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Trip Report: Dumaguete and Bohol
Dumaguete, Negros
We dove with Scuba Ventures based in Dumaguete. Very well priced, Filipino run dive shop. Service was good but expect budget services. The biggest difference would be more comfortable boat rides, but otherwise, it was ok. The DM wasnft so knowledgeable about fish names and such, but he was still good at finding stuff. However, there were no dive briefings and despite asking for a refresher for my beginner friend (hadnft dove since OW) she didnft get any review of any kind before the first dive. The good news is that it was only ever the 2 of us and the DM, so the DM could keep an eye on her and we had no worries about other divers sucking back the air too fast or getting fins in the face.
We dove 3 dives a day.
Apo Island
Drive from Dumaguete, then a long and very wet ride on a small and noisy banka to Apo. We dove Rock Point, Chapel, and Sanctuary ? all amazing sites. Apo is well-known for its coral, and rightly so. Stunning! Lots of fish, colourful coral, and several turtles too! Wish wefd had more time to dive here again, definitely worth diving for 2 days or more, and staying on the island would be ideal.
Sumilon Island
Even noisier banka boat to the Island. Again, nice reefs, fish, and turtles. Lots of pufferfish! Great diving, but not quite as great at Apo.
Dauin
Car Wrecks good for the little stuff like harlequin ghost pipefish. Lots of lioinfish! Sanctuary sloping reef dives were nice as well, some interesting fish, but the landscape didnft vary much. We did see a juvenile batfish which was cool!
Masaplod had a big school of jacks but the current swept us away and we missed the small reef. Shouldfve just stayed put with the jacks. Saw some blue-spotted rays and pipefish. Second dive we went back to the Car Wrecks, saw more harlequin ghost pipefish, cool nudibranchs, and lots of lionfish.
Overall, the diving here was really good. Lots of turtles! Wouldfve liked to have done the Mandarin fish dive as well, but didnft have time. Apo is a definite must-dive.
Panglao, Bohol
I dove with Scuba World on Alona Beach. Very professional and well run dive shop. I would definitely dive with them again. Dove 2 dives a day. They will take you out even if youfre just one diver! I dove Balicasag for 4 days and Panglao for 2 days.
Balicasag had beautiful wall dives. Lots of nudibranchs, a giant frogfish, sweetlips, batfish, groupers, banded sea snakes schools of jack fish, blue fin trevally and nice coral. And lots of my favourite cube box fish! Even diving the same sites, it's different every time.
One afternoon on the way back from Balicasag, we were fortunate enough to meet hundreds of spinner dolphins. They usually aren't out in the afternoon, but it was especially calm and we were lucky!
Great diving, great trip! I'd love to go back!
Thanks to everyone who helped me with their advice and experiences. Much appreciated.
Dumaguete, Negros
We dove with Scuba Ventures based in Dumaguete. Very well priced, Filipino run dive shop. Service was good but expect budget services. The biggest difference would be more comfortable boat rides, but otherwise, it was ok. The DM wasnft so knowledgeable about fish names and such, but he was still good at finding stuff. However, there were no dive briefings and despite asking for a refresher for my beginner friend (hadnft dove since OW) she didnft get any review of any kind before the first dive. The good news is that it was only ever the 2 of us and the DM, so the DM could keep an eye on her and we had no worries about other divers sucking back the air too fast or getting fins in the face.
We dove 3 dives a day.
Apo Island
Drive from Dumaguete, then a long and very wet ride on a small and noisy banka to Apo. We dove Rock Point, Chapel, and Sanctuary ? all amazing sites. Apo is well-known for its coral, and rightly so. Stunning! Lots of fish, colourful coral, and several turtles too! Wish wefd had more time to dive here again, definitely worth diving for 2 days or more, and staying on the island would be ideal.
Sumilon Island
Even noisier banka boat to the Island. Again, nice reefs, fish, and turtles. Lots of pufferfish! Great diving, but not quite as great at Apo.
Dauin
Car Wrecks good for the little stuff like harlequin ghost pipefish. Lots of lioinfish! Sanctuary sloping reef dives were nice as well, some interesting fish, but the landscape didnft vary much. We did see a juvenile batfish which was cool!
Masaplod had a big school of jacks but the current swept us away and we missed the small reef. Shouldfve just stayed put with the jacks. Saw some blue-spotted rays and pipefish. Second dive we went back to the Car Wrecks, saw more harlequin ghost pipefish, cool nudibranchs, and lots of lionfish.
Overall, the diving here was really good. Lots of turtles! Wouldfve liked to have done the Mandarin fish dive as well, but didnft have time. Apo is a definite must-dive.
Panglao, Bohol
I dove with Scuba World on Alona Beach. Very professional and well run dive shop. I would definitely dive with them again. Dove 2 dives a day. They will take you out even if youfre just one diver! I dove Balicasag for 4 days and Panglao for 2 days.
Balicasag had beautiful wall dives. Lots of nudibranchs, a giant frogfish, sweetlips, batfish, groupers, banded sea snakes schools of jack fish, blue fin trevally and nice coral. And lots of my favourite cube box fish! Even diving the same sites, it's different every time.
One afternoon on the way back from Balicasag, we were fortunate enough to meet hundreds of spinner dolphins. They usually aren't out in the afternoon, but it was especially calm and we were lucky!
Great diving, great trip! I'd love to go back!
Thanks to everyone who helped me with their advice and experiences. Much appreciated.
