Dive Sites, Surf Spots, and Game Fishing in the Philippines

[dinabaw]

Originally Posted by PINOYmeat

pero hindi naman lahat g nagdidive eh naghahanap ng pearl eh, diba? (take this as a ajoke, wag mo seryosohin)



you are already getting redundant...

isa lang ang masasabi ko, sulu and tawitawi are good dive sites, pero its still not in the league of the 10 listed on post#1, its not yet their time dahil nga sa issues na hindi ko na babanggitin dahil youre in denial, maybe in the future. pero ngayon? naaah!

-=case closed=-

whoo read bartman's posts he's a diver

i agree tubataha is #1 and i think apo island rank higher than others ....100+ island prestine, and unadulterated and "not in your league" ummmm

well eto na lang my opinion is based on National Geography and Time Magazine reviews yours is a glossy tourist magazine

[PINOYmeat]

unwittingly, you concluded by yourself where i get my sources


im not questioning who should rank above another, the 10 listed in post#1 deserves to be in the list whatever rank they got. im just stating that tawitawi and the sulu archipelago still cant be at the league of the ten listed in post#1

my dad is a former government servant. and its soooo easy to tap navy frogmen to teach his sons to dive. and what do you know? i live in cebu, one of the diving hotspots of the country, diving sites are plenty! i may not be a professional diver but i sure had my diving stints in olango and zamboanga where i had my first diving lesson, and believe me or not, it was under a big navy battleship anchored in southcom...

Originally Posted by bartman

if you took a poll among divers in the philippines, the top ten list will probably be very close to the list on the initial post. that list is pretty much accurate.

read bartmans statement


im not so sure but im getting the impression that it would have some problems in accuracy if tawitawi and sulu are included in the list, but well, to end all arguments, maybe they should be included.... on the 11th...

[kiretoce]

Thread cleaned and opened.

Please stay on topic to prevent off tangent comments, insults, and other verbal attacks. Thank you very much for your cooperation on this matter, and happy posting!

[bartman]

three things...

1. thanks for reopening the thread

2. @ pinoymeat - being a navy frogman doesn't qualify one to teach scuba diving; one needs to be a certified Dive Instructor. i sure hope you were given the basic skills training and briefing before your first dive. so if your first dive was off a ship in zamboanga, how did you get to dive in olongapo? who took you diving? from your posts, i'm pretty certain you don't have a c card. i suggest you take lessons from a certified instructor and get certified. PLEASE dive responsibly.

3. @ dinabaw - there is no such thing as a local or international certificate. a c card allows the holder to dive anywhere in the world within prescribed limitations.

fyi, my most recent dives were off the coast of kona, hawaii last month; anilao, batangas in may-june; and cozumel, mexico in march.

[kiretoce]

You're welcome @bartman.

[dinabaw]

Originally Posted by bartman

three things...

1. thanks for reopening the thread

2. @ pinoymeat - being a navy frogman doesn't qualify one to teach scuba diving; one needs to be a certified Dive Instructor. i sure hope you were given the basic skills training and briefing before your first dive. so if your first dive was off a ship in zamboanga, how did you get to dive in olongapo? who took you diving? from your posts, i'm pretty certain you don't have a c card. i suggest you take lessons from a certified instructor and get certified. PLEASE dive responsibly.

3. @ dinabaw - there is no such thing as a local or international certificate. a c card allows the holder to dive anywhere in the world within prescribed limitations.

fyi, my most recent dives were off the coast of kona, hawaii last month; anilao, batangas in may-june; and cozumel, mexico in march.

sorry sir but maybe she never explained clearly but she said she needs a certain requirement to dive in Dubai . that's why she did her requirment in Davao by a PADI instructor .maybe she's applying the c card .


my cousin taking a dive lesson from a PADI dive instructor .

her 3rd dive the 4th and last dive was scheduled the day after, which consists of 40ft. dive at night before she got her international Diving Cerificate.

[gen1]

Originally Posted by PINOYmeat

my dad is a former government servant. and its soooo easy to tap navy frogmen to teach his sons to dive. and what do you know? i live in cebu, one of the diving hotspots of the country, diving sites are plenty! i may not be a professional diver but i sure had my diving stints in olango and zamboanga where i had my first diving lesson, and believe me or not, it was under a big navy battleship anchored in southcom...

just curiuos. was it really a battleship ? I didn't know we had battleships but who knows what they have hidden in the deep south

[PINOYmeat]

old conking battleship, lots of them docked in the south

@bartman, frogmen are different from PADI divers, theyre military po, though thyere not qualified to teach diving to civilians, i dont think nagkulang sila when it comes to training, and please read my previous post, its not olongapo... its olango, an islet in mactan. and dont worry for me, im not doing it right now, it was just a brief experience when i was like in high school. aaaaigght?

[bartman]

Originally Posted by PINOYmeat

old conking battleship, lots of them docked in the south

@bartman, frogmen are different from PADI divers, theyre military po, though thyere not qualified to teach diving to civilians, i dont think nagkulang sila when it comes to training, and please read my previous post, its not olongapo... its olango, an islet in mactan. and dont worry for me, im not doing it right now, it was just a brief experience when i was like in high school. aaaaigght?

cool, it's olango then. that's really NOT a big deal.

and yes, i know that navy frogmen are military and NO it's NOT aaaaigght like you said, they're NOT qualified to teach. so what were they doing getting you underwater?

a situation like you described is highly irresponsible!

[PINOYmeat]

dude.. i dont wanna argue with you about diving... YOU have the AUTHORITY, ok now? easy lang! take a deep breath.... good!

[bartman]

listen, i'm NOT arguing either
you have to understand, it's every diver's responsibility to prevent a situation like you described

[PINOYmeat]

hindi ka pa rin tapos? anyway, nagkulang ata yung previous post ko... i forgot this line...

"thanks for the concern"

aaaaiiight?

[Babydamulag]

Best dive sites in the Philippines.....wow....tough one. It is time to set the record straight about dive sites in the Philippines. THEY ALL ROCK!!!! I prefer the Visayas Region. It is important to note that we sit right in the middle of the greatest marine biodiverse region of the world. Now let's get some real divers involved in the thread to see what people think is best.

[rage@cebu]

Originally Posted by PINOYmeat

old conking battleship, lots of them docked in the south

@bartman, frogmen are different from PADI divers, theyre military po, though thyere not qualified to teach diving to civilians, i dont think nagkulang sila when it comes to training, and please read my previous post, its not olongapo... its olango, an islet in mactan. and dont worry for me, im not doing it right now, it was just a brief experience when i was like in high school. aaaaigght?

marami din sa Canjulao Lapu2x City... kami yung nka.kuha ng contract nila para scrap yung mga barko nila diyan.

about those navy frogmen, they are also spearfishing in the area... alot of fish and corals have considered the old ships as their homes. ang laki ng mga isda dude! just across Cebu's International Port.

[praetorian^8]

Try Cabilao Island in Bohol, it's really nice. Try to buy diver's guide at National Bookstore, there are many diving sites to explore.

[boju]

Coron in Forbes Traveler’s top 10 best scuba sites


The teeming diverse marine life in and around the sunken Japanese warships off Coron, Palawan have been listed in Forbes Traveler Magazine’s top 10 best scuba sites in the world.

Forbes Traveler is the travel and leisure publication of leading international business and financial resource Forbes Magazine. It caters to the affluent traveler, providing facts and reviews from tour experts aware of their reader's sophisticated tastes.

In a statement, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano enthused, The Forbes article speaks of how rich our country is in natural wonders and how it translates to a unique and unforgettable experience for tourists. With the ongoing assertive and collaborative efforts of our travel industry, increased patronage for our other islands is not far behind.

Appearing in the August 2007 issue, the article entitled "The World’s 10 Best Scuba Spots" recognizes Coron as the ideal spot for those looking for the wreck diving rush. According to expert panel member Jack Jackson, an author, underwater photographer and member of the PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) network, the future for divers here is immense.

Forbes Travelers top 10 list was deliberated by Jackson and other scuba and water sports pros: Sport Diver Magazine Executive director Tom Morrisey, Scuba Diving Magazine editor–at–large Nick Lucey and Ocean First Divers Operations manager Amy Christopher. Sport Diver Magazine and Scuba Diving Magazine are the top resources for water sports enthusiasts around the world, while Ocean First Divers is one of the biggest environmentally–conscious dive tour operators in the United States.

The panel of judges considered the quality of the currents, favorability of water temperature, visibility level, as well as the diversity of marine life, caves and sunken vessels in deciding the best destinations. Coron shares the spotlight with the Sudanese Red Sea as top recommendations for divers who prefer exploring shipwrecks.

Also in Forbes prestigious list are the Cocos Island in Costa Rica, the Blue Hole in Belize, Bali in Indonesia, Bonaire in the Dutch Caribbean, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Providenciales (or Provo), Turks and Caicos islands in the Caribbeans, and Dinahs Beach in Papua New Guinea.

Coron is located southeast of Busuanga Island, Palawan and accessible by ferry or domestic air carrier from Manila. On Sept. 24, 1944, the island witnessed the US Navy's aerial bombardment of a Japanese fleet entering the country. Today, the wreckage of some 12 cargo and support vessels is home to a myriad of marine creatures and offers endless adventures to divers of all skill levels.

Coron is also home of Barracuda Lake, nicknamed the craziest dive site in the Philippines as it challenges divers to climb first the sharp limestone cliffs before reaching the water form that is part fresh and part saline. The area is a sanctuary to barracudas.

Secretary Durano sees great potential in scuba diving that will benefit the country. "I strongly urge the local governments and community leaders of our coastal towns to build up their areas for water sports and nature tours. This is one way of creating sustainable development as it opens up business opportunities like resorts, professional guides and transportation, while ensuring the protection of the environment."

The Department of Tourism (DoT) is currently presenting Palawan, Puerto Galera, Anilao and the country’s other top diving and water sports destinations to the European outbound travel market, where there is a large concentration of diving and snorkeling enthusiasts.

[diehardbisdak]

...no need to argue, guys! ....all dive sites in the philippines is collectively one of the best in the whole world....uh ha!

[GearX]

Boracay & Palawan among world's best

International publications have cited Boracay and Palawan as two of the best destinations in the world.

The white, powdery sands and azure waters of Boracay, Aklan landed in the top 10 beach destinations of the Asian Wall Street Journal. The publication noted Boracay as a favorite among Asian holiday seekers for the variety of activities and entertainment available—from water sports to spas, from all-night parties to quiet, secluded nooks. It is also the only Southeast Asian attraction in the survey, joining other upcoming and exotic places such as Honduras, Abu Dhabi and Montenegro.

Asian Wall Street Journal''s list was endorsed by a panel of executives from global companies in the luxury hotel and cruise industry, including Four Seasons, which operates 74 hotels in 31 countries, the internationally acclaimed Ritz Carlton, high-ranking Asian brand Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, and Amanresorts, a company that specializes in top-quality spa getaways.

Meanwhile, the Internet-based SmartTravelAsia.com''s latest annual reader poll, Best Travel Brands 2007, also ranked Boracay as one of the top 10 holiday destinations in Asia, sharing the same slot with Palawan.

Over one million subscribers, comprised mainly of jet-set business executives and affluent travelers who make an average of 15 trips a year, participated in the online voting process. Most of the respondents are based in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Australia, India, China, Malaysia and Japan.

Forbes Traveler Magazine, on the other hand, cited diverse marine life in and around the sunken Japanese warships off Coron, Palawan for including it in the top 10 best scuba sites in the world.

Forbes Traveler, the travel and leisure publication of Forbes Magazine, caters to the affluent traveler. It provides facts and reviews from tour experts aware of their readers'' sophisticated tastes.

Forbes Traveler''s top 10 list was chosen by known underwater photographer Jack Jackson and other scuba and water sports pros: Sport Diver Magazine executive director Tom Morrisey, Scuba Diving Magazine editor-at-large Nick Lucey and Ocean First Divers operations manager Amy Christopher. Sport Diver Magazine and Scuba Diving Magazine are the top resources for water sports enthusiasts around the world, while Ocean First Divers is one of the biggest environmentally conscious dive tour operators in the United States.

Also in Forbes'' Traveler''s prestigious list are the Cocos Island in Costa Rica, the Blue Hole in Belize, Bali in Indonesia, Bonaire in the Dutch Carribean, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Providenciales (or Provo), Turks and Caicos Islands in the Carrbeans, and Dinah''s Beach in Papua New Guinea.

The Department of Tourism is currently presenting Palawan, Puerto Galera, Anilao and the country''s other top diving and water sports destinations to the European outbound travel market, where there is a large concentration of diving and snorkeling enthusiasts.

[mAiNsTrEaMhunter]

Guys,


Would like to know your best diving destination in the Philippines?!?!?!

I'm planning to go where most of you had tried it or at least you find it the best!

[dinabaw]

Diving Davao, Philippines
Posted on August 16th, 2008.

The new issue of Scuba Diver Australasia magazine just out has my article about diving Davao in the Philippines -- a still largely undiscovered muck diving paradise

The southern Philippines have been off the dive map for a few years due to unrest around the large island of Mindanao, but stability in the region has seen Davao open back up for intrepid foreign travelers. It's easy to get there, a quick flight from Manila with Cebu Pacific, and the diving is equally easy to access too - despite Davao being a huge port city, within 20 minutes of heading out from the marina, you're in the middle of the huge Davao Gulf, with the pristine Samal Island fringed with palm trees and beaches dead ahead.

The diving around Davao is great if you want to find weird and wonderful critters and don't mind the viz being a bit turbid. The local guides can't do enough to help you and are justifiably proud of the diving in the area. Now's the time to go before everyone else gets there...

You can read more about Davao in my article in the current issue of Scuba Diver Australasia it's the cover story, Diamond In The Rough