Please help us plan our 1st Philippine trip

[Pony]

After reading many of the PPD posts and forums, I’m still confused as ever. There are way too many Islands and locations. Hopefully one of SB seasoned Philippine travelers can give me some help. My wife and I would like to travel to the Philippines approximately 1 year from now. We would like to spend our time between 2-3 Islands/Dive resorts. Additionally, we are interested in the Islands/locations that offer on-shore activities or “thing to do and see”. We are easily pleased with corals and fish, along with opportunities to see large pelagics; Wrecks are not that great of interest, but wouldn’t pass one by. We do not need luxurious accommodations, but would prefer AC and modern amenities without spending a lot. AI resort/dive packages are always easier and considered. We do NOT want to get to complicated in the connections between locations, thus spending all of our time in transfers and worrying about getting there. We will spend at least 2 weeks, and maybe 3 in the Philippines. So here are the questions;

1. What time of the year would you recommend for best combination of weather and diving conditions and pricing?

2. For first time travelers to this region, where would you start; e.g. Fly into what Airport/Island and stay at what resort?

3. Are there dive operations that offer multi-destination (Island) diving vacations (other than liveaboards) ?

4. Could anyone recommend a good Philippine Scuba travel agency?

I don’t mind spending time on the Inet for information and or booking reservations; I just need a good place to start. However, if someone wants to send me a photocopied itinerary for a 2-3 week trip…I won’t pass it bye. Thanks for any information.

[Babydamulag]

FIRST TIME TRAVELER:
1. Any time of year is good / best time of year is FEB to MAY
2. Fly into Manila / Go to Puerto Galera (PG)
3. You said first time traveler - learn the Philippines first at Puerto Galera (PG)
4. Travel Agencies will not do you as well as calling the resort directly

Go to Sabang Inn, Atlantis, Asia Divers, La LAguna Beach Club web sites (all in PG)
This is a great place to start your research.

.....I can't wait to say " Come to Panay Explorers " ...............soon!

[jonix]

FIRST TIME TRAVELER (alternative):
1. Any time of year is good / best time of year is FEB to MAY
2. Fly into Manila and get a flight to Tagbilaran (search for Bohol here)/ Do Bohol (lots of activities above and below the waterline)
3. Travel Agencies will not do you as well as calling the resort directly - ditto

diving: pamilacan island, balicasag island, cabilao island (search the underwater photography section for gilligan's pics)

on land: tarsiers, old churches, chocolate hills (this is so weird if you get to see this)

for cabilao, polaris dive center is a very good choice. for pamilacan & balicasag you'll base yourself in panglao/alona (clgsamson/pakman has trip reps here somewhere)

[rhadamantus]

1. What time of the year would you recommend for best combination of weather and diving conditions and pricing? - Depends on what you want to see and where. February-May have better weather but pricing on accommodations (not so much on diving rates) are higher compared to the rest of the year. October-November have superb weather and more reasonable pricing. there is an all-year round diving in PI, really.

2. For first time travelers to this region, where would you start; e.g. Fly into what Airport/Island and stay at what resort? You can get a flight that touches down to Cebu (instead of Manila), and plan your dives from there. You may try the diving around Mactan Island and go up to Malapascua for the threshers, mandarin, and mantas and macro (threshers/mantas are hit or miss). you can also grab a ferry to the island of Bohol for both Balicasag and Cabilao Diving and then another ferry to reach Negros Oriental for Apo Island. If you only have 3 weeks, then you can concentrate your itinerary on Visayas.

3. Are there dive operations that offer multi-destination (Island) diving vacations (other than liveaboards) ? Try Seaexplorers or Philippine Island Divers. they can be googled.

4. Could anyone recommend a good Philippine Scuba travel agency? kuya jon is correct.

i'll get you a suggested itinerary in the next few days... when im done and over with my holiday aftermath...

[shugar]

expanded 2-3 week itenerary

1) fly into Manila (unless you can catch an affordable flight directly into cebu)
2) fast ferry to bohol - do pamilican, balicasag and cabilao
3) fast ferry back to cebu and do malapascua (2 hrs. by land)
4) return to cebu and seriously consider if you want to take a fast craft to dumaguete (for dauin and apo island... about 4 hrs total travel)
4b) consider flying from cebu to manila and making a transfer to anilao and/or PG for the remainder of your stay... it'll be a good cool-down and the proximity to manila for the fly-out home will leave less to chance... if you don't want to sacrifice no-fly times from cebu to manila there are 20-hour superferries that do cebu-manila almost everyday... it'll be a great chance to relax a bit and sort through your photographs

hope this helps...

Jag

[h2odragon1]

You have taken the first great step by making the Philippines a dive destination. Your profile says 50-59 dives. Your first stop should be Puerto Galera. Great for new to intermediate divers. PG has the most varied diving you can find at one place, (rec;tech;wreck;drift;nature;deep;some pelagics; great coral) you can advance your skills also. My wife and I dove through Acion divers in Little LaLaguna beach, and stayed at Deep Blue Sea Inn $18/night at that time. Dive Puerto Galera, Dive Philippines, Dive Action Divers Roscoe Thomas at Action divers can help with accomodations if you want. there are other places also. Your next stop should be in the Visayas, (central region). Dumagete; Cebu; Moalboal; Malapascua; or to Bohol Alona beach. you can reach Bohol from Cebu city by fast boat, (there are also slow boats) to Taglibaran then a cab, or bus ride to Alona beach. More Pelagics in the Visayas I am told. My wife and I are going to Cebu next Feb. and I hope to give a report then. In Bohol you can off-gas with a trip to the chocolate hills, ( a natural formation).
My wife and I went during Nov 2005 and had no problems with the weather. If you look at the weather in the Philippines this Nov. you can see a typhoon hitting the North.
I always give a word of caution;
WARNING: DIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES IS THE MOST ADDICTIVE FORM OF DIVING!!!
you'll have a great time.
Babydamulag has a resort in Culasai that may be open by Nov next year. you might consider that! new resort! new dive area! possible new discoveries for you!!!

[Live_in_Sin]

3. Are there dive operations that offer multi-destination (Island) diving vacations (other than liveaboards) ?

check this out...
Asia Divers - Packages

[Babydamulag]

You guys kill me....jeez....we know too much!!! I love it!!!

[h2odragon1]

Scuba world has dive shops in most of the more popular resort areas. Scuba Diving in the Philippines - Tubbataha, Apo Island, Coron, Boracay, Palau, Chuuk my wife and I will be diving with them in Cebu next Feb.

[flying fish]

expanded 2-3 week itenerary

1) fly into Manila (unless you can catch an affordable flight directly into cebu)
2) fast ferry to bohol - do pamilican, balicasag and cabilao
3) fast ferry back to cebu and do malapascua (2 hrs. by land)
4) return to cebu and seriously consider if you want to take a fast craft to dumaguete (for dauin and apo island... about 4 hrs total travel)
4b) consider flying from cebu to manila and making a transfer to anilao and/or PG for the remainder of your stay... it'll be a good cool-down and the proximity to manila for the fly-out home will leave less to chance... if you don't want to sacrifice no-fly times from cebu to manila there are 20-hour superferries that do cebu-manila almost everyday... it'll be a great chance to relax a bit and sort through your photographs

hope this helps...

Jag

i second this itinerary. depending on the airline you're taking, chances are you're gonna arrive in manila. just hop on another plane to cebu. its only an hour away. Cebu and bohol also offer other activities aside from diving plus you can go to anywhere in the PI from cebu either by plane, boat or bus.

dennis