Saving our Bacon in Palawan: Lunar New Year Travels

I'm usually on top of lunar new year travel plans by late autumn, but this year, I really procrastinated. Last year we didn't even bother to go anywhere, our first time in Taiwan during Chinese New Year. I suppose our countryside home and having dogs makes us quite content on the domestic front. Even so, for this year of the Pig, I mustered up enough resources to snatch up cheap flights to El Nido.

It was my daughter's first time to Palawan, and my second time, having been there nineteen years ago. We flew into Puerto Princessa and booked tours through our hotel and eventually took a shared van to El Nido.

The food was extreme; the sweets were very sweet, the sour soup was very sour, and everything was extremely salty. I was big into ube (purple potato) everything, usually baked sweets, sticky rice sweets. All of our hotels had complimentary breakfasts and island hopping tours, or diving usually included buffets on the beach or boats. In PP, we ate cheap lunches at the traditional markets, delicious and authentic. At dinner we splurged, at a Japanese restaurant recommended by my Manilan coworker for example or at a nicer hotel. In El Nido, I just had to make sure we were back on our balcony with a beer for the sunset.

 

Airport transport to PP city: Our hotel picked us up for free, but travelers can also catch a tricycle on the main road for a fare of 50 pesos per tricycle (2016). Take note that there are airport tricycles and regular tricycles.  Airport tricycles usually charge PHP 50 (USD 1/ EURO .86/ SGD 1.35/ MYR 4.23) to get to Puerto Princesa city center.  Regular tricycle fare is PHP 10 (USD .20 / EURO .17/ SGD .27/ MYR .85)

Puerto Pension Inn   (3 nights) 2917 TWD/ ₱ 4,963.62

35 Malvar Street, Palawan, 5300 Puerto Princesa City, Philippines +63 917 836 6316

Tours:

1. PALAWAN UNDERGROUND RIVER - PHP 2200 PER PERSON (1,294 TWD)

2. HONDA BAY TOUR ---PHP 1300.00 PER PERSON (764 TWD)

3. CITY TOUR - PHP 600.00 PER PERSON (353 TWD)

Sabang

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park - more commonly known as the Underground River. At over 8 kilometers in length, is reputably the longest underground river in the world. With its crystalline waters and spectacular cave formations, the Underground River is possibly Puerto Princesa's most popular attraction. The site was also declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999. The winding path of the river is navigable via small pumpboats that depart from Sabang Beach. Travel time from PP city to Sabang is about 1.5 hours. Nineteen years ago, I met up with two German backpackers and we just winged it ourselves. I was a little shocked how developed and crowded Sabang was now.

If you are prone to car sickness you should consider using some motion sickness pills because the road is very curvy and some drivers tend to drive quite fast (or very fast). My kid was sure to take one when we started our trip.

Walking to the zipline in Sabang waiting for my daughter.

From Puerto Princesa, take a trike or jump in a minibus going to the "New Market" jeepney Terminal in San Jose. It takes about 10 minutes. Trike fare is about P80 and the minibus about P12. Four trips from the San Jose Terminal to Sabang run daily between 7AM and 2PM. The bus/jeepneys both cost 150pesos and the trip takes about 3 hours.

There's a shuttle that can take you directly from the airport.

Any tour agent in Puerto Princesa will sell you a day trip package for 1750-2200 (1,300TW) pesos where you are transported to Sabang in a minivan and includes a tour to the Underground River and lunch buffet at a beach resort. We booked through our hotel and shared a van of eight other Chinese tourists and a Filipino-American couple.

Note. A permit is now necessary to visit the underground river and only available in Puerto Princesa, though an online system is in construction. Beware that like any other hardworking government office they finish their day at 4pm, so a permit for next day needs to be arranged before that. Travel agents normally can arrange it for you.

The cave was impressive, even if for the second time, and waiting in lines for a boat. We had a guide with a motorboat, helmets, life vest, far from the days we canoed ourselves and swam in the empty lagoon.

Honda Bay - consisting of several islets with beautiful beaches, Honda Bay is the place to go to for swimming, snorkeling as well as beach and island hopping. Of course, you can also just join a packaged tour if you want to just relax and not deal with these transfers and fees on your own. Honda Bay Tour rates are usually between P1400 (826 NT) and P1500 (885NT).

Island #2, with a fun fiving board on this cabana

While in PP, we didn't have time to dive, but if we did, my plan was to dive with:

Diving https://www.sharkdivingpalawan.com/fundives

Morning 2 Dives Package: Php 3,300/ 2,000NT

1 days: 3 Dives Package: Php 4,700/2,772NT

Afternoon 1 Dive Package: Php 2,000/1180 NT

CITY TOURS

Tour operators’ price tag on this tour is at P600 per person but you can hire a tricycle instead for P600 per tricycle. My daughter wanted us to hire a tricycle, but I went for a group van. At first, I thought maybe she was right, as our group was older, slower, but later I was relieved because PP was noise and had noticeable air pollution.

Mitra's Ranch with views to the ocean and grazing horses

Iwahig Penal Colony - I regret not checking out prison farming community. Unfortunately, our tour skipped this site, but if I had one more day I'd check this out. Inmates often live with their families and are allowed to earn a living farming or carving out mahogany handicrafts for tourists. The colony is about 35 minutes from the city center.

Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center formerly the Crocodile Farming Institute, and still referred to by locals as the "Crocodile Farm," is both a tourist attraction and a national research institute devoted to crocodiles. We were a bit shocked that they sold croc meat in the cafe at the end of the tour cafe, as we thought it was a conservation center. They also sell meat from this place in the airport, so I suppose it's more of a croc farm. About 30 to 40 minutes from the city center, the Croc Farm also has a mini-zoo, which features some of Palawan's endemic species of wildlife. Croc Farm Tickets cost 40p for adults and 20 for kids. You start with a guided tour of the crocs which last about 15 minutes.

Quartel Square

Baker's Hill. In Santa Monica, a few kilometers before the Crocodile Farm. A weak and small imitation of Disneyland, with things like a Shrek treehouse. Has a bakery where you can buy things like hopia for reasonable prices. To get here, drop in Santa Monica, then take a tricycle up the road for P10 per person (or walk the 2km or so).

Mitra's Ranch. About another km north of Baker's Hill, along the same road. Has some horses, a cafe, and also very nice views.

Butterfly Garden

See native Palawan butterflies located about half way to the Croc Farm (above) and along the same road. Open 7 days a week from 8 to 5. Entry is 50 pesos.

Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. A very beautiful church that is decorated in blue and white. The jewelry sellers/beggers were intense here, so be prepared. Across from the church is a historical square that was a Japanese prisoner of war camp which burned 150 American POWs were burned alive.

El Nido

Sunset View from our balcony, Columbus Inn

Transport/ van to El Nido Fort Wally Travel & Tours 8am
Contact No.: +63 917 276 2875

El Nido Columbus Inn (PAID) confirmation # 1922.912.346    PIN code8428 Sitio Lugadia, Barangay Corong Corong, Palawan, 5313 El Nido, Philippines+63 939 632 1454

El Nido is quite different from the simple stretch of huts on the beach from nineteen years ago. It's best to stay outside the noisy center, like in Corung Corung. Since I booked everything last minute, I was lucky to get a double bed with a view. Had I been more proactive, I'd have booked rooms in Corung Corung on the beach, near Tabanka Divers, who we dove with, rather than on the hill.

After checking in, we walked 5 minutes to the closest beach (Marimegmeh) for a swim, which was gorgeous, and made our way slowly to the other side for dinner.

Nacpan Beach, 40 km north of El Nido

One day we rented a scooter and feeling free found ourselves in the stunning and almost empty white sand beach of Nacpan. Then it being too hot, we went for lunch at Nagkalit village with a waterfall and hired a local guide after we ate to take us for a dip. It was about a 40minute walk uphill starting at pretty pastureland with a coconut grove into a clay path jungle trail. We were lucky and had the falls all to ourselves for a quiet twenty minutes before another couple came, then another and so we left.

 

Another day we went island hopping, and it was so crowded waiting on the beach in El Nido proper, we got on the wrong boat and had to switch at island one. It wasn't a big deal. We did some relaxing snorkeling, rented kayaks at the gorgeous small lagoon and were treated to a beach buffet for lunch. The other tourists on our boat were nice, our boatmen worked hard, made an amazing lunch from the back of the boat and I tipped them well.

We went diving with Tabanka Divers, just across the road from our Columbus Inn. They were fully booked, but travelers were fighting off a stomach bug that was going around and so we were able to join some fun dives. One of the divers was an American chiropractor, now working in Vietnam and he was happily busy nursing everyone's issues, including mine, back at Tabanka's. 3 Dives 1 day (4400p/2600 NT).

Last dinner El Nido, some sour tamarind chicken soup- delicious!

We took a shared van back to PP and stayed our last night at a different hotel Blue Lagoon Suites (TW 1,1000/₱ 1,875) with a pool, practically free airport transfer and an excellent restaurant. My kid might have picked up that stomach bug going around El Nido and didn't have much an appetite, but that didn't stop her from enjoying the pool. At the airport, I bought my landlady a massive bottle of rum for watching my dogs and some dehydrated squid for her mother.

We returned back to Yilan on the new direct airport bus, and a had few days to laze about the homefront before the end of lunar new year holidays.

Trying fresh urchin

BUDGET:
There are no direct flights from Taipei, you have to transit in Manilla. The cheapest flights are through Cebu Pacific.

If you have more time, using local transport is the cheapest way to travel (instead of shared vans).

Activity	Pesos	NT
PALAWAN UNDERGROUND RIVER	PHP 2200 PER PERSONx2 =4400	1,294 TWD
HONDA BAY TOUR	PHP 1300.00 PER PERSON x2=	764 TWD
CITY TOUR	PHP 600.00 PER PERSON	353 TWD
Food 150 pesos p/meal	Php 150 x 2 x 3 = PHP 900 (531NT)	531 NT p/day
El Nido Tour A	PHP 1,200 (USD 24)
El Nido Land Tour
Diving El Nido		10,000 NT
TOTAL

The World's Her Oyster: My Kid's Scuba Certification Options

My kid's first dive trip, January 2015  Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park

Taiwan is such an auspicious base to dive. It's a subtropical island., with its own islands, archipelago and off shore reefs. There are also direct budget flights to some amazing diving destinations in Asia.

It’s a pretty penny to always pay for my kid’s “Discovery” scuba dives as she isn’t certified. Her first discovery dive was part of my 40th birthday present to myself, she was 9 years old. It was an easy shore dive in Sabah, Borneo, at the islands nearest Kota Kinabalu. but she really wasn't relaxed and didn't descend, barely just under the surface.

 Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park from the airplane (2015)

Fortunately, she didn't quit and had some positive experiences when we went to Bohol for CNY 2016. Now that she’s 12, it’s time for her to get her PADI Open Water certification. The question is where? The plan is assuming this is the cheapest way, is for my daughter to do her PADI eLearning ($202) written work at home and then do her diving skills test later in summer.

I have only done 2 dives in Taiwan (Kenting and Fulong) and I would not want her to dive in either of those places. The entry and exit were horrid shore dives, strong currents, choppy and visibility wasn’t great (Kenting was after a typhoon.)

There are budget-friendly, ideal options in neighboring Asian countries. I have a summer holiday coming up and we can kill birds with 2 stones, or 3 stones if I decide to get my EFR (Emergency First Response, around 4000 NT) that would go towards my PADI Rescue cert. So the destination’s diving season would have to be at this time as well.

In terms of budgeting, its not just the certification costs which vary (some including accommodation, equipment, books or not) but also travel costs. The cheapest place to get certified and with direct, budget flights is in Na Trang, Vietnam. She’s never been to Vietnam and I’ve never dove there. I was actually looking to go there this year anyway, as its close and cheap, and I was thinking of just snorkeling. However,  now that I am focused on diving, I've read reviews that the visibility conditions of Na Trang's Hon Mun Marine Park are just so-so because of more offshore construction and urban pollution. The diving conditions have got to be worth it, as this is isn’t either of our first dives. (I was spoiled getting my Open and Adv. Open Water in Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras, and diving for 5 months in the Red Sea.) Traveling to Vietnam also requires visas, which cost (90 USD for both of us including stamp fees).

Will we return to Malaysia for her Open Water?

Cheap, direct flights with 2-3 hour land transfer exist in The Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand. In terms of prices, certification in Anilao, or Leyte is cheap and conditions good. We could also return to both Anilao or Bohol as our diving experiences there were so wonderful and we barely scratched the surface at either place. Can’t beat cheap flights to Manila from Taipei.

Taiwan:

Taiwan has five major diving regions with fantastic visibility and varied marine life year-round: Kenting, Orchid Island, Green Island, Xiao Liu Qiu, and Dungji Island.

There is also a sixth diving site, closer to me in Fulong. My former coworker used to dive there all the time and had some decent videos . Unfortunately, the Taiwanese government will soon begin operating the 4th and very controversial nuclear (Lungme(龍門核能發電廠) power plant in Fulong. Sadly divers fear the beautiful lettuce coral beds there will be destroyed.

1. Kenting is the most popular destination of the bunch. Here on the southern tip of Taiwan, divers can enjoy both shore and boat diving into warm waters brought by the ‘Black Tide.’ Kenting Marine Park boasts 1100 marine species and 80 species of coral. Pelagic fish such as barracuda are common, while rarer sightings include swordfish and humpback whales. Taiwan Dive (Open Water 10,990 4 students-14,000 individual TWD, EFR 4,500)

2. 

   She's too young to dive (2010) Xiao Liu Qiu

   Xiao Liu Qiu, just 30 minutes from Taiwan’s southwest coast, is a newcomer to the dive scene. Diverse coral reefs and walls make pleasant dives. I visited here on a day trip and vowed to return for a dive because everyone I know got hang with turtles. Spotting turtles is almost guaranteed.
3. Diving Bee (OW 12,500 NT)
4. Wet Dream
5. Green Sea Turtle Diving
6. Orchid Island, which lies off Taiwan’s southeast coast, is home to some of the best visibility in the country. It is regularly more than 100 feet (30 meters). Dive sites here include coral gardens and an impressive Korean tanker wreck at 100 feet (30 meters.) Additionally, Orchid Island is known as a breeding ground for sea snakes, which are commonly spotting during dives year-round. Blue Ocean House蘭嶼.藍海屋潛水渡假村 need to be 15 years old
7. Green Island, which is easily accessed from Taiwan’s east coast, is popular with local divers who like the variety of marine life. Common species include Coconut crab, batfish and spotted rays. Green Island also contains Shark Point, perhaps the most famous dive site in the country. Every spring, large numbers of hammerhead sharks gather here. Scientists believe they use the area as a breeding ground. This dive is technically advanced due to the negative entry and heavy current. Dive companies will generally only take divers with more than 100 dives to Shark Point. Get My Boat (Open Water 17,500 TWD)

Cool Diving (Taitung) (Open Water 17,000-19000 TWD including 3 nights accommodation and breakfast)

The Philippines

Panglao, Bohol

• Boho:l My kid and I dove here during CNY the year before at both Panglao and Anda and had a fabulous turtle experience. The French couples running both shops were amazing and I wouldn’t mind going back. In Panglao, we dove with Carol Le Roux owner of Equation Diving. She was so patient and thorough and detailed with my daughter. She would be an excellent instructor for her Open Water.

Anda will forever be burned into our memories because that was where we were when my Dad and brother told me my niece was killed. We canceled our diving plans for a few days, just shocked and immobilized with grief. Eventually, we dragged ourselves to FlowerBeach Diving, run by artist and yogini Delphine Sun and her husband. We had a long encounter with a green turtle which was meaningful because we associate my niece with turtles. If we would of had the time and money, I would of stayed in Anda for more diving and still consider Delphine and her husband as possible instructors for Z's Open Water.

There are direct flights from Taipei to Tagbilaran, then a 3 hour land transfer to Anda or a closer 30 minutes to Panglao.

Anda, Bohol

• 
  Anilao: Our most recent dive experience was in Anilao and it was extremely relaxing, with more turtle fun. I’d love to go back and dive the underwater photographer's delight of the “Twin Rocks.”
  
• Dauin, Negros Island (head to Apo Island post-certification)
• So Good Bay, Leyte With superb corals and the allure of the ever-elusive whale shark, Leyte has become one of the Philippines’ premier destinations. From graceful pelagics to macro oddities, Leyte is sure to delight.  (Fun dives P1600/903 TWD, Open Water P 18,500/10,500TWD, EFR P7250/TWD 4090, Snorkel w/Whale sharks P2800)

Getting Here: Flight to Cebu, Fast 3 Hr Ferry, Flight to  Tacloban, Leyte+ 3 hour land transfer

• Palawan

I traveled to Palawan back in 2001, flying into Puerto Princessa and traveling up to El Nido for some stunning diving. There weren’t nearly as many dive operators as there are now. It was like 2 guys on the beach in traditional longboats and the fancy resort with its own island. I wouldn’t mind going back and seeing an old friend I met on my first trip. There are direct flights to Puerto Princessa and I can show my kid the underground cave river. The gringo trail made the land transfer to El Nido easier, as the road is now paved, and they have tourist vans to shuttle the 6-hour journey (some even including a trip to the underground river).

The pristine waters of El Nido offer beautiful coral reefs, while its beaches are uncrowded unlike the popular Boracay, exploring the lagoons by kayaking is a great way of visiting the islets, coves and caves are also abundant. Inland El Nido, springs and waterfalls are also found. Bacuit Bay composes of limestone islands, where its possible to either dive, snorkel or hike.(12 years + Open Water 23,500 P/ 13,258 TWD)

• Turtle Divers, "Serena, ☎ +63 920617532 (info@turtle-divers.com) Turtle Divers this local dive center offers Discover Scuba dives, Fun dives as well as PADI and SSI dive courses. Run by professionals with high safety standard. Good location with classroom.
• El Nido Adventure Scuba, Rizal St., ☎ +63949-9108460 (info@elnidoadventurescuba.com) 7:30-21.00. Dive with the "locals" and most experienced dive masters in the area. SSI and PADI open water and advanced dive courses are offered.
• Submariner Diving Center, Hama Street Brgy Masagana (Beachfront), ☎ +63 905 484 1764 (info@submariner-diving.com), Submariner Diving Center is the first and only PADI 5* Dive Resort in El Nido, Palawan Philippines, which is operated by the German Ronny Oliwka who is PADI MSDT and TDI AN/DP Diver. Submariner is also certified as Aqualung Partner Center who offers high standard in Diving and Education as well as diving gear branded by Aqualung and Apeks. Not only the Equipment considers a high standard. Also the staff is highly qualified

Other Palawan Dive Shops: Palawan Divers, Sea Dog/Plankton Divers

Anda, Bohol

Asia

• Ishigaki, Japan : April- November

High visibility water around the island is full of coral reefs and marine life, making scuba diving the most popular activity for tourists in Ishigaki. The island has been ranked the number one Japanese diving destination for more than 16 consecutive years. In particular, Manta Scramble and Manta City, just off the island's northwest coast, is known to have one of the highest encounter rate of manta rays, and large number of divers visit the island during April-November, when the dive area is accessible. There are a large number of dive operators and rates are more or less standardized at around ¥12000-14000 for two boat dives (not including gear rental).(Open Water 54,000 Yen/15,000 TW)

Dive Shops: Prime Scuba Ishigaki, Umicoza (海講座)Two dives ¥12960, full gear rental ¥5400, Viking Scuba Kabira Two dives: ¥12960, full gear rental ¥4860, Tom Sawyer. A double dive is ¥13,500 and full diving rental is ¥4,000

• Ahmed, Bali Indonesia

There is some fine diving in Jemeluk Bay both from the beach and from boats in deeper water. After a gentle slope out from shore, the wall here drops off dramatically to depths of 40 m plus. The coral is healthy and fish life abundant. There are some good drift dives further east at Selang and Bunutan but these are generally only suited to more experienced divers.

Dive Shops: Adventure Divers Bali, Amed Dive Centre, Amed Scuba, Apneista Freediving & Yoga, Bali Diversity, Bali Reef Divers, Baliku Dive Center, Baruna Dive Center, BLD Diving , Dive Concepts, Bali, Divers cafe dive resort, Ecodive Bali, Euro Dive, Jukung Dive Bal,

• Perhentian Islands, Malaysia

Dive Season: April-October. A single dive on Perhentian Kecil costs around US $23; prices go down to US $20 if you do more than four dives. Some popular dive sites such as the famous Sugar Wreck, Temple/Pinnacle, and Rendang Island cost more because of the extra effort required to get there. Night dives are more expensive, starting around US $40. Strangely, beach dives cost the same as boat dives on Perhentian Kecil.

(Open Water RM990 7,487 TWD/ Rescue RM1000)

Getting there: KL fly to Kota Bharu. Once in Kota Bharu you can either take a one-hour taxi (maximum of four people) from the airport directly to Kuala Besut -- the port town -- or take a public bus to Jerteh and then on to Kuala Besut. In Kuala Besut you must purchase a round-trip speedboat ticket for US $23. The boat takes around an hour to reach Perhentian Kecil. There is no jetty on Long Beach, so you must transfer to a smaller boat (and pay an additional US $1) to be brought onto the beach. Plastic a problem?

Perhentian Turtle Project

Perhentian Islands You Broke My Heart

There are multiple dive centers on Kecil's Long Beach and Coral Bay (from North to South): Anti Gravity Divers, Sunlight Divers, Turtle Bay Divers, Seadragon Divers, Matahari (formerly Coral Sky) Divers, Spice Divers, Steffen Sea Sportsand Angel Divers, Ombak Divers (Coral Bay),

Quiver Dive Team A PADI 5-star IDC center located in Coral Bay on Perhentian Kecil offering all types of dive courses (Bubblemaker, Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, Divemaster and Instructor). Fun dives cost RM80 (for students who complete a course RM75). Night dives RM140. A full day dive safari to neighboring Redang island with 3 dives including buffet lunch costs RM380 (minimum 4 divers required).

On the big island (Besar) are a number of dive centres, placed on different beaches:

Flora Bay Divers, Perhentian Island Divers, Watercolour

• Na Trang Vietnam April to August when diving is at its best and demand is low. During this time, discounts are available on already low diving and accommodation rates.

Mun Island, Nah Trang

Close off-shore from Nha Trang sit a series of islands that offer decent diving and snorkelling, easily accessible by day trip. The city has about two dozen dive shops, making for fierce competition and great value. For certification training, Nha Trang offers perhaps the best value in the world, with PADI open water courses available with full equipment rental for as little as US$250. A two-dive boat trip with equipment rental and modest lunch can be had for as little as US$45, also a phenomenal value.

Coastal and undersea construction has stirred up a lot of sediment in the area, so under-water visibility is sometimes not great. The area is heavily fished, so fish life is also limited. You wouldn't cross the world just to dive at Nha Trang. But if you always dreamed of getting a scuba certification, Nha Trang is a great place to do it, and any diver passing through would enjoy a couple of dips. The shops generally offer good-quality equipment and experienced, certified dive-masters. Diving goes on year-around, but in the October-December windy season, the boat ride can be a bit rough and diving is limited to a few sites in the lee of the islands (PADI website).

Dive Shops:

• VinaDiving - Vietnam Dive Center, 23D Biet Thu, ☎ +84-918.98.4049 (, fax: +84-918.98.4049)07:00 - 21:00. Running since 1997. As known as Vinadive, services from Snorkeling and scuba diving to professional PADI and SSI courses. $60 for TWO Dives (non-certified divers, $45 for TWO Dives (certified divers), $18 for snorkeling. Safe, friendly, professional and fun.
• Aloha Mark Scott's Diving Vietnam, 24/4 Hung Vuong, ☎ +84-122-903-7795 (MarkBrianScott@gmail.com), . 06:30-21:00. is an American owned company.Very fair prices and services from Snorkeling and Introductory dives to Instructor courses. $75 for TWO dives (with certification) and $90 for two Introductory Dives. The Boat has plenty of room for lounging and Never Rushed. American English spoken. $75-$375.  
• Octopus Diving, @ Louisiane Brewhouse, 29 Tran Phu., +84 58 352-1629, Dive Vietnam with Octopus Diving. We are Vietnam's longest running PADI Five Star Dive Centers offering a full range of high quality PADI courses from beginner to professional. Fun Dives, Nitrox, Snorkelling and Discover Scuba Diving trips to Hon Mun Marine Protected Area everyday.
• Sailing Club Divers, @ Sailing Club Nha Trang, 72-74 Tran Phu., +84 58 352 2788, Vietnam's longest running PADI Five Star Dive Centers offering a full range of high-quality PADI courses from beginner to professional.

Koh Lanta, Thailand

All Boat Dives. Koh Lanta enjoys rich waters with both hard
and soft coral. Manta rays and whale sharks visit the deeper pinnacles annually. The best time of year to spot them is from February to April. You can see leopard, zebra, and guitar and blacktip reef sharks. You may also be lucky and see devil rays too. Expect batfish and octopus, pulsing clouds of anthias and schools of jackfish too. Barracuda school and also patrol keeping a keen eye on the many varieties of colorful reef fish that make these colorful reefs their home. There are many varieties of nudibranch, shrimp, pipefish and even seahorses to keep the macro lovers happy. Scorpionfish and stonefish hide in the reef while lionfish stalk and mantis shrimp scuttle around. (Open Water 14,400 B/ 13,500 TWD, EFR 4600/ 4326TWD, 2 FunDives 3300) Getting Here: Krabi Airport to speedboat transfer

2015  Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park

[Notice I don't mention Koh Tao. I went here with my friend back in 2001 for her Open Water Certification and although we had a blast, I wasn't impressed with the coral. Too many boats and divers and the coral looked like someone dumped cement over everything. I think Koh Tao is a great place to get cheap certification (Thailand is Disneyland for first time world travelers) if you have never snorkeled or did a Discovery dive before and have nothing to compare it with.]

RESOURCES:

WIKITravel

PADI

I've been lucky enough to have snorkeled in Pankgor (East Coast), and on Tioman (West Coast) when my Z was very little. I wonder if we will return for the Perhentians? For sure Sipadan is on our list after her certification.