Imported post
Hiya Bren and all,
Yes we're back - in body if not in spirit and almost ready to spill the beans on a fantastic dive destination.
I'll have a think and post a full trip report soon but until then here's a brief precis.
The Philippines is a fu*king long way away. Go to India - keep on going - a bit more - that's about it.
Is it beautiful? - Yes, verdant, delightful people, wonderful water, white beaches etc.
Cut the crap Gav, what's the diving like? - Very varied but high quality. Every thing from Nudibranchs to Sharks with everything in between. Octopus, Flamboyant Cuttlefish, Spanish Dancers, Stone-Lion-Scorpion fish, Triggers - at least five different species, Baraccuda, Jacks, Trevallies, Grunts, Barramundi Cod, Flying Gurnards, Frog Fish, Sea Horses, Stargazers, Lobsters, Crabs, Sea Snakes, Pipefish, Flounders, Stingrays. I haven't got time for the corals right now but you can imagine.
What about the current and depth? - The Philippines has a reputation for current as many of its dive sites are fed but the South China Sea and we did get some absolute rippers to fly through. Depths ranged from 20m to 45m and viz went froma disappointing 5m on one occaison to a storming 25m on others.
What else? Well we met divers from at least 10 different nationalities including one from this very board doing his trimix ticket - Hi Paul. He's not back cos he's off doing his TDI Adv Wreck with John Bennett.
So, would you go again? - Do bears deficate in forests?
When are you gonna tell us the rest? - When my jet-lag clears up a bit. A journey that consisted of a 70 min boat journey, 2.5hrs by car, a flight of 9 hours (business class admittedly) to Abu Dabi (four hour wait) and then and then another 10 hour flight to London followed by a short hop to Edinburgh needs a little getting over.
Back to drysuits and gloves and hoods ...
Hiya Bren and all,
Yes we're back - in body if not in spirit and almost ready to spill the beans on a fantastic dive destination.
I'll have a think and post a full trip report soon but until then here's a brief precis.
The Philippines is a fu*king long way away. Go to India - keep on going - a bit more - that's about it.
Is it beautiful? - Yes, verdant, delightful people, wonderful water, white beaches etc.
Cut the crap Gav, what's the diving like? - Very varied but high quality. Every thing from Nudibranchs to Sharks with everything in between. Octopus, Flamboyant Cuttlefish, Spanish Dancers, Stone-Lion-Scorpion fish, Triggers - at least five different species, Baraccuda, Jacks, Trevallies, Grunts, Barramundi Cod, Flying Gurnards, Frog Fish, Sea Horses, Stargazers, Lobsters, Crabs, Sea Snakes, Pipefish, Flounders, Stingrays. I haven't got time for the corals right now but you can imagine.
What about the current and depth? - The Philippines has a reputation for current as many of its dive sites are fed but the South China Sea and we did get some absolute rippers to fly through. Depths ranged from 20m to 45m and viz went froma disappointing 5m on one occaison to a storming 25m on others.
What else? Well we met divers from at least 10 different nationalities including one from this very board doing his trimix ticket - Hi Paul. He's not back cos he's off doing his TDI Adv Wreck with John Bennett.
So, would you go again? - Do bears deficate in forests?
When are you gonna tell us the rest? - When my jet-lag clears up a bit. A journey that consisted of a 70 min boat journey, 2.5hrs by car, a flight of 9 hours (business class admittedly) to Abu Dabi (four hour wait) and then and then another 10 hour flight to London followed by a short hop to Edinburgh needs a little getting over.
Back to drysuits and gloves and hoods ...
