General Travel Tips
& Information's
Health advisor & preparation
It is save to travel to Coron. Anyhow you mid consider some preparation.
Malaria
Is still present on the main island of Palawan. Coron & Busuanga
belongs to the province of Palawan but is separated by 100 sea miles from
main island Palawan and Malaria is not a problem here!
If you only visit Coron & Busuanga Island you do not necessary need
Malaria precaution.
If you plan to travel from or to main island Palawan take precaution.
In any case consult your physician.
Sun light
Be prepared for strong UV exposure! Bring high UV protection lotion
. Our boat's offering big shade areas but even then, the reflection on
the water expose you to high UV.
Medication
There are several pharmacy's in Coron, where you can buy a wide range
of medication. BTW medicine is some time's much cheaper here the in other
country's.
Hospital & Physician's
Coron has a District Hospital, where you could be treated, at least
for acute Health problems. Physician fee's at the hospital are free!! You
only have to pay the medication or materials what will be used for your
treatment. All affordable!!
There are also private Physician's & Dentist's available in town.
Weather outlook (what to expect from Jan-Dec)
Nothing is so unpredictable as the weather!?! Any how we like to supply
you with some out look's or general weather conditions over the year for
our region.
BTW: diving is available year around and there are only a few day's
a year we have to cancel dive trip's due to weather reason's. Most of our
dive sites are covered and sheltered by Island's and Bay's, so we can go
diving even in not so ideal conditions. So what is in general to expect?
DECEMBER-MAY- our summer season. Don't forget your sun lotion!
Blue sky, N-E wind, some time's up to 6 Bft. Great for wind surfing.
Ideal conditions
MAY-JULY- between the monsoon's.
Sunny, Cloudy, some rains fall's starting end of May, less wind, Wind
direction change from N-E to S-W and back. Ideal conditions
JULY-OCTOBER- our raining season. Don't forget your raincoat!
Sunny some times, more cloudy, heavy rain fall's, tropical storms (low-pressure)
& Typhoon are possible, Wind direction mainly S-W. Not so ideal
conditions.
OCTOBER- DECEMBER- between the monsoon's again. Ideal conditions
Sunny, Cloudy, some rain still possible, less wind, Wind direction change
from S-W to N-E and back. Late typhoon possible until December.
Air Temperature between 25-40 C year around, climate
tropical.
Water temperatures between 27-31 C year around
For the actual weather
report just click here.
Money advisor
At Discovery Divers you can pay with: Philippine Peso, U$-Cash & TC's,
VISA & Master Card.
The following Information's are recommendations and hint's on money
when in the Philippines.
-
Local currency
Philippine Peso, for the actual exchange rate please refer to: http://www.gsilink.com/~bsp/fx.html
Take this as guide line. Don't expect every where this rate.
Bring at least some Pesos along when traveling. Many stores, public
transportation, restaurants, lodging house, etc... are only excepting peso
as payment
-
Money Change
Our experience is that you get the best rate on cash for your currency
while changing in Manila at a respectable Money changer or at a bank. As
more far you move out to the province as harder it will get to change money
and the rate is much less. Best foreign currency is U$. Don't expect you
can change any other currency in the province (exception are frequent tourist
places).
ATTENTION : Do not change money with any one who approaches you on
the street, even his exchange rate sound's great ! Go only to official
money changer offices or to a Bank!!
-
Credit Cards
Are excepted in many tourist areas. Main cards are: Master Card, VISA
Card some places except AMEX Card. Expect a service charge of 5-10% on
the amount! You can also get cash on CC at the CC- Offices located mainly
in Manila.
-
Traveler cheque
Best only in U$ currency. Expect a lower exchange rate then cash! Be
prepared to write on every cheque: your name, address, Passport No. and
3. signature on the back. If you bring small nomination you better let
make a rubber stamp with all this info's to avoid "hot fingers"!!