Our original plan was to go Brunei for the wreck diving specialty, but changed after my IDC coursemate, Yang Yang, highly recommended Coron.
Exchange rate was about SGD$1 = 31.2Peso
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Flight details: Cebu Pacific
| Flight Details | Booking Date: 28 Dec 2014 | |
|
| Route | Flight Number | Departing | Arriving |
| Manila to Coron (Busuanga) | 5J 804 | Wednesday 11 March 2015 , 0040 H (12:40AM) Singapore Changi Airport – Terminal 2 | Wednesday 11 March 2015 , 0405 H (4:05AM) Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 Andrews Avenue, Pasay City
|
|
| Manila to Coron (Busuanga) | 5J 529 | Wednesday 11 March 2015 , 0630 H (6:30AM) Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 Andrews Avenue, Pasay City | Wednesday 11 March 2015 , 0730 H (7:30AM) Francisco B. Reyes Airport
|
|
Coron (Busuanga) to Manila | 5J 540 | Sunday 15 March 2015 , 1635 H (4:35PM) Francisco B. Reyes Airport | Sunday 15 March 2015 , 1735 H (5:35PM) Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 Andrews Avenue, Pasay City
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| Manila to Singapore | 5J 803 | Sunday 15 March 2015 , 2030 H (8:30PM) Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 Andrews Avenue, Pasay City | Sunday 15 March 2015 , 2355 H (11:55PM) Singapore Changi Airport – Terminal 2
|
|
Cost: $530.39 SGD
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Dive #1
Location: CYC (Coron Youth Club)
Max depth: 16.7m
Bottom time: 35min (1704H - 1739H)
*Side-mount Open Water 1
Departing Changi Airport Terminal 2
Arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.
A quick bite
Crowded and delayed flight
Domestic flight on a propeller plane
Arrived at Francisco B. Reyes Airport (Busuanga Airport)
Mini-van (150 Peso) to Rocksteady
Rocksteady Dive Center
Going to the boat
We spent the whole morning setting up our harness... Lunch on the boat cooked by the Captain
Left tank... Right tank... We had a confined open water dive followed by an open water dive.
End of dive
Sunset
Finally check-in at about 6.40pm
The room
Toilet: Hotwater shower available
Dinner: Fried vegetable, grill squid...
Chicken
"Bando grill resto & bar" / "Samantha kim seafood restaurant" near the central area
Verdict: Not recommended. The waiting time for the drinks was about 20 minutes and the food was 40 minutes. Price is also relatively more expensive.
Night 1 walkabout...
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Dive #2
Location: Olympia Maru
Average depth: 17.9m
Max depth: 29.1m
Bottom time: 41min (1030H - 1111H)
*Side-mount Open Water 2
*Wreck Specialty Open Water 1 (Navigation)
Dive #3
Location: Morazan Maru
Average depth: 14.5m
Max depth: 24.3m
Bottom time: 36min (1318H - 1354H)
*Side-mount Open Water 3
*Wreck Specialty Open Water 2 (Mapping exercise)
Breakfast included at Balaibinda Lodge
Setting up the gears
Passing down the tanks one at a time
Lunch on the boat
Relaxing
Mapping exercise at Morazan Maru
Back to harbour
Welfie on the motorised tricycle (Price about 10 Peso per head)
Getting dark
"Lobster King" recommended by Jianna
Soup and vegetable
Steamed 1.2kg lobster
4,320 Peso among 3 person... About SGD$45 each...
Dog at the tourism office
Provision shop
BBQ
Coron Town Plaza: Where residents gather for activities
Fire Station
Totally regretted drinking the coffee - can't sleep at night
Day 2 evening walk
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Dive #4
Location: Akitsushima
Average depth: 19.8m
Max depth: 32.7m
Bottom time: 27min (1000H - 1027H)
*Wreck Specialty Open Water 3
Dive #5
Location: Kogyo Maru
Average depth: 16.6m
Max depth: 27m
Bottom time: 35min (1335H - 1410H)
*Wreck Specialty Open Water 4
Boat with an upper deck to sun-tan
This boat has beds - reminds me of Princess
Cooking on the boat
Group photo
Lunch on the boat... and the Captain says "we have to have lunch now"
Lusong Gunboat - Shallow 6 to 10m wreck
Lusong Gunboat
Sunset
Dinner at Sinugba sa Balay Grill and native Restaurant
1,265 Peso for dinner
Women's Day Celebration
Cafe
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Dive #6
Location: Olympia Maru
Average depth: 19.8m
Max depth: 28m
Bottom time: 42min (1115H - 1157H)
*Nitrox 32%
Dive #7
Location: Morazan Maru
Average depth: 17m
Max depth: 26.4m
Bottom time: 41min (1345H - 1426H)
*Nitrox 32%
Walk to the Barracuda Lake, pay 100 Peso for entry
Free Diving
Scuba in half-fresh-half-salt water
Clear water showing the nice rocks formations
Posing for photo
Auto-level, and the colour looks good
Another dive
Revisiting the Olympia Maru
Finally have chance to take photos while diving because Jianna was very strict during the course and we can only bring our cameras during fun dives.
Overhead environments...
Swim-through..
The "Jail-room" because of the bars. But most likely a storeroom for dry provisions
Posing during safety stop
Lunch
Descending...
Morazan Maru
Boilers
Razorfish and Filefish
Back to land
Motorized Tricycle
Group photo back at Rocksteady with our Instructor, Jianna Park
28,000 Peso (SGD$865.45) for Wreck and Side-mount Specialty course and 5,400 Pesos ($166.91) for 2 fun dives with Nitrox and Side-mount. Total SGD$1023.36
Dinner at BIG Mama's Pinoy Hotpot and Grill
760 Peso in total, not too bad
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Woke up early about 4am to climb the Mount Tapyas
About 700 plus steps to the 150m top.
Wind was strong
Good view
Similar to Hollywood?
Sunrise
Back to Balaibinda for breakfast
Coron public market
Pork
1.7kg crab (1020 Peso) we brought from the Coron public market to bring to the restaurant to cook... Cooking charges based on per kg of the ingredient brought over.
and fish
Busuanga Seadive Resort
Nice view from 4th level
Supermarket
Domestic airport: They weigh you on the scale!
Crowded
Crowded airport and someone decided to occupy 2 seats
Plane was delayed and Google still thought the plane already landed at Manila on schedule...
Finally (time check: 1752H)
Maybe it is a blessing in disguise that we get sunset view
Sunset
Ramen at Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Preparing to depart
Airport taxes: Francisco B. Reyes Airport (Busuanga Airport) 75 Peso and Ninoy Aquino International Airport 550 Peso
Souvenirs: A customised t-shirt (300 Peso), animal hats (150 Peso each) and duty free items
More pictures:
Wreck and Side-mount Specialty at Coron, Palawan, Philippines (11 - 15 Mar 2015)
