Dive Review of Crystal Blue Resort in
Philippines/Anilao

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Crystal Blue Resort: "Macro and Blackwater clinic", Mar, 2024, by Joel Horie, UT, US ( Sr. Contributor 24 reports with 18 Helpful votes). Report 13190.
Photos Submitted with this Report Click on an image to see an enlarged version and captions
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	We stayed a week and a half, for a macro photo class and blackwater class. This was setup through Backscatter.Photo and blackwater classes were taught by Mike Bartick and there were also daily Lightroom classes by Bruce Shafer. We enjoyed the classes and diving. This was our first trip to the western pacific and we enjoyed the whole experience. We flew Delta SLC-SEA-ICN, then KAL to MNL. Transiting ICN airport on Delta to KAL was very easy. Arrived about 1130 pm. Getting through immigration and customs was quick and easy. Crystal Blue Resorts sends detailed instructions on how to meet your resort driver, if you schedule a resort van pickup. Our driver met us as described. Once we got south of Manilla, traffic thinned out and it was a less than 2 hour ride to the resort.I think it was about 130 am when we arrived, but they were ready to check us in and took our bags to our room.On our return trip, it was closer to a 2 1/2 hour ride(holiday weekend). Even though it was a short distance from the drop off curb at MNL, we were glad we used one of the airport porters. He whisked us through the entrance(you have to show ID and tickets) and took us to our KAL priority checkin, even though the lines hadn't been put up yet. I never would have known where to stand, before check in started. MNL airort has some bad reviews online, but we found it easy to navigate, from KAL checkin and getting through security. We had superior rooms, which are the lowest rooms in the main building. Our room was nice and everything was in working order. There were drying "trees" to hang things from, in front of the gadren level rooms. They have garden view, but you can see a bit of the ocean through your garden. There are definitely a lot of stairs, but we were used to it after a few days. No pool, but there are a number of place to hang out. There's a covered elevated deck, with ocean view, over the parking area. Across from the bar there is an indoor and outdoor lounge with ocean view. There is a small lounge area, just before the dining room. The dining room has a nice ocean view and good breezes. Guest rooms and the camera room are air conditioned. There are bathrooms on the dive gear level, the dining room and in the camera room. Other reviews have described most of the diving. We also did the Blackwater clinic, which included 3 nights of 2 tank blackwater dives. The blackwater dives are very well organized and it is interesting to watch the guides and captains prep the night lights and pumpkin bouy. For us, it turned out the the last night was the best. I finally got to see a paper nautilus and a wunderpus, amoung other creatures. They really try to optimize your chance of seeing creatures. They wait until well after sunset to start the first night black water dive. Some other places I've been, tend to want to get in the water right after sunset. At CBR, the blackwater dives make for a late night for guests and crews, but it gives you a good chance at seeing the night life. Check out Mike's eBook, The World of Blackwater. It's on his website saltwaterphoto.com and other sites.
Websites	Crystal Blue Resort
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Hawaii, Belize, Caymans, Socal, Bonaire, Roatan, Cabo Pulmo, Cozumel, Caicos, Phillipines, Indonesia
Closest Airport	MNL	Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy, rainy, cloudy, dry	Seas	calm, choppy, currents
Water Temp	77-80°F / 25-27°C	Wetsuit Thickness	5
Water Visibility	50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Enter together, solo return okay.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish	N/A
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	Very nice camera room and repair bench. Large shore rinse tanks and drying bench with three compressed air nozzles. Boat crew would carry camera on and off boat. Crew was very skilled at handling cameras. NO rinse tank on boats, but most rides were short. Most specialty batteries could be ordered and deliverd in one or two days.

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Dive Review of Crystal Blue Resort in Philippines/Anilao

Crystal Blue Resort: "Macro and Blackwater clinic", Mar, 2024,

Photos Submitted with this Report

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Crystal Blue Resort in
Philippines/Anilao