Dive Review of Divemaster and boat set up by hotel/Solana Dive Resort in
Philippines/Aniloa

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Divemaster and boat set up by hotel/Solana Dive Resort, Feb, 2013, by Peter Sterman, CA, US ( Reviewer 5 reports). Report 6910.
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	Spent three days diving following three days of business in Manila. Dive resort was a three-hour drive South of Manila (had car and driver also pick me up at end of dive trip). Went for muck diving, and found muck diving -- some of the dive sites looked like barren, dead patches of sand - but what life there was...when you looked for it (and when an experienced, eagle eye divemaster found it) -- varieties of nudibranches, frog fish of various colors and sizes, weird and wonderful crabs and mantis shrimp, flying gunnard, porcupine fish, octopus, swimming squid, school of jacks, and, on the sites with coral, beautiful soft corals and fans - lots to see when you look. Solana Dive Resort was great - of the four nights, I was the only guest two nights and just a few people the other nights. The beach bungalow (there are four) was comfortable, well air-conditioned, good shower pressure and hot water, wonderful balcony with two chairs and ottomans, looking out over the strait and the sunset. Hotal staff was very friendly - three meals/day included in rate (came out to about $125-140/day I recall). Quiet location, nice relaxing time after diving (did 2-3/day), in bed around 9:30 or so... The hotel sets you up with the divemaster and boat ("What time do you want to go out"..."How about 9:30"..."OK, see you then") - very accommodating. I was the only diver - had divermaster and boat crew of three to myself. Nitrox was a few buck extra - two tanks/day came out to about $125/day with Nitrox and park fee - well worth it (would be less expensive if other divers were present). Dive shed was 20 steps from the bungalow, and crew took gear on and off the boat. Highly recommend this hotel and the diving...if you are ready for the small and sometimes weird critters.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Palau, Galapagos, Caribbean, Hawaii, California, Costa Rica, Vanuatu, GBR, Cozumel
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm, choppy
Water Temp	77-77°F / 25-25°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	25-0 Ft/ 8-0 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	None specific - hung with divemaster as he excelled in finding muck stuff
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	None	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		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	No accommodations for cameras on basic boat, but separate rinse tank on shore. Great subject matter -- macro!!!

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Dive Review of Divemaster and boat set up by hotel/Solana Dive Resort in Philippines/Aniloa

Divemaster and boat set up by hotel/Solana Dive Resort, Feb, 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 Divemaster and boat set up by hotel/Solana Dive Resort in
Philippines/Aniloa