Reputable Dive Shop in Apo Island, Philippines

I will be in the Philippines for 4 weeks and part of my travel plan is to get OW certification in Apo Island since I heard I lot of good things about it reading this forum.

Here's my concerns:

1. Any recommendations for a good dive shop ( competitive price , great safety concern and reputation for great work they do ) in the area to do the theories, initial pool dives, and the actual open water dives ?

2. Is it less expensive to take the OW manual course in the US or in the Apo Island vicinity , meaning in Dumaguete or Cebu ? I am not sure if they have the pool training in Apo Island or if they do the pool training as part of the actual dive ?

Thanks for all the help

Hi,
I would say that really the best place to stay and dive would be on the island itself.Paul's Diving. They are a very well run outfit and since the dive sites are basically right there you don't loose any time coming from the mainland. Actually they can come and get you at the airport or in Dumaguete if you let them know. Mario Pascobello is one of the instructors there and also head of village and marine park project. He has also been diving the place for a very long time. The dive guides are very good andthe hotel and rooms are really lovely on a cliff overlooking the sea. If you see Mario let him know Stephen the instructor from Bunaken sent you.
Have a great time!
Stephen

I dove with Paul's top naturalist a couple of times in 2002. His website used to be http://apoisland.com/, but that's now something called Liberty Lodge. There also is this site, that I have no knowledge about that has info on PADI OW courses: http://apoisland.org

My suggestion is that you do NOT get certified at Apo. It's expensive and remote. Go someplace affordable with some nice evening activities. The first couple of days you will just need to study for the test - the physical stuff is nearly nothing. 3rd day, if all goes well, you will be certified.... THEN, go to Apo.

Thanks !!!!