Recommendations for best "quiet" diving location near Manila?

Hello,

My wife and I will be traveling with another couple from Hong Kong to the Philippines over Holy Week. We have chosen the Philippines due to very inexpensive and short flights and quality diving at low prices. My wife and I are already certified but our friends are not. We know that Holy Week is very busy in Indonesia, but unfortunately this is the window we have.

Right now we're planning to fly direct to Manila and transfer via local bus/ferry transport to our actual vacation spot for the week. Of course there are lots of decent dive towns within a few hours of Manila! Personal recommendations, please? Locations that are similarly affordable and quick to fly to compared to Manila will be considered as well, but our priorities are to keep our flight to four hours max and minimize connections after our initial (direct) flight.

A friend has recommended Puerto Galera - anyone been there recently? I've heard Subic Bay recommended for wrecks (but not fish), and Anilao for better fish - we prefer fish! I've also heard of Bauan, Palawan, Bohol, and Lake Taal.

We don't mind somewhat touristy areas, but we're not at all the party types, so a quiet location is very important. We'll be looking for guesthouses at the bottom of the price range, and have no need for nice hotels, ocean views, or anything expensive as far as accommodation is concerned. To put it in perspective, we learned to dive in Utila, Honduras, which is pretty... rough around the edges. And we loved it.

Thanks in advance!
Chris

PS - Cross-posted in the Indonesia branch. Apologies if you read it twice!

D'oh! A typo both times. I mean Philippines both times - what at dummy!

Anilao sounds perfect for you. Lots of inexpensive places to stay, not much going on in terms of nightlife, but that's not important to you.

I might mention that you have specifically stated Indonesia twice in your post. Once early on (I assumed it was a typo), and once right at the end. If you have in fact cross-posted this in the Indonesia branch, you might want to move it to the Philippines branch since it's a different country altogether.

Puerto Galera is not exactly quiet but the diving remains good. Alternatively, take a 1 hour domestic flight to Tagbilaran and from there Alona Beach is only 30 mins by taxi. Nice diving there. If your budget allows, take a 2.5 hour flight from Manila to Palau. The diving there is outstanding.

@ quero:
Do you have any inexpensive accommodation to recommend in Anilao? I'm thinking 600 peso fan room here...

@ dxb1969:
Ditto for Alona Beach - recommendations?

Thanks all!
Chris

Sorry, christolles, I don't know the rates since they're pretty much all-inclusive with meals and room, so PHP 600 is not really reasonable when you consider food will be included in the package as well. One bungalow place with a nice dive site right in front is Balai. The rooms have toilets and electricity.

Thanks dxb1969. How long was the walk from Cherry's to the beach? I've also found L'Elephant Blue (http://bit.ly/wpUWLO) and Paragayo Resort (http://bit.ly/wUrhZT) in Alona Beach - ever heard of either?:

In general, I'm correct that it'll be quieter and less seedy in Alona Beach than PG, right?

• c

The walk from Cherry's to the beach is only around 5 mins if you go straight down the path opposite Cherry's. If you walk via the road, it's 10 mins.

Sorry, I've not heard of the other two places you mention - often places will claim to be at Alona Beach but are nowhere near the beach.

There is absolutely nothing seedy about Alona Beach at all - no discos, no girlie bars, it's quiet and pleasant.

I've been there 3 times and each time I dived with SeaQuest Dive Center, who were great. Be sure to dive Diver's Heaven at Balicasag Island.

L'elephant Blue is probably about 15 - 20 minutes walk from from alona beach

paragayo is, i think, a little closer, maybe 10 mins walk from the beach

Hi all,

Thanks again for your help. We're pretty settled on Alona Beach at this point and are super excited. Any inside tips, best guides for a chocolate hills/bee far daytrip, or the best snorkeling spots are welcome!

Cheers,
Chris

the bohol bee farm closes at about 9.00pm so if you are going there for dinner then early is better than later

balicasag island marine sanctuary is great for snorkelling

if you are quite intrepid you might be able to go snorkelling at the jandayan island marine sanctuary.

unfortunately i can't find much information about it. you might have more luck getting information from some local sources.

jandayan island is off the north west of bohol. apparently you can see luminous sea horses swimming there at dusk.

if you discover any information about it please post it back into these forums

The best snorkelling spots are also the best diving spots - Balicasag, Cabilao and Pamilacan, but you will need a boat to reach them. There's also some snorkelling off Alona Beach but it's not the best.