Accommodation
Go Dive Philippines accommodation can vary between rustic and 5 star. Wherever possible, we try to give you the most authentic experience by choosing resorts which have a local flavour – rattan walls, palm-leaf roofs etc. We do, however, insist on en-suite bathrooms, friendly service and cleanliness, as an absolute minimum. We have stayed in all our resorts ourselves! When in the cities, we normally use 4 or 5 star hotels, purely because there is no acceptable local option. Single supplements may be payable for single occupation, or alternately, we will try to match single clients together where possible.
Airport Taxes
UK Air Passenger Duty and all UK Airport departure taxes are included in your flight price. Foreign departure taxes vary from country to country and may have to be paid locally on departure.
Baggage
After check in, the carrier has responsibility for your baggage. In the event of lost or mislaid baggage, you must complete a 'Property Irregularity Report' at the airport. Generally, your baggage allowance on international flights is 20kgs plus one piece of hand luggage of 5kgs. Some charter airlines and some light aircraft will have lower allowances. Your ticket will state the applicable allowances for each leg of your journey. Excess baggage charges vary between airlines. Recent coverage in the press has prompted some airlines to grant an extra allowance for diving equipment. Our advice is to check with the airline concerned prior to departure. Should an airline maintain a policy of extra allowance for equipment, this will be made clear to you at the time of booking.
Brochure / Website Accuracy
Every attempt has been made to ensure accurate information in our brochures and this website. References to the presence of marine life do not guarantee that you will see it. The location diving descriptions are based on personal experience. If you have anything to add to our own experience, we would be glad to hear from you.
Climate
Climate is generally ranges from 26 – 34 degrees Celsius with above average humidity during the wet season. The dry season is from October to May and the wet season is June to September. During the wet season it is very rare rains last for more than a week (in most cases it’s around 3 – 4 days with just overcast clouds on other days) but on rare occasions it can rain for 2 – 3 weeks. Many divers prefer the rainy season as having superior visibility for diving.
Clothing
Flip-flops and tee-shirts are the normal dress, with perhaps a pair of slacks and a shirt for the time spent in the city prior to departure. Robert (UK Sales) brings: the lightweight waterproof jacket he travels to Heathrow in, the trousers he travels in, 1 pair flip-flops, 1 pair swimming trunks, 1 pair shorts, 1 sarong, 3 tee-shirts and 1 polo shirt. Paula adds a lightweight skirt. Do NOT over burden yourselves with clothes – lightweight clothes can be washed & dried overnight.
Currency
The local currency is the Philippine Peso. 1 UK Pound is about Php84.00. ATMs are available only in the larger towns & cities. Clients are therefore recommended to take sufficient local currency to cover incidental expenses in the resorts. Go Dive Philippines will offer currency exchange at the resort if required. Please do not rely on being able to change money at the airport of arrival – the queues are often extremely long, and the rates excessive.
Disabled Clients
Not all locations are suitable for disabled clients. Please give details of any disability and we will endeavour to give every possible assistance. We have noted where dive centres have suitably qualified staff.
Diving Equipment
We will have an inventory of dive equipment available in case of any malfunction in your equipment. If you need to rent any equipment please inform us ahead of time. Dive equipment not included in our inventory may be purchased at advantageous prices, but it may take a few days to get these to the resort (these will be purchased from the city).
Dive Qualifications
It is the diver’s own responsibility to dive within his/her own limitations, and those laid down by his/her insurance and qualification level. Both the resort and your Dive Master will require to see your dive qualification and you most recent logbook. You may not be allowed to dive if not in possession of these documents.
Dive Suits
A 1.5 mm wetsuit would be acceptable, for local diving (depending on your tolerance for the cold). Some local divers just use rash guards and board shorts which are acceptable but having a wet suit for protection against jelly fish and small stinging creatures would be our recommendation. Anything between a rash suit & a 3mm shortie would normally suffice – water temperatures rarely drop below 27 degrees.
Electricity & Water
As in the UK, Filipinos use 220/240 volts. But you will need to bring US style plug adaptors to fit their sockets. There are occasional ‘brown-outs’, but most resorts have generators as well. Water is drinkable in all our resorts unless we warn you otherwise. Bottled water is cheap & easily available.
Excursions
We will suggest local excursions if required, and where necessary will book them for you. Please be aware that we may not have tried them all ourselves, and often rely on the recommendation of other tourists.
Flight Security
You should check with your departure airport as to the local security measures in force at the time.
Flights and Flight Carriers
Flights, if sold as part of a package, will be with carriers & airlines selected by us. Travel schedules will be sent to you, together with your tickets, as soon as they are issued by the ATOL agents through which we book.
Health & Safety
As a general rule, no special medical risks exist in any of the areas which we visit. Should we become aware of any such risks, clients will be informed in advance. Specialist advice on inoculations is freely available in UK – most people ensure their DTP is up-to-date. In the unlikely event that we plan to visit any areas with a risk of malaria, we will again warn you in advance. The standard of medical care in the Philippines is extremely high – although in more remote areas, may not be easily available. Clients with existing conditions should take sufficient medication with them. Most medication is available locally, but may be differently branded. A separate list will be available before departure with our recommendations for making up your own travel medical kit, based on our own experience.
Insurance
All divers must be in possession of a suitable dive insurance, covering local medical treatment and repatriation as a minimum. We will ask you for details of this insurance before departure. All clients, divers or not, should also be in possession of suitable travel insurance covering 3rd Party liability, theft and so on. We will be pleased to recommend a suitable insurer if required. It is your responsibility to ensure you are adequately insured for all risks.
Last Minute
Any packages booked less than 8 weeks prior to departure must be paid in full at the time of booking.
Meal Arrangements
Go Dive Philippines have at least one meal as part of the package, although in most cases it consists of full board. Clients will be notified of the specific arrangements in their resort. Our aim at all times is to introduce you to the pleasures of our local cuisine. Special requests for meals should be arranged ahead of time.
Special Requests
If you have any special requests such as special dietary requirements, please notify us at the earliest opportunity so that we can make sure that they are available in plenty of time.
Telecommunications
Local mobile phone networks use the GSM system. All UK/EU phones will work in the Philippines as long as roaming is enabled before departure. Network coverage, even in remote areas, is excellent. Go Dive Philippines will offer a mobile phone which can be used for incoming and outgoing calls to the UK . A basic call fee based on local international call charges will be charged to guests.
Tickets
Your flight tickets will be issued by the ATOL holder on whose behalf we act as agent. Please check timings on the ticket as they may have changed since your booking confirmation was issued. Once they have been issued, tickets are non-transferable, non-changeable and non-refundable. Please check that details are all correct including names and initials as they will be checked against your passport. We cannot be held responsible for late showing and are under no obligation to provide alternative arrangements.
UK Hospitality
We can arrange travel to and from most UK airports and arrange airport accommodation and parking, mostly with free airport transfers should you require.
Unused Services
Please note that no refund will be given for non-utilised services including diving and accommodation.
Visas & Passports
Holders of UK/EU passports should ensure that their passports are valid for at least 6 months before departure. Visas are not required for the Philippines for stays not exceeding 3 weeks. Please contact the Philippine Consulate for advice if you wish to exceed 3 weeks. |
