Oct 2024
I spent 1 week diving in Puerto Galera (PG), one of the Philippines' most renowned locations. Overall it was better than expected, with decent sites and challenging conditions.
PG has to be the most accessible dive destination in the Phils; getting there is easy, it's a fairly painless few hours by bus and ferry from Manila (depending on traffic, I did it on a Sunday). The place also has a long history, having been a safe harbor for Spanish galleons going back 500 years.
I dived with 2 shops: Big Apple Dive Resort, where I also stayed; and Reef Encounters, where I did my PADI Deep specialty certification. Both are located in Sabang, the tourist center of PG. Diving is good value in PG, I think I paid about $25 a dive.
Big Apple is an all-around great establishment, a decent resort, good management and staff, awesome American cuisine and is a PADI 5-star dive center. I dived mostly with Kris, a legend of PG diving, as well as a few dives with JT the owner, along with some local expats and regulars from abroad.
Reef Encounters is also superb, Richie the owner is a great guy and an excellent instructor. It's a boutique shop, very high touch. Most of the diving is 2-5 minutes away by boat from the shop.
I did about 5 different dive sites and locales in PG, including the Canyons, the Spanish Anchor, and the Keyhole. Honestly, the underwater scenery or marine life was not overly wow - it's not like diving Malapascua, for example. What made things interesting for me were the strong currents and wild condition - dives in which you jump in and get propelled along. It's slightly dangerous at times - people have died here - but it also makes for an exciting experience, different than the usual relaxing dive. Obviously, it's not like this every day - I guess I got lucky.
Aside from diving, PG - and Sabang in particular - has lots to offer: nightlife, great food (Korean, especially), and naughty tourist activities if you so desire.
More info about Big Apple Dive Resort and Reef Encounters Dive Center.
Questions?
Contact me at terraxplor1@gmail.com, I am happy to help.
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