Bonaire and Philipines Dive Trips

[outlawdiver1]

I have booked a week trip to Bonaire in September and a 2 week trip to dive in the Philipines in March. I will be staying and diving at Divi Flamingo in Bonaire and 1 week in Atlantis Dumaguete, 1 week in Puerto Galera. Has anyone dove the places that can give me tips of things to do/see above and below water? PM if youd like or post. THANK YOU!!

 

[diversteve]

Divi's got the only casino on Bonaire. It's also about the only dive resort that's walking distance to downtown Kralendijk.
Downtown is small but there's decent restaurants in all price ranges.

If you're boat diving with Divi, Rappel is a good site, so are several off Klein Bonaire.

For shorediving there's about 60+ dive sites. Some of my favorites:

Angel City
Invisibles
Salt Pier
Witches Hut
Bari Reef
Cliff
Vista Blue

Windsurfing/Kiteboarding is the other popular activity - on Lac Bay.

Info Bonaire - The Bonaire Information Site - The Most Current and Up-To-Date Information

You might review our ABC Islands forum also. ABC Islands

 

[drbill]

Do a search in the PPD forum and you should find plenty of info on the Atlantis resorts in the PI. Their general reputation is quite good from what I've heard from friends who have been there.

 

[ocdiver1]

Hey Outlaw..have stayed at both Atlantis Resorts, Dumaguete twice..and you've made a great choice there. Atlantis has a great operation..from the diving, to the food, to the overall value for the money. It's been awhile since I was in PG, but the Verde Island day trip shouldn't be missed, and in Dumaguete the same can be said to the trips to Apo Island and Siquijor..in a weeks time you should have multiple attempts to do them. Otherwise, for Dumaguete..it's a little like Lembeh sometimes in that some sites will be "hot" with lots of sightings so it's hard to say what "don't miss" dive sites there are (at least since Ducommon Pier closed down)..as with a lot of macro destinations discussing what you'd like to see with the dms compared to what and where they've been seeing things will dictate what sites you'll likely want to spend the most time at. A good promotion they had going when I was last there a year ago was "unlimited diving," where you could get in up to 5 days per day if desired...a great thing to take advantage of. You'll have a great trip

 

[mikewilkns]

Hey there outlaw,
We were in Bonaire in May. Diving is great. Town and small grocery store within walking distance from Divi. In addition to the sites already mentioned, Karpata
Andrea I
Tolo
Tori's Reef
Hilma Hooker (the wreck is just OK, but the reef in the area is really worth the trip. Got a great pic of a nudibranc while we were there.

Vpexpressions.com
Underwater gallery
Get a map from franko's maps of the island and the dive sites, it gives onsite and descriptions of each site.
Also, the national park is worth a trip to see the flamingos and other birds, there is a dive site there as well
Enjoy

Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Doc]

As above!

You are a little vague on the third week and the reference to Puerto Galera. Is that the Atlantis property as well?

They often (correctly) use the phrase "Sabang Beach" instead of Puerto Galera because PG is actually 17 miles distant and has become major rat hole. Sabang Beach, at least at the shoreline "road", is quite nice.

That said- Hotel Atlantis Sabang is in my top 10 worldwide. Getting in 5x a day for the full week was a major hump- they're used to Europeans who don't need that much Nitrogen. The night time dive in the front of the place is the shiznitz.

Obtain and master a safety sausage, shooting it from 15fsw and hanging safely below, awaiting a pick up. Likely in the Philippines, you will always be with your guide, but stuff happens. This is a great time to put your initial on it with magic marker, show it to the boatsman- and let him see that it belongs to one of his divers. There can be a lot of sausages out there for them to pick from.

The Divi Flamingo on Bonaire is also my default go-to dive resort on Bonaire- It features the largest outdoor rinse tank. Stay out of the casino and go elsewhere to eat. The ramp to the shore dive can be quite slick if they haven't scrubbed it down.

Go to Bonaire and polish up your close-in hovering and observation skills. With the currents of Philippines, it may toss it all up for grabs, but starting in calm waters is the basis.

 

[outlawdiver1]

Woe. Thank u all for the great posts. i will check out the links & note the recommended destinations.

 

[ac]

When in Puerto Galera dive with Big Apple and watch out for the lady boys.
AND
You'll have a more genuine Philippines experience if you actually STAY on Apo Island and dive with Liberty's community lodge rather than go with Atlantis. I worked on Apo Island for a month and it is a great place. Even though operators like Atlantis are good shops they do not give back to the people of Apo Island who have changed the way they handle their environment to make it a great dive destination. IF you stay on Apo and dive with Liberty's you are rewarding the people of Apo for there hard work.

If you have any ?'s imandyc@rocketmail.com

Andy