Back to Sabang Beach, Philippines — Dive Resort Package Prices, a Club and Non-Diver Trips

Back to Sabang Beach, Philippines — Dive Resort Package Prices, a Club and Non-Diver Trips

The host returns to Sabang Beach in Puerto Galera, Mindoro after 8 years and covers Korean dive resort packages, a club, what to do if you don't dive, and how it differs from Cebu.

💡 Key takeaways

[What Sabang Beach is]
• A beach in Puerto Galera (13 barangays) at the northwest tip of Mindoro, known for diving by day and nightlife by night.
• Many dive sites for every level, from beginner open water to technical divers, he says.
• It's away from the city, so buildings with elevators are rare and there are no 5-star hotels or ultra-luxury resorts. There are plenty of reasonably comfortable resorts, though.
• Korean-run resorts, dive shops and restaurants, a supermarket with Korean ingredients, and even fried chicken, jjambbong and patbingsu places make it easy for Koreans.

[Korean dive resort packages]
• Most Korean resorts serve three Korean meals a day; some offer a hangover menu and nurungji in the morning. Food quality varies by resort, he says.
• Host's resort: Blue Water Dive Resort (he says it isn't an ad). It's central, so everything is within a 5-minute walk.
• His package: single room with strong AC + three Korean meals + 3 dives a day = $130.
• Non-diver packages (room + three meals) are about $65–80.
• Heads-up: a basketball court and café have appeared in front of the resort and the beach is now a road with cars, so noise can be bothersome, he says.
• Korean resorts usually arrange hopping tours and point you to nearby sights.

[The club]
• A small club with Manila-style setup has opened. You can go in casual clothes and slippers.
• The host used a booth; it cost 5,000 pesos.
• He's also heard rumors that the club is spoiling the area's atmosphere.

[Cebu vs Sabang]
• Host's take: Cebu (Mactan) is good for getting certified, with big shops and Korean instructors, and better if you want comfortable lodging, KTV, JTV, clubs and upscale massage.
• Sabang's draw is fun diving, value-for-money diving, and a laid-back local night vibe — slippers and a beer on the beach. He says it's about preference, not which is better.

[If you don't dive — exploring the island]
• Rent a jeepney (about 1,500–2,000 pesos) or motorcycles (negotiable) with your group. Ask a dive shop or tour business, or deal directly with locals touting on the street.
• White Beach: a white-sand beach called 'Little Boracay'. The Italian restaurant Lucas next to it used to be famous, but the host hasn't been in about 10 years and doesn't know if it's still there.
• Talipanan Mangyan Village and Tamaraw Falls for nature and a food tour.
• Ponderosa Golf Course: great mountaintop view, and a mango juice there is nice, he says.
• Firing a machine gun at an outdoor shooting range.
• Rent a boat, load drinks and food, and hop to Friday Beach or a quiet beach nearby. (A commenter says Friday Beach became a private resort island and hasn't been accessible for over 5–6 years.)

⏱ Chapters
00:11 What Sabang Beach is
01:13 Korean food and non-diver packages
02:14 Cebu vs Sabang
03:15 The club and Blue Water Dive Resort
04:16 Package prices and noise
05:16 Exploring the island without diving
06:19 White Beach, falls, golf course, shooting range
07:19 About Puerto Galera and wrap-up

💬 What viewers said (42 comments)
• Several shared diving or open water experiences at Blue Water, and many said they'd love to rest there for a week.
• Several said getting there is tough — over 3 hours from Manila, longer when the banca ride is rough.
• Some noted prices have risen a lot, and some blamed Koreans for driving prices up.
• One said Sabang beats Cebu for divers, and others added local updates like Ponderosa Golf Course (par-3, 9 holes) and Friday Beach.