This is a bit more like paradise. The island is 1.5km long but the main beach – Bounty, is full of dive centres. Initially I thought it was over developed and it is to an extent but it was also quite isolated in this place, as you are at one end and we never really ventured out – there was real no need to. Nice sandy / ground up coral beach. You can walk about barefoot all the time although the sand can be hot. The Craic House –bar/restaurant is fine. My only issue was too much American / UK food – burger and chips, fish and chips etc. I had the Filipino Bicol Express on 4 nights to be authentic!
The rooms are lovely, huge beds, air con was ok and a ceiling fan. The TV had various films on demand, rather than actual channels. So for the few hours you might be in the room – you can watch Bridge over the River Kwai or Star Wars etc.
The staff are really helpful, friendly and smiley, you run up a tab and settle at the end of the week. They get to know your names which is quite nice. No need to tip as you go – just chuck it in the box at the end of your stay. Even though it is an island the food and drink were about the same price as we paid in Moalboal, Cebu – 60PHP / £1 for a small beer (San Miguel brewed in the Philippines) £1.30ish for a large beer 500ml – Red Horse 6.9% and roughly 300PHP-500PHP £5-£8 for a main meal. It’s very laid back and relaxing. I was here for diving so didn’t do a lot else. The Thresher shark dive was ok, it was mobbed with divers (13 boats) and we only saw glimpses of the sharks but its almost guaranteed you will see them. It’s off the bucket list. The diving was pretty good. Water temp was 28 degrees – I used a 1mm shortie and 2mm undervest – I was fine. Some others wore 5mm.
Behind all the hotels are alleyways where the locals live. It’s got the shanty town feel but this is how locals live. We never really went out anywhere else as when you are in a largish group its difficult to organise at times and it is too east to stay put. The one time we did go out was the dwarf v lady boy basketball match at one end of the island. So politically incorrect, but very entertaining. If you have to stay in touch etc, Wifi is on offer in the restaurant area only and was perfectly ok.
Diving is well organised, your kit is carried for you and tanks changed as well. The guys get to know your equipment and set up. We could do with this in the UK!
Lovely setting, warm sea water, nice diving. Viz is probably 15-20m so it is not up there with Red Sea viz but there’s plenty of life and colour and it was nice to see things that I’ve not seen before.
I really enjoyed the week I spent here, it’s a great set up, well run, nice accommodation. More or less everyone seems to say the same and rate this place highly on Trip Adviser and to be fair you shouldn’t be disappointed.