When and where to go in the Philippines (september or october)

Hello,

i am planning on visiting the Philippines for 2 weeks with my girl,
either in september or in october. We would like to do a combination of
some scuba-diving/snorkling and some relaxing on some nice laidback
beach/island-spot with a few nice bars to chillout and have some
beers/cocktails.
Anyone have some suggestions for the best month to pick (either
september or october) and the best place to stay? We're flying in and
out from Manilla i guess.

cheers, Olaf

Hi Olaf,

as it is the rainy (read RAINY) season, I would suggest you go south
around Bohol, Cebu, Malapascua, Siquijour, Apo Island and maybe even
Camiguin. Stay clear of Mindanao, its still a rough area and ...well,
you decide for yourself if you want to go there.

It rains more in the north than the south in these 2 months.

South off Bohol, you can find the Panglao peninsula with excellent
diving/snorkeling. From Alona Beach there are loads of resorts and dive
shops. 1 every 20m... eg a cheap but decent place is Alona Beach Resort

As Cebu is a long island from north-south, try and get to Malapascua
just off the north point with excellent diving. I think theres a resort
called Malapascua Blue Water Resort.

If you dont mind sailing a bit, consider taking a boat (I think there
are boats every day) from Bohol or south Cebu to Siquijour. This island
is apparently bewitched and there are many Philippinos who wont go
there coz they think they might not come back. Ok diving and very
small. Perhaps 2-3 days max. From here you can go onto the pearl, Apo
Island (not to be confused with Apo Reef in the north off Pandan
Island). This is basically just for divers so use the time here for
just that and enjoy! 2-3 days again. you can sail from Apo Island north
and fly to Manila from either Dumaguete (few flights a day) or Cebu
(many flights a day).

A sweet trip depending on your time constraints is:

fly to Cebu
trek up to Mala
take the supercat from Cebu-Bohol
chill at Alona
sail to Siqui
onto Apo Island
back to Cebu/Dumaguete and next stop

If you have time, perhaps a trip to Palawan to Busuanga and maybe even
El Nido. Here there is basically untouched diving with many WWII
wrecks. It is even possible to get to Apo Reef from Paradise Club
resort....if you have time: DO IT! Remember, you have to fly from
Cebu-Manila-Busuanga.

Domestic flights generally cost around USD65-100 per take off.

You can mail my ex-colleague Mikael at cctravel@cctravel.dk - he knows
diving in and out over there and used to be an instructor but is now
based in Denmark at this agency where I also used to work. Tell him
EX-ROOMIE sent you ;-)

A piece of advice: take every minute as it comes! Philippinos are the
coolest and most chilled people I have met in a looong time. Enjoy
their smiles, jokes and give it right back!

Have a cool trip!

Mark-Temba

Hello Temba,

thanks for your very helpfull reply! We are wondering if El Nido,
Palawan is a good option in either september or october. As you
mentioned it's rainy season, so how good is the weather in El nido in
one of these 2 months, and how good is the diving?

cheers, Olaf

temba schreef:

> Hi Olaf,
>
> as it is the rainy (read RAINY) season, I would suggest you go south
> around Bohol, Cebu, Malapascua, Siquijour, Apo Island and maybe even
> Camiguin. Stay clear of Mindanao, its still a rough area and ...well,
> you decide for yourself if you want to go there.
>
> It rains more in the north than the south in these 2 months.
>
> South off Bohol, you can find the Panglao peninsula with excellent
> diving/snorkeling. From Alona Beach there are loads of resorts and dive
> shops. 1 every 20m... eg a cheap but decent place is Alona Beach Resort
>
> As Cebu is a long island from north-south, try and get to Malapascua
> just off the north point with excellent diving. I think theres a resort
> called Malapascua Blue Water Resort.
>
> If you dont mind sailing a bit, consider taking a boat (I think there
> are boats every day) from Bohol or south Cebu to Siquijour. This island
> is apparently bewitched and there are many Philippinos who wont go
> there coz they think they might not come back. Ok diving and very
> small. Perhaps 2-3 days max. From here you can go onto the pearl, Apo
> Island (not to be confused with Apo Reef in the north off Pandan
> Island). This is basically just for divers so use the time here for
> just that and enjoy! 2-3 days again. you can sail from Apo Island north
> and fly to Manila from either Dumaguete (few flights a day) or Cebu
> (many flights a day).
>
> A sweet trip depending on your time constraints is:
>
> fly to Cebu
> trek up to Mala
> take the supercat from Cebu-Bohol
> chill at Alona
> sail to Siqui
> onto Apo Island
> back to Cebu/Dumaguete and next stop
>
> If you have time, perhaps a trip to Palawan to Busuanga and maybe even
> El Nido. Here there is basically untouched diving with many WWII
> wrecks. It is even possible to get to Apo Reef from Paradise Club
> resort....if you have time: DO IT! Remember, you have to fly from
> Cebu-Manila-Busuanga.
>
> Domestic flights generally cost around USD65-100 per take off.
>
> You can mail my ex-colleague Mikael at cctravel@cctravel.dk - he knows
> diving in and out over there and used to be an instructor but is now
> based in Denmark at this agency where I also used to work. Tell him
> EX-ROOMIE sent you ;-)
>
> A piece of advice: take every minute as it comes! Philippinos are the
> coolest and most chilled people I have met in a looong time. Enjoy
> their smiles, jokes and give it right back!
>
> Have a cool trip!
>
> Mark-Temba

On 9 Jul 2006 08:30:04 -0700, "olafmol" <olafilink@> wrote:

>Hello,
>
>i am planning on visiting the Philippines for 2 weeks with my girl,
>either in september or in october. We would like to do a combination of
>some scuba-diving/snorkling and some relaxing on some nice laidback
>beach/island-spot with a few nice bars to chillout and have some
>beers/cocktails.
>Anyone have some suggestions for the best month to pick (either
>september or october) and the best place to stay? We're flying in and
>out from Manilla i guess.
>
>cheers, Olaf

Another option is Sabang on Mindoro Island. Excelent diving and very
laid back place. The prices are right to with some of the cheapest
diving in Phils. Was there in September last year and even though it
was the rainy season, we didn't see but an occasional shower. But
thats the luck of the draw on the weather. Even the dry season can be
very wet there, while the rainy season can be very dry.

Sabang has some of the best diversity you'll find anywhere. Mainly due
to numerous currents all meeting in one area. Diving locations are
litterally minutes from you hotel. If you don't like current diving,
maybe its not the best place for you.

There are many little islettes all over and you can easily hire a boat
to go island hoping. Or go for hike in the jungles there. The whole
island is mostly jungle. Sabang doesn't have a real nice beach, but a
jeepney or trike ride will get you to nice beaches. But its the best
place to set yourself for diving in Mindoro. Very small town actually
which is pretty much geared around diving. This is Sabang Puerto
Gallera on Mindoro Island, don't confuse it with Sabang Palawan. You
take a bus or cab to Batangas and there catch a ferry to get to either
Puerto Gallera or Sabang. The ferries are faster to Puerto Gallera,
but when you need to travel then to Sabang, its faster taking the
slower boat.

as written, Mindoro is indeed a good place to go diving. And from here
you can also get to Pandan Island. Just remember, its a whole day trip
and wise to plan ahead as there is not always transport to the actual
island! From Pandan island you can also get to Apo Reef.

Also as written, it rains more in the north, but according to nitegu
(whom I can only agree with), it doesn't necessarily have to rain
excessively as the weather nowadays is as unpredictable as what you are
going to see when diving.

The weather around El Nido in these months is often wet, the rain comes
from the west (thats why Cebu and Bohol are often drier as they are
protected by Negros (if I remember correctly). I haven't been to El
Nido myself, but am told that it is very beautiful and tourists are a
scarcity, hence there are not many resorts around. The resorts are more
exclusive and you are allowed to pay the price, though cheap ones are
to be found. The diving is pretty much untouched. If you do go there,
try and find dive shops/resorts beforehand.

Busuanga is a great centre from where to go diving, be it WWII wrecks,
nature wrecks etc. There is a resort nearby called Sangat Island
Resort. Only 7-8 bungalows, a restaurant-cum-lounge-cum-bar, a dive
shop and hot water in the mountain from a spring and of
course....basically your nearly own private beach. There is also a
wreck just off the beach that can even be snorkelled on. But beware,
you can only buy food at the restaurant, you may be disappointed and
nowhere to turn to...

write to Lilah at lilah_lacbayo on yahoo messenger, she works at a
decent trustworthy agency in Manila that has contacts to ALL these
places.

Once again, enjoy!

I'm not envious at all....