Gilligan
Contributor
Effective April 2015 new rules for diving at Balicasag have been implemented.
My preliminary information is as follows:
1. Only 10 divers per boat
2. 250 Pesos (approx $5.50 US) environmental fee per diver per day. Local dives are still 100 Pesos.
3. Dives must be booked by 4 pm the day before.
My understanding is there is a website that dive operators must book on by 4 pm at which time it shuts down.
4. Dive boats must have a Mayors Permit (business license) to go to Balicasag.
No doubt there will be a lot of wrinkles to iron out.
From the looks of it visitors will have to book Balicasag before they arrive otherwise there will be a lot of dissappointed divers
since Balicasag is the choice dive location for Panglao.
Will dive prices increase with a 10 divers per boat limit?
The upside and likely reason for all of this is to protect Balicasag's underwater environment.
I will update this as more info becomes available.
My preliminary information is as follows:
1. Only 10 divers per boat
2. 250 Pesos (approx $5.50 US) environmental fee per diver per day. Local dives are still 100 Pesos.
3. Dives must be booked by 4 pm the day before.
My understanding is there is a website that dive operators must book on by 4 pm at which time it shuts down.
4. Dive boats must have a Mayors Permit (business license) to go to Balicasag.
No doubt there will be a lot of wrinkles to iron out.
From the looks of it visitors will have to book Balicasag before they arrive otherwise there will be a lot of dissappointed divers
since Balicasag is the choice dive location for Panglao.
Will dive prices increase with a 10 divers per boat limit?
The upside and likely reason for all of this is to protect Balicasag's underwater environment.
I will update this as more info becomes available.