I booked my flight two months earlier with Tiger Airlines, return from Bangkok to Clark costing 6,000 THB. Aside from Swampy’s invasive and tedious security scans all was a breeze and we were on the ground within three hours. I spent a night or two (it was a bit of a blur) in the raucous neon circus of Angeles City before heading to Subic and the ocean which was an easy one hour bus ride away.
The accommodation, Arizona Resort (http://www.arizonasubic.com), was recommended by a friend in AC and he wasn’t wrong – it had everything; three bars including a floating one, fantastic restaurant with the most extensive menu I have ever seen, and – most importantly - an Australian managed dive shop (http://www.arizonadivesubic.com).
The weather was perfect for my first dive, the most notable in the area; the USS New York, a 110 meter long battleship built in 1891 to serve in the Philippine-American war, the Chinese revolution, and WW1. She was decommissioned in 1931 and stayed in Subic Bay for the next ten years until scuppered by US forces to prevent the four 8-inch guns from falling into Japanese hands. Today resting on her port side in 30 meters of water she offers one of the most exciting diving experiences in the Philippines.
Due to the low visibility at depth and lack of decent lighting these photos I shot don't do it justice ...
- The massive bronze prop
- Big guns ...
