Scuba Diving in Cebu - Plane Wreck and Sardines

Before my first dive in Cebu for some reason my expectations were not so high. I don't know why, but maybe because Cebu city is so close. After several diving days and I have to admit I was wrong. Scuba diving in Cebu area is great and there are lot of things to see.

Dive centers are near the luxury hotels like Movenpick and Crimson Resort in Mactan. Of course hotels organize also dive trips. First dive spots are very near the hotels. Even plane wreck and sardines are just next to the hotels.

Here are some highlights from my dives in Cebu area. Enjoy!

If you are going to visit in Cebu and like scuba diving it's worth to check also underwater life.

Regards,
Mika

Highlights | Scuba Diving in Puerto Princesa, Palawan | PHILIPPINES

During last few years I have dived 60+ dives in Puerto Princesa in Philippines. Puerto Princesa is a place where is possible to see everything from macro creatures to whale sharks and big rays.

Check my video to see some highlights of diving in Puerto Princesa. Enjoy!

Hopefully you liked it.

Regards,
Mika

Video: Manta Rays in Komodo, Indonesia

I have dived with manta rays in many places like Similan Islands and Racha Noi (Raya Noi) in Thailand and also in Tubbataha Reef in Philippines. Anyway the most memorable dives were in Komodo. There we saw many mantas even on the surface.

This photo I took in Komodo just when snorkeling with mantas between the dives.

Here is a video from the same place. There is possible to see also many mantas together.

Another manta video from Komodo.

Great memories from Komodo!

Regards,
Mika

Best Hotel Deals now via Reef Dive

Are you planning diving holiday? Business trip? Or just weekend trip? Reef Dive offers now Best Hotel Deals globally. See the latest Special Offers.

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In Finnish. Oletko matkustamassa sukelluslomalle, työmatkalle tai kenties viikonloppureissulle? Saat nyt parhaat hotellitarjoukset kaikkialta maailmalta suoraan blokin kautta. Katso uusimmat Hotellitarjoukset.

 Regards / Terveisin,
Mika

Best Dive Sites in Asia

We all have our favorite dives sites in Asia. It´s also easy to find many 'Best dive sites in Asia' in internet. Like always the result of the list depends of course who has done the list.

Here are few Best of lists:

• Sport Diver: Asia Pacific - Top20 Iconic Dives
• CNN Travel: 10 Best Dive Sites in Asia
• PADI: 10 Great Scuba Diving Sites in Asia
• Ambersand's Travel: 12 Best Sites to go Scuba Diving in Asia
• Go Asean: Best Dive Sites in Southeast Asia
• UW Photography Guide: Best Diving and Photography Locations in Southeast Asia

The lists include many great dive sites where I have dived also. Komodo in Indonesia, Similan in Thailand, Tubbataha in Philippines, Mabul and Sipadan in Malaysia and many other awesome places.

What do you think? What are your favorite dive sites in Asia?

Regards,
Mika

Remote beaches and diving places - Rent a motorcycle

Southeast Asia is a paradise for people who loves beaches, snorkeling and of course scuba diving. There are anyway many nice places, where is not so easy to go. Also inside the area moving can be difficult or just have to take always some kind of taxi. For that problem motorcycle or scooter is a perfect solution. Just find the motorcycle rent company and check the bikes. After you have found the good one, check especially that tires and breaks are ok. 

If you have plan to ride longer trip, check and confirm there are also enough oil and other liquids. Check the bike has needed papers and confirm you have the phone number for the owner. After that you are ready to go. 

Palawan in Philippines has lots of beautiful remote beaches and it´s also good place for scuba diving. Beach in Port Barton. 

Puerto Princesa area is good place for scuba diving. Whitetip reef shark in small cave. 

There is possible to go snorkeling with whale sharks in Puerto Princesa. The season is usually from end of April to October.

Bohol area in Philippines is also great for motorcycling. Beautiful white sand Alone Beach.

There is possible to see rare tarsiers in Bohol.

Balicasag Island near Alona Beach is great place for scuba diving. There is possible to see lots of big sea turtles.

Phuket in Thailand is also very good place, where you can combine motorcycling and diving. The island is quite large, so motorcycle/scooter is very usefully way to go from place to another. Phuket has also many beautiful beaches around the island.

There are many diving destinations in Phuket area like Racha Yai, Racha Noi, Koh Phi Phi and Shark Point. Here is Leopard Shark in Shark Point.

Indonesia has also many interesting place to explore. One of those is Labuan Bajo in Komodo, where you can find twisty mountain roads for motorcycling and beautiful views. 

Komodo is also amazing diving destination. Huge schools of fishes, lots of shark and big rays. Also manta rays. 

Komodo dragons are of course also one must see in Komodo. 

Using motorcycle/scooter it´s so much easier to reach many places. As a bonus you will see so much more on the trip even the scuba diving is the main focus. 

Regards,
Mika

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Dungon Wall in Mindoro, Philippines

Dive #: 253

Date: 8.2.2015
Place: Philippines, Mindoro, Sabang, Dungon Wall
Depth: 26,8m Average: 16,1m
Dive time: 41min
Visibility: 15-20m
Sea temperature: +25C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air)  Wetsuit: 3mm long wetsuit  Weight: 5Kg
Camera: Canon PowerShot G15 + Ikelite´s housing  Computer: Suunto Stinger

Dive Center: Tina´s Reef Divers
Price: 1000PHP/17,95€/1 dive

I had a one dive in Dungon Wall during the weekend in Sabang, Mindoro. Few photos from our dive.

Snowflake moray.

Nudibranch.

Moray and the cleaning shrimps. 

Same moray and shrimps. 

Puffer.

Mantis shrimp hiding in the hole. 

Small fishes hiding in the hard coral.

Diving in Dungan Wall was relax basic dive. I can go later again to dive in the same place. 

Regards from Manila,

Mika

Diving day in Mindoro, Philippines

I had a few days holiday in Sabang Beach and I did there one relax dive. 


Dive #: 247

Date: 10.4.2014
Place: Philippines, Mindoro, Sabang Beach, Edgar´s Cave
Depth: 28m Average: 13,4m
Dive time: 55min
Visibility: 25m
Sea temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/220bar (air)  Wetsuit: 3mm long wetsuit  Weight: 5Kg
Camera: Canon PowerShot G15 + Ikelite´s housing  Computer: Suunto Stingray

Dive Center: Tina´s Reef Divers
Price: 1000PHP/16,35€/1 dive


We had a group of 3 divers and DM. Back roll from the boat and under water.

Bubble coral.

School of big mouth trevally.

Closer.

Curious Nemo.

Nudibranch.

There was lots of reef fishes in some place.

Big snapper.

Same snapper.

Life on the reef.

Typical guy on the sandy bottom.

Large soft coral area and some reef fishes.

Looks nice.

It was very easy-going dive without any current. Lots of soft and hard coral. Especially in the end of dive we saw lots of different kind of reef fishes.

Regards from Manila,
Mika

Plane wreck and sardines in Cebu, Philippines

I had a weekend trip from Manila to meet my friend Petri in Cebu. We did also two dives in Mactan area.

Dive #: 239

Date: 21.6.2013

Place: Philippines, Cebu, Mactan, Tambuli

Depth: 29,5m Average: 14,9m

Dive time: 43min

Visibility: 20m

Sea temperature: +30C

Equipment

Bottle: 12L/200bar (air)  Wetsuit: No wetsuit, only shorts and sleeveless Weight: 5Kg

Camera: Canon PowerShot G15 + Ikelite´s housing Computer: Suunto Stingray

Dive Center: Scuba Haven

Price: Special friend price

Divers: Petri, Jari, Minna and me.

Our first dive spot was Tambuli. There is plane wreck, which is of course the most important target on the dive. 

Plane a bit closer.

Jari inside the plane.

"This is your captain speaking…". That´s me.

Petri comes out from the plane.

Jari takes some photos.

After the wreck we dived to more shallow area, where we saw banded sea snake.

Minna with the snake.

Finally the snake swam to the surface.

Small reef fishes.

Feather starfish.

Nudibranch.

End of dive and back to the surface.

Dive #: 240

Date: 21.6.2013

Place: Philippines, Cebu, Mactan, Kontiki Reef

Depth: 15,8m Average: 8,2m

Dive time: 73min

Visibility: 15-20m

Sea temperature: +31C

Equipment

Bottle: 12L/200bar (air)  Wetsuit: No wetsuit, only shorts and sleeveless  Weight: 5Kg

Camera: Canon PowerShot G15 + Ikelite´s housing  Computer: Suunto Stinger

Our second dive spot was Kontiki Reef. There our goal was to find school of sardines, which usually are on the area.

Small striped catfishes.

Oh yes, we found the sardines.

More.

Corals and some kind of worms.

Soft corals.

Nudibranch.

Lionfish.

Our friend "Nemo".

School of striped catfishes.

Later on the dive we saw more sardines.

Closer.

Jari under the school.

In the end of the dive we saw lots of sardines. Visibility just in that place was not the best possible. 

Here is a short video clip of the sardines.

Water temperature especially on the second dive was very warm. Amazing +31C! Nice and relax dives.

If you are interested to dive in Cebu area just contact to Petri.

Regards from Manila,

Mika