Diving Snorkel SCUBA Location

[O-G]

Need to know info on where free diving spearfishing, scuba or snorkel only, in Philippines Pangasinan area of Luzon at Lingyuan Gulf near Dagupan, San Fabian or La Union; there's protected/restricted areas around & open areas. Hundred Islands area is questionable & controversial protected? Palawan requires a 2 hr flight but I do have a relative in law there so? Please reply and/or email  REMOVED

[Guy F.]

Snorkeled once in Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa, Palawan. It was good. By all accounts northern Palawan is amazing. My best experience ever was at a Marine Protected Area a 30 minute boat ride from Mactan Island, near Cebu.

[Gator]

5 hours ago, O-G said:

Need to know info on where free diving spearfishing, scuba or snorkel only, in Philippines Pangasinan area of Luzon at Lingyuan Gulf near Dagupan, San Fabian or La Union; there's protected/restricted areas around & open areas. Hundred Islands area is questionable & controversial protected? Palawan requires a 2 hr flight but I do have a relative in law there so? Please reply and/or email  REMOVED

Have you inquired at any of the local dive shops? I’d book a dive with one or two and chat up the dive masters / deck hands. Can also try searching wastebook or other social media for any local groups - safer to go with a dive buddy as well. 

[O-G]

Thanks Gator,

I'll try getting info from them. Since my post it seems after Wifie' & research on tablet videos/info we'll be going to Bolinao In Pangasinan; Tondol beach etc; & possibly Hundred Islands; it all depends, for me at least, upon finding places i can get out with my gear & spear to secluded shallow reef areas without family (in-laws)-(non swimmers) nosey reef protectiors, regulation etc; i think after 25+ yrs PADI Open Water Cert; I'm not likely to do harm. Maybe there's even a kayak/ sm.boat to rent from a local. Got to be better than the rest of the 3 weeks back in the Bangaray before back to CA. Any more info please feel free to share 

Kind regards; 

Steve

O-G (Old-Guy)

[Gator]

The only other info I can share is to be sure you don’t spearfish (or even take a piece of coral laying in the sand) in a marine park or sanctuary as it’s prohibited. Ignorance is not an excuse. Also, if you scuba dive in one, or in a government designated “dive site”, then you might need to pay a fee first. Dive shop operators collect the fee (or incorporate it into their tour fee) and it’s typically about 50 to 150 pesos per day per person; the amount of the fee depends on the government’s classification of the dive site.  

[Viking]

Just make sure that you dont break any laws if you go out with a speargun on your own. I am not sure, but I Think a speargun is considered as a weapon. As a foreigner is it easy to think we can do all the things that the locals can do, but that is not always the case. Good luck to you.

[O-G]

Thank's Gator; good info to know😊

[O-G]

Thank you for being helpful Viking and others; it's good to know these things before learning the hard way👍

[Heeb]

I used to go spearfishing here in Subic back when I was in the Navy, mostly at night around the reef snorkeling, I was thinking about taking it up again here but not at night since I don't think I would be comfortable now that it's not a base. I gave up on the idea after reading the Subic Marine rules and protection pamphlet, it was confusing but from what I can tell it wouldn't be allowed in the areas near Cubi pt that I used to go.

[O-G]

Thanks for the location info Heeb. I've also not considered Subic area since passing thru there on to Pearl & eventual discharge after Nam PBR

Kind regards 

Semper Fortis

O-G