Pier Uno Dive Resort — Hotel in Mabini

I had an amazing trip staying with Pier Uno! Loved it, highly recommended!||||This resort is recommended to me by my diving master. I emailed the resort directly, and I had a little difficulty getting in touch with them. The response rate was quite slow, and I was quite anxious because it was only one week before my travel date. Therefore I decided to call the resort directly, luckily my call was answered straight away. They explained their wifi was unstable, and had difficulty checking emails, but would reply to my email asap. Finally, I had everything sorted and booked before setting off. Since it was a diving trip for 3 people, there were quite a few small details I wanted to confirm before the trip, ie the number of dives we can do during the day, the cost of the dives, guide, boat rental, tanks, marine pass etc. I wanted to know how much I was expecting, and how much I should bring with me. The manager who replied to me was very good, she was very detailed, showed me the breakdown of everything. I like to know the exact breakdown and what to expect, and her replies to my queries totally met my expectation.||||The resort offers full board only, as all the resorts in the area are on the coast, and there’s nothing around the area except more resorts. All meals are served in buffet style, and knowing dinner for the first night is included, I checked the time of the dinner, which is between 7-9pm. Our group stayed in Manila the night before, and was planning to take the public transport to the resort. (after some research online, I know it’s doable, and the costs will only be under PHP 750 for 3 people in total, compare to private transfer of approx. PHP 5000) We aimed to arrive around 7pm, but before 8pm. However, we had delays, and didn’t set off from Manila later than we planned, plus unsure of the way, we took extra time looking for the correct transport too. When we set off from Manila, I emailed the manager to let her know we have just set off from Manila. We finally arrived at the resort some time after 8pm, when we got dropped off by the tricycle, we were by the road side with only 1 street lamp, but everywhere else was pitch black. We were unsure if we were even at the right place, but thankfully we saw a big sign saying “I love Pier Uno”. It would help if they could have lights on the sign, so if anyone travelling in the dark could easily spot them, I have suggested this to the manager, but she said they don’t have the right to do that, they would need other resorts in the area to agree to share the electricity bill first, which not all resorts were willing to. The sign was still big enough to see though, tricycle drives would know their way, but if you’re driving there, just have to be careful not to miss it, since it is quite dark.||||After we got off the tricycle, we made our way down the hill to the resorts, the first one that came into view was really nice and posh. I knew it wasn’t the one I booked, cos I’ve seen the photos. However, my 2 friends just went straight in and asked for the booking, when the name of the resort didn’t even say “Pier Uno”… anyway, I followed them, and asked the staff where Pier Uno was, they pointed us to the correct direction. The path was all dark, and it was quite steep, so it wasn’t easy for me walking down with my heavy suitcase (cos I have my diving gear with me!). There were quite a few dogs barking from a distant, and a few dogs roaming around us, thank god they weren’t barking at us though, still, it was a little scary. Then we saw another sign directing us to Pier Uno, once again no lights. Once we turned a corner, we saw a resort with lights, I went up and spoke to the receptionist, and finally, we arrived! The manager was there, she knew my name straight away. She told me she was waiting for my email reply, she was going to pick us up from the main road. Since I don’t travel with data, I couldn’t check my emails once I left Manila. It would make the last part of the journey so much easier if they came and picked us up from the main road. I mentioned to her about the dogs, she reassured me that the dogs only bark, they don’t bite at all, ‘most’ of them anyway! By the time we got our room and settled down, it was about 8:45pm, I was worried if they were still serving food, cos we were all starving after the travelling. When we arrived at the restaurant, they had a table set up for us, so we got served privately instead of buffet style. How nice of them! There were only 3 of us, but the food they gave us can easily feed 4+ people, even up to 6 people! There was even a dessert too, which was really nice!||||The room we were given was nice and cosy, quite a lot of bugs tbh, but it happens, there’ll be a lot of them anywhere when it’s monsoon season.||||I got up quite early the following morning, ready to go diving. Breakfast was really good, buffet style, both Asian and Western food. The waiter brought me water as soon as I sat down. We meant to go to the diving centre some time between 8-9am (the diving centre is part of the resort, it’s just by the beach), and I arrived just after 8, as I wanted to speak to the diving master to find out detail of dives, and to set up my gear too. My friends didn’t arrive til 8:40pm, and since they forgot something in the room, with all the messing around, they didn’t actually start getting their gear til 8:50pm (they were renting full gear from the diving centre). After they have finally sorted out their gear, it was way passed 9am, that’s when we had the briefing from the diving master. The diving master and the crew were all so patient, even I was already very angry with my friends’ lateness! Throughout the day, we were well looked after by the crew, they helped us to put our gear on, gave us a lift up from the water, changing tanks, serving us water, etc. The diving master was great too, he was very experienced. The water condition at the original diving site he meant to take us wasn’t as good as expected, he told us we were going to a different diving site instead. While we were in the water, the diving master pointed out a lot of interesting things to us, including sea turtles, hair squat lobsters, zebra crab, nudibranch, and many more! I wanted to do a night dive too, but the diving master was very honest with me, he told me the visibility wouldn’t be very good, so I wouldn’t get much out of it. He said if I insisted, ofc he wouldn’t mind, cos I would pay the diving centre and he gets paid anyway, it just means I’m wasting my money. It was good of him being so honest though, so I decided not to do a night dive at the end.||||Me and my friends were sat at the restaurant area at around 5pm, a waitress came over and asked what time we would like to have dinner. We asked what time is dinner normally served, as we thought it would be buffet style, but she said any time is good for them, so we chose to eat at 6pm. Afterwards that’s when we reallised that apart from us, there was only one other family staying at the resort (for those who didn’t know, it isn’t peak season now). Again, we were served privately, with plenty of food and food was really nice!||||After dinner, I wanted to speak to the receptionist about hiking on the following morning before checking out. I asked for advice on how I could go about hiking on my own without a guide, and if it would still be good to hike after the heavy rain from the previous night. The manager was very honest, she said it would be very muddy, and it could be slippery. The path would still be ok to trek, as it’s an easy path, but just very muddy after the rain, so it would be up to me to decide. However she suggested we could rent a boat to go island hopping and snorkeling. This was something I read about before coming to Anilao, but personally I wanted to trek more than snorkel. I asked if I could decide in the morning after speaking to my friends and see what the weather is like first. She said I can just go to the diving centre in the morning after breakfast, they can sort out the boat for me last min if need to anyway.||||Finally on the last day when we woke up, we decided to go snorkeling. I went to the diving centre first thing in the morning, and booked a boat for 8am. After breakfast, I arrived at 7:50am, they already had everything ready for us. The same diving master we had on the day before, he asked where I wanted to go, I said I don’t know, and asked what he would recommend. Same again, he was very knowledgeable with the area, and pointed out a few sites and explained what to expect at those sites. He also made some suggestions on the sites according to our schedule, as we wanted to get back in time to shower, lunch and set off back to Manila to catch our flight. He was very helpful! Then my friends didn’t arrive til 8:15am… but again, the crew was patient and waited. There was a helper who came with us, he was feeding the fish, attracting them all to us so we could take photos and swim near them too. It was an amazing experience! The helper also had a mask, and went into the water to feed the fish, we saw it all in the water, a very different experience to just feeding it from above the water. They took us to 2 different snorkeling sites, and pointed out where we should go, but always made sure we stay in sight. The helper would sometimes go into the water and stay close to us too. We had an amazing morning before we checked out.||||I arrived at the restaurant before my friends for lunch, while I was eating, I was busy waving the flies away from the food (trying not to let the flies take the first bite before my friends even arrived). I guess the waiter noticed what I was doing, he came over and stood nearby helping me to wave the flies away too! After my friends arrived, the waiter went back behind the bar, but made us some freshly made mango smoothie! It was a nice refreshing drink after our morning snorkel, and I felt it was a nice leaving drink too, to end the trip with :D||||When we were ready to leave and paid the bill. I asked about the direction to get back to Manila by public transport. I’ve already done my research, but I wanted to double check if it was correct. Lucky I checked though, cos it was slightly different. They also offered to take us up onto the main road, and flag a tricycle for us (knowing we paid too much on the way there, they offered to speak to the tricycle driver for us) So 3 of us, there were 3 guys with a bike each, they gave us a lift to the main road. Then another 3 guys followed carrying our suitcases up to the main road on foot. They helped us to flag a tricycle down and negotiated a price for us, so it was PHP100 instead of PHP 150 which we paid. I know the price difference is nothing for us foreigners, but the receptionist was shocked when she found out how much we paid, she said we paid way too much! I was very thankful for their help for saving the PHP50 still! When we got onto the tricycle, I noticed 2 of the staff were following us on their bike, I just thought maybe they had to go to town? I just waved and smiled to them. When we go to our destination, that’s when I realised they were there to help us! They helped us with our luggage and told us which jeepney to get onto, and saw us leave before going back!||||Woww. I haven’t even mentioned every small gestures they’ve done for us, only the main things. We were definitely well looked after, living like kings and queens. All the staff were so friendly and helpful. The price was very reasonable too (well I personally thought it was quite cheap for what we got, plus the excellent service!). Pier Uno might not be the best looking resort around the area, but the service we received made up for it. The rooms were clean and cosy, food was amazing and generous with the portions, and I can’t stop reiterate enough of the excellent service we received! I would definitely go back again during diving season, to make the most out of the diving as well as the...

I chanced upon Pier Uno on a diving trip with other fun divers late last year, most of whom I just met the day we arrived. Our trip was organized by our dive instructor who usually brings together a group for fun dives and on most occasions, I get to meet new people. This trip was one for the books because after diving for quite some time, this trip was one of the happiest ever. ||||Pier Uno has is not a new resort. It was one of the pioneers, but has grown steadily through the years and have adapted to the times. Much improvements have been added and newer, more modern rooms have been built to accommodate guests. This has also provided more choices in rooms for divers and non-divers, as well as large groups and families. All rooms are well maintained, clean and beddings are always fresh. I love that their pillows are plump and soft at the same time.||||Food here is served buffet style most times, however, there is an option to go ala carte too. Food is always good in this resort, always masarap and portions are generous. Like other dive resorts in the area, there is unlimited coffee, tea and juice available in the dining / bar area. The dining room is big enough for small events too, equipped with wide screen TV and sound system. There is an outdoor lanai for those who wish to dine al fresco by the pool. As for alcohol, they do have drinks available at the bar but they are open to guests bringing in their own. On both occasions where we brought our own bottles, we were never charged corkage. ||||The dive center is well equipped with all that one needs to go diving. There is an appointed camera room too. Bathrooms in the dive center are located farther from the center though and needs a little upgrading and a little more TLC. It has seen better days. The dive center is area is not too big so when events do happen, it can get quite cramped. ||||All staff in Pier Uno are most gracious, friendly and so respectful. They go out of their way to be of assistance and even join in on any happenings. What strikes me most in this resort is the culture of the people - it is like one big family and everyone makes you feel a part of it - all the time. The dining staff stay till there is no guest left in the dining area, waiting patiently till everyone leaves even if this means finishing up drunken feats at 2am. The dive center guides really look after you and are ready to assist any diver anytime. My personal experience is having them look after me, help me personally, and look after me even when not being asked to do so - on land and in the water. It is not just their job - they make it their responsibility to do so - and they make you feel it too. ||||Pier Uno to me stands out mainly because it makes guests feel at home as soon as we get there. New guests to the resort will not have a difficult time feeling at home because everyone is just so warm and hospitable. In the past few months I've been to Pier Uno, I have grown more familiar with the resort and mostly, its people. Each visit makes the feeling of going home greater because of the familiar faces that warmly greet you, eager to provide you all you need for...

One of the best & affordable dive resorts around Batangas! It was my first time to visit during the Coastal Clean-up although my dad and his dive friends are regulars here.

They have resort-like accomodations with complementary towels, water, shampoos & conditioner, tooth brushes and the like. There is air conditioning and an option to use a fan, and proper beddings and a decent comfort room (with a heated shower). Their food is served buffet style with a good selection with soup of the day, rice, two to three viands and some fruit and/or dessert. They also have drinks for ordering but there is complementary water (hot & cold), coffee with creamer and sugar, hot chocolate and tea. There is also ice cream, liquor and snacks for purchasing. They have ample seating and an option to go upstairs for a more scenic view and a more lounge type experience. They have a sign that says "do not enter when soaking wet" at the front which is understandable, for safety reasons and for cleanliness purposes.

In terms of dive gear, they are complete and even have boats at your disposal, if you wish to schedule a boat dive, although their shore dives have ample coral and marine life already. They have all you can ever need from wetsuits to oxygen tanks to weights to shampoo/soap for anti fogging and everything else. Towels and drinking water can also be found, and there is a place for showers, a place to wash off your gear, and racks to hang them on. Their staff are knowledgeable and will readily help you and will advise you when needed. There is also a pool for introductory classes for scuba diving and/or for leisure. Freediving is also an option if you wish to bow out of the expenses that come with scuba diving, but bring your own gear as they have none for rental. There is also a room dedicated to underwater photography, where one can view photos with their fellow divers; there is a dedicated television for this purpose.

Overall my experience in Pier Uno was very seamless, effortless, pleasant and convenient. Everything you could possibly need is provided for you, and their staff are very friendly, seasoned and knowledgeable about their line of work and the kind of services they provide. I can see why my father prefers it over numerous other dive resorts in Batangas. The price is also reasonable for the experience and convenience one receives.

I also applaud them for hosting clean up dives and other events geared towards a cleaner ocean! I hope they also follow the trend of keeping things sustainable and I hope they partner with sustainable local brands for things such as reef-safe organic sunblocks, shampoo bars and conditioner bars, reusable tote bags, beach towels and swimsuits made from recycled bottles...