Dive Review of Mantangale Alibuag Dive Resort. in
Philippines/Mindanao

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Mantangale Alibuag Dive Resort.: "Mantangale Dive Resort - A Safe Area in Mindanao", Jun, 2017, by John C Crossley, FL, US ( Sr. Contributor 28 reports with 10 Helpful votes). Report 9733 has 2 Helpful votes.
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	Each year for the past ten years, I've gone to the Manatangale Dive Resort two or three times per year. This is because I spend 2-3 months each year in the Philippines at my vacation/retirement home in Cagayan de Oro. From that "home base" I usually go to several resorts in the Philippines and nearby countries, and also make a couple visits to the closest high quality dive resort, Mantangale. This year was a little different because 500-600 Muslim terrorists, including some hard core ISIS members, took over the city of Marawi in southern Mindanao. The Philippine army lay siege to the city while at least 200,000 Marawi residents fled. As of the date of this Undercurrent report (August 19, 2017), all but about 40 terrorists have been killed, but the city is largely in ruins. Meanwhile, the entire island of Mindanao was put under "martial law" by the Philippine president. For the city I live in, Cagayan de Oro, this meant tighter security, as army troops set up check points along highways. There was also a U.S. Travel warning about avoiding the island of Mindanao. It is not surprising that the tourism industry for Mindanao was severely hurt. I wish that the Philippine President and the U.S. travel warnings would clarify that the problems are almost entirely in southern Mindano. There are dive resorts located far north of southern Mindanao that are as safe as any in the world, yet tourists are unnecessarily staying away from much of the Philippines and Mindanao in particular. The Mantingale Dive Resort is located about 98 kilometers north of Cagayan de Oro, not far from Camiguin Island which has other resorts. International visitors can fly from Manila into Cagayan de Oro and get a resort transfer north to Manangale, or fly to Butuan City and get a resort transfer south to Manangale. Manangale has a variety of clean aircon rooms and cottages, a very good restaurant and things for non-divers to do. These include a tilapia fishing pond, swimming pool, wading pool, playground, games, a glass bottom boat, karaoke, and others. There are two comfortable dive boats and the dive guides, especially resort owner/manager Dodong Uy, are excellent. Nitrox is free for qualified divers. For me, the highlight dive is a huge bowl shaped area called Medina Springs, with underground springs bubbling up into the usually warm water. This creates a perfect place for a huge garden of beautiful soft corals to flourish. I think it has the best soft corals in the Philippines and even rivals Fiji. Other dive sites are hard coral slopes and walls with very good macro critters and tropical fish. A problem for photographers can be... which lens to take? If I take the wide angle lens and dome port for the corals at Medina and the Aquarium, I have to go back another day with my macro lens to photo the pygmy sea horse and other neat macro critters! Breakfasts are free with each night's lodging and lunch is free with two or more dives each day. There are many good dinner choices that are not expensive. Overall, I think that Mantangle Dive Resort is a very well managed resort, in a safe area, with very good diving, excellent service, good food, and very reasonable prices. From there, Divers can easily get to any other Philippine dive hot-sports in one day. www.Mantangalediveresort.com
Websites	Mantangale Alibuag Dive Resort.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Australia, Fiji, Truck, Yap, Palau, Bali, Lembeh, Hawaii, Florida, Red Sea, Soloman Islands, PNG, Caymans, Bonaire, BVI, Philippines and others
Closest Airport	Cagayan de Oro	Getting There	Fly to Cagayan de Oro or Butuan City from Manila. Resort can arrange transfers.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm, no currents
Water Temp	83-86°F / 28-30°C	Wetsuit Thickness	1
Water Visibility	40-80 Ft/ 12-24 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Experienced divers have some latitude and are bound mostly by the limits of their dive computer and air supply
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
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
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	Dive Boats have a rinse tank and there is one at the Dive Shop. There is no camera room, so battery charging, lens changes, etc. are usually done in the guest rooms.

Report currently has 2 Helpful votes

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Dive Review of Mantangale Alibuag Dive Resort. in Philippines/Mindanao

Mantangale Alibuag Dive Resort.: "Mantangale Dive Resort - A Safe Area in Mindanao", Jun, 2017,

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 Mantangale Alibuag Dive Resort. in
Philippines/Mindanao