South Sea Divers
South Sea Divers
5
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About
Since 1983 our relaxed and friendly dive shop has been conveniently located right on Sabang Beach in Puerto Galera, Philippines. Within a 10 minute boat ride you can enjoy a wide range of scuba diving experiences; from exploring wrecks and leisurely drift dives in shallow bays, to challenging depth and exciting current dives.We dive only in small Groups and are happy to cater for individual needs and wishes.
Sabang, Philippines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
52 reviews
Excellent
50
Very good
1
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Sam B
Lausanne, Switzerland11 contributions
Dec 2015 • Solo
Staff is very frinedly and extremely professionnal. If you want to dive with reliable professional and small group this is the dive shop to go for.
Written March 27, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Sam,
Thank you very much for the good review.
We hope to see you again on the beach.
All the best,
SSDTEAM
Written March 28, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Josh L
Hong Kong, China4 contributions
Mar 2016 • Solo
I was recommended to try South Sea Divers to obtain my Open Water Licence from a friend who visits Sabang every year and I could not have been happier with the experience. David, Paul, Cherry and the rest of the team are very friendly and professional, and for someone who has never been diving before I found David to be thorough and constantly on the watch to ensure I was comfortable and not experiencing any difficulties.
Although South Sea Divers may not be as large as some of the other diving schools I believe this is a a real bonus because you will find the lessons and dives to be a lot more personalised and less crowded. David has been in Sabang since 1983 and knows the place like the back of his hand, and Sabang itself is such a great place for diving with corals literally just off the beach.
I would not hesitate to recommend South Sea divers to anyone who is heading to Sabang and will certainly be going to them again in the near future!
Although South Sea Divers may not be as large as some of the other diving schools I believe this is a a real bonus because you will find the lessons and dives to be a lot more personalised and less crowded. David has been in Sabang since 1983 and knows the place like the back of his hand, and Sabang itself is such a great place for diving with corals literally just off the beach.
I would not hesitate to recommend South Sea divers to anyone who is heading to Sabang and will certainly be going to them again in the near future!
Written April 19, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hey Josh (Guss ;)
Thanks a lot for your fantastic review. We hope to see you again-soon!
All the best,
SSD TEAM
Written April 20, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sebastian M
2 contributions
Mar 2014 • Couples
I went to Sabang to enroll in the PADI Open Water Diver course at 'South Sea Divers' in March 2014. This somewhat smaller dive centre is driven by 'Sky', an American dive master, who founded it some decades ago as one of the first dive spots in Sabang.
Sky also became my dive instructor, which turned out to be very fortunate. He is a well-experienced and friendly person, teaching me the course content with high quality and patience!
After learning the dive basics in a nearby swimming pool, I particularly enjoyed the open water dives at various dive sites.
Beside my dive instructor, all other people at the dive centre were very friendly and helpful, in particular the 'secretary' who nicely took care of all the administrational issues.
Overall, it was a great experience, and I can recommend South Sea Divers to beginners as well as experienced divers!
Sky also became my dive instructor, which turned out to be very fortunate. He is a well-experienced and friendly person, teaching me the course content with high quality and patience!
After learning the dive basics in a nearby swimming pool, I particularly enjoyed the open water dives at various dive sites.
Beside my dive instructor, all other people at the dive centre were very friendly and helpful, in particular the 'secretary' who nicely took care of all the administrational issues.
Overall, it was a great experience, and I can recommend South Sea Divers to beginners as well as experienced divers!
Written May 6, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Sebastian, thank you for your comments on tripadvisor. I'm glad the you enjoyed the course, as you know I enjoy teaching so we both had a good time. :) Thanks again. Sky
Written May 11, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
cannellele
Nantes, France6 contributions
Jan 2014 • Solo
I was enrolled in the PADI Open Water Diver course of this diver center and was very happy about the quality of the PADI instructors and also the diver accompanists. They are all very friendly and well-experienced. The tutor was enthusiasm and the price was very correct. For this course i had 5 open water dive and all the sites was wonderful. They speak English, Spanish and also French. In this center I have met some international divers and they are all happy about the quality of the service and they really love the atmosphere here
Written February 9, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there Miss!
Thank you so much for the very nice review.... : )) Hope to see you again.
Take care!
SSD TEAM
Written May 5, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Robert D
Golfito, Costa Rica53 contributions
Dec 2013 • Solo
Between 21 Dec 2013 and 3 Jan 2014, I had the pleasure of diving with Sky and his team of professionals in Sabang. Sky, Paul, Cherry, Amil, and Kim are what make South sea Divers click. Gear is sorted and in order, boats are in great operating condition and the facilities are clean and organized. Yes Diving in Sabang is great, but diving with South Sea Divers made it an awesome experience. Upon request Sky sorted out a midnight dive for us on New Years Eve. Rockets punctuated our departure from the beach and the drift dive Sky chose was perfect. As we came back into port, the rockets once again celebrated our return. Next to the dive center is a great beachfront restaurant to make the dive intervals. the view from Tamarind is exquisite and the snacks between dives light and refreshing. Thanks Sky and Paul! and thanks to your team at South sea Divers who made this holiday special!
Written January 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hellooo Sir Bob, thank you very much for the wonderful message. I'm sure all gets it :)
We hope to see you again. Be safe!
Best Regards,
Cherry
Written February 8, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
GypsyGal_11
Sydney232 contributions
Jan 2014 • Solo
Could not recommend Sky, Paul, Cherry and the team at South Sea Divers highly enough. When I look for a dive business the first thing I do is check how long they have been operating - Skys record speaks for itself. You dont stay in business that long without being a cut above the rest. Nothing was too much trouble for South Sea Divers, who accommodated my crazy New Years Eve dive ritual by putting on a bbq and taking a small group of us out to dive into the new year. What a way to start the year, thank you so much for everything, I can see why you have divers who have returned for 20 years.
Sky also arranged to do a memorial dive for me and took extra care helping me out in so many ways. This personal service is what you need in a dive op.
The fact that other divers booked on packages with other resorts preferred to forego pre paid for dives to join us at South Sea Divers says everything about this dive centre.
Fly on :)
Sky also arranged to do a memorial dive for me and took extra care helping me out in so many ways. This personal service is what you need in a dive op.
The fact that other divers booked on packages with other resorts preferred to forego pre paid for dives to join us at South Sea Divers says everything about this dive centre.
Fly on :)
Written January 9, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Cindy.
Thank you so much for your great review on our shop...........it is sure to bring me some divers. :) hope we see ya again soon. Ps. Sorry that I didn't get a chance to say good bye to you.........something came up that I had to attend to. Fly on little wing.........sky
Written January 10, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BROSMANS
14 contributions
Feb 2017 • Solo
A small shop with good personal attention. Paul does great under water videos especially with the scooter my favorite. you can go through 3 dive sites with one tank and not worry about currents. He then adds music to the video.
going back for the 4th time soon
going back for the 4th time soon
Written April 29, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave L
Vancouver, Canada8 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
We just finished 9 days of diving with South Sea in Sabang Beach. We did 22 dives at various sites from 30m (100 ft) to 10m (30 ft). We saw turtles, frog fish, cuttlefish, mantis shrimp, eels, sea snakes and hundreds of varieties of fish. South Sea divemasters know the sites and go at a nice relaxed pace. The reefs off Sabang are very healthy with vibrant, diverse and colourful coral.
There are 4 divemasters at South Sea, two of whom are also instructors. Safety comes first with all of them but that is closely followed by service and satisfaction. We booked our accommodation through Cherry, the dive shop administrator/manager/ambassador and everything was perfect. More importantly we felt like family. We discussed everything you could think of with Sky, the owner and Paul, the co-manager. Sitting having a cup of tea or milo after a dive and talking with the staff or whoever happened to drop into the shop was a hi-light of our day.
We heard that diving in the Philippines was inexpensive but we didn't really anticipate the value we would get. Although the advertised price is 1200 php (24 USD) per dive we were offered a rate of 16,000 php (320 USD) for 18 dives. We ended up doing 22 dives at the same per dive rate, which worked out to 890 php (just under 18 USD) each. Nitrox and a larger tank were 200 php (4 USD) and 100 php (2 USD) extra. A two dive trip to Verde Island cost us only 1350 php (27 USD) extra for the banca rental even though we only had 4 divers on the boat. Setup, transport and rinsing of our heavy gear was included so we just had to worry about masks, computers, wetsuits and fins. We had a maximum of six divers to a divemaster, but often it was 3, 4 or just the two of us....no number was too small to not do a dive.
All in all great value, great fun and some new friendships.
There are 4 divemasters at South Sea, two of whom are also instructors. Safety comes first with all of them but that is closely followed by service and satisfaction. We booked our accommodation through Cherry, the dive shop administrator/manager/ambassador and everything was perfect. More importantly we felt like family. We discussed everything you could think of with Sky, the owner and Paul, the co-manager. Sitting having a cup of tea or milo after a dive and talking with the staff or whoever happened to drop into the shop was a hi-light of our day.
We heard that diving in the Philippines was inexpensive but we didn't really anticipate the value we would get. Although the advertised price is 1200 php (24 USD) per dive we were offered a rate of 16,000 php (320 USD) for 18 dives. We ended up doing 22 dives at the same per dive rate, which worked out to 890 php (just under 18 USD) each. Nitrox and a larger tank were 200 php (4 USD) and 100 php (2 USD) extra. A two dive trip to Verde Island cost us only 1350 php (27 USD) extra for the banca rental even though we only had 4 divers on the boat. Setup, transport and rinsing of our heavy gear was included so we just had to worry about masks, computers, wetsuits and fins. We had a maximum of six divers to a divemaster, but often it was 3, 4 or just the two of us....no number was too small to not do a dive.
All in all great value, great fun and some new friendships.
Written March 11, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi David and Chris.
Thank you so much for you kind words.........you guys are a fun couple to have around during surface intervals. We so do hope you will return soon. It makes our job in the dive shop not seem like a job with people like you around.
Sky and SSDTEAM Team
Written March 13, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dewald S
London, UK8 contributions
Apr 2016 • Solo
As this is one of the smallest dive shops in Sabang, you really become part of the family and feels like a personal service. Dive equipment is new and good quality. I highly recommend this dive operator.
Written April 19, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Dave,
Thank you so much for the great review. That's cool!
See you around :)
All the best,
Written April 20, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Valerio C
London, United Kingdom1 contribution
Feb 2016 • Solo
I spent over a month in the Philippines and I visited Sabang three times, the guys at South Sea very just fantastic, super professional and fun dive masters, friendly and welcoming vibe, and most of all, they know the sites like their pockets! Sky is like a guru in Sabang, he's been diving those waters for over 30 years!!! And if you need accomodation, they can help you with that also. You guys really have a special place in my heart :)
Written March 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Valerio,
Thank you for staying and diving with us, and of course, thank you so much for that very nice review.
Hope everything is good with you. Keep in touch V.
All the best,
SSDTEAM
Written March 29, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
juverandr
Meredith, New Hampshire
I would like to know how to get there from Manila by bus.
Written November 27, 2017
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