Vegan Travel in the Philippines | Diving & Plant-Based Eats | Dana Bell

Link for the show notes

In today’s episode, we’ll be talking to Dana Bell, owner and operator of OMUS Vegan and Dive Camp in the Philippines. Dana shares her incredible journey from working in hospitality to creating a vegan restaurant, dive shop, and resort in Dauin, Negros Oriental.

We’ll talk about what it’s like to get your PADI Open Water certification in the Philippines, why the country is such a special diving destination, and how vegan travelers can explore places like Apo Island, Siquijor, Bohol, Moalboal, Malapascua, and Cebu City.

There are a lot of resources, restaurants, dive spots, and destinations mentioned in this episode, so make sure you check out the show notes and blog post for all the details.

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Transcript

[00:00:00]  

Brighde: Hello, Dana, and welcome to The World Vegan Travel Podcast. I'm thrilled to have you on today. 

Dana: Thank you so much. 

Brighde: I am really excited to have you on and talk about a destination that I've never set foot in, but it's in Southeast Asia, a place where I know quite well, but I have never been to the Philippines before, and you've spent a lot of time there. you now have a vegan dive resort in the Philippines, which is so interesting to me. 

would you mind sharing the story of what brought you up to this point? Because I know there were a lot of, twists and turns to bring you here. 

Dana: Yeah, definitely. and it wasn't even something that I had planned, so it's one of my favorite stories to tell actually because it feels so random. But I had met a couple from the United States in Canada, and they owned a resort here in the Philippines. 

And through some random, kind of circumstances, they ended up needing a head chef, an executive chef at [00:01:00] their resort, which I wasn't. I'm not a chef at all. But I told her that I really liked cooking and she was like, "You should just apply," which now seems so crazy. I did apply, obviously, and I got the job as an executive chef here. 

So I basically uprooted my life and moved to the Philippines and Really fell in love with it. during the pandemic, I lost my job there because obviously all the hotels were closed down and there was just no need to have, an executive chef at that time. and so I actually started my vegan restaurant as a home-based food delivery service. 

So yeah, it was very humble beginnings. I would just release one menu per week, and then I would make all the food. I'd have pre-orders, make all the food, and then just deliver it once at like 5:00 PM or whatever. And then, my friends were [00:02:00] building a resort and asked if I wanted a restaurant on site. 

they actually ended up having a bit of a falling out, and so my business partner asked me if I wanted to be part of the whole thing. And so I said yes. So yeah, it was just a matter of kind of, I don't know if it's being in the right place at the right time, but definitely welcoming opportunities to come in kind of no matter what they look like, I think. 

Brighde: I love that. And I believe you've been involved in the hospitality industry for a long time. Is that right?  

Dana: I've had a lot of jobs, but mainly whenever I need to fall back on something, I always go back to hospitality. So started as a dishwasher, worked my way up, and then, was like bar manager and various different roles throughout my career. 

Brighde: So we're gonna be talking today about, 18-day itinerary for the Philippines, including getting listeners to get their PADI Open Water certification [00:03:00] because it really is such an amazing destination for diving. So why don't you just tell us a little bit about what makes the Philippines such a great destination for diving, and tell us more about your dive resort? 

'Cause a vegan dive resort, there's not that many of them. I've looked. 

So we're gonna be talking about, this 18-day itinerary in the Philippines, and the first few days are going to be getting the open water PADI license. So let's just talk through what those three days are like. what is it like being on your dive resort? Where is your dive resort, for one thing? 

And then also, what is it like to get a PADI Open Water license certification? 

Dana: Yeah, for sure. So there's-- it takes about three days, and the open water certification, allows you to dive to about eighteen meters. But it starts out really, really slowly. you have an instructor who [00:04:00] helps guide you through all the steps. There's some e-learning, there's some videos to watch as well, and then there's obviously practical inside the water. 

and you basically learn, a set of skills, and it progresses as you progress through the course. So you start out in very, very shallow water so that you kind of get comfortable, because it can be quite challenging, I think, to get your open water. It was for me, which is why I love the idea of having it done like kind of in a group setting where you already have things in common with people. Like a travel vacation with a group of people, what better way to start it than by learning something new and then kind of, you know, continuing on your journey with that? So, it's a very interesting experience for sure to start your open water, but really rewarding. The one thing that I wish is that I would have [00:05:00] done mine a lot earlier. I don't know how to describe the feeling to someone who hasn't actually tried before. but it's really a very interesting thing to learn to breathe underwater and overcome your brain in a lot of ways. 

Brighde: Yes, I did my open water diving certification a very long time ago, like more than 20 years ago, and then I did my advanced water, maybe 14 years ago, and I have gone diving as a vegan. I haven't done that many dives outside of my course. 

And I will say that when I was diving as a vegan, it was really quite a different experience than it was before I went vegan, and I just think I was filled with wonder and appreciation that I probably wouldn't have had before of the ecosystems that are down there and just the incredible animals and being able to see them and interact with them and, you know, not touching them, but, you know, have eye contact with them, et [00:06:00] cetera. 

it really is quite a special thing to be able to do. And, you know, if you like going and seeing wildlife in nature, whether it's going on safaris or just going hiking and looking at birds or whatever it is, you're probably gonna love diving, assuming, of course, you can relax enough to enjoy it and not be too freaked out or overcome any fears that you might have. 

I know a lot of people are a little bit fearful. 

Dana: That's a huge one, And the other one that always gets people ... I mean, not always, but can be very challenging, is the mask removal. So that one always takes people some practice because it's a very strange feeling. The whole thing in general is such a strange feeling, and that particular skill is very, very challenging for some people. 

So I think that's another reason to do it with, like a good group of people that you, are feeling comfortable with That you kind of have a bond with and a connection with. 

Brighde: Okay. So we have got, what, day one, day [00:07:00] two, and day three. We now are fully open water certified, and we can take that with us for the rest of our lives. 

 I'm wondering if there are any really great restaurants that you might like to check out while you're, diving. 

Dana: So obviously there's my restaurant, OMUS vegan. But there are a number of restaurants, in Dauin, Negros Oriental, that, do offer a lot of vegan options. There's even a wonderful yoga studio called Anahaw, and they're not fully vegan. It's vegetarian, but it's so great that there are options popping up in the Philippines, especially because historically it is fairly meat-focused. 

Opening up to the possibilities of having a restaurant that isn't like centered around meat is very, very promising. there's a couple of restaurants even in the city, Dumaguete, which is fairly close to us as well, that are [00:08:00] both vegan and vegetarian. so that's also, you know, it's just so promising to see. 

and then even within Dauin, every menu you come across has at least one or two vegetarian, vegan options for you. So 

Brighde: That's awesome. 

Dana: for 

Brighde: So s- something that I probably should, should have asked you beforehand, where exactly is the dive resort located, and how do you get there? Because of course, Philippines has a bazillion islands. so there's ferries involved and maybe planes. Could you explain how people can get to the start of this wonderful 18-day itinerary? 

Dana: Absolutely. So the main way to get to us, the easiest way to get to us, is either from Cebu or Manila, which are, they both have international airports. And then from there we actually have, a local airport, called Dumaguete. So it's very easy with flights. and because the [00:09:00] Philippines, has so many, Filipinos working abroad, there's quite a number of international flights offered, from all over the world, right? 

So it just depends on kind of which way you prefer to come. I've suggested to come through Cebu, because it is a little bit closer. but it's still entirely possible to do it from Manila as well.  

Brighde: . I love it. 

All right, so we have done the open water. I think we are now up onto day six. what do you think we should do on day six? 

Dana: I think that you should definitely check out some of the other islands around us. so there's, a day trip that you can take, to Apo Island, which is, actually the oldest marine park in all of the Philippines. I think it was started in 1989. the people on the island really championed for its protection. 

and it's really quite stunning, [00:10:00] especially to someone who is a new diver. It will change your life, I think. it's absolutely breathtaking and gorgeous, 

Endless walls of corals and, like, just the most beautiful sights you've seen, for sure. 

the other island that's nearby to us is Siquijor. and they also have great diving, and they've become quite a popular backpacker island in the past few years, which is great because it's... I really think the younger people that push for that vegan experience. So even in Siquijor, there's even more vegan and vegetarian options. 

So it's, yeah, it's really exploding over there, for sure. 

Brighde: So we're talking about taking day trips and then coming back. does that mean that people can stay at the dive resort longer, or would they [00:11:00] have to move? 

Dana: I think it's totally, up to the guest. we obviously will accept anyone who wants to stay with us. but for the Apo trip, that one is just a day trip. For Siquijor, I would suggest going over for, several days 'cause there's a lot to 

explore over there. Yeah, for sure. 

Brighde: And do you have any recommendations about, places to say or things to do apart from the ones that you've already mentioned? 

Dana: A lot of people will rent a scooter and do, like, the whole circumference of the island. there are a bunch of waterfalls, so many waterfalls on Siquijor. Beautiful crystal blue waterfalls. there's also, the 100-year-old tree, and you can go and have your feet kind of cleaned by these little fish. 

It's also known as the, like, witchcraft island, so there's a lot of history there. and it has a lot of folklore surrounding it, which is very interesting. A [00:12:00] lot of Filipinos are actually afraid to go there. 

Brighde: Really? How interesting. 

 so people will be able to dive on Siquijor as well. Is that right? So they can start practicing the skills that they learnt on the open water straight away. 

Dana: yeah. 

Brighde: All right. Now, you mentioned on day nine would be a good chance to pack up and move to Bohol? 

Dana: Bohol, yes. Again, it's so close to us, but it's vastly different. it's known for something called the Chocolate Hills which are basically an anomaly that nobody really knows how they were formed. But they're these kind of mounds, these chocolate-colored mounds that, are all scattered throughout the landscape. 

and then there's also the tarsiers are there,  

Brighde: Oh, what's that? 

Dana: Yeah, they're, a marsupial. they actually look like a Furby, if you remember what Furbies are.[00:13:00]  

Yeah. Yeah, they kind of look like that. So they're kind of like a tiny little marsupial that lives in the trees. but they're the only place that I know of in the Philippines that have the tarsier is Bohol. 

Brighde: They like a like a slow loris. That's awesome. Are they nocturnal? 

Dana: I think they are nocturnal. Yeah, they have very large eyes, and they, eat bugs. 

Brighde: do you have any recommendations for places to stay or dive centers to check out or restaurants, that are friendly for vegans? 

Dana: So Alona Beach is a great area. very touristy, and it really will provide you with everything you need. You can stay there. There's a lot of beachfront there as well, and tons of restaurants that do offer, vegan and vegetarian options. the other really cool thing is there's a lot of island hopping from there that you can do as well. 

Brighde: Ah. Oh, I love that 

Dana: yeah, and so there's, [00:14:00] sandbars and also diving that you can do. and one cool thing about diving there is that you can see, the giant clams, which are now protected, but they're massive clams. Some of them are a meter wide. Like, they're huge. and that's one of the only places in the Philippines where you can see those as well. 

Brighde: It really does seem that the Philippines has a little bit of everything when it comes to diving. 

If you could... Listeners, if you could do this 18-day itinerary, you will have seen more than what many people see in, a lifetime of diving. That is incredible. You mentioned on day 12 that it would be a good idea to move to Moalboal? 

Dana: Moalboal is like just a little town, but the neat thing about Moalboal is they have a sardine run, and the sardines are protected. And 

Brighde: whale sharks that come down in April. Shut the front door. No way. What time of [00:15:00] year? 

Dana: they're there all year round because they're safe there. So there's always sardine running, and you can... You don't even actually have to dive to see them. 

You can snorkel and see them there too, which is also very, very cool. But it's absolutely thrilling to see them swirl around you and, it's one of my favorite dive experiences I've ever had. 

Brighde: That does sound beautiful. Is there anything else to be seeing on this island or are there anything else of note that is not dive related? 

Dana: They do a lot of what they call canyoneering in Moalboal. It's not what it sounds like, but you basically are, like, jumping into rivers. So they'll take you on, like, a little hike and then... They call it canyoneering here, but that's not what I would refer to it as. 

But yeah, basically you're doing a small little hike and then cliff jumping essentially. 

Brighde: That sounds amazing. could you tell us about what we might [00:16:00] do on day 14 when we travel to Malapascua? 

Dana: Yeah, Malapascua, is still one of my dream destinations. I haven't had the chance to be there yet. But it is known for its thresher sharks, which are a very interesting and unique shark. They have these very big eyes and a very long tail that they use to whip their prey. Yeah, it's a very cool experience there as well, for sure. 

Brighde: Okay. So I guess there are dive hotels or places where you can go diving. I'm guessing in all of these places it's very easy to find dive shops, et cetera, yeah? 

Dana: Yeah, most places will have a, will be a dive resort and, and have a restaurant on site as well. So again, I haven't been to Malapascua, unfortunately, so I just did a bunch of research to try to figure out where we could go that would be suitable. and it seems like in Malapascua there are quite a few options as well for, vegan, vegetarian people. 

Brighde: So [00:17:00] something that maybe listeners don't realize is that when you get your open water certification and you are a qualified diver- Most of the time, you, you don't just go to a dive shop and hire the equipment and just go. Like, you go out there with an instructor, making sure that you're safe and advising you on when is the right time to come up. So I just wanna make listeners know if they haven't ever thought about diving before that it's not like , you're s- sink or swimming. 

you get a dive instructor accompanying you on every dive. I'm not sure when you can, go by yourself, but you just hire the equipment and pay for the dives, and then, you have somebody looking after you and supporting you. So you're not by yourself out in the middle of the ocean. 

Dana: Yeah, that's true. So in the Philippines, it is required that when you go to a dive shop, they provide you with a dive master, with a guide to take you. they don't really allow you to go diving by yourself, and you always have to be with [00:18:00] a buddy. 

you should never go diving alone. you should always at least be with a friend. but technically once you are Open Water certified, you can go diving by yourself with a buddy. There's no police under there to tell you what you can and can't do. So if you felt comfortable doing that and you were in a country that allowed that, you could actually just go take yourself diving. I didn't actually feel comfortable diving until... I did my rescue course, actually. Then I felt like I was a good enough diver that if something happened under there, I would feel safe and, But other than that, I always wanna be with a dive master. I always wanna be with someone who has their first aid, like, I just don't wanna leave anything to chance, for sure. 

Brighde: All right. So we have done this incredible exploration of all of these beautiful islands in the Philippines, and I guess we probably are due to fly out. So how would we get to Cebu for [00:19:00] our- our flight back home or to our next destination. 

Dana: so you can easily get from, Malapascua to Cebu by bus, by boat. I think you can even fly there into their, They have a small airport there as well as the international one. So flying is also an option and honestly, sometimes the best because sometimes land travel here can be a little unpredictable. 

even boat travel can be unpredictable. So, my best suggestion is to fly whenever you can, for sure. 

Brighde: I do have a couple of general, questions about the Philippines if, if you wouldn't mind, which might be helpful for listeners. do you feel like the Philippines is a safe destination for solo women travelers or people that might be, more vulnerable? 

Dana: I absolutely think that it's safe. aside from, like, a couple of particular areas. Those are very easily avoided. they're very far away. it's like the north of Mindanao. [00:20:00] There's been some incidences there, in the past, and actually I do think that that's improved over the years as well. 

but in general, extremely safe. Filipino people in general are so wonderful and so kind. And so eager to make sure that you're having a good time that they'll often even just to avoid like any kind of conflict, they'll often like misrepresent something just to make you feel like they know what they're talking about kind of. 

So you can ask them where some place is, and they won't know what you're saying, and they'll be like, "Oh, it's over there." but they're doing it just out of a place of like such kindness that you can't help but just be so grateful to be around them, for sure. 

Brighde: And is English widely spoken? 

Dana: again, in the more remote areas, not so much, but in any city you never have to worry. English is, very, used here. All the signs are in [00:21:00] English. And almost every single Filipino speaks English. They teach it in schools, so it's very easy to get around, very easy to communicate.  

That's one of the main draws I think for someone, especially who's never really been to Asia, is how easy it is to find your way. 

Brighde: And, what are the costs associated with, diving or, hotels and food? Like, is it a good value destination to go to? 

Dana: I think that it kind of ranges the entire spectrum. If you wanna be bougie, you can be bougie for sure. There are beautiful, expensive hotels. but there's also very budget-friendly backpacker places, like mine. I would consider mine a bit more backpackery, a bit more rustic. and something like mine is around, $15 a night. 

Brighde: Oh my goodness, that's great value. 

Dana: it really is quite great value, but you can also find places that are hundreds of dollars [00:22:00] per night. and then for dives, I would say like around $30 for a dive. again, you can go much higher than that, But yeah, 30 bucks is around kind of the average, at least in my area. 

Brighde: And you mentioned that you offer PADI Open Water courses. Do you offer other courses as well? 

Dana: Yeah, we offer basically any course that PADI offers. aside from like, I guess the, like the basic courses. So we don't teach instructors how to be instructors, but we teach, like how to, Like deal with your buoyancy. there's also q- like your advanced course as well, that you can take. There's a nitrox course that you can take. 

There's other specialties that we have that are exclusively like in our area. There's a turtle specialty that you can take to help you identify different turtles, and if you happen to find a turtle that doesn't have a name, you can possibly name that [00:23:00] turtle,  

Brighde: Oh, cute. 

Dana: for sure. 

Brighde: I really hope I can finally get to the Philippines, one day and, really get into diving again. As you've been talking, I've just been thinking to myself, "Wow, I really need to do this." I'm lucky enough that I get to go on safaris on a fairly regular basis, which is amazing, but I love going and seeing underwater as well. 

It's so special. And I'll be going to the Galapagos at the end of this year, and that's gonna be amazing, with two groups. But there's no diving, so you just do snorkeling, with how we're going there, which is still amazing. But there's something a little bit different when you're going scuba diving, for sure 

Dana: Yeah, absolutely. 

Brighde: So before we say goodbye, would you mind sharing with our listeners, the name of your dive hotel and also the website and how people can learn more about what you're doing, join your [00:24:00] email list or all of those good things? 

Dana: Yeah, for sure. So the dive resort is actually called Dive Camp. you can find us at our website, which is divecamp.ph. and you can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram, which is, divecampdauin.  

Brighde: have is, um,  

Dana: And then there's also the vegan restaurant, which is called OMUS vegan, and it's omusvegan.com, very easy to find. 

we actually have a new venture that we're starting as well, which is a dairy-free creamery called The Fomagerie. 

Brighde: Oh. 

Dana: Yeah, so I'm really working hard on that one, and that is, the website isn't up yet, but that will be thefomagerie.com as well. and then for OMUS, it's @omusvegan for Instagram and Facebook. 

Brighde: Fabulous! Dana, I want to thank you so much for taking the time to be on the podcast and sharing all of this really interesting travel inspo for our [00:25:00] listeners. Thank you so much. 

Dana: Thank you so much.