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Me and my friend stayed at Mario's few days for diving. The accommodation is good, the problem was diving.
First of all Mario wasn't there and the people managing the place didn't care about the business. The instructor and dive masters make you feel like they don't like their job and they don't take care of the people, the briefing duration was 2 minutes, just showing the point where we going to dive, no more explanations. The equipment is old and mostly broken. It was the first time I really didn't enjoy my dive so I decided not to dive with them anymore.
If you are thinking about taking your PADI there, don't do it. Go with professionals, I had beautiful experiences in other companies in Philippines. In this one they don't take it seriously, no exams, no explanations, no blog filled, is you who have to send the details and everything to PADI to get your license, etc
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Date of stay: March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I was travelling solo and after changing my route I came to Apo earlier than planned. I did not have anything booked and just turned up at the pier. The boat to apo would be another hr so I got chatting to locals. I ended up talking to Mila who is marios wife. Super lovely and she told me they had dorms for 250p. I intended to stay 2 days but after seeing how warm and inviting everyone was I stayed for 5 and cancelled my trip to camiguin. This is luxury accommodation for the price and considering it's on an island with electricity for 4 hrs a day. Don't expect a flushing toilet but hot shower water is being worked on! I decided to do my open water course and jed and Mario looked after me so well. There were birthdays and lots of goings on at the time of my stay and I was welcomed like part of the family. I didn't want to leave and I will definitely come back to do advanced open water dive. Too much to see here not just sea turtles... which BTW are everywhere! !!! Thanks to all of you who made my stay feel like home! I'll miss u all x
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Date of stay: December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The dorms for 300PP are good value, and fairly new. Food is tasty, but not cheap, 180 for chicken adobo, for example. Snorkel and fins rental is 350 here but 200 just 20 metres away on the beach. Only met Mario himself as I was leaving as he returned from a trip, but he seemed very friendly, as were the ladies who run the show. Not a diver so can'tcomment on prices or anything like that.
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Date of stay: January 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
First of all... Apo island isn't a beautiful tropical island. The beach is very rocky and overcrowded with day trippers.
Marios scuba diving is very unprofessional and I would never recommend this diving center to anyone.
Long story short: ran out of air on a dive, and the dive master didn't follow the normal routine for this situation - it was very unsafe and dangerous how the dive master reacted - DO NOT DIVE WITH THEM!
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Date of stay: January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Ronny THURPEL, Sales at Mario's Scuba Diving and Homestay
Responded Jun 2, 2022
Dear Henrik, I am sorry to read that you had a bad experience at Mario's. All our divemasters and instructors are very well trained to PADI standards. As you certainly learned during your diving training, every diver is resonsible for his own air consumption and should check on it every couple of minutes. Our divemasters remind you so during the briefing and even under water (when asking with the sign in question). So I wonder how you, as a trained diver, could even get into an out of air situation? And what exactly do you mean with "the normal routine for this situation"? Did the divemaster not share his air with you as soon as he realised your mistake? Did he not make sure you got safely out of the water? I am disappointed that you did not approach us during your stay...
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
It was a huge disappointment. In here the reviews are so good so were waiting to have a super warm homestay.
First everything was good but when the days went by we felt that we were not welcomed anymore. We met super nice couple in there and they felt the same. Maybe all the great reviews has made them lacking in service. And I think it is not homey. It is a hotel with no room service.
I did owa and Mario was a good teacher. Dives where okey. I didn't see much because I think the course was all about the exercises.
When we were leaving the place we noticed that termites had eat my husband's shirts. We told this to Mario and he said that we have had burned our clothes. That was a huge insult to us. Why on earth we would first burn our clothes and then make a story about termites. We asked really small refund and they gave it to us but without an apology. I said that I think things happen, it's totally ok and the termites weren't there fault. But as in customer service you have to at least feel sorry and apology. Mario never came to say anything and I saw that he was in the house. I think that is not what a good manager does.
I actually feel bad how things went because first we had good conversations and service.
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Date of stay: December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Before we arrive to the Island, we were told by our uncle that we should look for Mario, which is the owner of the resort. Unfortunately, Mario wasn't there so we were left by his wife who was NOT welcoming at all!!! We arrive on the island late since we didnt catch an earlier boat. Instead of welcoming us, she then addressed us in a very rude way "why are you late??? Ive been waiting all day for you!" <in local language> we were surprised by this greeting. Instead of arguing, we didnt mind it coz we were so tired from the wavy trip. So she showed us our room which is not the room we reserved at all, she just merely told us that "your room was not available coz the guest who stayed there extended for another night, so i will just transfer you the a much more expensive room" without even asking if it would be fine with us or even told us earlier so we can have adjustments but due to being tired and really wants to sleep, we didnt mind. It wasnt supposed to be our fault, they should compromise for us coz WE ARE THE GUEST. Me and my partner were both hoteliers, so we both know how should it be handled but we didnt mind anyway. So we went to our room, it was spacious (sure, its expensive!) and the view was good. They dont have free breakfast there. So the next day when we ask for a hot water, the old lady (i supposed to be an assistant there) rudely told us "we dont have any hot water left because it was already used by our guests!!" Like what?! We are speechless. I was confused whether i will talk back or stayed silent to respect the elderly. So we stayed quiet but in my mind, i was like 'What about us?! We are also GUESTS here!! We are paying the same amount what the others paid.' Eventhough we are the only local who stayed in their resort, it doesnt mean that they should treat us unprofessionally. I was really furious about it but controlled my anger not to spoil our trip. Instead of staying 2 nights there, we early checked out and stayed to another place which is so much BETTER!!
Locals or not, they should treat us equally coz we are all GUESTS. Im never gonna go back to this resort ever!! And i will never recommend this to anyone at all!
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Date of stay: February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I left Mario's a few days ago with a massive smile on my face. Mario is an absolute legend. His passion for diving is infectious. Having lived on the island all his life, there is nothing he can't tell you about the marine life there. Met some great people at the homestay too and the diving was outstanding! If you are looking for somewhere relaxing for a few days then this is the place to go to. There's only electricity from 6-9.30pm so if you're attached to your mobile, stay on the main land.
The staff at the diving school are all friendly and helpful. On an evening we were entertained by one of the diving instructors playing the guitar and we all sang along, whilst drinking the local rum. The food was great value. What a brilliant place. I hope I can return again one day. Thank you to everyone at Mario's for a wonderful stay!
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Date of stay: October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We originally booked with Liberty lodge on Apo island however after being treated extremely poorly by management we decided to look elsewhere and found Mario's place after a recommendation from a dive friend.
Find Mario's was a blessing. A small centre, the place had a great vibe. Mario teaches the courses himself, other fun DM's take the fun divers out and you all meet up for a cold beer to discuss the adventures at the end of the day. The diving and accommodation is cheap and with advanced notice the staff can arrange meals which are really tasty and of course really cheap, including BBQ fish, curries, etc.
It was someones birthday one night so Mario brought out some of his own nice bottles of whiskey to get the party started then arranged with his staff to get some more booze so we could relocate down to the beach for a late night party. Mario and the staff joined us which was a great bonding experience for all the guests that had just arrived.
Rental equipment looked good (we have our own). The boats were very small however the dive sites are only minutes away so we got kitted up siting on the edge of the boat then they dropped us in a few minutes later.
The rooms were big yet basic. There is no electricity on the island after 9:30pm so be prepared for some hot nights sleep. I would recommend 3 days diving and 2 nights which ensures you will get to all the good sites whilst minimising your nights on the island as after two nights we were ready for a fan cooled room. However Apo is remote and rustic, hence part of its charm. Go, you won't be disappointed.
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Date of stay: May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This isn't really what we had in mind for a homestay - it is a friendly budget guest house. We booked a room online, confirmed with an email, and then further confirmed with a phone call. Unfortunately, when we arrived as a family of 5, our two rooms had been given to someone else. We were offered a dorm room for our kids and a room in a neighboring house for ourselves. We opted to all stay in the dorm room. This room had bunk beds with mosquito netting - it was alright, but didn't compare to the other guest rooms. If you stay here, try to secure a guest room instead. Unfortunately, one of our bunks appeared to have bugs - something that can happen regardless of how fancy of a place you stay in. When I awoke with bites all over, we asked for another room as we noticed two had become vacant. Unfortunately they had again been already promised to someone else. As we had originally booked these two rooms, this was a bit disappointing. On our last day, some other weary travelers arrived thinking they had booked two separate rooms and finding that they had also been given to someone else. Again, they also were offered the dorm room. This made us wonder if this is a method to keep everything occupied. On the positive side, the staff is incredibly friendly. The food is good. The island is beautiful. We did not dive, but guests who did, seemed thrilled. We very much enjoyed snorkeling and exploring the island. There are other places to stay on the island that looked clean and inviting and if I return I will try somewhere else.
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Date of stay: December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We chose a medium room at P800/night for five nights with a double bed, a single light and fan powered from rooftop solar energy and a private bathroom. There is no wifi and generator electricity only from 6-10PM, which is the case all over this little volcanic island. The accommodation is simple but clean. And the staff is just wonderful.
After my PADI Open Water Diver Training with the dive instructor Mario and dive master Mac, I believe you cannot chose any better place to learn and dive. Their whole local dive team lives and loves Apo like the back of their hand, and promotes sustainable ways of managing it. They always make a special effort for their guests to feel comfortable before, during and after the dive, with a lot of patience, attention to the variety of Apo’s marine life, joy and humor.
Thanks to the whole team for your warm welcome, we really enjoyed our holidays with you!
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Date of stay: December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Apo Island area.
LOCATION
PhilippinesVisayasNegros IslandNegros OrientalDauinApo Island
NUMBER OF ROOMS
9
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