so many of their reefs have been destroyed by dynamiting the reef...or
pounding the reef.  The Philippines once had some of the best reefs in the
world -- the diversity was mind boggling....I mean, so many different
types of corals that couldn't be found anywhere else and in such
profusion.

Then the country became front page news with insurgents and fighting --
and the people who ran dive trips there couldn't sell it anymore.

I was on a dive charter boat off Mindoro Island (south of Luzon) on the
way to Apo Reef and it was fantastic.  That was back in 1979 before the
country became front page news for trouble.  But I've never known that the
Philippines was a place to dive just after getting off the plane, which is
what you seem to suggest.

Today...the preferred sites where all of the excitement is found would
involve traveling to remote areas (for the most part, like Palawan or
maybe out into the Sulu Sea where pirates operate and no one goes there).
Also, out in the Sulu Sea is that "haunted" atoll which people are afraid
to dive -- bad things have happened there.

As far as traffic is concerned, there is one thing that I'm sure will
frustrate you and that is the horrendous traffic in Manila. At times, it
literally takes hours to cover just a few miles. Since this is a business
trip, I would assume that you will have a car rental. It would probably be
better if you get a car with a driver. That way you don't have to be a road
warrior and battle the Manila traffic.

As far as diving is concerned, you would probably want a dive site closest
to Manila that would be Anilao in Bantangas. Here's one of the many websites
about Anilao

http://www.travelsmart.net/ph/Diving_Sites/Batangas.htm

Good diving close south of Manila, try  http://www.mayamaya.com/dive.htm

Carl