Dive Review of Dive Solana in
Philippines/Anilao

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Dive Solana, Apr, 2013, by Nigel LLEWELLYN-SMITH, CA, US ( 1 report). Report 6950.
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
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	I tacked on a day's vacation to week-end layover on a business trip. Crystal Blue had no vacancies, recommnended Dive Solana. On Day 1 (Friday), I was the only person at the resort, was treated like royalty in and out of the water. Both dives were easy, plenty of small critters. On Days 2 and 3, a Texan couple, resident in Manila showed up for the week-end. We all got 3 dives in on both days. Mostly shallow reefs, with good coral, and a turtle on one. I was surprised to see what looked like broken/dying coral and with new growth appearing. I asked the DM what changes he'd seen (since 2003 when he started diving) and he thought the coral and life was increasing. Which was good news On Day 3, we dived a reef with a pretty stiff rip (I now understand the Tagalog work 'kuryente'!) We hadn't planned an 'abandon' dive signal, and in any case, I couldn't remember what it was. I burned up 70 bar in first 7 minutes, and the DM was forging ahead, oblivious to the 3 of us trailing him. Dives 2 and 3 were less intense....Dive 2 was in the lea of an island, visibility was worst of the series, and I saw the first items of submerged trash floathing by. The DM indicated it was many times worse after the first rains of the monsoon season. Dive 3 was on a wreck, with abundant shoals of angel (or bat-fish) and easy swim-throughs. Overall: I had a great time, the diving was good and mostly easy. The area was refreshingly undeveloped, though unfortunately not completely unspoilt. Meals were all buffet (I discovered a limited menu when I was checking out), and lunch/dinners were pretty similar: fish, beef or pork and chicken; boiled rice; soup and sometimes a salad. Access to the resort is via a long stair-case (but a porter takes bags up/down, thankfully!). I had a room with a/c, a huge veranda. All very clean and comfortable albeit a little spartan. Beware, for non-divers there is nothing to do or visit close by, so non-diving partners will probably be unhappy after a couple of days. WiFi was intermittently available in the open lobby. All in (transfers from Manila, 4 nights all inclusive and 8 dives) cost about $1000 - I thought it was pretty good value. The crew at the resort were always helpful and acommodating...
Websites	Dive Solana
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	0-25 dives
Where else diving	Scotland, Hebrides, S Coast UK, Caribbean, California, Hawaii, Red Sea
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy, rainy	Seas	calm
Water Temp	27-31°C / 81-88°F	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	30-200 Ft/ 9-61 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	None evident, but all dives had max depth around 28m. On one dive, I hit 35m briefly
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish	N/A
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	Crew were very good grabbing cameras once surfaced. Not much in way of space or facilities on the panga, but I'm sure they'd have gotten them if they'd been asked.

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Dive Review of Dive Solana in Philippines/Anilao

Dive Solana, Apr, 2013,

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 Dive Solana in
Philippines/Anilao