"Now more than ever do I realize that I will never be content of a sedentary life on the surface, I will always be haunted by thoughts of being drenched elsewhere"….
For more than two years, I waited to embark into another level in my diving career. No, I wasn’t in a rush but getting another certification to enhance skills and techniques would mean more adventures in one of my greatest love – diving! Unlike my first two basic courses which I did alone, my EANx specialty course was with my favorite dive buddy. Doing my first rigors in diving alone was challenging and was not easy so to speak, but I learned so much from my efficient and ever patient mentor. Now, after more than four years of diving and getting very much comfortable in the waters, it was all so easy. We are now better prepared for new lessons. It felt like Angel and I were just having some fun dives in all too familiar waters in Mantangale!
After a clean up dive in Medina, our instructor was already waiting for us in MADRI when we got there after lunch. Most important basics is still safety underwater, so much care is necessary when using enriched air. The advantage here is increase of no stop dive time – you can stay longer at a certain depth underwater! That means doing more while enjoying the sceneries down – photography could be more easier.
The brief literature plus the video didn’t eat much of our time, working on the written exam wasn’t much of a hassle. Actually, we were rushing for the fun dives we had at Banaug Shoal and Lapinig Island! One dive at the clean up was somewhat bitin, so having two more dives perfectly made our weekend getaway. It’s like shooting two birds with one stone – dive cleanup and the lessons, plus fun dives! 🙂
Another milestone – we are now enriched air certified. We are now on for more adventures in the depths!
It’s my third year in a row to participate in International Coastal Clean Up Day. And I was wishing I have done it sooner when I become a diver almost five years ago. The issue of coastal protection and preservation has been a major advocacy for all aqua people, if not for individuals who have great concern for our planet. Trash threat for our waters is a serious concern, it has caused so much harm in the marine world. It pained me to see garbage deep down or watching documentaries about human destruction on aquatic environment. Such shame!
Without hesitation I committed for the dive clean up together with my dive mentor’s group, of course it won’t be complete without Angel. We crammed up our weekend for the clean up all the way to the town of Medina plus our specialty lessons in Balingoan. Angel have to be in Cagayan de Oro on a Friday afternoon to catch the early trip to this coastal town.
On a Saturday morning, it was all still but when we got at the Medina pier, things were all ready for the activity. How comforting that the people were all in peace, when two weeks back the town has just been besieged by NPA attack! But on that morning, there were no traces of any bloody encounter. The preliminaries was graced by the local officials including the Mayor, who was so enthusiastic and grateful for the clean-up activity.
gathering trash !
Angel and I went to descend right near the pier, on a sandy slope carefully not to disturb the silts. Watching the concrete pillars with the sun rays in between made me remember Ducomi Pier. It’s like a forest scene, like big tree trunks with the sun rays penetrating in between – such a sight to behold! The school of glistening daschylus wiggling in unison in between the pillars was a wonderful sight. I was almost lost I forgot I was there to work, I joined Angel who was already starting to fill up his net bag with trash. I have to stay near him, as my dive computer was not working good!
debris under water...
We gathered bottles, fishing lines, hooks, plastics, sachets, wrappers, clothes, caps, tansans and more. We passed by some tires which we ignored, it was too heavy for us to bring! Our work was punctuated with seeing colorful nudis, puffers, mantis shimp, clown fish, scorpion fish and more. We filled at least three bagfuls of trash cruising to the rope hoisting to collect it all up. We still went for another round when we were summoned to surface, noticing there were no more other divers in sight!
just few what was collected from the pier
An hour underwater with no less than thirty divers gathering trash did can make a difference not only for the marine life which thrived even with such nuisance debris, but also for the community. I know the litters we picked up were just a speck of a big mountain of garbage in our seas, but I believe in many ways together with other enthusiasts in many parts of the country and the whole world, it was a great job. There is always hope if we all join hands in working to protect our marine environment. There is much work to do for our second home – the sea!
NB. Photos courtesy of DiveSpecial Diving Central.
I knew I have to be back to Balicasag Island to dive and savor once more its underwater life. This is the place where it all started – my fascination of the great marine life. While on a family vacation six years ago, I snorkeled with my sister at the marine sanctuary. I was lost in awe with the blue, blue waters and beyond. I have promised myself to become a diver since then…
Alone in Alona
Arriving very early in Tagbilaran, I have so much time to spare. How ironic when there’s so much to do back at work, here I am wandering in the city square! After attending mass at the cathedral, I crossed to the plaza watching a large flock of doves on the ground, feeling like I’m in Hyde Park. Though Panglao town can be reached by 20 -25 minutes by car, I arrived at my lodgings near Alona Beach after an hour through a mini-bus and trycicle rides.
Alona Beach afternoon
The staff of JJ Alona was kind enough to guide me as I went to the bustling district of Alona Beach. Though I was aiming to go direct to Sierra Madre Divers, she insisted I must try Tropical Divers (previously Pro-Safari Divers) which was recommended by DM Geom. I believe it was an excellent dive operator but it was bit pricey. The Danish manager Karl, was also friendly who promised to organize a Balicasag trip with me if I should decide. I tried to ask for D4 strap but not available, though he assured to get one if I stay longer in the island. Anyhow, we left for Sierra Madre to register, glad that they have two boats for Balicasag the next day. After asking for the DM assigned to me (DM Bart will be with the chinese OW students in another boat) and departure time, we walked back to JJ Alona but not without passing the bustling beach. I remembered Boracay and Puerto Galera!
There were no other guests, a quite place is all I need with the rest of the afternoon. It was raining hard…
Balicasag and Kalipayan
Despite the rain, the sun shone brightly the next morning. Though I arrived earlier as expected, the shop staff was already on their toes, and the place was filled with guests. I was joined with local government staff of Carmen, Bohol who was friendly and generous to me. They found it surprising that I am alone. We cruised for about 20 minutes until we moored in one of the bouys floating about 100 metres from the island’s shore.
nudi on corals- both colorful
Our first descent was at Black Forest, I was hoping to encounter again the giant napoleon wrasses like last time. Since the group were new divers and it took awhile for their preparation, I requested my dive guide to descend ahead. Now I know, that’s what other divers felt when I was yet a newbie – it felt like forever to wait . We descend on sandy ground, with corals and tropical fishes abound. There was current, so we drifted along until we got into a wall decorated with soft and hard corals. There were invertebrates – colourful nudis, cleaner shrimp, and anemone crab. A green turtle graced us but was too shy, it fled away as soon as it noticed us around. There was variety of tropical fishes hovering on corals, sponges and anemones. Although the marine life was still active, I noticed there wasn’t much larger species that I encountered. I hope they were just at rest somewhere around and have not totally left Black Forest. After 50 minutes I ascend with 80 bars of air.
anemone crab
Glinting my eyes with the scorching heat, I was wishing to once again walk on the white sands on the island but the boat moored far for the interval. At past 12 nooon, we had our next descent at Turtle Point. I was hoping I would find turtles but for the whole 59 minutes of my bottom time, there was none! I stayed behind again from other divers together with my dive guide, searching for macros as there was no pelagics around. There were at least four nudi species I spotted, scorpionfish, lionfish and other tropical fishes. There was a moray eel gawking at me but my cam failed. It was filled with soft and hard corals, crinoid, sponges and anemones. Normally, there were only two dives in the island, so we cruised back to Alona Beach after we surfaced past 1pm. This made me to my 100th dive!
moray eel gawking at me!
Again, making most of my long travel, my time and expenses, I requested for third dive even just nearby, I was lone – other divers have called it a day taking their late leisure lunch sat nearby resto. Quarter before four o’clock, we sped our way to Kalipayan for my last descent. Together with my dive guide, I immersed myself with the cold afternoon waters and went deep down, unto a colourful reef punctuated by invertebrates as I passed by. A moray eel lurking on soft coral, went out gawking at me perhaps wondering what kind of fish I am! Then we moved to a sandy ground decorated with green sea grasses and those big thorny brownish starfish. There were patches of hard corals as we went along, with tropical fishes hovering around. We ascend after 39 minutes – it was short but has to end sooner for my flight the next day. When we got back to the beach, the place was grueling preparing for the night’s bustle. Dinner tables of the restos were out on the white beach ready for diners. The area started to become more alive as the sun comes down, tourists started to flocked around the beach.
blue, blue world - my world!
Milestone Dives
Going back to Bohol again wasn’t my priority, but my dive buddy requested for it so I arranged things for me to come. He didn’t make it though, but there’s no reason for me to cancel mine. It turned out to have my 100th dive right on the very spot where my passion for life in the depths all started. I wish there will be another hundred dives to come, if not two, three, four or more.
And perhaps, I will be back again in Balicasag Island – may be not sooner but for sure I will not wait for a hundred dive before I would set foot again to see more of its depths!
Travel Notes
My route for this trip:
Cagayan de Oro to Tagbilaran – by boat (Trans Asia Lines), 9 hours
Tagbilaran Pier to Panglao bus terminal – Tricycle
Tagbilaran to Panglao Sawang – Mini bus, 45 minutes
Sawang to Alona Beach – Tricycle, 10-15 minutes
Return trip:
Tagbilaran to Cebu – Ocean Jet, 2 hours
Cebu to Cagayan de Oro – plane, 1 hour & 15 minutes
There wasn’t much enthusiasm towards this year’s after birthday weekend trip, originally the dates were reserved already for the much awaited Tawi-Tawi dives. Much awaited because last year’s plan was cancelled, so it was rescheduled for July 2011 and was thrilled when we got our tickets on sale last November! Well, it was called off again just with the Batanes sojourn. It brought home in the end for Mantangale dives but Angel’s mixed-up schedules daunted my MADRI homecoming…
Saturday Ramblings
We made it though, but arriving late at the resort, all the dive boats sailed off already to Mantigue Island and Medina. After more than two hours of waiting and taking our complimentary lunch at the resto, Angel and I went down to the diveshop to prepare and gear up. I guess we’re just dying to be in the waters for our dried up gills! 🙂 Just in time when Sir Dong came back from Duka Bay, we had some catch-up talk until we sailed off for our first descent at Sipaka Point.
Can you find the cleaner shrimp?
Although Sipaka is just nearby from the resort, it belonged to the next coastal town of Talisayan. The spot wasn’t new but I was sure there is something more I will find since I last explored its depths. Back-rolling for our first water entry at the Red Sand, we separated from the boat with group of OW students having their exercise at the spot. We descend on a sandy slope with Danny as our dive guide – we are now confident to go down with no DM. 🙂 We sighted variety specie of soft and hard corals, sponges, colorful crinoids, cucumbers, anemones and even crown of sea thorns. We sighted also a banded sea snake slithering from us as we took turns for photos! We moved around and searched for more critters – spotted colorful nudis, elusive cleaner shrimp and juvenile fishes. I was amused with the jerky many spotted sweetlips – we keep on following as it kept darting when we took photos. 😛 We found uniquely shaped corals – like mushrooms, like suntan flora, like thorny fruit and more. There was no encounter with pelagics but the colorful tropical fishes decorating the corals was all there in splendor creating a colorful underwater and active fish life. We ascend after 62 minutes still having 1000psi of air.
colorful nudi!
We were grateful the shop arranged for our second descent together with John (Australian), who wanted to search for mandarin fish. Leisure talk with Sir Dong – right, for next dive trips! J Good food, idyllic environs with good weather while watching Camiguin Island in the horizons, was a perfect surface interval for me. Though it was late, there was no rush as we waited sundown for our night dive.
We boarded the boat in twilight and cruised for about 15 minutes to Talisayan Shoal getting thrilled what to find, it was our first time at the shoal. I always find night dives as challenging and exciting! The plan: DM Cena will look for mandarin fish while the dive guide stay with John, we will follow them as we do our own exploration. It was almost dark when we descend at 5:52pm on a sandy area.
like mushrooms sprouting!
The dark underwater seemed another world to me, armed with our torches we started our search – search for the unknown! We spotted critters – crabs, shrimps, juvenile lion fish, clams, and more. Angel pointed out a juvenile puffer fish with those green pleading eyes! We went around getting familiar with the darkness, only to find out we were separated from the others. It didn’t bother us as we continue to roam around. Indeed, at night different species showed up. We stayed close to the seabed as we continue our search, I felt something crawling on my bodice – a crinoid stuck with me! 😛 In a while, we noticed a flickering light beyond us, following it we caught up with our companions. We ascend after 68 minutes with my air still at 1000psi, at 7pm it was all dark surrounding us. The cold night air gave me shivers as we sped off to the resort.
Gills Refreshed
Perhaps a dive in far-off waters is just ordinary for some but the sights in our two descents were not usual ones – we had more of colorful macros and colorful active marine life. I couldn’t help again to be more passionate with marine life as I view my photos, you know – that fire within. How vast and mysterious underwater world is, and how fortunate I am given the privilege to experience this grandeur.
Even with battery of cancelled trips, my after birthday weekend dives with my favorite dive buddy was more than enough for my dried-up gills and itching fins. Life can be more beautiful deep down!
Blue river? I was intrigued when I first heard of it, rivers may have clear waters or worse murky, but never blue. But this river is indeed blue! Couple of weeks ago, I visited this best-kept secret in Hinatuan, a coastal town in Surigao Sur. It was almost two hours from San Agustin, and as we go through the spot with those trees and vines, it felt like I’m transported into another world. It gave me a sense of being in a city somewhere in another dimension.
The blue waters seems to beacon one – to just jump into the river, but how mysterious! I watched in awe – so pure, so natural, hidden in this remote corner in Mindanao. It was heard there were groups who tried to dive its depths. Indeed, they posted on the info board a report of technical and cave specialty divers who went down to explore the depths of the river. How magnificent, but unfortunately there were no details but merely brief introduction of the expedition. 😦 It looked so creepy at the river head, the dark corner mysteriously hiding is a cave underneath!
I was still cracking my head why it is blue, when my companions were waving at me to come into the waters. Descending from the concrete steps into the shallow waters, it seemed I was overwhelmed of the wonderful sight before me. And once in the cold waters, there was that familiar urge to see what’s beyond, the rush to just dive in to the depths. Yes, lo and behold! A white pavement-like on its side down to the bed on a slope, with a depth of about 30 feet – that’s what made the water so blue! 🙂 The slope is formed like a cone with about two feet wide clearing on its bottom.
With visibility of about 50-60 feet, the waters was so clear and with those oversized sweetlips and rabbitfish swimming coyly, it was a wonderful sight! Sea species claimed its abode in the river, yet the waters is brackish – such another mystery! The waters is connected in the deep blue sea underneath, it is part of the sea camouflaging as river. I stayed longer just floating and swam nearer into that mysterious dark corner at the river head. Someday, somehow I wish I could penetrate its mysterious depths….
One day, I promise a return in this baffling, enchanted river in Hinatuan.
Travel Notes:
Hinatuan is about 1.5 hours from San Agustin and 1.5 hours from Bislig City, this coastal town in Surigao del Sur can be reached by bus from San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.
My route: Cagayan de Oro – Butuan (by aircon bus – 4 hours)
Butuan to San Agustin via Los Arcos, Bayugan (by private vehicle – 2.5 hours)
San Agustin to Hinatuan (by private vehicle – 1.5 hours)
Life in the Great Beyond 
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