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Dive Review of Divemaster and boat set up by hotel/Solana Dive Resort in
Philippines/Aniloa

Divemaster and boat set up by hotel/Solana Dive Resort, Feb, 2013,

by Peter Sterman, CA, US (Reviewer Reviewer 5 reports). Report 6910.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Spent three days diving following three days of business in Manila. Dive resort was a three-hour drive South of Manila (had car and driver also pick me up at end of dive trip). Went for muck diving, and found muck diving -- some of the dive sites looked like barren, dead patches of sand - but what life there was...when you looked for it (and when an experienced, eagle eye divemaster found it) -- varieties of nudibranches, frog fish of various colors and sizes, weird and wonderful crabs and mantis shrimp, flying gunnard, porcupine fish, octopus, swimming squid, school of jacks, and, on the sites with coral, beautiful soft corals and fans - lots to see when you look.

Solana Dive Resort was great - of the four nights, I was the only guest two nights and just a few people the other nights. The beach bungalow (there are four) was comfortable, well air-conditioned, good shower pressure and hot water, wonderful balcony with two chairs and ottomans, looking out over the strait and the sunset. Hotal staff was very friendly - three meals/day included in rate (came out to about $125-140/day I recall). Quiet location, nice relaxing time after diving (did 2-3/day), in bed around 9:30 or so...

The hotel sets you up with the divemaster and boat ("What time do you want to go out"..."How about 9:30"..."OK, see you then") - very accommodating. I was the only diver - had divermaster and boat crew of three to myself. Nitrox was a few buck extra - two tanks/day came out to about $125/day with Nitrox and park fee - well worth it (would be less expensive if other divers were present). Dive shed was 20 steps from the bungalow, and crew took gear on and off the boat.

Highly recommend this hotel and the diving...if you are ready for the small and sometimes weird critters.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Palau, Galapagos, Caribbean, Hawaii, California, Costa Rica, Vanuatu, GBR, Cozumel
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, choppy
Water Temp 77-77°F / 25-25°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 25-0 Ft/ 8-0 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions None specific - hung with divemaster as he excelled in finding muck stuff
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 1 stars
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities 3 stars
UW Photo Comments No accommodations for cameras on basic boat, but separate rinse tank on shore. Great subject matter -- macro!!!
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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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