dives. I logged my longest dive at 94 mins. There is one boat dive in the morning at 9am and one in the afternoon at 2pm. Not much fish in the blue water or big stuff (I missed the manta moment). I was the only one in the group not to see a large manta as I was “focussed” on taking photos of a frecking clown fish on the wall. (What is really annoying, the photos were rubbish!)
Highlights- Several Pigmys, soft coral crabs, lots of shrimps, good macro, the soft coral. Nice sea grass areas above 10m.
2. Pigmy
Summary
Cabilao & the Polaris dive resort were first class. I would have liked to have extended my stay. The diving was a great mix of wide & macro. I highly recommend a visit to Cabilao/Polaris. Definitely one of the better places I have visited on my recent travels. This is the 1st place i have been to in the Philippines that felt like paradise (sun ,blue water, palm trees ,hammocks)!!
Alona Beach
It was a short transfer down to Alona beach (approx 90 mins). I stayed at Alona vida (Cheapest room 2400 php) resort and dived with sea explorers. I would not recommend a stay at Vida. My “cheap” room was near the front and was noisy in the evenings. Breakfast was not included. Also the food was average/poor. After 2 meals I ate at other places during my stay. I enjoyed Opps bar which is next door to Vida.
The Diving.
Sea explorers were very professional & they gave me a detailed introduction. They are the only dive op that has asked to see my log book. The dive shop has good rinse & storage facilities. Large bangkas were used. I would use sea explorers again. I was very tempted to try a re-breather as they offer a days introduction but it was expensive.
I did 4 dives over 2 days. Sites visited Snake island, BBC, Black forest, Sanctuary
Water temp was 27 C, viss was disappointing at 10 m. There was current at all 4 sites. Some pumping current, some gentle drift dives.
Snake Island- This dive was EXCITING. The current was pumping and there was no where to seek shelter. I struggled to get down the mooring line to 10 m. Once at 10 m it was difficult to try to hold position, the current was so strong. I saw 6 or 7 snakes in 15 mins. 2 snakes were mating. These snakes are black & white but are not the common banded sea snakes. I aborted the dive after 24 mins due to the strong current.
3. Sea snake
BBC- Sandy slope, wreck of a jeep. Sea snake, snake eel.
Black forest- Good dive. Drift dive. Big group of barracuda, jacks hunting.
Sanctuary – Average. Poor viss. Drift dive.
Overall the diving was a mixed bag. Some good, some exciting, some average.
Summary
Great sandy beach, some exciting diving and a lot of topside options for eating, drinking. Another bit of paradise in the Philippines.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I travelled to Cebu on the Supercat ferry (500 Php), journey time approx 2 hrs, seas were calm. Spent 1 night in the Kiwi lodge (1350 Php) which is a decent budget option. The following day I caught the bus (110 Php) and travelled north to Maya. The journey took approx 3 ½ hrs. Not sure what the land speed record is between Cebu & Maya but I am confident the bus driver broke all exiting records. Once at Maya I shared a boat (400 Php ) over to Malapascua island.
