⌛ Introduction

HI all,

I will be making a trip to Visayas next year, potentially around April.
I have been married to a filipina for 15 years now, she is from Pontevedra, and unfortunatly I have never made a trip with her to the Philippines.

My plan is a 2-3 week trip. We plan on spending a few days around Bacolod and Pontevedra to visit family. After that we plan to take in 3-4 other locations.
I'm not dive certified yet, but plan to get certified before going on our trip, I would like to take in some Scuba and Snorkeling trips at each of our stops.
My wife is not into Scuba but she enjoys Snorkeling.

I've been doing alot of web research to plan my trip and Dumaguete seems to be a populuar pick and it would align well with our trip to Visayas.

Other places that I have considered are Malapascua Island, Subic, Puerto Galera.

Any advice or experience is greaty appreciated.

thanks
Kevin

 

Advice?
Scale down on the number of places you will visit.
For instance stay within the Visayas instead of spending days in airports or ports.

 

Rottweiler, Firefly is right.
You only have "a 2-3 week trip", want to dive at all those visited locations and going as well to Malapasqua (Cebu), Subic, Puerto Galera (Mindoro) and your family locations.
Stay in the Visaya and go diving in Malapascua (but you are a starter diver, so that should even not be the first place to advice you) and Dauin and/or Apo Island.
In the last 2 mentioned places your wife has good possibilities to enjoy snorkeling

 

Thanks.

I agree I'm thinking two places would be best. This is what i'm starting to lean towards.

Generally my wife carries a couple large boxes for family, so we would probably go directly to Bacolod from Manila. Drop the boxes and spend a couple days. From there head down to Dumaguete area. And then after that the intent is to get closer to Manila for my return flight.

So i'm thinking either Malapasqua or Puerto Galera. Is either of these places better than the other for my level of diving and also for snorkeling?

Thanks

 

Puerto Galera and Malapasqua are further from Manila than Dumaguete or Tagbilaran.

For a 2 -3 week trip including family-visit (what might take you longer that you want) I would recommend to go south from Bacolod, to stay a few days in Sipalay and the rest in the Dumaguete/Dauin area.

My second option would be Bacolod - Dumaguete and if you get away from the family early enough and have time, a few days Bohol.

 

Thanks Rhoody / Jellyfish / Firefly

I'm liking the idea of Sipalay / Dauin / Dumaguete ( or some varient along the area)

for me it will all be new, so probably no need to island hoping to much I'm sure there will be plenty to see in do.

Any suggestions on places to stay?

Roughly some of my criteria are
Value for my money.
Being a begginer diver Safety is important
Diving is not only aspect, need to keep the wife happy and plan a few snorkeling trips, or other adventures.
a nice cold beer, we don't need a crazy nightlife, just a place to get a decent meal and cold drink at the end of the day.

 

See Rhoody for your Padi course if you need one...otherwise go to Apo Island and check out the clownfish city.

When in Bacolod, check out Jo's Chicken inato...its a lovely marinated chicken.....and while there, they have one of those talkng birds! It actually talks visayan/tagalog in sentences! It can say your pogi or gwapo! Its so funny!

They have a few branches all over the Phils and are thinking of opening one here in Australia, Melbourne.....

 

Thanks Ninja,

Jo's Chicken is added to the list.

My plan is to get my Padi course done before I arrive, to have it out of the way. But I've read many post with great things to say about Rhoody as a dive instructor.

 

hi there, rottweiler, chihuahua here (teasing you...) - just wondering if you and/or your wife ever tried Casa Filipina in PHX...and do you go to Lee Lee's?

 

I'm not sure about Casa filipina but we go to Lee Lee's all the time.