Scuba diving = too expensive

[freeheeler]

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Does anyone else agree that suba diving seems to be very expensive here in the Philippines?

I am due to visit in April and wanted to put my g/f through the "Open water" PADI course after she had enjoyed doing a fun dive at Moal Boal. We had also been to Bohol and wanted to try somewhere different.

Two places I looked at were Dumaguete and Cabilao. However, I've been quoted prices of between $375 to $470 for the course at these resorts and room prices of $120 per night for nothing more than a bed with a/c. I don't mind staying in simple accomadation but i don;t like paying throgh the nose for it as we say!! I notice that most of these places are run by Germans/Swiss people and seem to cater exclusively for their countrymen with their prices being marked in Euros

I find it strange that I could take my g/f to Hawaii when she comes here and have her take the same course for less and stay in cheaper/better accomadation. When i took my NAUI course it only cost $270 and is now only $315. I can only imagine that these prices are too high for most locals to enjoy the facilities and the possibilities of doing a diving course.

I'm sure there is cheaper accomadation if you know where to look but i don't want to stay miles away from the beach or the dive shop.

[Ceb2Ak]

Try ug research sa Malapascua naa did2 mo certified. I think kng naa ka own Scuba Gears dli na ky na mahal.

But hey found there website

http://www.malapascua.net/index1.html

[freeheeler]

Thank you for that, I had come across their website but they had listed no prices. I will contact them and find out what their prices are.

I made my post really just out of curiousity to find out what others, expecially locals thought about the high prices of courses and accomadation. One place we are looking at is

El Dorado resort in Dumaguete, prices look reasonable and they are close to Apo island

Thanks again for the reply

Martin

[Ceb2Ak]

Your Welcome
I was searching also a course for scuba diving b4..but i turned out not to coz first I dont know how to swim. But my husband do love scuba diving..so i just told him to do snorkeling.Where you dive?

[freeheeler]

Your Welcome
I was searching also a course for scuba diving b4..but i turned out not to coz first I dont know how to swim. But my husband do love scuba diving..so i just told him to do snorkeling.Where you dive?

Most of my diving has been done in Hawaii and off the coast of California. I did a fun dive last November with my g/f in Moal boal, this was her first ever time trying scuba, we had snorkeled together before, but the weather was not that great, so hopefully this time we will get the sunshine

Thanks for your reply

Martin

[uphilin96]

i like this thread cause ive been trying to find cheaper scuba diving lessons too thanks for your post about el dorado . i looked at the site and you were right they do have lower rates than the others ive seen so far.
i agree that diving lessons here are too expensive for the average filipino. thats too bad for us who loves to learn but is a little short of extra money

[freeheeler]

i like this thread cause ive been trying to find cheaper scuba diving lessons too thanks for your post about el dorado . i looked at the site and you were right they do have lower rates than the others ive seen so far.
i agree that diving lessons here are too expensive for the average filipino. thats too bad for us who loves to learn but is a little short of extra money

Thanks for the reply

I just got an e-mail back from the company that was mentioned earlier on this thread on Malapscua. A twin room was $85 a night. The cost of the course was $285 if you have already completed the e-learning part of the course which is $120, so that is over $400 for the course

http://www.malapascua.net/index1.html

Again, that is more expensive that Hawaii or California and comparable with the Bahamas. I feel sorry for the locals who would like to try this out!!

[shinobi101]

amen.. they should try to lower down their rates so we can afford their services..

[freeheeler]

I just booked dour trip to Dumaguete and we will be staying at El Dorado resort, by far they have the best value accomadation of all the places I checked. The standard rooms are good value and will suit me fine. Their course fees are about the same as everyone else, no better and no worse. I was quoted as high as $450 for the Open Water course

If you are already qualified it is definately cheaper to dive in the Philippines compared to anywhere else I have been to. It's just the cost of the courses that suprise me, I see no reason why the prices should be as high in the Philippines as Hawaii

My course cost me $275 3 years ago and the price has now gone up to $325

http://www.mitchellscuba.com/scuba.html

I don't see why the price should be as high or more expensive in the Philippines. iI know that a lot of tourists that stay in these resorts are from abroad, either European or from the States, but I think this in unfair on the locals who would love to be able to try out scuba diving but cannot afford the high prices.

[stork320]

diving is a hobby, so it naturally would cost you money..

there is a good padi dive center in Pacific Cebu Resort Mactan,cEbu. It is probably the biggest diving school in the country and has practically all the bells and whistles that a diving school should have.. http://pacificceburesort.net/ this is their website but also be aware that it is a separate/independent operation as the hotel so it is best that you walk in and negotiate for a deal with the facitlity itself and not through the hotel unless you want to pay more..

scuba world is also another place where you can go and learn to dive..http://www.scubaworld.com.ph/index.php@pid=14.htm its another decent place to learn how to dive..


you last option is to go direct to a diving instructor who does one on one instruction.. try Jenz Hoffman, he is a german PADI instructor living in mactan, a nice pleasant guy who can speak a bit of cebuano. try giving him a call and negotiate for a good price which he usually gives.. +639283456903 try this link http://msdc-diver.110mb.com/E-index.htm

an openwater diver certificate will cost you between P10-15k these days. books, gear, air and everything included.. they basically teach the same things and use the same PADI textbooks. learning like anything else will come mostly from your efforts so it should basically be the same banana wherever you go.

happy diving! :mrgreen: