BKKDiver64
New
hi, just returned from a week at Sabang. Dived with Big Apple divers. Did 9 dives. Have been to Sabang 3 times before over the years. Summary as follows:
Sabang town:
- now on the Chinese and Japanese tourist sights (as also confirmed by the owner of my hotel). Pretty much overrun (although this was Easter week, there are no public holidays in China).
- chatting to a HK professional young guy, he had no idea that Sabang was/is notorious for "nightlife" involving more mature men. Seems Sabang is just another get-away for Asians.
Quality of dives:
- dive sites look tired and worn out. Certainly no wow factor here. This is not how I remember it. Same sentiments expressed by my Swedish dive buddy.
- site quite crowded especially with Koreans. Looking "cool" with their selfie sticks and base ball caps on.
- caught a Korean diver wrapping his Go-Pro stick around the front of a turtle, preventing it from swimming. I smacked him on the head (the Korean that is) to tell him to fxxx the right off. This guys mask was all steamed over. Total amateur diver with no respect for the sea.
- dived the 30m wreck Alma Jane. 4 of us including a Korean. On descending to the wreck we found the Korean was absent. DM went up to find him. Long story he never made it down and swam back to base (found out while we were frantically searching for him).
- on the way up from the Alma Jane (DM was waiting half way for us after not finding the Korean), we encountered at least 10 divers descending on the buoy line. It was ridiculous, what appeared to be novice divers (maybe I am wrong), trying to pass us doing our 5 m stop, struggling in the rip.
Conclusion:
- doubt very much I will do Sabang again. Overrun and dives sites of no real great quality. Novice divers been allowed to get away with stupid behavior. Let us watch this space for some fatalities!
Sabang town:
- now on the Chinese and Japanese tourist sights (as also confirmed by the owner of my hotel). Pretty much overrun (although this was Easter week, there are no public holidays in China).
- chatting to a HK professional young guy, he had no idea that Sabang was/is notorious for "nightlife" involving more mature men. Seems Sabang is just another get-away for Asians.
Quality of dives:
- dive sites look tired and worn out. Certainly no wow factor here. This is not how I remember it. Same sentiments expressed by my Swedish dive buddy.
- site quite crowded especially with Koreans. Looking "cool" with their selfie sticks and base ball caps on.
- caught a Korean diver wrapping his Go-Pro stick around the front of a turtle, preventing it from swimming. I smacked him on the head (the Korean that is) to tell him to fxxx the right off. This guys mask was all steamed over. Total amateur diver with no respect for the sea.
- dived the 30m wreck Alma Jane. 4 of us including a Korean. On descending to the wreck we found the Korean was absent. DM went up to find him. Long story he never made it down and swam back to base (found out while we were frantically searching for him).
- on the way up from the Alma Jane (DM was waiting half way for us after not finding the Korean), we encountered at least 10 divers descending on the buoy line. It was ridiculous, what appeared to be novice divers (maybe I am wrong), trying to pass us doing our 5 m stop, struggling in the rip.
Conclusion:
- doubt very much I will do Sabang again. Overrun and dives sites of no real great quality. Novice divers been allowed to get away with stupid behavior. Let us watch this space for some fatalities!