Trip to Anilao with teenager

[TLB2]

I finally got the plane tickets reserved, now for the important part - planning a week of diving! Mostly it will be the daughter and I for the week in Anilao (lookinng at seven nights May 28-June 3) as the wife will be away most of the week on business in Dagupan.

My situation:
1) Daughter and I near 40 dives, did courses for AOW (Night, Nav, Nitrox, Boat)
2) Prefer beginner, maybe a couple intermediate type dives
3) Been to 90', but prefer to be not so deep; slow drift / minimal swimming would be good (my SAC rate = :shakehead:)
4) Like fish, turtles, colorful reefs & other critters
5) Daughter likes reef formations (walls in Cozumel were great)
6) Couple of night dives and maybe a couple of shore dives during the week
7) comfortable, but not too plush/expensive (rooms look the same when you are sound asleep after diving)
8) activities during surface intervals
9) good food at resort - not planning on going out at all (any sushi around for the daughter?)

I'm basically leaning towards:
Aquaventure
Eagle Point
Portulano

Would you recommend any one of these over the others for my situation? Have I overlooked a resort (in a similar price range as these) that I should really consider? (not sure I need the waters muddied...:confused:)

As a side note, is it easy to do a day trip from Manila to go diving? We will be in Manila for the week after we go diving, but I'm not sure how long I can stand the shopping:biggun:.

Thanks,
Terry

[clgsamson]

pmed you.

other resorts - Balai, Planet Dive, Crystal Blue

day trip? yes, Anilao is just 2 1/2 hours travel from Manila. You can easily do 3 dives (8:30 11:00 and 2:30pm) and be in Manila after sunset.

[shugar]

concur with caloy...

you guys will have a great time!

Jag

[TLB2]

Thanks for the info! I'll have to get with the wife to check out those other resorts. Looking forward to some great diving!

Do all of these resorts have a place to snorkel or swim?

[shugar]

Thanks for the info! I'll have to get with the wife to check out those other resorts. Looking forward to some great diving!

Do all of these resorts have a place to snorkel or swim?
no not all...

planet dive i suppose would have the best snorkeling available as they're right at the edge of twin rocks dive site...

balai has a coral mound 25 feet from the shore line and is a very easy and interesting snorkel...

don't know about the rest...

Jag

[jigo]

eagle point and dive n trek should have good snorkling in front. with some giant clams planted in the reef.

[TLB2]

Ended up staying at Aquaventure; I really enjoyed it, but there wasn't much to do for daughter outside of diving. Weather in afternoons was typically rain and very windy (well it is that time of year) so she spent some time in the pool after diving, and did go kayaking one day when the weather was nice.

Attentive service, food was wonderful, and diving was even better! Resort had a rustic feel - no TV or phone in room (I like that but some people may miss the TV). WiFi was available, connection and electricity not too reliable during high winds / rain; generator would kick on but WiFi would usually not be available then. I would highly recommend it to anyone just looking to relax and do some diving.

Some video we took on our dives:
YouTube - Aquaventure diving (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmfSq1j1rjQ)

[blue steal]

I enjoy anialo every year and the aquaventure is our pick. but for your daughter she may become quite bored there. Sushi......not at aquav..
The beaches are rocky and not great for swimming/snorkeling. Planet dive has snorkeling and I always take my relatives by banca there for some snorkeling.
You might want to consider Mindoro, Puerto Gallera. It is only another hour or so away, bus+ferry and there is more to do.

[boljakool]

nice video. good to know that you enjoyed your stay here in the Philippines. do come back again.;)

[chip104]

Sweet video, I'm interested to hear about your homemade housing for your JVC. Abet is a great divemaster.

[h2odragon1]

I agree with Blue Steal;
There are not many topside activities in Anilao. You would have to make a day trip to Lake Taal, ot return to Manila, (2 hours away), to tour Intramuros, Corregidore, or go shopping at one of the Great malls.
Puerto Galera, does heve some topside activities, visit Tamaraw Falls, or the Magaya village, also a visit to Puerto Galera itself, or Sabang could be entertaining.
The diving at both places are great! There are more sites in Puerto Galera for your daughter. Sitting on the porch, or balcony at both places provide great vista's.

You can't go wrong diving in the Philippines!!

[h2odragon1]

I agree with Blue Steal;
There are not many topside activities in Anilao. You would have to make a day trip to Lake Taal, or return to Manila, (2 hours away), to tour Intramuros, Corregidore, or go shopping at one of the Great malls.
Puerto Galera, does have some topside activities, visit Tamaraw Falls, or the Magaya village, also a visit to Puerto Galera itself, or Sabang could be entertaining.
The diving at both places are great! There are more sites in Puerto Galera for your daughter. Sitting on the porch, or balcony at both places provide great vista's.

You can't go wrong diving in the Philippines!!

[TLB2]

Sweet video, I'm interested to hear about your homemade housing for your JVC. Abet is a great divemaster.

There are a few discussions on building one in the DIY section; I roughly based mine on this one:
Underwater Housing for miniDV (http://www.instructables.com/id/Underwater-Housing-for-miniDV/)

I do not have all of the tools to make nice, close tolerance parts :lotsalove:
For example: I used a Dremel tool to put a bevel on the edge of the clear acrylic since the piece was cut with a jigsaw by hand and then I filled the space between the edge of the acrylic and the outer PVC wall with epoxy :dork2:
I used schedule 80 instead of 40 - the thicker walls gave me more of a seating surface for the acrylic. Not so pretty, but it worked.

[TLB2]

nice video. good to know that you enjoyed your stay here in the Philippines. do come back again.;)

Thanks on the video!

It is just a matter of time until we come back....and money :depressed:

Daughter will be in high school for two more years - once she heads off to college at least we will be able to travel sometime other than the summer rainy season. And maybe stay for longer than two weeks. :D