Manila Travel Forum

I am 50 and will be traveling to the Phillipines on the 23rd of April and have never been there before. Could you give me some ideas of what to see ( I want to go diving)and how I might meet someone to be my guide for a week and pal around with. I'm 50 in great shape, have traveled all overe the world and love to make people laugh... Got any suggestions??

Jeff

hi there!
i'm living in the philippines. you'll find great diving spots in anilao in batangas, puerto galera in mindoro, moalboal in cebu, panglao in bohol or palawan. here are some url's that might help:
http://www.wowphilippines.com.ph/great_hideaways/diving.asp
http://www.diving-philippines.org/
http://www.diver.com.ph/diver/clubs/clubs.htm
i hope these will help. enjoy your stay!
jalli

palawan is a good site for water activities and cheaper than other tourist places. it is also easy to go about that place as the tourism is very organized there.
BTW, you don't really need a guide for most activities there or anywhere else as most filipinos understand and can speak english.

good luck!

try the northern luzon (main island). go to banaue, batad, sagada.

I'd like to add on top of other prev recommendations of places to visit and do diving.

I'll suggest Dumaguete City.This is not where the diving is but on neigboring towns.This city is very close to the reknown Apo Island for its diving and snorkeling activities (which the Schedd's museum in Chicago got its replica from featured in its aquarium ),only about 20 minutes drive to the point where you'll catch the boat to the island.The island in itself has also some diving activities to offer .The mainland has also various diving resorts that caters people that don't want to stay in the island but base themselves in the mainland and Dumaguete.From Dumaguete city you can hop around to other islands quickly such as Siquijor island only for over an hour by ferry, bohol island in just couple hours or 3 hours to Cebu City by ferry (second largest city in the Philippines).From dumaguete you can also cross to the tip of Cebu in only half an hour which is Liloan which has diving too,or can cross to Sumilon island in just half an hour from liloan for diving ,there are resorts around ,infact some are managed by expats in the area.It's got a resort as well that offers diving services.And if you wanted food variety,Dumaguete is there,a small coastal city ,also a university town.From there you can fly to manila or Cebu.

If for curiousity ,why don't you visit this dumageute city online site and forum.It has infos of the place and also a forum consisting of locals and western expats and previous visitors who had visited in the area,and might answer your queries.

http://www.dumagueteinfo.com/

Have a nice diving holiday!