Mario's Scuba Diving and Homestay
Mario's Scuba Diving and Homestay
Lagoon Ave, Dauin, Negros Oriental 6200 Philippines
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About
#1 of 3 hostels in Apo Island
Location
4.4
Rooms
4.1
Value
4.5
Cleanliness
4.3
Service
4.4
Sleep Quality
3.8
A homestay and a PADI scuba diving shop in Apo Island, Philippines.
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Property amenities
Restaurant
Diving
Hiking
Snorkeling
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Laundry service
Room types
Ocean view
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Family
Languages Spoken
Filipino
Location
Lagoon Ave, Dauin, Negros Oriental 6200 Philippines
Getting there
Car recommended
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 40 out of 100
40
2 Attractions
within 5 miles
Reviews
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Detailed Reviews
we stayed at Mario's place for 3 days. He is the perfect host, his place is the best kept secret of the Philippines. The staff is super nice, the food amazing and the diving great! We Will definitely be back!
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Date of stay: November 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.
Enjoyed staying at Mario's a lot. Diving in smaller groups than at Liberty, good dive instructors, family run place with lovely people. Also liked the rooms. Food might get a little boring after a couple of days, however, I was happy there. Thanks a lot to Mario and Milla.
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Date of stay: February 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.



This is my second time on the island and it is so nice to say the place sis not change and as beautiful as it always been. The staff in the Mario’s are so friendly and helpful, room is decent size and has everything you need. They also serve you a decent food at the reasonable for the island price.
What also makes this place amazing is scuba team, very friendly, professional, knowledgeable about the dive sites and what you can see there. And, oh boy, it is a lot to see! I was slightly sceptical coming here years after original visit, expecting some affect on the system but the place is in top state. Coral gardens are in pristine condition and variety is mind-blowing, you do not want to get out of the water at all, The same is for the marine life: barracudas, bug schools of jacks, huge amount of nudis and, of course, turtles, turtles are everywhere!
Please keep in mind that this is remote little island with very little infrastructure, so no hot water, very basic bathroom and shower and electricity only 4 hours a day from 6pm till 10pm. If you are looking for the resort style place - this island is definitely not for you, however, if you are into the beautiful natural island with lovely and friendly local people and beautiful marine life, please make sure you do visit the island and stay with Mario!
What also makes this place amazing is scuba team, very friendly, professional, knowledgeable about the dive sites and what you can see there. And, oh boy, it is a lot to see! I was slightly sceptical coming here years after original visit, expecting some affect on the system but the place is in top state. Coral gardens are in pristine condition and variety is mind-blowing, you do not want to get out of the water at all, The same is for the marine life: barracudas, bug schools of jacks, huge amount of nudis and, of course, turtles, turtles are everywhere!
Please keep in mind that this is remote little island with very little infrastructure, so no hot water, very basic bathroom and shower and electricity only 4 hours a day from 6pm till 10pm. If you are looking for the resort style place - this island is definitely not for you, however, if you are into the beautiful natural island with lovely and friendly local people and beautiful marine life, please make sure you do visit the island and stay with Mario!
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Date of stay: December 2019
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.
è una splendida isola, allo stato brado, né migliore né peggiore di altre. I galli cantano tutta la notte, l'alloggio è basic ma con terrazza vista mare. Ottimi ed abbondanti i pasti. Personale meraviglioso. Mila ci ha accolti in maniera ospitale e sorridente. I ragazzi del diving, preparati, splendide immersioni con loro attrezzatura. A causa del tempo meteo non favorevole abbiamo anticipato la partenza, e ci è dispiaciuto, ma torneremo. Grazie Mario
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Date of stay: November 2019
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.
Food is Good, but personal is not really friendly. Get the feeling they dont like their jobs. With the reservation the price information was 800 php, then they want to have 1050 php. They rest on their reconmendations. Not Good
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Date of stay: February 2019
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.
Rooms for 500 Pedos are clean, nice and simple. They also have more expensive ones. The divibg school is very good quality divemasters have a lot of experiences. The food in the restaurant is a bit expensive for this small portions
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Date of stay: February 2019
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.
De Unterkunft ist nur ein paar Minuten zu Fuß vom Strand entfernt. Das Personal ist freundlich und hilfsbereit.
Das Essen ist nichts besonderes aber ist ok.
Mario bietet auch Tauch- und Schorchelgänge an. Egal ob mit oder ohne Mario, die Schildkröten lohnen einen Schnorchelgang.
Vermutlich weiß jeder der nach Apo Island geht das es nur von 6PM bis 10PM Strom gibt - ist auch mal ganz schön.
Das Essen ist nichts besonderes aber ist ok.
Mario bietet auch Tauch- und Schorchelgänge an. Egal ob mit oder ohne Mario, die Schildkröten lohnen einen Schnorchelgang.
Vermutlich weiß jeder der nach Apo Island geht das es nur von 6PM bis 10PM Strom gibt - ist auch mal ganz schön.
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Date of stay: November 2018
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.
La habitación estaba bien. Cogimos la mediana por 1000 pesos dos noches, y la verdad es que estaba limpia y era amplia. Nosotros habÃamos leÃdo que era una homestay modesta, y eso es un resort con todas las de la ley.
A mà lo que no me gusto fue el personal, que poco más y te forzaba a comer y cenar con ellos, y si haces buceo ya mira!
He de decir que la primera noche sucumbimos, y la cena no estaba mal.
Me parece excelente que te den la opción de todo, pero es que de verdad, son extremadamente insistentes!
Tampoco son de mucha ayuda si les preguntas cosas que están fuera de su beneficio. O si les pides ayuda de manera altruista. Conocimos a una chica que viajaba con su amiga, la cual se puso considerablemente enferma. Pillo una infección de caballo y la fiebre no le bajaba de 39.5. Eran dos chicas jóvenes, de 22, total, que las pobres estaban cagadas, era tarde y no habÃa ningún restaurante abierto ya. Fuimos a mario’s y les explicamos la situación, les pedimos plátanos o arroz blanco para darle a la chavala y nos dijeron que no sorry, que la cocina estaba cerrada. Diez minutos más tarde, ahà estaban, cebándose con unas bandejas de arroz que eso parecÃa un festÃn de luis XIV.
El agua te la cobran tb.
Prefiero ir a un sitio más modesto con gente más empatica .
A mà lo que no me gusto fue el personal, que poco más y te forzaba a comer y cenar con ellos, y si haces buceo ya mira!
He de decir que la primera noche sucumbimos, y la cena no estaba mal.
Me parece excelente que te den la opción de todo, pero es que de verdad, son extremadamente insistentes!
Tampoco son de mucha ayuda si les preguntas cosas que están fuera de su beneficio. O si les pides ayuda de manera altruista. Conocimos a una chica que viajaba con su amiga, la cual se puso considerablemente enferma. Pillo una infección de caballo y la fiebre no le bajaba de 39.5. Eran dos chicas jóvenes, de 22, total, que las pobres estaban cagadas, era tarde y no habÃa ningún restaurante abierto ya. Fuimos a mario’s y les explicamos la situación, les pedimos plátanos o arroz blanco para darle a la chavala y nos dijeron que no sorry, que la cocina estaba cerrada. Diez minutos más tarde, ahà estaban, cebándose con unas bandejas de arroz que eso parecÃa un festÃn de luis XIV.
El agua te la cobran tb.
Prefiero ir a un sitio más modesto con gente más empatica .
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Date of stay: May 2018
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.



One of the greatest experiences of my 16 months travelling. You know a place is good when you open your bag fully and want to stop. This tiny island just has a special charm about it and staying at Marios is the ideal base.
I came for 2 nights and stayed for 10 doing Open water and Advanced whilst there. Mario and his team have huge experience and you can see the respect for him when everyone stops and listens to anything he says as he has around 11,000 dives. The most impressive thing is his absolute passion to teach over and over again with so much care and enthusiasm as if you are his first ever student. It's truly incredible. After some time you feel part of the family and help protect the island and help the little community in anyway. I love Apo, i will be back and I will stay here.
The rooms are comfortable and a place to rest, the people and setting are what make it. Explore, talk to people and enjoy.
I came for 2 nights and stayed for 10 doing Open water and Advanced whilst there. Mario and his team have huge experience and you can see the respect for him when everyone stops and listens to anything he says as he has around 11,000 dives. The most impressive thing is his absolute passion to teach over and over again with so much care and enthusiasm as if you are his first ever student. It's truly incredible. After some time you feel part of the family and help protect the island and help the little community in anyway. I love Apo, i will be back and I will stay here.
The rooms are comfortable and a place to rest, the people and setting are what make it. Explore, talk to people and enjoy.
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Date of stay: April 2018
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.
Le lieu est vraiment super (dortoir en hauteur avec chouette vue), partie commune agréable, ...
Le gros problème, c'est une partie du personnel désagréable, une première aux Philippines!
Vous comprendrez rapidement que si vous ne plongez pas (autrement dit vous ne leur lâché pas 20€ supplémentaire par jour), vous deviendrez vite l'hôte invisible : pas un bonjour, on ne parle pas des sourires, impossible de manger (même si ils ont de quoi faire) bref tour l'opposé du peuple Philippins qui m'ont habitué à beaucoup beaucoup de sympathie!
Si vous cherchez un hébergement confortable avec du personnel sympathique, filez chez MariA Homestay, a quelques pas!
Le gros problème, c'est une partie du personnel désagréable, une première aux Philippines!
Vous comprendrez rapidement que si vous ne plongez pas (autrement dit vous ne leur lâché pas 20€ supplémentaire par jour), vous deviendrez vite l'hôte invisible : pas un bonjour, on ne parle pas des sourires, impossible de manger (même si ils ont de quoi faire) bref tour l'opposé du peuple Philippins qui m'ont habitué à beaucoup beaucoup de sympathie!
Si vous cherchez un hébergement confortable avec du personnel sympathique, filez chez MariA Homestay, a quelques pas!
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Date of stay: April 2018
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'm not sure. Sorry, just seeing this question now.
"Room 3, ground floor, is the only room that i'm aware of that has running electricity even through the timed outages"Read full review
"Ask the staff if someone will occupy the rooms above yours, because you might not be okay with some guests walking too loud upstairs"Read full review
LOCATION
PhilippinesVisayasNegros IslandNegros OrientalDauinApo Island
NUMBER OF ROOMS
9
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