Hi Olaf,

as it is the rainy (read RAINY) season, I would suggest you go south
around Bohol, Cebu, Malapascua, Siquijour, Apo Island and maybe even
Camiguin. Stay clear of Mindanao, its still a rough area and ...well,
you decide for yourself if you want to go there.

It rains more in the north than the south in these 2 months.

South off Bohol, you can find the Panglao peninsula with excellent
diving/snorkeling. From Alona Beach there are loads of resorts and dive
shops. 1 every 20m... eg a cheap but decent place is Alona Beach Resort

As Cebu is a long island from north-south, try and get to Malapascua
just off the north point with excellent diving. I think theres a resort
called Malapascua Blue Water Resort.

If you dont mind sailing a bit, consider taking a boat (I think there
are boats every day) from Bohol or south Cebu to Siquijour. This island
is apparently bewitched and there are many Philippinos who wont go
there coz they think they might not come back. Ok diving and very
small. Perhaps 2-3 days max. From here you can go onto the pearl, Apo
Island (not to be confused with Apo Reef in the north off Pandan
Island). This is basically just for divers so use the time here for
just that and enjoy! 2-3 days again. you can sail from Apo Island north
and fly to Manila from either Dumaguete (few flights a day) or Cebu
(many flights a day).

A sweet trip depending on your time constraints is:

fly to Cebu
trek up to Mala
take the supercat from Cebu-Bohol
chill at Alona
sail to Siqui
onto Apo Island
back to Cebu/Dumaguete and next stop

If you have time, perhaps a trip to Palawan to Busuanga and maybe even
El Nido. Here there is basically untouched diving with many WWII
wrecks. It is even possible to get to Apo Reef from Paradise Club
resort....if you have time: DO IT! Remember, you have to fly from
Cebu-Manila-Busuanga.

Domestic flights generally cost around USD65-100 per take off.

You can mail my ex-colleague Mikael at cctravel@cctravel.dk - he knows
diving in and out over there and used to be an instructor but is now
based in Denmark at this agency where I also used to work. Tell him
EX-ROOMIE sent you ;-)

A piece of advice: take every minute as it comes! Philippinos are the
coolest and most chilled people I have met in a looong time. Enjoy
their smiles, jokes and give it right back!

Have a cool trip!

Mark-Temba

Another option is Sabang on Mindoro Island. Excelent diving and very
laid back place. The prices are right to with some of the cheapest
diving in Phils. Was there in September last year and even though it
was the rainy season, we didn't see but an occasional shower. But
thats the luck of the draw on the weather. Even the dry season can be
very wet there, while the rainy season can be very dry.

Sabang has some of the best diversity you'll find anywhere. Mainly due
to numerous currents all meeting in one area. Diving locations are
litterally minutes from you hotel. If you don't like current diving,
maybe its not the best place for you.

There are many little islettes all over and you can easily hire a boat
to go island hoping. Or go for hike in the jungles there. The whole
island is mostly jungle. Sabang doesn't have a real nice beach, but a
jeepney or trike ride will get you to nice beaches. But its the best
place to set yourself for diving in Mindoro. Very small town actually
which is pretty much geared around diving. This is Sabang Puerto
Gallera on Mindoro Island, don't confuse it with Sabang Palawan. You
take a bus or cab to Batangas and there catch a ferry to get to either
Puerto Gallera or Sabang. The ferries are faster to Puerto Gallera,
but when you need to travel then to Sabang, its faster taking the
slower boat.