← Back to topic list
I know that April is the beginning the summer holiday for Filipinos. Are these locations overly crowded at the time? Would it be better to move the trip up to March?
Thanks in advance.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Week
OP I am sure that you did not mean it but you give the impression that obtaining your Open Water certification is a foregone conclusion. I have known people to fail and the art of diving is a serious business. Not wanting to rain on your parade but if you were not considering applying yourself fully to the task in hand then you would be wise to reconsider.
On the plus side Puerto Galera is a good choice of venue to take the qualification. If you did not know there are numerous dives and almost as many dive schools to choose from. If you have not already chosen then take your time, cheapest is not always best or even the dearest for that matter. If you can obtain the loan of a Dive Manual prior to going then do so. The course is (if undertaken properly) somewhat intensive - no boozy nights and much burning of the midnight oil. Once obtained the certificate does IMHO open up a whole new world.
I cannot believe that you said that Blossom, are you certified? SB has it about right, no-one suggests turning into a monk but things in perspective here, you honestly telling someone new to the game to go out and hard party? If you do not mind me saying a departure here from your normal solid posts.
I am a BSAC Dive Leader and when I did my open water novice training dives in the north sea the water was 9 degrees C and the viz was 4 metres and we still managed to end up in the pub.
The guy ( If you are Nicola I apologise ) is likely to end up in Sabang and to suggest he should spend his midnights poring over books learning about the various forms of embolysm is unrealistic but I hope his instructors do warn him of the dangers of over doing it as well as ensuring he/she does go out and have a good time.
In fairness most of the trainee divers I see out of an evening seem to spend their evenings in one of the discos but do all tend to leave the discos quite early and set off for an early night.
p.s.
anyway - I am not PADI trained and haven't dived for a number of years however instead of listening to my out of date advice Nick or Nicola should check out their training manual.
I understand 'effects of alcohol abuse' is in Volume 1 chapter 19 at page 317 and 'buddy check - physical condition of codiver(s) is also in Volume 1 subsection 2 chapter 22 at page 438
Edited by: bl0ss0m
← Back to topic list
Crowds in April
I'm planning on visiting the Philippines for two weeks in April (after Holy Week). I will definitely get PADI certified in Puerto Galera, and hope to make it to Coron or El Nido, and Northern Luzon.I know that April is the beginning the summer holiday for Filipinos. Are these locations overly crowded at the time? Would it be better to move the trip up to March?
Thanks in advance.
1
Easter in 2013 in Philippines falls on last few days of March, so thats the best time to avoid travelling. Was in PG at the end of March last year and it was very busy, but normally is there..3
Holy Week (Latin: Hebdomas Sancta or Hebdomas Maior, "Greater Week"; Greek: Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς, Hagia kai Megale Hebdomas) in Christianity is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter. It includes the religious holidays of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday), Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. It does not include Easter Sunday. In Eastern Orthodox tradition, Holy Week starts on Lazarus Saturday, the day before Palm Sunday. (Easter Sunday, for context, is the first day of the new season of the Great Fifty Days, or Eastertide, there being fifty days from Easter Sunday through Pentecost Sunday.) It is followed by Easter Week.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Week
5
Hi,OP I am sure that you did not mean it but you give the impression that obtaining your Open Water certification is a foregone conclusion. I have known people to fail and the art of diving is a serious business. Not wanting to rain on your parade but if you were not considering applying yourself fully to the task in hand then you would be wise to reconsider.
On the plus side Puerto Galera is a good choice of venue to take the qualification. If you did not know there are numerous dives and almost as many dive schools to choose from. If you have not already chosen then take your time, cheapest is not always best or even the dearest for that matter. If you can obtain the loan of a Dive Manual prior to going then do so. The course is (if undertaken properly) somewhat intensive - no boozy nights and much burning of the midnight oil. Once obtained the certificate does IMHO open up a whole new world.
6
@Brax, yes I'm aware it's not a foregone conclusion, but for simplicity's sake, I did not get into contingencies in my original post since my concern now is with crowds (and booking my flight)... the certification issues I'll worry about later ...:) Thanks for the response, I'm very much looking forward to trying it out, at least.10
Hi,I cannot believe that you said that Blossom, are you certified? SB has it about right, no-one suggests turning into a monk but things in perspective here, you honestly telling someone new to the game to go out and hard party? If you do not mind me saying a departure here from your normal solid posts.
12
There were only a few rooms left at our favourite Puerto Galera hotel (El Galleon) for late March when I inquired about a booking recently. So yes, Holy Week leading up to Easter will be a good time not to arrive; stick with April. Start playing with air bookings now too. NAIA will probably be crowded for a couple of weeks before and a week or so after Easter as the balikbayan return for visits.14
I was directing my reply to Brax's observation " no boozy nights and much burning of the midnight oil"I am a BSAC Dive Leader and when I did my open water novice training dives in the north sea the water was 9 degrees C and the viz was 4 metres and we still managed to end up in the pub.
The guy ( If you are Nicola I apologise ) is likely to end up in Sabang and to suggest he should spend his midnights poring over books learning about the various forms of embolysm is unrealistic but I hope his instructors do warn him of the dangers of over doing it as well as ensuring he/she does go out and have a good time.
In fairness most of the trainee divers I see out of an evening seem to spend their evenings in one of the discos but do all tend to leave the discos quite early and set off for an early night.
p.s.
anyway - I am not PADI trained and haven't dived for a number of years however instead of listening to my out of date advice Nick or Nicola should check out their training manual.
I understand 'effects of alcohol abuse' is in Volume 1 chapter 19 at page 317 and 'buddy check - physical condition of codiver(s) is also in Volume 1 subsection 2 chapter 22 at page 438
Edited by: bl0ss0m
