"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"….
I have been silent about the devastation of this paradise called Tubbataha Reefs, I just can’t believe this is happening with all the modern navigational equipments a watercraft must have, much less a US navy ship! And what are they doing in the Sulu Seas?
I dove in Tubbataha Reefs almost two years ago – a dream I fulfilled, thirteen dives in underwater paradise not everyone had the opportunity to experience. I can’t believe such destruction. Needless to say, they can not put back again what was destroyed. How disheartening!
It’s hurting every minute to resist not to howl my loudest yelp about the sad circumstance that has hit Tubbataha Reef. As of this writing, the damage to the national marine park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and nominee for the New 7 Wonders of Nature — is at 1,000 square meters. That’s almost a fourth of an acre of Mother Nature’s work of art — all a hundred years in the making — gone to smithereens. All the king’s men and horses can never put those brittle reefs together again!
Nobody wants this thing to happen, yes, but everybody wants to know what’s the business of the USS Guardian out there in that part of the Sulu Sea and how could a state-of-the-art minesweeper gets to be so blind as to scrubbing fragile reefs! Whatever, all eyes now on the extrication. Man and machine. The longer this tonnage…
I got one more dive guide from Jack Jackson, this book wasn’t confined in one region but covered around the world on sites for adventure – that is for wreck, cave, shark and big fish dives.
One of dive experts, Jackson presents exhilarating and adrenaline dives in underwater environments around the world. Not only in photos but also background and locator maps that will help and guide lest one need to plan a trip to these sites.
Of course, sites in the Philippines can never be spared in fact my favorites – Puerto Galera, Coron WWII Wrecks and Tubbataha Reefs!
Fun isn’t important, purpose is, and actions that have some real meaning…
Silence… My own breathing… Bubbles. Holding on to a rope, descending, slowly. Nothing in sight, just waters and the sound of my breathing. There was only stillness as I went unto depths. Just few minutes back, there was turmoil on the surface and I was out of breath as I swam for the line. I was gasping, my mind racing just wanting to cancel my dive. But my dive guide was firm and with controlled voice plainly told me to hold the line.
Banaug Shoal is 22 meters depth, in between was all waters with no sign of life – there was only pure silence. Slowly descending to this underwater hill is like stepping into the unknown hoping to land on a paradise. Indeed it is, a self-contained spot with so much life. The damsels swarmed us, the couple red snapper followed not wanting to be left behind. There was a display of resident species – angels, seargents, anthias, lionfish and more. The reef is colourful as it was, we found a leaf fish which is something new to me, I thought for awhile it was a scorpiofish! There were nudis too –
Leaf fish at the shoal – new to me!
black/white combi was new. The resident scorpionfish still sitting on the coral top – just waiting for a prey. But I missed the big moray eel, he didn’t show up from his hole. I was wondering if he was just watching us from under the rocks. Lingered for more basking in the presence of the shoal’s residents but when my NDL got at four minutes, I signalled to the dive guide for the ascent after 51 minutes with air still at 80 bars. Speeding back to the resort, I was left alone by the staff after we agreed for the 1 pm second descent. The good thing was there was no other guests for the day, the place was all to myself totally.
The resident scorpionfish on coral top
Silence… Sitting by the waterfront reading my book, the withered talisay leaves collected my feet as the noon winds blew under the trees.
The waters became fiercer so the next descent as explained by the guide is at Lapinig Island instead of Talisayan Shoal, to take refuge from the raging waves of the open sea. Speeding off, I was hoping the current would be manageable. Again, this lowly island never disappointed me, we descend on a sandy slope and slowly swam taking my time observing the rich colourful secrets of its depths. We got to a coral area hosting Christmas tree worms creating a miniature holiday scene. Many of them quickly hid in their holes as I drew near but few of them was generous enough, stood their ground as I took photos. There were colourful nudis, cleaner shrimp on anemones, clownfishes, anthias and more. The highlight of which was an encounter with a cuttlefish. Most often, they would just quickly disappear from sight, but this one
The grouper wanting to be fed!
choose to stay nearby in a way observing us too. I was inching my way nearer but he was backing off inch by inch too maintaining its distance! Such magnificent animal. For awhile we float face to face, its fins wiggling around him as it swam backwards. I gathered a handful of trash as we went around, as every descent is a clean-up one. I needed keen eyes for this. The current has gotten stronger as we went shallower, I have to hold on to the coral rocks to maintain my depth during my safety stop – I was swept away up. We surface after 61 minutes with my air at 80 bars, the waves surging on and the waters fiercer. The cold sea air sweeping us and the salt water spraying us, as we sped off for the shores, watching the horizons in silence. It felt good.
Christmas tree worm in white and yellow
Coming home to MADRI and spending time in its nearby depths in silence is one best way to revive my sagging spirits and to brace me for the daunting year-end tasks. Just pure and natural silence.
Banaug Shoal and Lapinig Island are indeed a paradise deep down, and always will be. I had a rich encounter in my last dive with its residents, they always welcome my presence. I can always come back again and again, yet each time is always a new experience!
The Christmas tree worm (Spirobranchus giganteus) created a miniature holiday scenery beyond the depths of Lapininig Island, scattered all over a patch of coral rocks. The above pinkish pair was generous enough, stood their ground for some snapshot!
Life in the Great Beyond 
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