"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"….
After almost two decades in diving pursuit, we’re still in search of new sites around the country. So just before summer ended, we planned another dive trip aiming for something fresh and different. Coming to Bantayan Island has been shelved for a while, obviously for reason that there was no scuba diving opportunity there. The … Read more Explore New Dive Sites Around Bantayan Island
Trips during the month of December especially flying is normally shunned even on official matters, I always decline politely and just delegate someone else if there is a need. My year-end dive escapades (if there’s one) were always near my base, my dive buddy perfectly understood my ground. This year (2025) however, was an exception. … Read more Year-End Diving Adventures in Anilao
Descent to depths is always a pleasure but combine it with heights, is I would say pure indulgence and what a joy! 😊There are places close to my heart that have this perfect combination but obviously not within my reach, distant travel and careful arrangements are necessary. Truly, it’s pure bliss having this combination in … Read more Combining Heights and Depths: A Journey Through Nature
Aiming for International Women Dive Day was my original plan after having missed it in the past years but it was unfortunate the weather didn’t cooperate. The dive shop explained that visibility was not good and dives can be done the following day keeping crossed fingers and hoping it would be clearer enough for the … Read more Exploring the Depths: Birthday Dive Trip Recap
The quick get-away in Camiguin Island this summer was again another time to relax, recharge and remind myself I need to be on the road again! While I was planning for an escape to my go-to diveshop, my buddy randomly suggested for a quick dive trip wherever I want! 😊Apparently, my happy smart choice was … Read more Sustainable Diving in Camiguin: Clean-Up and Relaxation
Surely, the underwater realm is teeming with a variety forms of life. Invertebrates, bivalves, sea slugs or nudis, bristleworms, mollusks, flatworms and more. Slowly, I’m learning and getting more keen as I swam searching for anything known or unknown. There is always something new to discover, unfold or unravel and everything is so transforming. I am not the same person every after my dive. I am a changed person after I become a diver almost five years ago.
It’s more than respecting about the life in the depths. Over and over I’m saying this – it’s about passion, a love like life itself. It’s about meeting friends and understanding about their life. There are even more forms of life beyond what is visible, there are many microscopic organisms forming as part of the ecosystem. How vast it is – surely my experience is just a speck of the large water world!
Taking underwater photos of marine life is astonishing, sometimes taking organisms I hardly knew. Admittedly, the colorful underwater world is so captivating. The bristleworm above was taken in Mantangale, beautifully shaped in spiral in white & yellow, hardly as a worm! I am amused that there’s Christmas tree even underwater. 🙂
Diving for almost five years now, there has been lot of meeting up with friends underwater – few astonishing, some endearing, others surprising or mystifying but most of them so wonderful. The thrill of seeing these wondrous creatures has always been overwhelming, putting them in words is not enough, surely won’t give justice to describe how marvelous it’s always been. Marine world completely blow me away, simply I fell in love with the underwater realm.
One of the species that I found magical and awe-inspiring is jack, a silvery fish belonging to the family of Barracudas, Tunas & Mackerels, Chubs, or Mullets. Locally known as Talakitok or Trakito, the larger version is better known as Trevally. As food fish, it’s superb and admittedly it’s one of my favorite. But I’m more interested of Jack out there in the wild, not on my dinner table. I better knew him in the deep, swimming coyly and gazing at me, at an arm’s length in his world.
Unity and harmony....
There are three remarkable spots so far where I had magical encounter with jacks – a large number of them or aptly described as in school. Apo Islandwith its great marine life and healthy ecosystem, was teeming with bigeye jacks in school.
Glassy eyes stare!
For sure, the local community’s effort in preserving and protecting the surrounding waters was not futile. Lining up and swimming in unison in the blue before me – what a sight!
To survive in one-mindedness...
Right in our very own Mantigue Island in Camiguin, when I first dove at the sanctuary I never expected an encounter with jacks, no one mentioned it to me. Awed, when silvery jacks appeared before me, again in unison swimming coyly, as if listening to the vibration of my own movements.
Jacks in Tubbataha Reefs
There is some kind of magic that this humble Trakito can bring! Lastly, in the great Tubbataha Reefs, large school of jacks decorated a sandy slope after I got mesmerized with a whaleshark & reef sharks parade. They simply appeared like a wall, those huge glassy eyes staring at you. Even with current, they hung in mid-water with flawless grace. Their unity in going to one direction, or how easily they shift in opposite direction in accord is mind-boggling, as if someone is in command. The school moves with quiet order and control.
Such majesty in oneness...
There is a majesty and power in the movement of a unified mass, a kind of beauty and harmony that can only come from moving and thinking as one. It is still a mystery to me, indeed how vast the marine life to unravel. My jacks in school is just one of its wonders!
NB.Photos courtesy of Angel, using Olympus Tough 8000 and PT 045 as casing
Being an avid reader I love books and I must admit it’s one of my weakness, needless to say my bookshelf is filled with an assortment of paperbacks or hard bounds I took fancy either for references or pleasure reading. Recently however, I made addition to my collections which I think is inevitable as I got deeper in my love for the marine life. I need to learn and know more for this grand quest of life beyond the depths.
I have gotten myself reef fish guides which I think not enough yet, considering million of sea fish species. Now I am thinking about critters guide or even corals and other invertebrates. Of course, it also includes dive guides – only two as of now and both were gift from my favorite dive buddy. You can imagine, how voraciously I read the guides thinking about plans for the sites. As of now, we focused ourselves in Philippine waters, there is still lot of sites to explore and discover. Later, we can go beyond the borders, at the right time.
After finishing Air Enriched Diver lessons, I got now three diving manuals which are expected to be added when taking other specialty lessons. There will be more books to have, I was dying for the world diving atlas – a big blue book written by Jack Jackson – so beautiful. I cringed though when I peek at the price!
Now, every time I went to the bookstore I searched first for dive guides or marine reference books, a slight change in choosing something to read and a modest addition for my bookshelf.
Few months back, I went south in the Caraga region to experience nature’s wonders in this remote corner in Mindanao. The trip actually was like shooting several birds with one stone – while on an official meeting, I visited three amazing spots. Although I was reminding myself that we have work to do and it must be first things first – I was thrilled, I have wanted to visit these spots long time ago!
Surigao del Sur although still rustic in setting and often times with threatened peace and order situation has amazing wonders tucked in the rural areas. It is dotted with islands and idyllic white beaches, has great marine life, endowed with rivers, falls and lakes. The province is actually a remarkable destination for nature lovers, most of which are unspoiled and mysterious.
Enchanted River
I have never seen a blue river before – just this one and that’s a real wonder. It’s a remote place and the trip is long, it lies in Barangay Talisay in Hinatuan, one of the coastal towns in Surigao Sur. Getting into the spot felt like you’re transported into another world in a different dimension, it’s a surreal experience. Although the spot is now developed to cater tourist & visitors, the river is maintained in its original form.
Blue, blue river!
The bluish water is caused by the white pavement stone formation slanting towards the bed just like a wall. Since it is white, the blue sky reflected just like what we see on white beaches with blue waters. It’s about 30 feet deep, the water is salty and marine life exists. There were sweetlips, snappers and rabbitfish which actually thrive in sea water! This river is connected underneath with the sea, in fact there is a cave on its head believed to be direct to the deeps. A nature’s wonder indeed!
Great for snorkeling!
Although diving is not allowed, a group of certified cave divers were granted to do exploratory dive, but it was too deep before they could reach its end – it was a bottomless pit! The cold blue water is great for swimming, and with active fish life it is also great for snorkeling.
Tinuy-an Falls
The trip to Bislig City was also long, going through rough roads and getting into the forest – mountains, lush vegetations and hectares of untilled lands will meet you as you go your way. From the entrance, in between is a wide clearing
Tinuy-an Falls, a wonderful gift of nature!
perhaps by nature is for people to watch its great splendor, a three-tiered falls dubbed as Little Niagara due to its wide span of cascading waters. It was too wonderful to behold from afar, like I was engulfed in such majesty!
Rafting for the falls!
It was so natural, with cool fresh air and green backdrop. Going to the topmost is allowed and you can wade in the waters in every tier or get a body massage from the gushing waters – feels so good. At the ground pool, by means of raft one can get nearer the falls but the water is too rough for swimming, but the sound of fierce fall of waters is too reviving. Discovering this magnificent falls is worth the trip!
Britania Group
This group of islands has been in my list to visit, it was pure blessing since our lodgings was in San Agustin town so we had good access to the islands. It has a total of 24 islets – all uninhabited, but only five are commonly visited by
Summer is for blue skies, turquoise waters, white sands!
tourists. These islets belong to Barangay Britania, a coastal community which maintained two marine sanctuaries. The municipality of San Agustin is a partner for MRDP projects and a GEF site, a municipality active in preservation and protection of marine resources.
Just one of the islands in Britania group – Buslon Islet
Although we were advised by the boatman to have an early cruise for the high tide, we left for the islands past twelve noon under the hot blazing sun! But it was all perfect – all the three islets we hopped were with white pristine beach – Hagonoy, Naked and Buslon islands. As it was during weekdays, the islands were all to ourselves – we swam and frolic to all our hearts content. It was pure nature fun under the sun, surrounded with cool blue waters while watching the nearby islets. So serene, so beautiful, so wonderful!
Travel Notes
How to get to San Agustin:
CdO to Butuan – Aircon bus at P 337.00
Butuan to San Francisco, Agusan del Sur – Aircon bus at P 142.00
San Francisco to Brgy. Britania, San Agustin – Non aircon bus at P 72.00 or P 80.00 by van
I never thought that this sensational menu would caught me flat-face yesterday, I had a sour smile while sitting in a Chinese diner here in CdeO while trying to look something to fill my hunger. I have been supporting advocacy on no shark finning and signed petitions from groups and have been reading so much articles on marine protection and preservation. It was like a bomb reading shark fin in the menu right in front of me! It’s been months since I last visited this place but I never notice before fried shark fin and fin soup. I felt like throwing up!
Dead sharks gathered at a beach in Ecuador!
It pained me knowing that a number of shark died each year for such exotic and expensive dish. Statistics show that 126 species of shark out of 140 are threatened with extinction. All told, up to 70 million sharks are culled annually for the trade, despite the fact that 30% of shark species are currently endangered. Last month, California has signed into law the ban for shark finning, a victory over this anomalous slaughter of marine life. Other countries are still fighting for this advocacy though. But still the global shark population is suffering from this industry. I hope, firmly hope that this trade will also be banned in the Philippines soon.
I wondered where they got their supply of shark meat, hopefully not in nearby waters in Mindanao. Anyhow, I just decided never to patronize this diner anymore.
NB. Photos courtesy from Time magazine, online edition.
Life in the Great Beyond 
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