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Dive the Philippines: Scandi Divers Puerto Galera Trip Report

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The Scuba Place visited Scandi Divers in Puerto Galera Philippines hosting a group of divers. This is their trip report from their visit in April 2023.

The question I am asked most often is of course, ‘What is your favourite dive destination?’

I have tried to be smart and answer with a number of responses encapsulating types of diving, such as wreck, big marine life, liveaboard etc, but in truth, I have never really known the actual answer. I have favourite dives of course, but not necessarily a favourite destination.

Until now that is!

So, I am going to start this trip report with a summary, and briefly outline where and why, so you don’t actually have to read the rest of my diatribe.

Scandi Divers, Puerto Galera in the Philippines. There – it is out there, I’ve said it, now here is the Why.

The beachfront location is perfect. The rooms are super comfortable. The service is impeccable – like a 5* hotel and beyond. The food is excellent, and the people are just amazing. The diving is world-class, and most importantly, in these current times, the exceptional value cannot be ignored. Honestly, it doesn’t cost much more for 9 nights, with 8 days diving, full board, flights and transfers than it does for a 7-night safari on one of the mainstream boats in the Red Sea.

Granted – The Philippines is a bit further to go, and might involve taking an extra day or two off work, but is it worth it? The details follow, and I will leave you to make your own decision.

Different airlines give a choice of route and timings, and as such, the costs are pretty competitive. We flew with Emirates from Heathrow via Dubai to Manila. Our first leg was an overnight flight and took just shy of 7 hours. The next leg to Manila is similar, and the baggage allowance was 30kgs. Emirates get it right too – great seats, excellent entertainment, and the transit in Dubai was just 2 hours.

Once you arrive in Manila, the transfer to the resort is dependent upon the time you arrive. If it is before lunch, then you can head straight to Batangas and catch the speedboat to Puerto Galera. If arriving later in the day, then it is an overnight stay in Manila as the boats aren’t able to cross after 4pm. We stayed at the Dusit Thani, but there are other similarly priced options close to the airport. We were picked up the next morning after breakfast. The trip to the Batangas marina takes 90 minutes or so, dependent upon traffic, and the speedboat is 30 minutes, arriving directly on the beach in front of Scandi Divers. We arrived at Scandi in time for lunch and an afternoon dive.

The first thing that struck us was the welcome – a huge flag with our logo on the beach made us feel special, and this is something Scandi do for all clubs arriving. Staff lined the beach, welcomed us with shell necklaces, cold facecloths and a welcome drink, and our bags were immediately taken to our rooms.

A welcome meeting in the bar upstairs by the resort and dive centre staff gave us all the resort information we needed: where to put our kit, when we wanted to dive, dining info and the like – and even a neck and shoulder massage whilst the briefing was taking place! And more gifts too; a refillable water bottle for each guest with name tags. What a welcome – we have never experienced better in all our travels.

It was then on to our rooms, and as a group, we had pretty much every room type. Across all rooms, expect good storage and good air-conditioning, together with ceiling fans and an en-suite. The poolside rooms had just been refurbished and were decorated beautifully, giving a real light and modern feel. A serious refurbishment plan has been put into place in the summer of 2023, and if the standards are the same as the previous roll-out, the rooms are going to be pretty special to say the least.

Others in the group had larger penthouse rooms right on the seafront – beautiful views from up high over the whole bay, and the brand new beachfront cottage rooms, perfect for single occupancy without a supplement, provide a neat and tidy space spitting distance (literally) from the sand. We had a good tour around the suites above reception and these are perfect for a little touch of luxury. If travelling with a family, there is a three-bedroom suite that would be perfect for four to six people and has the best views over the beach too from its own balcony.

Sadly, I didn’t lose any weight whilst staying at Scandi – it’s always a hope, and sometimes achieved, but definitely not on this trip – the food was delicious. Full board is the standard fare, and this includes a full cooked breakfast, and a choice of starters, mains and dessert at lunch and dinner. Beer or soda is included with meals, but if drinking at lunchtime, no diving in the afternoon! And happy hour before dinner was great for sharing our daily diving stories. All meals are cooked to order, and if the daily specials aren’t to your liking, then there is a huge a la carte menu that you can order from without any penalty.

And the quality? Excellent. Asian, Thai, Korean BBQ and western meals were all available – we took advantage of every flavour and had a Chinese feast one night just for variety. Seafood is as fresh as it can be, the soups offered daily are amazing, and tasty pizzas, pastas and burgers too. All our meals were absolutely delicious, and all dietary requirements are catered for.

And the diving? WOW – just WOW!

The dive centre is on the ground floor right on the beach. You touch your kit once at the beginning of the trip to unpack it, and then at the end of the trip to pack up again. In between, the exceptional staff build it, carry it to and from the boat, help you kit up and de-kit, and rinse everything for you at the end of each dive, hanging wetsuits up to dry too.

There are separate rinse tanks for suits, BCD’s, masks, boots, and of course cameras, along with a climate-controlled camera room for storage, charging and swapping batteries and cards between dives.

The dive boats – four of them – vary in size, from a 4-diver skiff through to 12-person outriggers. Each experienced all of them and can honestly say they all are comfortable, have plenty of space and offer easy access to the water. Backward rolls for entry, and then you de-kit in the water and climb a good ladder to exit. Warm facecloths are provided to each diver after the dive to rinse off the salt – such a nice touch!

Puerto Galera is said to have a greater density of biodiversity than the Caribbean Sea and the Great Barrier Reef put together, and even being aware of this prior to our arrival, we were quite simply gobsmacked by the underwater environment. Every dive brought a huge smile to our faces.

There are close to 50 dive sites within a very short boat ride, offering exceptional variety. Big drift dives are offered, where you can hook onto the reef and watch big schools of jacks and tuna hang in the blue. There are also numerous wrecks – not big wrecks with penetration opportunities, but fishing boats that have become artificial reefs – full of ornate ghost pipefish, painted and warty frogfish, cardinal fish with their mouths full of eggs, jawfish, nudis and shrimps of several different types.

The numerous reef dives offer a gentle descent over extremely healthy hard and soft corals, giant sponges, and we saw morays of several different types, turtles, catfish balls, anemones, and their inhabitants (including porcelain crabs), and so much more. Mantis shrimp scuttle across the sand, frogfish hide amongst the sponges, and we even found ghost pipefish with a full egg pouch. Nudibranchs of so many varieties crawl over the reef surfaces, seahorses hide in the weeds, and the list goes on and on.

Included in every dive package at Scandi is a day trip to the amazing Verde Island. This three-dive, lunch-on-the-beach-included day trip takes in this famous collection of dive sites where the drop-off is just extreme. The Verde Island Passage has been called ‘The Centre of the Centre of Marine Biodiversity of the World’ and yes – this day delivers the goods! Beautiful corals and sponges, and schooling fish galore, with a good current to boot made these dives very special. There were times that the drop-off was totally obscured by the marine life, and yet we still found a couple of octopus, loads of different nudis and little critters inside of the plethora of feather star and crinoids. This is a day not to be missed!

Finally, there is the muck or macro dives. Here are plenty of choices, but we found the best to be in the channel just 5 minutes away from the resort. We found pretty much everything anyone could want! We had a bucket list of course, and the only thing that didn’t turn up was a polar bear.

Flamboyant cuttlefish, squid, tiny cuttlefish, octopus – and yes, blue ringed, wonderpus AND mimic. Nudis galore, tiny frogfish the size of a thumbnail, a few small bobbitt worms, rhinopias, two Ambon scorpionfish, more cardinal fish, seahorses, pygmy seahorses, orangutang crabs, crinoid shrimp and crabs, emperor shrimp, skeleton shrimp, squat lobsters – this list really does go on and on – and then some more!

As keen photographers, this really was heaven for us, and in all of our experience to date, this has been the highest-yield destination we have been to. Here are a few of our favourites and check out our full gallery here.

On top of all of this – the quality accommodation, the food, the spectacular diving – there are two more things to really focus on when substantiating this as a firm favourite destination.

Firstly, it is the little things that the resort does to make you feel welcome – right from the very start. A bar of chocolate in your room with a personalised label, thanking you for choosing to stay there. A friendship bracelet, waiting in your room after a diving day. Your personalised water bottle, a t-shirt that is co-branded with Scandi and your own dive club logo – again the list is long.

And lastly, the thing that really made it difficult to leave is the people. They know your name from day one, know your favourite food, favourite drink, and cannot do enough for you, but it is more than that. The people are just lovely! Happy, passionate, super-friendly and they really care – really! They just love to celebrate with you too – birthdays, anniversaries, dive milestones and generally, everything that needs to be celebrated! The energy that they put into the fire dancing performance evening and the live music evening is representative of their genuine passion, and we just loved it all!

We left at the end of two weeks, and to be honest, waving goodbye was emotional.

You know what that means – we have to go back!!

In fact, we’ve already made plans and are hosting another trip in May 2024. Come Dive with Us! Check out the brochure with the full itinerary here

Key Facts

  • Getting there : Our flights were with Emirates flying from Heathrow to Manila via Dubai. Total flight time was 18½ hours landing in Manila the following evening. A taxi to the Dusit Thani took a little over 30 minutes and cost about £35. We’re going to try an airport hotel next time. A little sleep then breakfast in the morning before getting picked up by Scandi staff at 10am for transport to the marina. Luggage was loaded onto the speedboat and we settled in for a quick 30 minute crossing to Puerto Galera. The ramp from the speedboat was dropped right on to the beach in front of the resort where we were greeted by Scandi staff.
  • Air temperature : Tropical – average daily temperature throughout the year is 24-30°C. The warmest and driest months are April and May and the wettest months are usually July and August.
  • Water temperature : 26-29°C. A 1-3mm full suit or shorty will suit most.
  • Visa requirement : UK passport holders are permitted to enter the Philippines without a visa for an initial period of 30 days.
  • Health protocols : If you’re fully vaccinated you can enter the Philippines provided you have proof of vaccination, proof of return journey, 6 months of validity left on your passport and have registered for an e-Travel pass within 72 hours of arrival.
  • Currency : Philippine peso or US Dollar are accepted in resort. Cash or credit card with a 4% fee.
  • Electricity : 220V with 2 or 3-prong sockets. Our adaptor worked without issue.
  • Internet and Wi-Fi : There is wifi in resort and worked well in our room which was furthest from reception. We were able to email, WhatsApp and post on social media without issue.

Price Guide: Expect from £2250 per person based on two sharing a standard room for 9 nights with 8 days diving – 3 dives per day offered, plus one night or blackwater dive and excursion to Verde Island. A one hour complimentary massage was included and was the perfect treat after a few days of travel or at the end of the holiday.

Our Advice: Go to the Philippines! It is a destination that we love and look forward to visiting time and time again. Affordable with diving fit for every level and it’s a goldmine for any underwater photographer.

Packing tips

Rechargeable fan(s) : If you’ve read any of our recent trip reports we recommend these over and over again. We can’t believe we travelled without them for so many years! Join the fan club and grab one off Amazon… you won’t regret it!

Insect repellent : We’ve made a habit of throwing some repellent in our dive bags every trip but with the lovely breezes we didn’t suffer the mozzies much at all!

Scandi had it all, specialty coffees whenever you need a caffeine hit and an ice cream cooler with treats if you fancy, so just know you’ll want for little while you’re there!

The Scuba Place designs and builds custom scuba diving holidays.  With personal knowledge and experience diving in many of our destinations, there is no one better to help build your dream dive holiday.  Come Dive with Us!

Call us at 020 3515 9955 or email at reservations@thescubaplace.co.uk

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Flickr : https://www.flickr.com/photos/thescubaplace/albums

www.thescubaplace.co.uk

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My Aruba Dive Adventure: Amazing Reefs, Epic Wrecks, and a New Furry Friend

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Aruba

If you’re new to this blog, then I am Mia DaPonte and I share my life underwater with you after I got certified as the youngest female Master Scuba Diver in the USA! You can also follow me and all my adventures on Instagram: @underwaterwithmia.

Last week my family and I returned from our vacation in Aruba, where we did lots of fun activities, and my mom and I went diving with AJ and Aruba Premier Boat and Dive.

Before you think I’m going to say it’s not great diving—it’s actually amazing! Aruba diving is truly an experience, but it all depends on who you go with. On our first day, AJ took us to the Antilla wreck. It is SOOOO cool—maybe one of my favorite wreck dives yet (but I haven’t seen too many wrecks). AJ told us the story of the Antilla wreck, and guess what? It is the largest wreck in the Caribbean! AJ guided us through the wreck. It was filled with fish and moray eels. We saw a sea turtle! My most favorite part of this dive was getting to go through some of the easier parts of the wreck. I am really liking wreck diving and want to do more!

Aruba

The second dive that day, I got to choose a reef or a wreck. I chose another wreck that was more pieces than a full ship. It’s so cool to see wreckage at the bottom of the ocean, especially when I hear about why it’s there and can imagine the story while I dive.

For our second day of diving, we met AJ on the other side of the island. The goal for this day was to see some beautiful reefs! Both dives this day were beautiful. There were so many colorful corals. We saw a stingray and tons of beautiful tropical fish.

Aruba

It was a lot of fun diving in Aruba, where the waters are clear. I would definitely want to come back and dive in Aruba—especially with AJ! He was so fun and told great stories. I learned so much about the island from him. Side note: during surface intervals, AJ served us butter and Gouda cheese sandwiches and they were so delicious! Oh—and he gave me and my mom great tips on how to treat the sunburns we got on our first day on the island. Haha.

The rest of the vacation was family time. We spent time relaxing on the white sandy beaches, went to the Aruba waterpark, ate at lots of delicious restaurants, shopped, and spent whole days swimming. The waterpark was a lot of fun and they had some bigger slides for older kids. My personal opinion is that the waterpark is made more for younger kids than older ones—my younger brother loved it—but it was still a good day.

Diving is always a favorite for me, but on this trip something else was even better. This was my favorite part: We were at the airport on our way home, and we were unusually early for our flight. Anyway, I knew my parents had a surprise for my brother and me, but when I asked them, they told us it was just a painting being delivered (not really a great lie, but it worked). I was just on my phone and my brother was playing video games while we waited. We didn’t even notice at first, but then my mom walked up to us with a little puppy in her arms.

Aruba

He was a surprise that my mom and dad adopted from the Sgt. Pepper’s Rescue on the island! I was so excited to have a new puppy—and he’s the coolest island cunucu mutt! It was the best surprise ever. Now we have a new family member! I think it’s OK to talk about him in this blog. We, of course, named him “Reef”! It fits with my scuba theme.

Thank you for reading my blogs—this one might just be my favorite. See you next time!


Book your next dive adventure in Aruba with AJ:

Call: +297-7445406 or +297-744-2009

Email: arubapremiere@gmail.com

www.arubapremierboatanddive.com

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Excerpts from Jeff Goodman’s Book Action Camera Underwater Video Basics, Part 4 of 6: Pre-Dive Equipment Checks

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Pre-Dive Equipment Checks

Sounds obvious, doesn’t it, but even the most experienced professional will occasionally forget to check for grit or sand in the O-ring as they race to get into the water to film something passing, such as a whale or turtle. Ninety-nine per cent of the time it’s okay, but at one point or another, that little bit of sand is going to let in water. Probably not much, but any water at all has the potential to get onto the lens or into the very delicate electronics. Video cameras and modern electronics have a horrible intolerance to water and salt. So without question, before the start of your diving day, have a routine of pre-dive checks and repeat them every time you open the housing.

Batteries

Did you put your camera and light batteries on charge, and are they at high enough capacity to last the duration of your diving? It is always a good idea to charge all batteries overnight, long before your dive. If any battery will not last a whole day, then carry at least one spare for that device.

Dirt

Is your lens clean and the inside of your port free from dust and hairs, etc.? To clean either, first gently blow away any visible debris. This is best done with a gentle squirt from a can of photographic compressed air. You can lightly blow with your mouth, but if you do, make sure it is free from any spittle. Next, gently wipe the surface with a good quality lens cloth, or a clean soft cotton hanky. Lastly, give the lens and port one more gentle squirt of air. If either is greasy, use a good quality lens cleaning liquid and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Ports are mostly made of plastic and will scratch easily if rubbed too hard.

Memory cards and hard drives

Whether you are using a memory card or your camera’s hard drive, make sure you have downloaded previous material onto a laptop or other storage device and that you have plenty of space for the next video session. Regular formatting of your card or drive is recommended over just deleting files, as this will make more space for new data to be written perfectly and will help stop card or drive corruption. Formatting is preferred over deletion, as your device will then overwrite old material as needed, rather than delete all of it straight away. So, in the event of losing your downloaded files, some of your older material may survive on your memory card.

It is also advisable not to use the same card for more than one device, as this can damage file structure and lead to storage media corruption. If this happens, the card or drive has to be replaced.

It is heartbreaking to go into the water with only a short amount of time left on your card because, as luck would have it, that will be the time a dolphin decides to come and play with you for an hour, or you find you are swimming with two mating turtles. In addition, should you have a leak, then not only will you lose your camera but also all the wonderful material you shot on your previous dives.

O-rings

O-rings are incredibly cheap compared to the overall cost of a camera. They are crucial to keeping the water out of your electronics and optics. Action cameras are pretty well foolproof against flooding. However, it does happen and this is usually down to operator error. If the camera is in a housing, make sure the O-rings are clean and free from sand or grit. A plastic guitar plectrum is the ideal tool for removing one, as it will not tear or damage it. Take the O-ring out and clean it gently between your fingers, also making sure the groove in which it sits is free of dirt. Blue paper cloth is useful for cleaning and is often available in dive centres and on dive boats.

Inspect the O-ring for any damage such as deterioration, cracks or nicks. Generally, if it is black, then it will need a small amount of silicone grease to lubricate it. Do not put on too much, as this will decrease the O-ring’s efficiency and may cause leaking. Just put a small amount of grease between your finger and thumb and then gently pull and roll the O-ring through to make sure of even coverage. When finished, it should have just a light sheen. This type of O-ring is mostly found on lights as well as more professional housings.

If the O-ring is orange, red or white, then the general rule is to not apply grease, as this may well deform it and cause a leak. Simply roll and slide it across your tongue to feel if there is any grit present, and at the same time your spit will be sufficient lubrication.

Before doing either of the above, make sure you read the manufacturer’s notes to see if the supplied O-ring needs lubrication or not.

Having re-seated the seal into the housing, close the port, making sure it pushes the O-ring firmly into place without trapping it. A pinched, twisted or trapped O-ring in the lid will let water into your housing.

Many action cameras are waterproof in their own right and so have no additional housing. For these cameras, there still may be a port to access the memory card and battery. Here the O-rings are usually flat and not removable. They also will not need lubrication, but do make sure they are clean and undamaged.

Whether your camera is old or new, it is important to have spare O-rings with you at all times. Action camera O-rings are very sturdy, but it is always possible for damage or loss to occur. Whatever camera I am using, I always make sure I have at least two spare O-rings on hand.

Make sure your housing is closed properly, that all the catches work easily and smoothly and are locked in place so they won’t be accidentally snagged and opened while underwater. If you feel some resistance to the catch closing, then it probably means the O-ring is not seated fully and is trapped and being pinched. Do not force it. Open the case and check all is clear.


NEXT WEEK:

Part 5 of 6 –  Filming Techniques 

Action Camera Underwater Video Basics by Jeff Goodman is available now from DIVEDUP Publications:
https://www.divedup.com/shop/action-camera-underwater-video-basics-the-essential-guide-to-making-underwater-films/

About Jeff Goodman

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