The Philippines is open!

[NootFish]

Where are you going?
Have a nice one.

Going to be doing some underwater photography with Anilao Photo Academy! Hopefully working on getting better at macro focus, diopter use, snooting, and composition.

I'm really excited to be getting out there before it's full of tourists.

 

[NootFish]

Has anyone found a reasonably priced flight from the USA?

My flight was about $2k but I got Delta Premium select because it was only $200 more and would get me extra baggage and a lot more legroom. Not sure if best choice, because I generally prefer laying down across several seats and can't sleep on my back, but that's what I did. Plane not very full, from what I can see through Delta.

 

[Centrals]

Going to be doing some underwater photography with Anilao Photo Academy! Hopefully working on getting better at macro focus, diopter use, snooting, and composition.

I'm really excited to be getting out there before it's full of tourists.

I can't think of any better place in the country to practice macro shooting than Anilao.
The place is never full of foreign tourists. But is very popular with the crowd from Manila especially over the weekend.

 

[Tippytoes12]

I have just pushed the button on an Anilao trip. The cost of the flights was horrendous the first couple of weeks. I had booked with Qatar, which I love, but the fares on Emirates and Turkish have now fallen a lot. So I cancelled Qatar, got a full refund in 3 days and rebooked with Emirates and put about 800 pounds back into the holiday fund. I honestly thought that it would take years to get back to the Philippines, what a wonderful surprise it was when they reopened !

 

[Manneca]

The US CDC Vac card is fine to use and is accepted with no issues. This is not only confirmed with publications from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, but also by numerous Americans (including a good friend of mine) who just entered the Philippines since the tourism opening February 10. So please....come dive the Philippines!

From what I can tell the Philippines requires an RT-PCR test, not just any old PCR test. There is only one place in Cleveland that I can find that offers them. Anyone have experience with a PCR test that isn't an RT-PCR test? Glad to see CDC cards accepted. I have a "smart card" from my pharmacy, but I need an internet connection to show it and I haven't figured out a way to store it. UGH

 

[Centrals]

I have just pushed the button on an Anilao trip. The cost of the flights was horrendous the first couple of weeks. I had booked with Qatar, which I love, but the fares on Emirates and Turkish have now fallen a lot. So I cancelled Qatar, got a full refund in 3 days and rebooked with Emirates and put about 800 pounds back into the holiday fund. I honestly thought that it would take years to get back to the Philippines, what a wonderful surprise it was when they reopened !

That is a huge sum in Philippines.
Have a nice trip.

 

[Centrals]

From what I can tell the Philippines requires an RT-PCR test, not just any old PCR test. There is only one place in Cleveland that I can find that offers them. Anyone have experience with a PCR test that isn't an RT-PCR test? Glad to see CDC cards accepted. I have a "smart card" from my pharmacy, but I need an internet connection to show it and I haven't figured out a way to store it. UGH

The RT-PCR test must be taken within 48hrs prior to departure from the country of origin.
1. You need to find out how long would it take to get the result.
2. Time required to travel from Cleveland to somewhere to board the plane bound to Philippines directly.
3. If the plane requires to transit in a 3rd country, you need to find out if the waiting time is included in the 48hrs period.

You can have the test done first and then start to travel to the airport for your departure to Philippines. Hopefully you will receive the result by e-mail and is -ve.
About time to find out if you have any friend in LA, NY or SAN so you can have the test done there. All these three cities have direct flight to MNL.

Good luck

 

[NootFish]

From what I can tell the Philippines requires an RT-PCR test, not just any old PCR test. There is only one place in Cleveland that I can find that offers them. Anyone have experience with a PCR test that isn't an RT-PCR test? Glad to see CDC cards accepted. I have a "smart card" from my pharmacy, but I need an internet connection to show it and I haven't figured out a way to store it. UGH

Since all of these tests are starting RNA, anything "PCR" is going to have RT (reverse transcriptase) involved. I hope I don't have to argue molecular biology techniques with people at the airport.

 

[Centrals]

Since all of these tests are starting RNA, anything "PCR" is going to have RT (reverse transcriptase) involved. I hope I don't have to argue molecular biology techniques with people at the airport.

Depend who and where you are arguing about.
In Philippines there is usually only one winner.
What happened to those Malaysian recently at NAIA airport is a good example.

 

[Blackcrusader]

I can't think of any better place in the country to practice macro shooting than Anilao.
The place is never full of foreign tourists. But is very popular with the crowd from Manila especially over the weekend.

Leyte also has some excellent muck diving and macro is everywhere.