Main Menu
Join Undercurrent on Facebook

The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975 | |
For Divers since 1975
The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975
"Best of the Web: scuba tips no other
source dares to publish" -- Forbes
X
 

Dive Review of Asia Divers/El Galleon in
Philippines/Puerto Galera

Asia Divers/El Galleon, Apr, 2010,

by Renee Ross, OR, US (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 8 reports with 3 Helpful votes). Report 5556 has 1 Helpful vote.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 3 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments First I must tell you that I am now spoiled for future dive trips to equal this place. The dive sites were all within 5 to 20 minutes from shore. Boats were very seaworthy bangkas, only 6 divers max with one divemaster. Easy backroll off the boat. Staff would lift your bc out of the water for getting back on the boat via sturdy ladder. Reef diving with currents varied from zero to very thrilling. The reefs are generally healthy, colorful and tons of small fish in places. Actually the most amazing health of the reef both hard and soft in places where it made me wonder why I would ever want to go back to Caribbean diving! No big fish though except the white tip reef sharks at one site. Verde Island and Hole in the Wall were exceptional reef diving, just amazing color, current and tons of small fish everywhere. Wreck dives, several, the divemaster seemed to drift toward the wrecks instead of the colorful reef diving I was expecting. The wrecks were surrounded by fish, tons of lionfish, batfish but not much growth on the ships. So many nudibranchs everywhere in a variety of colors, starfish everywhere, giant clams. Amazing diving every day, 4 dives a day in the package with Island Dreams group (website: divetrip.com). all meals, and a hotel like room, very small, but very clean, 10 nights, for about $1600 per person. Staff at El Galleon were excellent in service and respectful to all guests. Food was amazing, buffet, or you could order off the menu. Resort is landscaped, has a small pool, and very basic. Ocean view rooms have tons of stairs to get to them so be sure you ask before reserving one of those units. No road to the resort, accessible only by boat. Fly into Manila and overnighted in red light district hotel that was clean enough, then on a nice bus for 3 hours south to a bangka ride for 1 hour to resort. Our group did a jungle tour onland, very pretty island and the people there are very friendly. Town of Sabong was near the resort, an easy 5 minute walk along the shore. Shoreline along the resort was clean with no apparent garbage. We could smell some sewer running into the bay from town though. Overall a very relaxing trip, great dive shop, great dive guides that knew the current well, and took good care to make sure everyone was safe in the current. We looked at Atlantis Dive Resort while there and I'd say the location at El Galleon and Asia divers is much nicer. Main difference is a nice dive dock at Asia divers, and a new dive shop right at the water is being finished now. Email me for pictures or more info. I am happy to share.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving Bonaire, Curacao
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, choppy, currents, no currents
Water Temp 79-81°F / 26-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 40-100 Ft/ 12-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Most divers stayed with the divemaster, but a few divers were notorious for going away on their own and surfacing on their own for the boat to find them later.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities 3 stars
UW Photo Comments No rinse for cameras on boats. No specific area to keep cameras onboard, but usually an area near front of boat for cameras, etc. Camera rinse area near dive shop with specific camera benches for drying.
Was this report helpful to you?
Report currently has 1 Helpful vote
Leave a comment (Subscribers only -- 200 words max)
Subscribers can comment here
 

Subscribe Now
Subscribers can post comments, ask the reviewer questions, as well as getting immediate and complete access to ALL 556 dive reviews of Philippines and all other dive destinations. Complete access to all issues and Chapbooks is also included.

 
Featured Links from Our Sponsors
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
Reef & Rainforest, Let our experience be your guide -- Reef and Rainforest
Reef & Rainforest
is an agency for travelers that scuba dive. We specialize in planning scuba diving adventures to the Philippines.

Want to assemble your own collection of Philippines reports in one place?
Use the Mini Chapbook Facility to create your personalized collection.

Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

Undercurrent Home


Get more dive info like these and other important scuba updates sent monthly to your email.
And a FREE Recent Issue of Undercurrent

Free Undercurrent Issue
Get a free
monthly email and
a sample issue!


Find in  

| Home | Online Members Area | My Account | Login | Join |
| Travel Index | Dive Resort & Liveaboard Reviews | Featured Reports | Recent Issues | Back Issues |
| Dive Gear Index | Health/Safety Index | Environment & Misc. Index | Seasonal Planner | Blogs | Free Articles | Book Picks | News |
| Special Offers | RSS | FAQ | About Us | Contact Us | Links |

Copyright © 1996-2024 Undercurrent (www.undercurrent.org)
3020 Bridgeway, Ste 102, Sausalito, Ca 94965
All rights reserved.

Page computed and displayed in 0.13 seconds