Snorkeling in Dauin

Dauin is about 30-40minute drive from Dumaguete. If you can't afford to spend a day on Apo Island, take an hour or two snorkeling at Dauin's Marine Sanctuary. Several beach resorts line the coast. We chose Romana Alar because it's on the cheap side. But you can spring several thousand bucks more for a comfortable resort, with better shower facilities and restaurant on site.

Since Romana Alar has no available food, we had a 5-min walk to Dauin Dive Cafe. They serve all-day Continental breakfast

It's a small, clean, native restaurant, often filled with foreigners and their friends and companions. Servers are all local.

We were so thankful that it was open before 9AM as I was starving. Go Hotels Dumaguete has no restaurant, and Robinsons next door opens 10AM.

Outdoor dining area

All Day Breakfast Menu. They do have a more extensive menu list.

Dining outside, you get to face trees and the road. Dauin Church is just a few meters away.

Mango Shake: Php160+ (I forgot the exact amount)

Complimentary tea (with the breakfast plate)

Bacon breakfast: Php160

After breakfast, we headed to Romana Alar Beach. Entrance Fee: php30 per person. But since we used a cottage (Php150 per cottage), we only paid for that and car parking (Php20 per car).

The dark sand extends to the resort's property.

Beach bar, which had nothing available that day.

This house seems residential or perhaps staff house. They keep rental items here like snorkeling gears and vest. Snorkels with goggles (Php100 - Php150). Php150 are the new ones. Same price rate for life vest: Php100 for older ones, PHp150 new vests.

I do like the resort, except for their showering area, as there's practically none. Walk about 500 meters (away from the beach) and there's a deep well. Guests wash up here, in the open, near the property wall. Bring your soap and shampoo, and get creative finding a place to hang your towels. There are several trees nearby. There's a 'dressing room' with makeshift stalls of some sort. Perfect if you're a guy, as there were no doors. Good luck to the ladies. I changed clothes in the Female CR. At least there was a curtain and a lock.

I guess you can't really expect much from cheap resorts. But wouldn't it be great if they improve their facilities? Tourists flock the place even on weekdays. A simple room to shower and dress is enough. Another resort with access to Dauin Marine Sanctuary is El Dorado Resort. They charge Php150 per person, consumable in the hotel restaurant. I bet they have better shower area/changing rooms. Next time.

Apo Island can be seen from the shores

Several boats filled with divers start their sail. Pardon the water drops on my lens. Photo was taken while swimming.

About 2-3 meters from shore, there's a rope which marks the start of coral formations and bounty colorful fishes.

Not even 5 feet deep, the floor slowly forms into coral beds and different fishes swim by.

Lots of yellow-tip fishes

White stuff were bread crumbs we brought for feeding.

Very satisfactory snorkeling session

For a non-expert swimmer like me, these shallow snorkeling areas are gold. Similar with Balicasag Island, Bohol, where you can feed about a hundred fishes at a time, at only 4-feet deep waters.

I love how the fishes were friendly. At first they would swim away, but soon they start swimming alongside and don't mind you at all. Even before the crackers were crumbled.

Dauin Dive Cafe

Bonifacio Street, Dauin, Negros Oriental

Tel: 0917 834 8434

Romana Alar Beach Resort

Basa St, Poblacion, Dauin, Negros Oriental

Tel: 0946 807 6786