Dive Review of Marco Vincent in
Philippines/Puerto Galera, White Beach

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Marco Vincent: "Best trip ever. Best People ever.", Oct, 2019, by Theodore C Recupero, UT, US ( Sr. Reviewer 8 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 11186 has 1 Helpful vote.
No photos available at this time
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	I was met and greeted by name (Mr. Ted)at the Manila airport by resort personnel, taken to the ferry in Batangas (two hour drive), handed off to another resort rep who put me on the ferry (a two hour trip), met again at the dock and driven to the resort, maybe a ten minute drive. The resort is a shining jewel. Everything there is clean, tidy, orderly. It is as nice as any western resort I have seen. The pool and courtyard area is spotless and gorgeous. I was met and greeted by name in the very nice lobby of the resort. They gave me an orientation on the resort and showed me to my room. I did not carry my own luggage, as I didn't want an argument. There was a crate outside my room for my dive gear. That was the last time I handled it. My room was spotless clean, had a 32" tv w plenty of channels, AC unit that was more than adequate, small fridge filled with water, large comfortable bed w spotless soft white sheets, safe, table and two chairs. The bathroom was spotless w a large shower area w plenty of hot water. The toiletries included a toothbrush in addition to the usual. Big thick, soft towels and a bathrobe. The food at the resort was excellent, as good as I've had anywhere. Breakfast is served early enough that you never need to rush to make the van for the dive boat. I hate when that happens.... The dive boat, Big Beth, is the nicest boat I saw while I was there and is plenty large enough, with camera tanks, camera stations, charging stations, all the emergency medical gear you could ask for, WIFI (on the boat!) and a CHEF to prepare gourmet meals for lunch. This is a day boat, with a chef. The boat meals were as good as the resort meals. I believe this boat could and would pass inspection by the US Coast Guard. I can not say the same about some of the stuff I saw paying passengers/divers being hauled around in. I have never had such detailed or accurate dive briefings. The dive operation is as professional as any I have ever seen. Everyone from the head instructor to the tank handlers knew their job and did it well. None of them were of the sort that I hate having to tolerate while they bloviate about how great they are. These guys are there for you....no other reason. All questions that were asked were answered and if they didn't know, they told you so. I asked a couple questions and they were answered completely. There are no stupid questions here. The dives were all lead by the very competent divemasters, but the groups of divers did get spread out a little. I tend to stay shallow, and others tended to stay deeper. They never lost track of us. Some of the dives were in very strong current, but they herded us all into sheltered spots where we could get pictures and such. They knew these dive sites. They wanted you to see it all. This was my first trip to this side of the pacific. Every single dive was more impressive than any I have done anywhere else, well maybe not all, but most. I saw things I had never dreamed existed, and the divemasters were constantly pointing out things. They did this all week, not just the last day or two. The service doesn't end when you climb up the ladder. They hand you a hot wet towel, and then a cup of ginger tea. I got used to this rapidly. They have fresh water rinse hoses, a marine head, a nice sunny deck up top, camera and mask tanks and ample shaded seating, or you can do like me and sit in the sun. I can't name 10% of the fish, corals, sponges and other things we saw on the dives. I didn't know there was an Electric Clam, now I do. 3 or 4 different morays, a few banded sea snakes, untold varieties of fish, I don't know how many different Nudibranchs, giant clams, mantis shrimp, other types of shrimp, a couple octopi, frogfish, masses of wrasses,(I finally got to use that)and untold other creatures. I watched the way a symbiotic relationship works between a small burrowing shrimp and it's guard gobi (I think it's a gobi) and I got it on video. They gave me time to get it on video. Neat. Lion fish were not as plentiful as they are on the southern coasts of the USA, but they aren't invasive here either. I only saw 4. My gear was properly handled. They did not put a gorilla grip on my regulator, They did not drag my gear, and they did not try to sell me anything. They didn't toss the stuff around the way airlines and some divemasters do, and they rinsed your wetsuit or rash guard every night. This "RESPECT" and "SERVICE" thing was easy to get used to. The morning I left, my gear was outside my room in the crate at 0400, and as dry as they could make it in the 12 hours since the last dive. On the trip back I was treated as well as the trip in. These people are professionals. Everyone associated with the resort treat me as though I was an honored guest in their home. I'm going back, and I'm bringing as many friends as I can. I was making calls all the way home... Feel free to contact me for any further info. I can't say enough about this place and it's people. I lack words that would do justice to the level of service or the quality of the dives.
Websites	Marco Vincent
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	501-1000 dives
Where else diving	USVI, Roatan, Bonaire, Philippines, Florida springs, Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Wrecks, Colorado River impoundments, Missouri impoundments, mountain lakes, Great Lakes, California coast, Tahoe, Desert springs.
Closest Airport	Manila	Getting There	Philippines Airline. Best flight ever. I'm 6' tall and 240. I was comfortable in economy.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, rainy, dry	Seas	currents
Water Temp	78-85°F / 26-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	40-100 Ft/ 12-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	Guided dives. Well guided dives, not dictatorial.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	1 or 2	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	There was no shortage of opportunities for taking pictures or video. The boat has a large dry salon nicely set up. The onboard wifi allows you to upload them before you get to shore. Several of my shipmates did take advantage of this. [None]

Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

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Dive Review of Marco Vincent in Philippines/Puerto Galera, White Beach

Marco Vincent: "Best trip ever. Best People ever.", Oct, 2019,

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 Marco Vincent in
Philippines/Puerto Galera, White Beach