The first four months of the year had been hectic with full-time work, part-time study, sailing on Saturday afternoon and family and social engagements. My first trip is usually April/May, my summer commitments are completed, the season in the Philippines has moved off the peak but the summer is still around.

I was feeling extremely fatigued especially with the burden of part-time study and the ever increasing occupational stress connected with my employment. I was taking acid reflux tablets every morning, then some throughout the day too. The stress was really causing me some grief, I was glad to be away from work, the stress declined immediately.

I finished work Thursday afternoon and boarded the Singapore Airlines flight at 1.10am early Friday morning; it was to be two weeks of freedom diving in the Southern Philippines. Arriving at 6.30 am in Singapore Changi airport, it was to be a three hour stopover before the ongoing flight to Manila on the 9:30 am arriving in Manila just past 1am.

Saturday morning I was checked out of my hotel early and down the airport, as usual flight delays pretty much wrecked the day and I arrived at Easy Divers well after dark. The resort staff were good enough to make me a large roll and provide me with a drink. The staff at Easy Divers are what makes this experience for me, they are great.

From what I learned, it is the staff that make this place special. Sure, the location is good, the rooms are decent, a great bar and restaurant. However, what makes the facility work is the quality of the staff, well trained and highly motivated. This is a great place to stay, good diving, maybe not the best in the Philippines, but it is a pretty decent place to dive.

Whilst I can’t call this remote, Easy Divers is out of the way so there is solitude on the grounds. Yes, you can get into town, but since there isn’t much there anyway, there is no point. So for me, it is easier to just hang around in the resort area, I am there for a break and not the hassles of getting around that area.