Trip Report Trip Report-Philippines-Puerto Galera-El Galleon/Asia Divers-April 1-14, 2019

[cephalopod2]

I rarely eat even close to all that is offered so this seems awesome to me.

Chilly for light eaters, vegetarians and anyone else looking to trim costs, you'll likely be happy ordering breakfast a la carte as well. I usually enjoy breakfast buffets but decided not to prebook them for El Galleon since I could always add them there. I had the buffet my first morning but otherwise jumped around the menu and had plenty of great breakfasts with a lower bill than eating the buffet every day. I'm vegetarian so if you like a lot of meat at breakfast you may find the buffet more cost effective (and I'm sure by prebooking Trailboss received a discounted buffet rate). Otherwise the famous French toast and those heavenly crepes are a la carte.

 

[chillyinCanada]

I like eggs and fruit for breakfast. The protein sets me up for a good day.

 

[Trailboss123]

That sounds about right although you can spend a bit more, depending on where you eat. I'd say the AI price probably includes a lot more food/courses with each meal.

Yes, I had mentioned that earlier. The AI option comes with 3 courses fo lunch and dinner: An appetizer, entree and dessert. Lots of food and if you eat lots of meat, it works out. Particularly beef and seafood, which are pricey.

 

[Trailboss123]

Day 8 of diving was an epic. It rained again overnight, but we woke to flat calm seas and no winds and overcast skies. We were on for the trip out to Verde Island and it did not disappoint. Calm seas, 80 foot Viz, Cobalt blue water and zero currents to reckon with under water. The landscape is so stunning with the various pinnacles, walls, bowls, cuts and valleys. Some of the highlights were hundreds of red-toothed triggerfish, free swimming morays, 2 large turtles, a bumphead/humphead parrotfish, massive barrel sponges (biggest I have ever seen), huge gorgonian sea fans, large many-spotted sweetlips, a banded sea krait, thousands of fusiliers, a very large white frog fish that was hanging and suspending itself by the feet between two sponges. We did 2 dives and they were both highlight dives.

Back at the resort after Verde Island, we could have hurried and made the 1:30pm dive, but decided to have a relaxed lunch of salad and a handmade pesto pizza and reminisce with others about the morning dives and get a little rest before the 4pm dive. For the 4pm dive, we considered all of the tide and current info and decided and an easy nearby drift from Monkey Beach back toward the Bay.

When we got back to the resort from the morning dives at Verde Island, we were welcomed with the news that the Thresher Sharks that were hanging around over the last few months, but had departed when the water warmed up are back at the Kilima dive site. Some of the Instructors, dive guides and guests were out there and saw 2 of them—so, maybe we will get lucky before we depart.

 

[dlofting]

Sounds like you had a great dive at Verde. Hopefully you'll see a thresher shark. Thanks for all your posts..... I've relived our last trip through you!

 

[ljwillia]

Thoroughly enjoying your trip report. I discovered it this afternoon and have spent an enjoyable couple hour catching up on your trip. Your pictures are awesome!

Thanks for taking us along with you

 

[Trailboss123]

Thanks for the feedback.

Thoroughly enjoying your trip report. I discovered it this afternoon and have spent an enjoyable couple hour catching up on your trip. Your pictures are awesome!

Thanks for taking us along with you

Thanks for the feedback. It has been a fun trip and this has been an interesting way to do a trip report. I have enjoyed it, but it has taken some discipline and commitment to stick with it for the duration.

 

[Trailboss123]

Day 9 of diving and Day 10 at the resort. Another prefect day above water with no winds and calm seas. Makes getting back in the boats so much easier. I got in 4 dives. We went back to the Canyons- one of the signature dive sites on the island. Once again, there was no current, which is very unusual for this dive site. We had 2 DM’s on the dive and they were just loving the fact that they could freely explore the dive site and see stuff they can’t normally see due to the need to hide from the current usually. Most of the dive is between 80-90 feet, so No Deco time is the limiter more than air. We had all agreed that once the first person hit 2 minutes left of no deco time, we would begin our blue water ascent. I was that person. A combination of having the most residual nitrogen of anyone on the dive and I had an unusually lower 30% fill. Every tank has been spot on 32% the entire trip, except for this tank. I think it might have been the analyzer, but no reason to question it and we still ended up with a great 47 minute dive. We saw a good sized cuttlefish, some schooling jacks and the biggest Spadefish ever. They call them Batfish here, but they are actually Circular Spadefish.

Dive 2 was back at my favorite site- Sinandigan Wall. We had a couple that had not been there yet and he is a big photographer and they only have one day left before going to Anilao and I told him he had to do Sinandigan for all of the nudibranch opportunities. With my camera out of commission, I became his spotter and he couldn’t keep up with all of my finds. It made for a fun dive for me- hopefully he sends me some pics.

Dive 3 was a new dive site for me- I requested something new and the tides cooperated, and we went to Manila Channel. It was a nice dive. Mostly spent at 70 feet looking for seahorses. Whereas we didn’t find any seahorses, we did come upon 2 Robust Pipefish. They are as thin as paper and make you wonder where all of their internal organs reside?

Last dive was just me and one other person and we spent it at Sabang Point for 70 minutes. First half was a mild drift and then second half hiding out of the current and looking for critters. I decided to take my camera and in spite of not having any lighting, I manipulated the camera settings in hopes of getting at least a few pictures worth keeping. Boy was I lucky. I took 140 pics and deleted all but the one below. I came across this gorgeous nudibranch and somehow captured a decent image.

Today is the last day of diving. Will just do the 2 morning dives and then set all of the gear out in the sun and any wind to dry out for the afternoon prior to packing tonight. Tomorrow we depart here at Noon and make our way back to Manila for a 6:45pm flight to Taiwan and then Seattle, but not before 1 more of those awesome and life transforming $14 one-hour massages!

I will probably write up a recap and conclusion post this afternoon. If not, I will wait until on the plane, as it will give me something to pass the time.

 

[Trailboss123]

Heron Andreadoris

 

[cephalopod2]

You did really well with that photo despite not having your camera light! Thanks again for the daily installment - I'm going to miss them when you leave.

That's great to know about the massages....I had no idea they were so great there. Will definitely try one next time.

Will you give Kilima another roll of the dice for the threshers? And Trailboss are you on the unlimited dive plan? I heard El Galleon had one but didn't get any details. Would love to hear what you thought if you are.