3 weeks in the Philippines

[claystaineddiver]

No you need to take someone who's been there. Dive masters are cheap to hire over there. But an American who's been is a real asset. Who's going to speak teh local language for you? Who's been through the hoards at the ferry stations and know's how to get you through? I can! I know the magic words?

When I looked to go to the Philippines, I searched out the local forums to see where the locals go. I found there are places you can go and get the Kano price, and places where you can go to get the filipino price. Also they know the best places. What I found was some of the best diving I've ever found. The currents can be strong, at least they were when I was there. But the diversity was fantastic and prices were dirt cheap. Its in Sabang on the island of Mindoro. A small town which caters to the divers and not that far from Manila, where I'll assume you're flying in. You might want to run some searchs on Sabang and Puerto Galera, which is the large town near it. But the diving is located off Sabang. Literally with in minutes by dive boat. I think the longest boat ride I had was 10 minutes and that might be stretching it.

Buy a bundle of dives and you can get them with air for about $16. Room with airconditioning as little as $16 per day. And the food is fantastic. Go out and you can eat like a king for $5. You can hit higher buck places there if you want to. There's an Aussi with a restrurant with imported beef. Not as good as home here, but not bad either. But you're pushing $15 for dinner then. Personally I often picked up live crabs and had them cooked at the hotel I stayed at. They threw in the rice and melted butter when they cooked it up for me. But you need to ask for melted butter. They really don't understand the concept as there don't eat much dairy there at all.


Drop a pm if you want to know a bit more about that area.

Cary