Category: Diving

Dive Tubbataha Posponed!

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Our ultimate dive trip for the year is indefiitely postponed, few circumstances beyond control keep us from pursuing our coveted diving destination. This will not dampen our spirits because there are more trips in  store for me and my friend & dive buddy Angel to explore in the next months.  I’m sure there will always be a right time for us to experience the beauty and secrets of the Sulu seas!  🙂  There will be more time to prepare ourselves for our dream diving destination and I’ll have enough time to search for cheaper trip than the commercial liveaboards…

So, we need to dive in more challenging and interesting sites, learn new lessons and equip ourselves with the necessary skills and be more ready for diving adventures. And so I will wait for the time, my guiding star onwards…

Diving in North Cebu!

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What about discovering a paradise island in a remote place, coupled with amazing dives! Imagine a stretch of white beach, idyllic environment, summer breeze and the depths… A tiny island in the northern most tip of Cebu province lies Malapascua – a dive destination every diver wouldn’t want to miss, the home of tresher sharks! And Kalanggaman – a virgin and unheard island belonging to Palompon, Leyte.  Angel has been raving about this unknown island which I didn’t seriously consider as our future destination.  But when I discovered that it’s one of exotic sites  in north Cebu diving, we included it in our list of dream destinations.  Angel and I has been looking forward for our Easter break, exploring the depths in these two interesting and intriguing islands  –  was just a perfect summer get away for our weary souls…

 Long Weekend

Our sked for north Cebu has been set many months ago and have chosen weekend after Easter, since it’s a long weekend, no need to get a leave from work.   It was a long week and arriving home on brownout, I packed up my gears almost midnight after a nap to make most of the time.  I only had about three hours sleep as I need to wake up early for my flight. I sneak away again from home while everyone still asleep.  😛  Luckily, I bumped no one I know at the airport – I’ve always wanted my get-aways private, I just don’t want to chatter about things explaining my trip.  I was rewarded with great sights when we get airborne – over Bohol, hundreds of choco hills and the islands of Panglao, Balicasag & Pamilacan, plus a colorful rainbow!  I always took rainbows as a sign of a great wonderful trip…

 It was a sunny morning when we touched down Mactan International Airport, and every time I set foot in Cebu, I had that proverbial feeling that I’m on familiar grounds like home.  Actually, this place has always been my fave get away aside from being venues on conferences, conventions or meetings relative to work. In short, I always landed in Cebu work wise or just plain whims to transport myself to another location to break the tedium of things. I had good friends also in this city.

 I met up with Angel at the North Bus Terminal for our trip to Maya, it was our first to visit north of the province just like when we went to Moalboal last year, our first visit to the south. It was a long trip passing coastal towns of Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Carmen, Catmon, Sogod, Tabogon, Bogo & Daan Bantayan and city of Danao. When we reached Maya, the summer heat was scorching but watching the island from afar revives my spirit, excited what’s in store for us for the next two days! We cruised for Malapascua for 30 minutes but made longer since guests were dropped in different locations respectively,  good for us since the boat  docked right at Bounty beach near our lodge at Mike & Diose’s Beach Cottage. I was almost running after I jumped out of the boat to our lodge – the sight was enthralling! Although we booked on budget room, it was decent and comfy enough and I was amused with the mosquito net, drape style like those kinds seen on queen’s room.  🙂

 
Backpackers Dream

Angel and I were just thrilled and wanted to do things fast, we rushed to unpack our gears and to hang out our wet suit (folding it is a no-no), and we need to check at the dive shop for the skeds. We found out that the only means of transpo in the island are single motors traversing the foot path or trails.  Divelink is quite distant from our lodge so we were transported courtesy by our host.  Indeed, the dive shop shared a building with the Tresher Shark Research and Protection Center. Voila! The dive shop was kind enough to accommodate our requests: morning dive at Monad Shoal and two dives at Kalanggaman Island!  🙂  In the last days I was trying to negotiate for Kalanggaman, calling other dive shops but was never encouraging as they will need at least eight divers. Actually, the staffs at Divelink were generally friendly and I was delighted that they knew my dive mentor personally.  🙂  After settling things for the dive trip we retraced our way back to our lodge.

 We went back on foot asking directions from the locals but we had our first stop for our late lunch (3pm) at Gingging Flower Garden – good food but never pricey. We made stops also to buy our needs for the next two days until we finally get back to the cottage – whew! – it was a maze-like trails. We wanted to make most of our time as it was nearing dusk. Get around the place, took photos, look out into the beach, and finally had our refreshing swim in the blue, blue waters. So relaxing… I guess our chosen lodge seems a perfect place for this Easter break.  Ah, this is island living!

 We agreed to retire on bed early as we need to be up at 4am, so after our hot drinks, pep talk, stories and laughter , we set our alarms and yield to our tired bodies and hop to our “queenly” beds and doze off!   🙂

Milestone Dive

As usual I woke up earlier than Angel, I had preliminaries to do – set up UW cam hoping it would still work and my contacts. So far, this is my earliest dive – Threshers are early sharks and so is cleaner wrasse. So we were required to be at the shop at 430am, you think that’s insane? None at all, if you want an encounter with the threshers!


It was my 50th dive – my requirement for logged dives enough to go for the Tubbataha trip! And I’ll be using first time my all new D4 computer…

It was still dark and we need a torch, clutching our gears we tried to find our way to Divelink hoping we won’t get lost in the maze-like trails, we don’t want to be late!  We arrived on time though, very much earlier than other divers. While waiting, DM Johan made a brief briefing for our first dive at Monad Shoal, I was getting excited when he said they sighted threshers and devil ray from yesterday’s descent! Angel and I were beaming and fervently hoping for the same surprise. 🙂  We finally left past 5am already, and when we reached the spot we found out that there were other dive boats already docked. We descent at 618am and positioned at the first cleaning station, we should stay 1 meter from the sea bed and wait until they come. Watching around numerous divers waiting, I was bit disappointed and felt it was too disturbing for the marine life. I stayed with Angel just nearby with our DM, not wanting to miss the events.  We waited almost holding our breath, the cleaner wrasses hovering obviously waiting also for the sharks, then suddenly out of nowhere a devil ray appeared, flapping its way upward as if to surfaced but there was no threshers. DM Johan motioned us to the next station and waited awhile but there was none, so we surfaced after 40 minutes and my air down to 40 bars.

We cruised back but missing the threshers never dampen our spirits, the early morning dive was too refreshing although bit cold 🙂 .  There’s something more in store for us for the day.  We rushed  back to our lodge on barefoot, we didn’t had our slip-ons and wearing booties in swimming attires looks funny! 😛  Imagine Angel and I walking fast in barefoot catching our breath but careful enough not to hurt our feet. It was an experience and it’s good walking on the sands, brisk walking is a good form of exercise! After a rushed breakfast, we walked back again to the shop as we were expected at 830am for the next site cruise. Well, it was a pretty sweaty morning!

Hidden Paradise

We arrived just in time for the cruise to Kalanggaman which took two hours, it was sunny and the waters calm – it was just a perfect day for our dream island escapade! Looking at the island from afar seems like one of those tropical paradise islands in Caribbean,   I guess there’s no need to go outside the country, because we have our own jewels just waiting to be discovered.  A white island with greens – it shines like pearl as what Angel described.  We had our first descent at the northern part – a wall only heaven knows how deep, but we agreed to be between 25-30 meters.  A steep wall covered with colorful corals – we were in different world enjoying the view in silence.  I had these awesome feeling every time I am in the midst of marine life, can’t be put in words. Perhaps only with Angel I share this overwhelming feeling. There were trigger fish, barracuda, damsels, anthias, common anemone fish, angelfish, butterfly fish. I pointed out a stonefish to Angel, which he tried to poke and it wiggled away, we jerked away not wanting to get contact with his poison!  But I never saw gorgonians or basket sponges.  We surfaced after 37 minutes with 29.7m as deepest with my air down to 40 bars.

 
As planned our surface interval was spent at Kalanggaman, which what we just wanted as we needed to set foot on our dream island 🙂  – Angel and I had our lunch there, walk on the stretch of white sands, took photos and had a swim. It was a surrender to sun, sea and sands! We hastily headed for the boat when the alarm call sounded – I wanted to explore more of the island maybe walk around its circumference.  Our next descent was at the southern part of the island, but as I jumped unto the water, I noticed some sounds at my back and informed DM Johan, he had my tank replaced as there was some leaking! I need to swim back to the boat for the necessary replacement.  Angel and I descend last as he waited for me. Angel and I stayed close as we follow other divers again exploring the reefs – it just felt good wallowing in the marine world.  We tried to search for critters, found a moray eel, a camouflaged clam, worms, few nudis. We just swam around until we got shallower on a sandy area and explored the reefs, hopping from colorful corals, we linger more until our air was down to 40 bars we surfaced away from others, and swam back to the boat.

We cruised back trying to relax for the two hour ride, somewhere halfway we spotted dolphins which made us all stand and went at the boat front to get a good view, but it didn’t last long. We arrived almost 5pm and took refuge at the shop while waiting for our gears.  After settling our bills and some pleasantries with Mr Gary, we headed to our lodge and a brief stop at Gingging Flower Garden to buy food for dinner. I guess we walked sluggishly perhaps  bit tired of the day’s events!

Another Time

We missed the threshers shark but we got what we planned for the trip, and we have more reason to be back in Malapascua Island next year, hopefully given the opportunity to have a spectacular encounter of the sharks!  We made most of our remaining hours, after gears rinsing and bath. We leisurely had dinner while discussing for the next months dive trips.    🙂 Diving will always be part of me, actually I needed it to keep things in balance, to keep me sane as they say. And nothing could be more wonderful than sharing amazing experience with a buddy who share the same passion and love for diving.

I got sunburns, reddish and bit painful but the pleasure was more than enough to cover the pain.  My sunkissed skin is just on the surface, something deep in me in mind and my heart is more important. Our short escape was sufficient to refuel our spirits for more challenges back at work and that’s  more than enough to keep me going.  Again the Lord has arranged all things for this wonderful trip,  all praises be to Him!

Watch out for our next spectacular dive trips!

NB We got no underwater photos during this dive since my cam went kaput!

Object of Desire…

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Sunto D4 is just perfect!
Suunto D4 is just perfect!

As part of preparation of our Tubbataha 2010 mission I was aiming to acquire a dive computer early of 2010. I searched, consulted my mentor, read reviews, discussed with Angel and finally decided to have Suunto product as it has local after sales service.  I finally made up my mind to get one sooner as I need to acquaint myself and be comfortable with the equipment in the next diving trips.

 After our dive trip at Sogod Bay and having extra time while at Cebu, we included a visit to a diveshop in our itinerary.  Angel have made some research also as I was consulting him about my purchase for another brand.  So, after we indulge ourselves with good food at La Marea in Banilad (we love budbud kabog, we finished 4 pcs all!) we went to Capitol Site and roam the streets to search for Ma. Cristina Street.  Well, the walk was good as we were too full from our food trip!

 We finally found Scubaworld after several asking for directions, and hastily took refuge from the summer heat.  We felt overwhelmed of the sight of diving equipments & paraphernalia, the feeling that I am in familiar grounds, Angel and I was all beaming inside the shop.  We finally settled for D4 after haggling for a 15% discount!  🙂  It was a real bargain…  We linger more, while asking for Palau & Tubbataha trips, I tried some BCs as they were on sale and just roam around the shop – there were lot to see…  🙂

Finally, I have my dive computer – actually, it created a hole in my pocket but it is necessary and it is about time that I must have one. Angel was also contemplating to have his own soon, really a diver just need one!

Diving in Sogod Bay!

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Limasawa Island – historic and spectacular… Mere mention of the island bring memories of  my History subjects back in grade school and high school – the mark when civilization started in my country.  But now, the island is more than just that, and I never planned to set foot on this place just for historical issues although I love discovering the roots of Philippines history.  Thinking of Southern Leyte gave more appeal to me and Angel – to discover its secrets in the depths which is more enthralling and exciting. And without much hesitation, we included it in our dive sites to discover in 2010!

 One New Place

Being our first dive trip together for the year, we look forward for this get away – work was too hectic for the past months and weeks and all we needed was a break.  We met up at Cebu that leads us to a night boat trip to Maasin, we’re going to some strange place and I trusted that things will work out well just like our previous trips.  The weather has been good but as we started to sail, the waters got too choppy, anticipating for a delayed arrival but hoping we won’t get motion sick.  Docking as early as 2am in Maasin port, it was still too dark and cold.  We boarded (after asking from a PPA guard) on a multicab for Padre Burgos, it took an hour for the drive but on the way we entertain ourselves watching the road scenery – old houses, churches and structures.  We asked the driver to drop us off at Peter’s Dive Resort – I guess Leyte people are generally friendly.  No sign of life when we got into the resort as we entered the gates, unknowingly the guard was asleep at the dark corner.  A staff got up to lead us to our cottage after asking our reservations.  Setting our heavy bags and still sleepy, we are grateful we arrived safe at the resort.  Making most of the time, we dose off for more rest – Angel ahead as I was setting up the UW cam.  It was good morning already instead of good night!  🙂

 Zach’s and Adrian’s Cove

I jolt from my bed, when Angel announced that it was already 730am – getting more than two hours sleep was  enough to start our day.  We hastily went to the shop to inquire and book for the morning’s dive – indeed, it’s for Limasawa Island! J We ordered for breakfast at the resto and noticed that the guests were all foreigners. We rush back to our cottage to prepare, it seems everybody and everything were set in motion already. It started to drizzle as we prepared to leave, but it doesn’t dampen our spirits, we cruised for about 45 minutes to our first site – we choose to take our time while other divers obviously excited jump to the waters ahead.  Well, they have to wait for us, Angel and I got into the waters about 8 minutes later as the boat had to turn back to the spot after drifting away.

 It was a wall, there were drop offs and we feasted with the rich marine biodiversity – varied corals, anemones, anthias, damsels, butterfly fish, pipefish, stonefish, moray eel, puffers, and lot more. I had to summon Angel now and then for the photos! DM Ronnie had to add weights for me, which I found disgusting – aluminum tank is making me lighter! I was adjusting myself with the weights and for awhile I keep on going down, the DM including Angel keep on hinting me to go shallower.  But the sights wee all to wonderful to behold, not yet totally disturbed by humans – it’s a marine protected area. The corals, crinoids were bountiful and too colorful. We stayed longer for our safety stop on a sandy spot with coral gardens, hopping and taking photos.  Angel surfaced earlier but promptly followed him when my air was down to 40bars.

 

Our next descent (after an hour of interval) was a little further but still in the island, like the first site it was rich with fish life, colorful corals – we even spotted greenish bubble corals which is uncommon.  I think there’s a mantis shrimp, colorful nudis, more puffers, pipefish. I swam through a barrier reef! J Angel and I spent more time over a coral garden going around and taking photos.  WE found some trash and finally surfaced when he got low air, we ascend first than the rest of the group.  Fortunately, the rains have stopped when we cruised back to the resort.

 More Discoveries

After a brief afternoon nap, we went to town for an internet café, my WCDMA connection is not working since signals were too low.  I need to change my flight back home for some error in time estimates.  Padre Burgos is laid back and rural but with friendly people.  But potential to flourish is not far for PBurgos with splendid dive sites, more people would be visiting the town, and possibility for more investors.

 We got back and waited for dusk as we were booked for a night dive at the house reef.  Dess is our dive master and gave us a short briefing. It was a beach entry and I have to get into the gears with the tank!  Something I never done before, I always put on gears while on the water and have it carried for me with an assistant.  It was tough, and Angel searched for my mask twice down the water as I have lost it while struggling with the gears. And when we descend already, I felt something was wrong so I signaled to Dess for ascent, I lacked weights!

 

The housereef is interesting, I guess night dive is more interesting as more critters not visible during the day come out and display their uniqueness. Colorful nudis, hermit crab, cleaner shrimp, a cute squid, grouper, sleeping fish, colorful reefs, puffers again, critter that looks like a spider, and more…  Our Saturday is indeed full, three wonderful dives all!   🙂

 We got up later the next morning and after a hasty breakfast, we rush to town to attend mass, it was drizzling again.  Well, the Visayas is not disturbed with the El Nino as it rained everyday. I was blessed especially that the African priest did well in officiating the mass, his song is inspiring and articulated his homily spiritually. We cancelled our snorkel as the water’s rough and cold.  We rested (like a real vacation!)  for the rest of afternoon and after packing up, left the resort for Maasin.

 We took refuge and landed at  Panny’s Bakeshop after roaming the streets in Maasin – getting our tickets, search for ATM, and looking for resto.  It was fortunate that wi-fi connection is free and so we’re productive until we board the boat for Cebu. The brief stay in Padre Burgos was too wonderful and we promise to be back to explore other rich sites in Sogod Bay. The Lord never fails to arrange things perfectly everytime, always…

Acanthasia & Paradise Dive!

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The water was all greenish due to plankton season…

Wake up early and sneak away from home  hoping to catch up the 7am bus to Medina but miss it just about a minute, I saw it speeding  away as I got out of the taxi! So I waited for the next aircon bus and arrived at the diveshop  almost 10am.  I was surprise that there’s no other diver guests but just intimate friends and cousins of the Jugador’s,  but it’s good to see Mario and his wife, Ma’am Cristy.  I hastily dressed up and prepared, obviously the group have been waiting for me and I felt guilty about it.  😦  

The guys went up in another boat for another spot for their game fishing, while I went with my mentor and his wife for another spot to Acanthasia for our fun dive.  Just like my previous dives with my mentor, I’m all too confident it’s going to be effortless and safe descent in his territory at the bay.  The waters was bit choppy, and was all greenish due to the plankton season as explained by Mario.  So the visibility was poor, it was all hazy. But I was all forward looking what to discover for my cam, I need to learn more with the adjustments to get better photos underwater.

We descend at 60 feet as deepest to get around in the sanctuary, I felt overwhelmed with the fishes getting near, suddenly the scene went lively as we fed them (sorry, again!). So near I wanted to pet them with my hands, but they’re so quick and mistakenly bumped my hand!  I just watched them in awe and grateful for the chance to get close encounters like this right in their own habitat. We went around following Mario while taking photos until we lost Ma’am Cristy.   I stumbled upon a reef with crinoids, colorful corals and anemones and stop for some shots, only to find out moment later Mario was gone!  I went to follow his directions but decided to get back to the reef hoping he would try to look for me.  It was heart pounding to be alone down, I was trying to think my next move when I noticed a camouflaged colorful scorpion fish right in front of me!  🙂  If I didn’t get back to the reef I wont get the chance to see this rare specie. SRTA – I decided to head the beach direction to get shallower as my air is getting down.  Slowly I surfaced with my air at 500psi, about 60 meters away from the boat! 

A colorful scorpionfish!

I found them waiting for me including the boys handling the boat, I sensed Mario was bit annoyed with my getting lost, I could see it on his face – but surely the Lord will keep me unharmed!  I told him calmly that I found a scorpion fish & took photos – feeling like a guilty child caught in the act!  Lesson:  don’t expect your companions to look for you down as their air could be limited, ascend safely and in such situation do SRTA always… We get back to the shop and found that the guys had a big catch – a 12 kilo giant trevally! Amazing, we had a sumptuous lunch later…

Our second descent was at Paradise – the spot of the cold alibuag, the waters get choppy and our small boat was rocked by the waves.   Mario told me to have Ma’am Cristy as my buddy, careful not to be separated and not taking chances he got Gonz as our companion. We got to the alibuag again,  the cold fresh water was so cold and I swam over it again and again, and watch the pelagics passing by. The waters were still all hazy but had great time taking photos of the hard and soft corals I stumbled upon.  It was all uniquely shaped with unmatched hues!  Mario and Gonz carefully watching over us. I felt some bit of current.  Then, we get back as my air was down to 1000psi and prepared for our ascent, and found out as we surfaced that the sea calmed down already.  We went 80ft as our deepest – 20 feet deeper down than our first – which is actually against the rules!  🙂

After some pleasantries and consultation from my mentor and reminding him of the Tubbataha Dive plans, I left the shop but not without having me brought to the bus stop by Gonz & Edward. Riding on the bus heading home for Butuan, I was reflecting on some lessons for the day’s events.  Sometimes, the Lord allows situations when we felt helpless and vulnerable, not to harm us but to learn something valuable and important. I learned to find my own way and ascend alone unharmed and got delighted as I stumbled an elusive rare scorpion fish by myself.  And Mario is indeed a good mentor (actually he was annoyed with my mistakes but handled it well!), he can always be depended on in my diving lessons needs and concerns.  The Lord always made things perfect for everyone  everytime – especially on valuable stuff that warms your heart!

But just now, I can’t wait for my next month’s dive trip with Angel at Sogod Bay!  Patience, patience… 🙂