The first thing I noticed when I arrived on Alona Beach on Panglao Island were all the tourists. The beach is littered with places to stay, eat and shop. At first glance it was a big disappointment after coming from Siargao. I found my two Aussies friends in the hotel pool and over a drink we discussed that we were afraid we had already experienced the best island in the Philippines. That was until I saw what was under the sea.

Wow, the plethora of dive shops now makes sense to me. I knew the  diving here was suppose to be among the best in the Philippines but I heard that before so I wasn’t expecting much. I thought with all these people the reef can’t be healthy. Wrong again. I love to be wrong about things like this.

The diving was great! Sea turtles were everywhere and the frog fish, clownfish and nudibranchs come in all different colors. Eels, snakes, coral of all shapes and sizes it is just beautiful.  (I’ll post more pictures on the Facebook page when I get a chance) The only thing missing was my brother, he’s my dive buddy back home.

Last night I thought I was going to make a quick escape from Panglao but after today, well I just extended my $23 a night room for two more days. Tomorrow’s plan involves snorkeling with the whale sharks.