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Donsol Whale Shark Area, Philippines

Stay in Donsol: see the trip Its beds, the way there and every spot near it.

Also within 20 km of Donsol

About Donsol Whale Shark Area

It goes down to 10 m. You get in from a boat. It suits Open Water divers and up, as a dive guide states it. The coast faces SW: swell from the SW reaches it, and wind from the NE blows out to sea. 2 dive centres or shops within 10 km, the nearest 0.8 km away. The sea is about 26°C in February, its coldest month (3 mm wetsuit), and 30°C in June, its warmest (rash vest or 1 to 2 mm). For Advanced divers the best months are usually January, February, March and April, with about 7 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Donsol.

  • What it is No source states what kind of site it is.
  • How deep Down to 10 m.
  • Getting in From a boat.
  • Who it suits Suits Open Water divers and up, as a dive guide states it.
  • Dive centres 2 dive centres or shops within 10 km, the nearest 0.8 km away.

Facts: verified.

Dive centres nearby

  • Dive Center 0.8 km

  • Donsol Dive Center 1.2 km

The nearest named dive centres and shops within 25 km, in a straight line; training agencies where the map states them. Listings, not a recommendation. Dive centres: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Credits

Water about 29°C: rash vest or 1 to 2 mm. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.

Visibility about 9 m. Typical for the time of year, estimated from ten years of NASA satellite water clarity, not a forecast. Clearest in Jul, Aug and Sep (about 15 m).

This week's visibility, the current and the life no free forecast gives. Ask a dive centre before you book.

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From Chicago: about 30 h 15 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.

  1. Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to DRP, changing at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL).

    See flights ORD → DRP · Skyscanner from about £735 returnAd
  2. Getting there. 1 h 05 from the airport to Donsol Whale Shark Area.

  3. Accommodation.

    Stay in DonsolAd

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.

    Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).

    See all places to stay in Donsol (ad) on Booking.com →

    Closest towns to stay in

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Distances are straight lines unless a drive is given: a site out at sea is reached by boat.

  4. Hire and lessons.

Everything else for the trip

Where it is

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One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Forecast

Best on Sun 18: Sea: flat. Wind 3 kn gusting 10.

The score for Advanced divers, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoor

Sea and wind forecast and score for each day at Donsol Whale Shark Area
DayScoreSeaWindGusts
Sun 18Oct80, good0.0 mflat3 kn10kn
Mon 19Oct80, good0.0 mflat4 kn9kn
Tue 20Oct80, good0.0 mflat1 kn6kn
Wed 21Oct80, good0.2 mflat10 kn14kn
Thu 22Oct78, good0.5 m11 kn20kn
Fri 23Oct77, good0.4 m13 kn20kn
Sat 24Oct79, good0.1 mflat5 kn13kn
Sun 25Oct77, good0.0 mflat2 kn11kn
Mon 26Oct80, good0.0 mflat5 kn8kn
Tue 27Oct80, good0.0 mflat4 kn10kn
Wed 28Oct0, poor–––

Day scores are the conditions out of 80, from the two best daylight readings: a morning and an afternoon dive. Sea is the open water's waves near the site, in metres, halved for a sheltered site. Wind and gusts are in knots (10 kn is about 19 km/h); "boats in" marks gusts that keep dive boats in. This week's visibility, the current and the life no free forecast gives.

The season

Good diving days in a typical week, each month, for Advanced divers, from 2016 on (ERA5 history scored the same way).

  1. Jan7of 7
  2. Feb7of 7
  3. Mar7of 7
  4. Apr7of 7
  5. May7of 7
  6. Jun7of 7
  7. Jul7of 7
  8. Aug7of 7
  9. Sep7of 7
  10. Oct7of 7
  11. Nov7of 7
  12. Dec7of 7

Typical, not a forecast: the sea and the mean wind of each day, with no gusts or rain in the history.

Rough cost

About £1,005–£1,995 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing. A guide from typical prices, not a quote. Dives are not priced yet: we have no sourced price for a guided dive, so they are not in it.

  • Flights £735–£1,520
  • To the UK airport £35–£65
  • Hire car £40–£70
  • Stay £100–£165
  • Food £95–£175

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