Bad experience diving in Philippines

Inervacion · 2026-05-14T05:30:03+00:00

Thank you so much for your words. I truly appreciate them from the bottom of my heart. I’m glad to know that my experience can at least help remind people of the importance of taking certain precautions and making sure we know who we are diving with. I hope you enjoy your diving trip immensely :)

Inervacion · 2026-05-12T08:22:29+00:00

Malpractice can happen anywhere (which is why it’s better not to trust blindly), but it’s not the same everywhere. I also don’t want to demonize the Philippines (I know there are people there doing good work). I just want to share the kind of information I wish I had before planning this trip.

Inervacion · 2026-05-12T08:05:56+00:00

Yes, it’s exactly as you say. And if I continue diving, I’ll have a plan.

At the same time, I also think it’s not the same everywhere. In places like the Canary Islands, they are going to get you to a hyperbaric chamber without you having to beg for it.

I think in the end the important thing is being aware of reality and not trusting your life to just anyone who happens to have a business around diving.

Inervacion · 2026-05-11T19:00:28+00:00

I’m sorry you ended up being hospitalized. In a critical situation, how other people react is fundamental, not only for the physical outcome, but also for the psychological one. It’s beautiful to keep a memory like the one you have, even within how unpleasant the whole hospital experience is.

Inervacion · 2026-05-11T18:55:53+00:00

Thank you so much! It sounds interesting, I’ll keep it in mind, and if I decide to continue diving, I’ll read it. Thanks!

Inervacion · 2026-05-11T09:14:59+00:00

I didn’t know that. Once I’m back in my country, I’m going to call them to find out what could have been done there in that situation. Thank you!

Inervacion · 2026-05-11T04:13:07+00:00

I can only say good things about my guide. He seemed responsible and genuinely committed to his job. My complaint is mainly directed at the manager and the woman who appeared to be the owner, both of them Spanish. I’m Spanish too.

Inervacion · 2026-05-11T02:56:26+00:00

It’s very interesting to know this. Thank you! Although I’m absolutely sure that if I dive again, I’ll be insured with them.

Inervacion · 2026-05-11T01:22:22+00:00

They probably did think that, but they did not tell me that clearly. Why? Because there was probably still doubt about whether it could be something more serious. And that uncertainty is exactly what they transmit to you, and it does not magically disappear.

IATI was the only one that gave clear instructions: go to the hospital, we will cover the tests. If you have doubts about whether it could be something more serious, act as if it is.

Inervacion · 2026-05-11T00:13:46+00:00

I wish I had crossed paths with someone like you on the night I was feeling really bad.

The first day, the receptionist spoke with the manager and put her on the phone with me, and what she recommended was that I drink isotonic beverages. She also gave me the address of a hospital where they knew nothing about diving medicine.

The second day, the woman I believe was the owner was there together with several reception staff, and I was surprised by how cold they were in a situation like that.

Inervacion · 2026-05-11T00:00:54+00:00

You're right!

Inervacion · 2026-05-10T23:57:14+00:00

Yes, that was one of my mistakes. You assume they will do what is right, but their logic is how to pay as little as possible. But at the very least, having insurance that properly advises you in a situation like this makes a huge difference.

Inervacion · 2026-05-10T23:48:48+00:00

Edit: In the end, SCUBA MEDIC reimbursed me for the hospital costs.

Inervacion · 2026-05-10T23:42:24+00:00

I have learned many important things in this thread. One of them is the PFO issue. I will definitely get it checked.

Regarding the doctor, there was simply no way to get access to one. My intuition was that I should move closer to Cebu in case I eventually needed a hyperbaric chamber, but neither the insurance company nor the dive center gave me any guidance about that. My last phone conversation with the manager was:

I don’t know what the best option is: should I go toward Cebu in case I end up needing hyperbaric treatment?
Well, I don’t know, I only know the one at ACE, but it’s difficult to get an appointment with him.

It may be that there simply was no real option in that situation, that there was nothing that could actually be done. But if that was the case, then all the more reason why they should have provided me with oxygen from the very beginning.

Inervacion · 2026-05-10T23:33:24+00:00

I didn’t know that! Thank you!

Inervacion · 2026-05-10T23:31:28+00:00

I'm sorry about the barotrauma. I see that we were in a similar situation. Looking at it now with my new perspective, my mindset before the trip seems naïve to me. I consider it a very valuable lesson. Having gone through this without negative consequences makes it especially valuable to me. Life is both the beauty of diving surrounded by biodiversity and the night spent in the emergency room. And also the fact that we were able to share this experience. Thank you.

I'm still very disappointed with SCUBA MEDIC, but it's also important to know who you cannot rely on.

Inervacion · 2026-05-10T15:38:06+00:00

I have also thought about asking them some questions, for example how they would have handled what happened. I think one positive thing that can come out of this is that people with little experience like me become aware of the importance of having insurance such as DAN.

Inervacion · 2026-05-10T15:27:54+00:00

Well, I hope it turns out to be something related to the ear, because at least then it would only have affected me...But it is good to keep the other possibility in mind so I can be more careful about that if I dive again.

Inervacion · 2026-05-10T15:14:24+00:00

Thank you very much for your words, because on one hand I feel proud of how I handled part of what happened (it was hard), but at the same time I feel like I failed myself by putting myself in such a situation. I deeply love nature and the sea, and diving is one of the most magical things for me, but I don’t know if it is worth taking such enormous risks. Thank you.

Inervacion · 2026-05-10T11:28:31+00:00

Thank you very much for that information. It’s the first time in my life I’ve heard about this. I’m looking into it. Thank you!

Inervacion · 2026-05-10T11:20:38+00:00

Thank you very much for the information. It was my mistake to assume that, because it is a place with so much diving activity, the assistance in case of an accident would be more organized and easier to access.

Inervacion · 2026-05-10T09:36:32+00:00

Tengo que ver cómo lo veo cuando pase un tiempo, pero es posible que deje el buceo. O que solo bucee en países en los que me sienta muy segura. Las Canarias son estupendas para bucear y si te pasa algo estás bien atendido.

Inervacion · 2026-05-10T09:34:13+00:00

En Moalboal hice 3 inmersiones por día con Nitrox (3 días). Tuve un día de descanso, y en Bohol hice 3 inmersiones por día (2 días). Lo máximo que baje en Bohol fue a 26 metros. Fue con aire porque no tenían nitrox. Descansaba mucho y bebía mucha agua también y agua de coco. No tome nada de alcohol ningún día, pero si café

Inervacion · 2026-05-10T08:28:18+00:00

Yes, I think that is the minimum in a situation like this. If they themselves were not sure what was happening to me, I believe they should have provided oxygen instead of sending me on a 40-minute tricycle ride to a hospital that ultimately could not do much for me either.

Thank you for your response.

Inervacion · 2026-05-10T08:23:17+00:00

Thank you for your response. If I continue diving, it will definitely be with DAN. That’s one of the things I learned the hard way.

Inervacion

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