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

Asia Divers/El Galleon : "Certainly up for improvement", Nov, 2015,

by Peter Palmer, Keerbergen, BE (Reviewer Reviewer 3 reports). Report 8722.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 2 stars Food 2 stars
Service and Attitude 2 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 2 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 1 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments We had done 5 days diving at Anilao (Buceo Anilao, see separate report) and then traveled by boat to Porto Galero for an additional 5 days. Puerto Galero is quite crowded and full of divers and dive operations. The resort we stayed in is OK (not fabulous: my room took 76 steps to get to and the service and food at the restaurant is not wonderful) and is located right at Asia Divers divefactory. The latter gives the overal gist of my appraisal...
Several boats of variable comfort. Staff take care of bottles/BCD, but you need to carry your weights and other gear on and off, unless you are doing consecutive dives.
Dive guides are very variable in expertise going from quite poor to low average. Very friendly, but do not expect to have them guide you to the small critters. For divers with little experience, I can imagine that they missed most of what there is to see.
There are many dive operators at Puerto Galera, but Asia divers has by far the best site with their own floating ponton. That is good, but you can not easily ignore the unpersonal and factory-like setting.
Puerto Galera an Anilao are both small critter dive areas. In Puerto Galera you will see the ocasional large baracuda or a sea turtle, that will be rare at Anilao.
Some dives had significant current and you can use a reef hook.
My main problem with Asia divers at this location is the surcharges that are added on at the end when you need to pay the bill.
It is normal and expected to pay extra for NITROX, but I was charged 10 Euro extra per night dive (this was not communicated until I got the bill) and diving at Verde Island is charged 25 euro extra. This is due to 30 minute crossing versus the 5-10 minute short spurts for the other dive sites.
In summary : Not your moneys worth and open for much improvement.



Websites Asia Divers   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Maldives, Cocos, Galapagos, Komodo, Florida Keys, Red Sea, Sicily, Corsica, France, Ireland, Belgium, Holland
Closest Airport Manilla Getting There Brussels-Doha-Manilla; 30 hours Road and Boat to puerot Galera

Dive Conditions

Weather cloudy Seas choppy, currents
Water Temp 28-29°F / -2--2°C Wetsuit Thickness 5
Water Visibility 15-20 M / 49-66 Ft

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions No deco
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

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

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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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.

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