Hi,
I will be heading to the Philippines for 3 weeks, starting 23 Jan. I need help with planning my trip to incorporate AWESOME wreck (or shark/manta) diving... At this stage, I am definately heading to these places:
Manila
Banaue (terraces);
Sagada (coffins);
Baguio;
Pangasinan (family), and;
Donsol (whale sharks).
By my calc's those places will take 2 weeks - therefore I have 1 week spare. I am looking for a REALLY good place to do wreck or shark diving, though wouldn't like to stretch myself too thin on overland transport or spending too much on flights everywhere. I am 27, male, and am flying in/out of Manila.
Is Subic Bay good that time of year?
Do I have enough time to squeeze in the Calamian Group? Is it good in Jan/Feb?
* Is there another diving option that I am missing that I can do easily???
I am open to any suggestions regarding liveaboards if the trip is worth the money.
Please, please help - I really appreciate it.
Thanks!
Hi there,
You dont mention how you will be getting around. I was in Phil about a year ago and had an itinerary similar to yours and found getting around to be not as easy as other SEAsian countries. I was on a budget so chose to travel mainly by bus. They were slow, bumpy, very cool (lots of a/c) and not very comfortable. For example, getting to Sagada may take 2 days if you dont get a very early start, as you have to transfer buses and often the last ones leaving the halfway point depart mid afternoon - some of the roads are so narrow and sketchy that buses dont do them in the dark. if you dont make this connection you get to stay the night. Getting back is a similar story and all roads seem to lead back to Manila. Bus ride to Donsol was a real wild ride, speeding, bumping through some awful roads in the middle of the night - at times I thought the bus would careen off the road. oddly enought I felt relatively safe, and as a solo woman traveler this says something. I met some wonderful people. On way back from Donsol I realized that the bus route would pass pretty close to ferry terminals I wanted to get to to get to next destination - rather that go all the way back to Manila to get a bus back to terminals (about 3-4 hours ordeal) i asked bus driver if I could get a bus to ferries and he let me off at such a stop. So having a good map and sense of where you may be can help lots and save time!
Flights are another option, not as cheap as i was led to believe, but can save time. If looking into flights make sure to find a list of all the companies that do fly to various points - I asked travel agents about ways to get from Pt A to Pt b and was often told that all was booked and that there was only 1 or 2 airlines serving that particular place. What i had not realized was that the agents work with one or 2 airlines and only give out info on these... I missed out on Palawan because i didnt know this.
I dont have much info on diving, but do know that there is a lot and some of it very good just south of Manila. I met some divers who had wrecked dive at a spot just north of Palawan and said it was quite good too. Unfortunately i dont recall if he boated or flew there.
Have a great time, but leave space in schedule for slow transport.
Cheers
January is ok in Subic but for a week of diving you'd be better off in the Calamians, better visibility, plenty of wrecks, some good coral dives as well, and some interesting beaches and island hopping as well. If you're not on a really tight budget, just fly down and stay at one of the better dive-oriented places (like Sangat, Dive Link or Discovery), avoiding Coron town as much as you can.
great, thanks guys. FYI - i will be bussing most of Northern Luzon, but flying the other routes. Luckily I have just spent 2 weeks travelling India so I am used to delays and daredevil drivers.
The Calamian group definately sounds like it is worth the trip so I think I'll head there for a week. The guidebooks tend to be a bit "diplomatic" describing different dive areas - so thanks for your input.
Thanks!
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