The pristine Bounty Beach south of Malapascua Island. Dreaming to be back here to explore again the depths of the island, for that elusive Thresher Shark at Monad Shoal!
Category: Diving
In Search of Ancient Camiguin
Before my page would gather cobwebs, I am writing this account as we had finally explored the depths of main island Camiguin. We had our original schedule in May but chose over the transplantation works in the Linamon Project, catching the last Saturday of the month when my dive buddy came over. Now, I just thought it was an important moment, not only because we finally explored these coveted sites, it was the birthday trip of my favorite dive buddy!
We did the usual routines on our weekend trips – Friday dinner, packing-up gears, four hours sleep, early bus drive and sleepy ride to the site. I was grateful our DM suggested for lodgings near the sites to save time and costs, it was comfortable enough and not costly. We took the jeepney from Benoni port to Mambajao as suggested again by our DM, than taking the costly motorbike ride, then finally took the tricycle to Barangay Agoho. We were biding our time just like in our previous travels, just allowing things fell into its place as it was still early.
In our first descent, from Brgy. Yumbing, our boat brought us to Old Volcano site – the spot where the fierce eruption of the Vulcan transforming the island what it is now today. Navigating through blue waters against the green mountain ranges for about 30 minutes – it was an exclusive dive for us. The rustic Camiguin always fascinated me – it was pretty sunny and just perfect for the much needed dives, it’s been twelve weeks since our last dive!
Back rolling for our first descent, the cold waters refreshed me from the “summer” heat. Agreeing to limit our depths to 35 meters, we didn’t waste time going down. Boulders and lava rocks were visible though covered now with colorful corals and crinoids. We passed by in crevices, as if some kind of large cracks now covered with soft and hard corals plus variety of fish species claiming as their abode. There were sea fans in yellow, green and violet scattered in the area, one was so wide it obscured my way. Enjoying the rich diversity and making sure my buddy in sight, I inspected closely some crevices, then in complete surprise I saw the manta ray passing quickly away, but without missing its graceful flapping as in flying! Rare and wonderful. Angel and our DM was making signs and noticed it so late.
We agreed earlier to make the first two dives and take late lunch so we could spend more time at the Sunken Cemetery, I never had a close encounter of the big Cross and so the idea was just perfect. We took those small boats for rent to the marker – funny because at first the friendly bangkero was asking if we will swim to the spot! We spent the whole stretch of our surface interval at the marker dismissing hunger – for Angel’s climb on the big cross and for the endless photos. Our boat man served as our photographer, and honestly he took good shots! 🙂
Our next descent was intriguing, I always enjoy unknown sites because there is much to explore and there is much to tell after the discovery. Sunken Cemetery has been a dream site – so near, yet so far. It was a sandy slope with more or less stable depth, never a drop-off, I guess cemeteries are normally plain. There were variety of corals in different shapes and colors, sponges, worms, crinoids and fishes – anthias, shrimpfish, lions, angels, bannerfish, snappers and more. Indeed, we found the cross markers now tangled with corals, not only two but three – the last one was when we were about to have our safety stop! All of them almost buried with the corals on them. I was hoping to find skulls and bones, but it is impossible after two centuries of the eruption. Either the remains were deeply buried in the depths, or blown into pieces or swept away with tides and currents. The spot now has now turned into a marine paradise. Finally, the discovery after five years – of the ancient part of this island! I have to hold on with Angel to keep me steady during our safety stop perhaps I was already too famished to control my ascent. My favorite buddy always knew my need with just one look!
Our late lunch at Terrasi served as our surface interval for our last dive. We quickly sailed for fifteen minutes to Black Forest, a sanctuary off the coast of White Island. The sand bar still with people, enjoying the mild afternoon sun. My first sighting as we got the depths was a handful of garden eels almost half up but as soon as I got near them, they quickly disappear. There was moray eel whose mouth and eyes closed, which I found unusual perhaps it was sleepy already. There were crinoids, worms, perennial lionfish, clownfish & anthias. We caught site too of few miniature nudis, cleaner shrimp lurking in the anemones and clams. There was stonefish too, and the friendly lowly turtle swam coyly before us – well, Angel chased it again for photos! We surfaced after 54 minutes with my air still at 1200 psi.
Lacking sleep the dives sapped my energy but the three wonderful dives made me smile as I drift off to sleep. The Island Born of Fire is truly magical and I will always love this paradise. I have more than hundred reasons to come here again and again and again.
Mosaic in the Depths!
I never knew this worm would look this artistic deep down, in macro! Got this shot from unsuspecting worm tucked between hard corals while we dove in Sunken Cemetery in Camiguin.
Sea Star City
This sandy slope in Kalipayan was gaily decorated with sea stars as I explored the area one afternoon. These brownish invertebrates was scattered all over creating contrast against the white sands. One of the wonderful sites in Panglao Island, Bohol.
Night Diving, Anyone?
These night time dives into the coral world teach us a great deal by showing us a new aspect of what we see during the day. For marine life exhibits, in those magic hours of darkness, the fullness of its wealth. ~Jacques Yves Costeau~
As a novice, I thought diving at night was too dangerous and uncanny, and doing it will require much courage in its truest sense. My turn for such experience was two years later after I got certified for the OWD course. Although it was an optional dive for the AOWD, I chose to undergo it with the recommendation of my mentor. I trusted his judgment that I can do it, confident that he will be with me for the dive. I made it without him though, he entrusted me to equally able divers who have become my friends too. It was a completely different experience, I promised myself to do it again!
The darkness can be a limitation but there is nothing to be scared about it, in fact night diving is more relaxing than diving during the day. It is because, extra care and proper preparation is necessary – familiar site, comfortable gear, favorite dive buddy, shallow areas and definitely no diving in difficult conditions. Diving at night is slow and steady, thus this pace makes it very relaxing for many divers.
My few night dives has been pleasant, my dive buddy and I see to it that we are pretty conditioned for the extra activity during the night after our day dives. My three night dives after my lessons with my mentor, were all with my favorite dive buddy.
- Agutayan Island, Misamis Oriental 22 June 2009
Just a month after my AOWD lessons, planning for three dives I requested my mentor for a night dive, though informing him that my dive buddy is not certified for such. He had no qualms about it, I remembered my dive buddy was worried for me more than for himself. It was wonderful, variety of night critters showed up and I was amazed of the night organisms that glow in the dark.
- St. Peter’s House Reef, Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte 20 March 2010
My dive buddy and I decided to have a night dive when we went to Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte. It was a different experience as we were in a different site totally new to us. But I did stupid mistakes before we could descend, it was a shore entry. Like losing my mask twice while struggling with my tank, my buddy have to search it for me. We were in the waters when I had difficulty controlling my buoyancy, we went back to the shore for more weights. But once down, we were treated with the variety of marine life in the area, we stayed 58 minutes in the waters – that’s almost an hour!
- Talisayan Shoal, Misamis Oriental 23 July 2011
This night dive was a filler after we missed the morning dive schedule of the resort, it was just our second dive for the day so we still have enough energy and we look forward to it. The site was totally new to us but I think we were confident enough for it, and I guess too excited to discover new sightings. My dive buddy and I were left alone as we explore on our own in the darkness, we were down for over an hour! The night critters abound in the area and the bioluminescence struck me once more….
- Apo Island – Southwest, Mindoro 25 February 2011
My dive buddy said it was not a night dive technically, but we descend at 5:48pm and had our torches on until we ascend at 6:34pm. Our aim was to maximize our time while at Apo Reefs, thus do three dives despite the limited time. The refilling of tanks took much time thus the additional time requirements. Watching the pinkish horizons as we descend was so calming and the display of pelagic, plus the friendly turtle was a real treat in our last dive.
Indeed, diving at night is completely a different experience – wonderful experience I must say. When dark falls, diverse species come out – those that can not be seen during the day dominate the reef like crabs, shrimps or lobster and even octopi, barracuda and shark. The coral reef at night is a strange place. And there’s one moment I wanted to witness again – the spawning of corals as it release thousands of bundles of eggs and sperm – it look so alive. An undeniable truth that corals are animals and not rocks as mostly perceived it to be. I think I need to have one night dive before the year ends!
NB. Photos courtesy of Angel using Olympus Tough 8000 with PT 045 casing.
Life in the Great Beyond 
You must be logged in to post a comment.