The Most Commonly Asked Questions:

Which immunization injections are necessary?

Tetanus, Hepatitis A&B

Is there malaria?

No, and there is no need to take malaria tablets within and around Puerto Galera.

What medical facilities are available?

In Puerto Galera there are three doctors and a small clinic.  There is also one doctor on Sabang beach. Better hospitals can be found one hour away by boat in Batangas City. There are however several small drugstores on Sabang beach which sell commonly used medicines.

What is the best method of payment?

Hotels and diving can be paid by Visa and MasterCard;  however there is a 6% service charge on top.

US$ Traveler Cheques are good to bring, and you are able to change these at the resort.

What are the prices for food and drinks?

Prices vary depending on where and what you are eating. An average meal costs between US$ 2 to $5. Soft drinks generally cost US $0.50 and beer ranges from $0.80 to $1.50 depending on where you go.

Do you need a visa?

You are allowed to stay 21 days in the Philippines without a visa. If you are planning on staying longer, the best thing to do is to go to the Philippines Embassy and ask for a 59 day visa. Extensions are available up to 6 months. 

It is also possible to get visa extensions done on the island with one of the local travel agencies.

How do you get to Puerto Galera?

A pick-up service from the airport is available which will transport you directly from Manila to Batangas City by a small mini van, where you will be met by a boat to take you to Sabang beach.

Taking an airport taxi to any of the hotels in Manila is another option, where you can spend the night and take a bus in the morning. (see Page Location)

What activities besides diving are offered?

-          motorcycle rental to explore the island

-          beach volleyball every Monday

-          Football every Tuesday

-          Hash House Harriers (jogging club) every Sunday

-          Golfing (9 hole course)

-          Snorkeling

-          Kayak tours

-          Trekking tours

What special local things are there to buy?

-          Summer clothes

-          Wooden Handicrafts

-          Marble

-          Watches and jewelry (Manila)

-          Dive and golf equipment

When is the best time to travel?

December to July: Temperature ranges from 28 to 31 degrees Celsius; generally dry

July to November: Temperature ranges from 29 to 32 degrees Celsius; humid and occasionally rainy

What kind of clothes are best to bring?

Comfortable summer clothes and sandals.

What kinds of film are available for developing?

Film developing is really cheap in Puerto Galera, and standard 35 mm film can be developed, whilst APS and slide films are only possible to develop and buy in Manila.

How is it with drinking water in Puerto Galera?

Bottled mineral water is available, although most of the tap water is from the Puerto Galera springs, so it is safe for drinking.

Is it alright to bring children and is there something to occupy them?

There is a swimming pool at the resort and there are several small beaches nearby to keep the kids occupied. The local people love children and will take care of them any time.

What kinds of food are available?

There is a great variety of restaurants to choose from, so you will never have any difficulty finding something that you want. There are Thai, German, French, Italian, Indian, Korean, Japanese and of course local cuisine available.

What kind of night life is available?

There are several small outdoor and indoor bars, as well as a number of discos which all close at about three AM. If you want to stay out longer, there are also some small beach bars which are open 24 hours.

What are the main languages spoken?

The official language is Tagalog, although almost all of the locals speak English.

How long does it take to reach the divesites?

Almost all of the dive sites are within 20 minutes of the dive shop by boat. There are however some dive sites which are about an hour away, and these are generally done as a day trip. (For more information, see Page Dive sites)

To do a dive course, is there anything special that you need to bring?

Just a bathing suit and yourself!

Although if you are over 45 years of age, you need to bring a medical statement from a doctor stating that you are fit for diving.

What happens in case of an accident?

At the dive shop there is a Wenoll Oxygen System which is useful for any diving accident.

All the establishments here in Puerto Galera are part of the PGDA (Puerto Galera Dive shop Association) who have a set emergency plan in the event that there is an accident. Transport via helicopter can be arranged within twenty minutes to Batangas or to Manila.

The closest Recompression Chamber can be reached within one and a half hours.

Can I bring my charger?

No problem. The voltage is 220 V. A voltage regulator is also available at the dive shop in case of power surges. Most power outlets are of the two flat pin design. It is probably best to bring an adapter suited for Asian countries.