So what do we think of Philippine dive shops?

[weenerdoggs]

Hi Martian and friends (tee hee)

Good points all ways around. I have always found it best to save on money with cheaper accommodations and not to do so on dive costs. Safety and service count.

I usually ask the operator who the DM will be leading the dive and chat that person up too.

I actually found the Philaippines to be run far more smoothly and safely than most of the dives I did in Koh Tao Thailand. Koh Tao seems like a factory overun. It was fun...but having 10-15 dive boats on each site was a bit much. the rental gear in the Philippines (at least at the places i dived with) was in better shape. Some of the instructors I met had over 2000 dives under their weightbelts. You can usually glean alll this info a long time before you hit the water!

If you go there Martian, use PLANET SCUBA. They are unlike the other 582 operators who had psycho cowboys for staff, Planet Scuba was great! (If any of you are wondering, I have no allegiance to them besides good dive experiences with friendly competent staff).

Yes Thailand dose have a "ladyboy problem" that quickly throws a shadow far greater than that of the P.I. But you shouldn't have a problem with that as you sound like a person who avoids that kinda thing.

Hope your next trip to the Philippines is much better! And I hope you have a great time in Thailand!

Jason

 

[thomjinx]

I am an American who has dived a lot in the Philippines and in Thailand. One thing I have noticed outside of 'Western countries" like the UK and US is that in most of the world you are still considered to be responsible for yourself. If you buy a cup of hot coffee and spill it on yourself, it is your fault if you get burned. You asked for hot coffee, you spilled it! Duh!

In the US, our legal system seems to be set up mainly to create business for lawyers. A woman actually won a lawsuit from Mac D's in the situation I just described. Personally I think that is ridiculous.

I have been allowed to enter wrecks and overhead environments in the PI and Thailand without anyone verifying I had been trained for it. But I was properly briefed about what to expect and was told clearly that I did not have to enter if I didn't want to. I am 100% ok with this.

The decision (and the risk) to do so was mine and mine alone! Whether they told me that or not, I understand this.

For an instructor with students it is different, but once you have a C-card (or pretend to have one) it is always your call and your responsibility.

If a DM or guide tries to rush me into the water, I will say politely that I am not ready yet. If he seems to be impatient, I will say politely "oh just go ahead, I will catch up with you" I can be as laid back as anybody! Haha

Don't let anyone take you somewhere or put you in a situation you consider dangerous. You might lose the price of a dive, but dead is forever.

As someone else so aptly stated, a guide is not a babysitter.

One of the big reasons diving in SE Asia is such a good value is that they don't have such a huge overhead in liability insurance, compared to the UK or US.

The PPD is one of the best, most informative (and entertaining!) groups anywhere. They know where the best dives, shops AND bargains are.

Just my opinions.

Thomjinx

 

[Gunrock0811]

Asking for recommendations from the members of PPD community, IMHO, is a great way to start ur journey in this part of the world if you haven't had experience much around here. it is kinda like plotting ur destination on a GPS or mapquest and getting ur directions on how to get there.

to me diving and the Philippines is uncharted waters for me even though i was born here and grew up in the US. without the members from PPD i would have dove into the pool head first not knowing how deep it was. yes, without PPD i could have landed myself in a not so well recommended diving school and i won't be looking forward for my open water comes Valentine's Day (^_~)

 

[clgsamson]

Good luck, Gunny.

 

[Gunrock0811]

LOL..thanx again clgsamson. thank you (^_^)

 

[chip104]

Thomjinx, thanks for the kind words. Nice post.

 

[Hank49]

I am an American who has dived a lot in the Philippines and in Thailand. One thing I have noticed outside of 'Western countries" like the UK and US is that in most of the world you are still considered to be responsible for yourself. If you buy a cup of hot coffee and spill it on yourself, it is your fault if you get burned. You asked for hot coffee, you spilled it! Duh!

In the US, our legal system seems to be set up mainly to create business for lawyers. A woman actually won a lawsuit from Mac D's in the situation I just described. Personally I think that is ridiculous.

Thomjinx

Imagine a jeepney loaded down with a pig or two on top, chickens hanging upside down all around the sides, fully loaded with people inside and about 3 or 4 guys standing and hanging off the back, T shirt and hair blowing in the wind....now get a mental picture of this....coming down the freeway into any major American city.
I'd love to see the look on a highway patroman's face as it blew black smoke passing by....

 

[CODMAN]

Hey there was a time when it was similar in America! Cars/trucks were rare and anybody who had one usually had the back piled full of people, pigs, horses, bales of hay, basically anything! And everybody would try to bumb a ride/ hop in... That,s the way it used to be!!!! Thongs change though... But I miss those good old days...

 

[Babydamulag]

I changed my thongs yesterday!

 

[shugar]

I changed my thongs yesterday!

great babyd... now that's gonna give me nightmares...

Jag