Wow! So this is what diving is REALLY like…
I jest somewhat, however within a matter of days we have done deep, drift, and wreck dives, seen so many fish and corals that you have a hard time to remember them, and all whilst travelling no more than five minutes by boat from our base on Big La Laguna Beach.
As with all of my posts, there is no intention here to repeat what other sites have already written. Instead, I want to tell you what I’ve discovered since being here and hope it comes in useful.
Variety
Every dive is different. Bearing in mind this is my first experience of diving outside of Hong Kong, I was obviously expecting things to be different. For a start, the visibility. 10m is considered bad here, whereas 10m in Hong Kong usually results in a thoroughly enjoyable dive. But even with the fantastic vis, each site is different. You can go for a tranquil shallow dive at Sabang Wrecks, or experience the currents with Kilima Drift. You can go for a stunning wreck dive on Alma Jane at 30m, or marvel at the corals at Sinandigan. Often you drop in and, depending on the current, you end up somewhere different to where you originally planned. There are too many to mention without a full write up, but we will be sure to explore as many as possible before we leave.
Location
The 40+ sites here are all within 10 mins boat ride of Sabang. Some are literally one minute away. This means you spend your time diving, rather than travelling to dive. You get plenty of time to spend your surface interval back at the resort, chilling off in the pool.
Currents
If you like currents, you won’t be disappointed. Most dives are effectively drift dives. Some are very gentle, others are less so (and great fun!). Diving with a guide is a must here, and in fact, most dive shops won’t simply rent tanks. Trust me, when currents change mid dive, you’ll be thankful you have your local expert alongside to guide you (plus, they have the most amazing spotting abilities!).
One disappointment
The only thing we haven’t seen (and don’t expect to) is sharks, which was somewhat disappointing. As the waters are starting to warm, the Threshers are making their way deeper to cooler waters, so we just missed the season. Unlucky. Unfortunately, the Reef sharks appear to have permanently moved away. This is a real shame and is a reminder of just how fragile the aquatic world can be.