Thanks for all the ideas, advice, input, etc.
Thanks to everyone for your replies. It was a lot of help.
I have checked out quite a few airfares and the best I have found was $950-$975 for roundtrip (Reno-Manila) if I go mid-Jan. thru mid-Feb. Does this sound like reasonable airfare? I thought it seemed pretty good.
I think I will just book a flight to Manila and then head to Puerto Galera and start there. I assume I can re-certify there at PG? Maybe meet a few folks, get some ideas, and then check out some other islands/dive locations after that.
Thanks for all of the responses and please feel free to offer any suggestions that you all may have. Believe me, I am open to any thoughts, lol.
By the way (for "The Publisher"), I know this sounds like I am an idiot, but what is a SMB? and it's relation to bangka traffic? Sorry, but I am not familiar with all of the acronyms yet, lol.
Thanks also to "h2odragon1" for your input. I'll probably PM you to get some specifics unless everyone would rather have it here on this open forum for their own benefit/information.
Thanks again to everyone for all of their replies.