Author Archives: Scandi Divers

Resort News, Scuba Diving in Puerto Galera

How To Become A Certified Scuba Diver

Posted on by Scandi Divers

PADI Open WaterAt 18 meters beneath the surface, we swam towards the ancient shipwreck. The hull, covered with a myriad of sea creatures, looked like something out of a movie. We floated with the current to the opposite end and spotted two black frog fish hanging out. They were remarkably still; they didn’t try and swim away, and they even stayed still for a few photos!

I was doing my PADI Open Water course and we were visiting Sabang Wrecks, one of the nearby Puerto Galera dive sites.

My first foray into diving began with the Discover Scuba Diving, or DSD for short. I wrote about my experience a month ago here. I was amazed by scuba diving, and all I could think was “why hadn’t I started sooner?”.

So it was with a great deal of excitement that I signed up to continue the adventure. Terry and the team at Scandi Divers were fantastic for the Discover Scuba Diving course, so I signed up straightaway with them.

The PADI Open Water course is made up of a few different components. Each component has a video and a chapter in the textbook, explaining various things relating to diving. You learn about essential safety skills, plus how to preserve the amazing beauty that lies beneath the water.

At the end of each chapter, you jump in the pool with your gear and practice skills. You’ll learn interesting stuff too! Ever wondered what to do if your mask fills with water when you’re under 20 meters of water? You can’t go to the surface… so what do you do? Or how about if your air runs out? What if you want to go to the surface – can you go straight up or do you need to go slowly? How does the pressure of water affect the air you breathe? How long can you stay underwater for, and can you go diving twice with little or no time in between dives?

These are things I learned on the PADI Open Water Course with Scandi. For some components, I studied with Terry. For others, I worked with Jenny, one of the other friendly dive instructors.

In between dives, I relaxed in the restaurant and enjoyed plenty of cups of their fantastic Starbucks coffee.

We visited a number of the best scuba diving sites in Puerto Galera, including Sabang Wrecks, Hole in the Wall and Monkey Beach. I had an absolute blast… I think I’ve caught the diving “bug”… I’m up to 10 dives now and I feel like the adventure is just beginning…

So if you’re looking for a fantastic place to go diving, check out Puerto Galera. Scandi Divers, one of the Puerto Galera resorts on Big La Laguna Beach can set you up with everything you need. You’ll have a fantastic time. Diving is, hands-down, one of the best Puerto Galera activities.

Resort News

THE Birthday Party!

Posted on by Scandi Divers

With Terry (GM), Arman (dive equip. co-ordinator), Nalyn (cook) & Rizza (waitress at LLBC) all having their birthdays within days of each other we decided to have one big party. Held up at the Sky Bar the birthdayers were joined by friends & guests to celebrate. Terry suppiled the beers & the kitchen team prepared a delicious BBQ buffet.

Activities, Resort News

Dentist Philippines – Looking For Cheap Dental Care In South East Asia?

Posted on by Scandi Divers

One of the best places in the world for quality dental care at affordable and reasonable prices is with a dentist Philippines. The prices may seem cheap but the quality of the dentistry is superb.

A Puerto Galera dental trip combined with beach resort with diving, snorkeling or just relaxing is a perfect combination of taking care of your dental needs and having fun.

People seem to talk and think of medical tourism but probably more people have dental needs that they cannot afford than medical. Also, hospitalization is not needed so you spend 95 per cent or more of your time enjoying your time having fun.

  • A Dental Cleaning is about 10 USD
  • A Dental Crown is 120-150 usd

Paul Hupp from Everett Washington from the United States said:

“I was told it would cost 18,000 USD for a very large dental prosthesis or bridge but I came to Puerto Galera and stayed at Scandi Divers in Philippines for 3 weeks and paid only 1,700 usd instead. I was able to take a scuba Diving course and enjoy my time while spending only 5,000 USD including Air Fare and all expenses and dental fees for the three weeks. The results were incredible, I am so happy I came too. Puerto Galera and Scandi Divers Beach and Dive Resort on Big La Laguna Beach. My mother was so pleased with my new smile. One friend already booked his trip to Puerto Galera for dental treatment he did not think he could afford.”

“Scandi Divers on Big La Laguna Beach in Puerto Galera was a great place to stay and the staff ended up being my friends, I liked them so well.”

One of the owners of the scandi divers resort is a physician, you make contact him directly about your dentist Philippines questions – David (at) DrDavidA.com

Activities, Resort News

The Big Clean-up!

Posted on by Scandi Divers

 

The Underwater Clean-up Team. From L-R: Terry, Ryan, Jenny, Cas, Arman, Camilla, Miles, Tobias, Walter.

Diving for Debris

Here at Scandi we’re committed to our Going Greener program.

This month, in line with Project Aware’s ‘Diving for Debris’ Scandi Divers completed a beach clean-up on the 10th and followed it with an underwater clean-up the following day.

Easter weekend had just passed with Big La Laguna beach playing host to lots of visitors. All the resorts were full, with families and friends playing in the beautiful warm clear ocean and enjoying barbecues on the beach. Of course this increase in people traffic meant that the level of litter unfortunately went up too.

All the diving staff helped in the beach clean-up. We worked our way from one end of the beach to the other, picking up lots of nasties from cigarette butts to nappies, chip packets to broken glass bottles. Our maintenance and boat crews joined in raking the beach to make it nice and smooth.

On the 11th we conducted the underwater clean-up, this time the clean-up team consisted of staff and guests. We had four teams who all took a section of the bay. Each team had a mesh bag and between us we managed to retrieve cans, plastic and glass bottles, snack packets, nylon line & even a drainpipe!

Then on Sunday the 13th Terry and his pals Paul & Eddie went down to Hondura beach in Puerto Galera to assist Green Fins with the clean-up they had arranged there. Good job boys!

Terry’s next project is to make & place rubbish bins along La Laguna beach to help reduce the amount of litter scattered up and down. We’re hoping to collaborate with the other resorts and dive shops to share the responsibility of emptying the bins.