"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
After I had my first taste of river rafting few years back, I promised myself I should do it at least once a year. Why, when people from other places wanted some adrenaline rush at Cagayan de Oro river, it would be some kind of shame if an earthling like me who have declared CdeO as my second home town would simply ignore such wonderful experience. I love the blood flowing as I hurdle every rapids without getting thrown out to the water! 😛
True enough, I have kept the promise – so each year I have a rafting trip in the CdeO river. The lovely thing is I can do it anytime of the year. 🙂 Once I had it in December, and my sister in NY was aghast! While she was shivering in cold on winter, here am I splashing in the waters under the sun like summer! 🙂 I love the waters and I never get tired watching the scenery by the river bank between Bukidnon and Mis Or territories.
And in the last two years, I did it with Angel! He love it too, no doubt – he did it twice last year. But now we’re aiming for the extreme course or even the night run! Hopefully we could do that soon. 🙂 So now, I’m looking forward again for this year’s adventure at the Cagayan de Oro river! I love the white waters of the City of Golden Friendship…
I was missing the waters, my fins were itching wanting to flip once again, so thinking of revisiting Samal waters after more than a year revived my spirits. Angel and I had this dive trip for the month, after missing our Coron trip last month. So one Friday evening after a long day at work, I gathered up my gears and boarded an ordinary bus for Davao. It was unfortunate that the tourist bus was already full when I got to the station. It turned out that the ride wasn’t too cold compared to aircon ones, although there were lot of stops along the 6-hour trip, I arrived safe in Davao much earlier than Angel. It gave me enough time to check in at DMSF, freshen up and got some rest from the long trip.
Angel and I proceed to Davao Scuba Dive thinking arrangements were made already but our contact called up to go ahead to Paradise Island Resort as we need to be back early for another appointment. We rushed back to Sasa wharf and cruised for the resort as it started to drizzle. Our contact Alan was very helpful suggesting to prepare ourselves and gear up as we will do beach entry. It was good since there were no other divers. He briefed us shortly about the sites which is just beyond the beach area. We were warned of the currents, but we informed him that we wanted shallow dive as Angel and I were both having colds!
There’s one thing I don’t like much with beach entries – carrying the gears on my back – but I was grateful, an assistant was helpful enough to carry it for me. I scampered the cemented landing as I was much behind from angel and the dive guide and descend the steps. My gears waiting for me floating on the waters, getting into my gears with the cool crystal waters felt so good. Gosh! I belong to the waters, indeed…
Our first ascend was at the coral gardens, where we found a concrete lying angel on a steel crib. It was submerged sometime ago as an artificial reef but sadly, we didn’t find any coral, crinoids or fishes. It was lying there more of an intrusion on the sea bed. Farther, there were lot of branching green corals, soft corals, damsels, clown fish on anemones, puffers. Angel spotted a moray which I missed. Some trumpet fish, wrasses, sergeants and sponges. There was current indeed, and it was bit ardous catching up. I signalled for a stop, when the guide finally waited for me with the Ok sign. I need to slow down… We ascend after we covered the two slopes in the area, our deepest at 14.8m after 46 minutes with 500 psi of my air. Angel and I was sad there was much trash underwater, we gathered handfuls when we end the dive.
Angel and I spent an hour for our surface interval at the guest area – short chat with the guide, listening to the serenade, sipping our fruit shakes, people watching and still deciding how much to give for our gift to Io 🙂 We decided to postpone lunch and just went for our last dive immediately so we could leave the place early for the afternoon function.
For our next descent, we brought our net bag for the trash and went further on the same spot top cover the last slope. Again, there was the green hard corals scattered, corals of other specie, basket sponges, soft corals. There were damsels, wrasses, clown fishes, sand perch and more. I spotted a sea cucumber, lot of black sea urchins and found just one crown of thorns! then we got into a field of colorful coral garden with lot of juvenile fishes. I spend more time there exploring , hopping on the corals and picking up trash we passed by. There was current again swimming against it, for some time we lost the guide as he went fast. Angel and I was left alone, and just explored the scenery. The guide appeared again and signaled for us to go back, drifting with the current was fun. Until we got to the sandy area, had our safety stop and finally ascend after 51 minutes with 12.2 meters as deepest, my air down to 800 psi. Our net bag was filled with trash! 😦
We hastily had bathroom routines, pack up gears, settle our bills, some pleasantries with the shop staff and bid byes. It started to rain again but it didn’t stop us to board the boat for our cruise back. The two dives was more than enough to have a good relaxing weekend with Angel. We finally cruised thinking for our next afternoon activity and later for the reception party at Waterfront Insular.
Angel and I was actually thinking about food! 🙂 The dinner at the Waterfront Tent, Margie’s Bakeshop or Blugrey Cafe in downtown Davao! Well, the good food and dining enthusiast in us was itching again…. 😛
A few days back I received the first Coral Watch newsletter from Coral Watch with a personal note from Chris. It reminds me somehow that I haven’t done any coral monitoring since I received the kit from CW. It’s been over a year when I signed up as a volunteer and I remembered I was too ecstatic when I got the kit, grateful that it was for real and I am entrusted with some noble task for the underwater life.
I shared the materials with my dive buddy so he could also impart to marine enthusiasts the great idea of monitoring the corals in our local waters. In a sense I felt guilty that I haven’t started my share in doing this formidable task. Secondly, I havent decided yet which strategic spot should I do my monitoring as it is necessary I would be frequently visiting the area. Well, I need to stop and rethink about putting in order my plan so I could start my task soon. To date, there are 1,741 surveys and 31,284 corals surveyed, hoping that more will be added in the next months.
Just as the year is about to end, I’m organizing my 2011 plans. Now, I have identified to position my monitoring in Sohoton waters – being a favorite place and where preservation for sustainable marine resources is one of the community’s agenda. I’m sure it wouldn’t be too strange for them to assist and support me with this endeavor, the site would be perfect as I frequetly visiting, there will be continuity of monitoring. Mainly it would be monitoring of coral bleaching and assessment of coral health. I need to join the force of people who have great concern for the marine world before global warming can overtake us. I can’t wait to start this!
I have something worthwhile to waste my time with when I go snorkeling, I can bring my diving and water escapades to another level. In my own way, I can spread the word albeit slowly but surely and let others be educated, passionate and involved in reef health monitoring. My love for marine life could never be limited by just watching in awe and scribbling on my log describing wonderful experiences, there is something more! I need to roll up my sleeves for my second home and friends. I can’t help to be bullish that we can restore our threatened environment before it will be too late!
Coron is now one of my favorite destination, discovering it in March 2008 without second thought I went back three months later to know more of the secrets of the Calamianes. I visited it again last year with my favorite dive buddy- yes, you guess it right – to explore more of its secrets in the depths! Angel and I loved every bit of it, he swore it was his best dive experience so far and in fact it was our deepest at 114 feet!. And I could not deny that exploring Akitsushima and Taeie Maru was exhilarating – going down and penetrating the mysterious wrecks was so challenging and enthralling!
Exploring more of the monsters was so irresistible that we planned for another Coron trip this year, I booked my tickets as early as April! Indeed, we eagerly wait for October while enjoying other dive trips. For us, Coron waters is something special, with its limestone cliffs, crystal waters and rich marine life we wanted to experience its beauty over and over again.
I thought everything was in place, except for my leave from work but alas by end of August, my community have scheduled on the date when I will be in Coron, a spiritual retreat for us and required everyone to come! Remembering my trip, I was bit shaken, I wanted to delay my response. In my mind, I tried to justify I had my tickets already and it was scheduled long before. I remembered I was sullen that day, hoping it will be postponed to other dates. Actually my heart sank… Going back though, I reflected that the Lord has been so good to me, He had lavished me with wonderful trips and provided me all the resources.
In submission I prayed for grace and decided to cancel my trip and be there for the Lord – He asked just one day from me! It was a breaking news, but I guess Angel felt relieved because his friends will be coming with him and he is not comfortable diving together with me! Anyhow, I would be missing the Coron wrecks this year and have to let go my CGY-MNL-CGY ticket and the amount attached to it, refunds or rebooking is not possible. Always, there is a reason for everything and I am waiting it to unfold one day. But again, I can look up and be thankful He emerged victorious over my much valued trip.
I’ll be in Coron again hopefully in March with or without my dive buddy – that’s a promise to myself…
After an adventure dive trip at Camotes Islands, Angel and I signed up for a clean-up dive at Opol Marine Sanctuary to join the force for the International Coastal Cleanup which DiveSpecial Diving Central organized with the LGU of Opol. Despite work pressures, we chose to be part of this endeavor – to do something worthwhile for the marine environment, a favorite dwelling which we wanted to visit more often. So we packed our gears, Angel flew again to CdeO and we went to Opol feeling joyful for the activity and excited to discover another underwater scenery. When we reached the Ajis Beach, the area was teeming with people already. It was good to see Mario, Ma’am Cristy , Mar Brandy and Cris. It was a sunny Saturday, actually perfect for beach antics – I saw banana boat, jet ski and kayaks just waiting around for a ride!
We were the first group of divers who went down for the clean up, with XU-College of Marine Biology students and a dive guide from LGU, all were men. I’m always thankful that Angel is with me in my dives, I would be honest to admit that diving alone with strangers is sometimes awkward but with my favorite dive buddy I can always count on his abiding presence. After a short briefing from Mario, we climbed up the boat (Mar Brandy have to assist me) and cruised for about ten minutes to the sanctuary.
We anchored near the floating shed serving as guardhouse of the sanctuary, and prepared for the descent. I stayed near Angel as we started to go down but unfortunately I can’t with my three weights (?), I suspected it was due to my BC. Anyhow, I was able to borrow from the guide and another diver. Angel went up to see what’s wrong 😛 He signaled that we must stay near each other as the visibility wasn’t good. We descend on the shallow part and went around. It was somewhat tricky since we’re not there for just enjoying the scenery but to be quick also to find trashes underwater. Most of it have blended the environment, the silt have made them looks like part underwater. Angel and I found the planted car wreck! It now served as artificial reef, where some corals with lot of tropical fishes claimed as their home.
We found angel fish, damsels, wrasse, groupers, bat fishes, snappers, sweetlips, surgeons, clownfish, butterfly fish, puffers, and variety of anthias. There were branching corals, soft corrals, barrel sponges, cucumber and more. I managed to touch a long floating worm which Angel held for me with a twig. We searched for more trash until we lost each other! I got with me plastics, food wrappers, a whisky bottle, fishing lines, sachets, etc. when I ascend with the guide. Angel surfaced ten minutes later as I waited for him at the floating shed. We got unto the boat and cruised back to the beach as soon as everybody surfaced.
Another rewarding clean up dive, perhaps my gathered trash wasn’t much but doing something for marine life’s benefit is truly worthwhile. After taking lunch, getting a free shirt, taking photos – we packed our gears, freshen up and bid byes from the group. Angel and I left the beach resort with a joyful heart promisisng ourselves for another cleanup dive next year!
Life in the Great Beyond 
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