One of the highlights of our Coron trip, is our first ever scuba diving.
Last year, I tried surfing for the first time. And this year, I don my rented wet suit to experience Coron’s finest corals and well, for now, a shallow wreck.
Coron is oozing with diving spots, both reef and wrecks. They have at least 13 Japanese ship wrecks and picturesque corals teeming the islands.
A lot of diving outfits can also be found in Coron. We were checked in at the Sea Dive Resort but found their prizes a little bit off the mark. Their DSD (Discover Scuba Diving, which allows 2 dives for beginners) course is PhP 4,100 led by their PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) diver. This association is not known only to the Philippines, but worldwide. The license you get from them is recognized globally.
Some diving outfits, like the one we hired, is NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors)-certified. Their DSD course is more affordable than PADI at PhP 2800 for 2 dives. Popular hollywood actor Kevin Coster is NAUI-certified.
When arranging for a dive, you have to book at least a day ahead to prepare the equipment, diver and other logistics like boat, boatmen and meals.
The PhP 2800 per pax deal I got is not bad at all, although I could have gotten it at PhP 2500 had we researched more. Anyway, it already includes the boat, lunch, and equipment rental. It does not include underwater shots (therefore bring your own camera) and island entrance fees which are normally at PhP 100 per island / spot per person.
Since I already purchased our snorkeling masks, I insisted on using my own mask than that of the center’s. That was mistake #1, and I’ll tell you more about it in the next blog.
So, if you are the ultimate adventurist, then scuba diving should be on your list! (Didn’t that just rhyme?)
Here are
a few things to remember:
Cost: PhP 2800 per pax
Sites: (1) wreck dive – skeleton wreck
(2) coral dive – twin lagoon
Time: Around 7 hours including briefing, travel and lunch
Essentials: Underwater camera (I used the GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition), money for entrance fees
**a sun block won’t be necessary since divers will wear the full wet suits.
**one didn’t have to be a swimmer to dive, especially for intro diving
**don’t forget to breathe through the mouth, pay attention during the briefing. Practice, practice, practice.
**if possible, choose a diving institution that gives the lowest instructor:diver ratio for maximum coverage and assistance. In our case, it was 1:2
**don’t panic. ask questions. wag pasaway.
On the next blog: the actual wreck and coral dives =)
This is so cool!
I know! =) Have you been there? Or tried scuba diving?
I’ve been scuba diving in the key and I loved it. I wish I could do it more lol
Really, where? Because it’s a little expensive, we are planning to do it once or twice a year only but that’s not bad, right? =)
I went to this place called Key West dive center by Banana Bay. And I’m not sure how much it cost it was one of those boring family vacations that turned out to be not so boring after all lol. It’s amazing if an instructor goes with you
Right. I wish you could also blog about it, I tried to check your blog site if you already did =) Are you from the US?
I didn’t blog about it, but I will if you want. And yup, you?
Wow, I take it, it’s a request granted? =) I’m from the Philippines. Nice to know I can connect thru blogs with someone far away =)
Yeah, I’ll upload pictures with it too. And I’ve always wanted to go there:)
Alright =) I’ll watch out for your blog then… Thanks. You should come over.