Unraveling Camotes Depths!

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Camotes islands was never in my list for this year to explore, while I have heard about it obscurely but never thought it to be a possible dive destination. On an impulse, Angel and I packed our gears for a weekend dive trip to Camotes.  It was exciting for us both, we just love off beaten paths – it is more interesting!  Discovering one new place with little known or vague facts and information is exhilarating!

Still tired from the trip and our rushed afternoon tour the day before, we drag ourselves from bed.  As usual, I woke up earlier than my buddy for the preliminaries – packing and ucam set up.  Our version of breakfast – a mug of coffee, 1 ½ piaya, I banana – to be light for the dive and to save!  🙂  We ordered Filipino breakfast takeout for our lunch from the next garden resort and pick up gears just in time when our transpo picked us up.  We arrived at Ocean Deep 15 minutes ahead of our appointment, I was hoping we could meet the owner but didn’t.  So, we assembled the gears and I was aghast that the dive master and the receptionist did the carrying of the paraphernalia to the boat!  Far cry from previous dive shops we got into. It was about 100 meters to the boat, Angel and I had no plans to carry our 3 tanks each, sorry… 😛

We cruised to our first site at Tulang Island for Lawis almost an hour – we planned for a maximum deep of 35 meters, since it‘s a wall it would be manageable.  We did roll-back entry and when we descend, I needed 2 more weights!  We

got into some slope and the wall – what strikes me most is that there was lot of sea fans scattered around of different colors and sizes like it’s a garden.  There were anthias, scorpionfish, camouflaging clams, hard and soft corals,

fusiliers, barrel sponge, damsels, colorful nudi, anemones, clown fish and crown of thorns!  We did see lot of this sea stars and I was apalled, I was wondering if there were initiatives by the locals to protect the marine environment from this menace.  We ascend after 46 minutes having our deepest at 33 metres.

We took refuge at the white beach of Tulang Island for our surface interval, a peaceful stretch of white sand.  The divemaster took a break and left us on our own so we took a refreshing dip at the cool crystal waters, searching for shells and stones for my souvenir. 🙂   An hour later we moved on to our next descent at The Wall which we stayed for

clownfish on an anemone

56 minutes at maximum depth of 26.7 meters. Again, it was a wall with some sandy slope decorated with a variety

healthy corals

and large expanse of corals, sponges, crinoids and variety of colorful fish juveniles.  We ascend and exited at another spot at site no. 4.

Our late lunch served as our surface interval for our last dive,  as we cruised back near the Mangodlong Rock Resort.  Without consulting my dive computer we descend for our last dive at Lucbon Shoal, in awhile it kept blinking – Error!  Our surface interval wasn’t enough L  We got down to a wide coral gardens where we had an average of 20 meters as our deepest.  Variety of hard corals – there was a wide table top coral, staghorns and other kinds of

crown of sea thorns 😦

branching species in different shades and colors.  But sadly, the crown of thorns had attacked this area and it was so frustrating to watch the corals turning grey and brown in death.  What a disaster!  In my assessment, about ¼ of the area has been devoured by the sea stars.  I found this so alarming, and I was wondering if the local government or authorities have done something to save the environs.  Even the dive operators and resorts around the islands have the responsibility to protect the marine resources, after all they’re making business from it!  We ascend after an hour as Angel was getting low on air.

We cruised back to the beach area of the resort and was grateful we got back earlier as expected.  Hey, I went ahead not wanting to see who’s gonna carry the tanks back to the diveshop 😛  After settling bills, packing gears and a brief wait of our transpo, we were back at our lodgings before it gets dark.  It was such a full day but surviving the almost unknown sites with my favorite dive buddy was pleasing enough, no complaints except for the menacing crown of thorns slowly destroying the underwater paradise in Camotes waters.

The underwater scenes in Camotes didn’t disappoint us, now and then Angel and I will continue to discover more of our country’s enchanting paradise deep down.  The exquisiteness of the marine world and seeing more places in Philippines will always be our inspiration… 🙂

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Return to Mantangale!

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Colorful paradise! 🙂

One day, as I promised myself to revisit Mantangale – a place dear to me as it’s where I subjected myself to the rigors of diving. Not so long ago, I had my open water course at Mantangale waters so coming back to the place is some kind of paying  homage.  Since Angel was coming to CdeO over the weekend for some adventure trip with friends, we included a 3-dive sked for Camiguin if possible. Since DiveSpecial have nix, I booked with MADRI thankful that Sir Dong Uy was very encouraging for Camiguin. I have promised Ma’am Nana to blow bubbles again with them one of these days.

Angel was just in the nick of time, I asked the driver of the 7am King Long bus for a moment as Angel was just a few steps away.  We’re grateful we arrived at the resort earlier than expected, and after some welcome pleasantries we were ushered down to the diveshop where Sir Dong was waiting for us. He was thankful too that we’re early, he was seeing white caps at the front waters and was concerned it might be too choppy for the dives! While we’re having our breakfast, we discuss and agree for the sites then he gave us a quick briefing for our first descent at the house reef. Actually, it felt good to be back – sitting comfortably in peace as you watch the horizons, Camiguin in her stark splendor in view – is pure divine!  🙂

Banaug Shoal is a deep dive so it must be our first descent, I looked forward to once again enjoy the rich marine biodiversity of the site, it was pure bliss watching in awe the active fish life at the spot. From the speedboat we transferred to Sea Reyna – the beautiful, spacious, comfortable dive boat of the resort. And indeed, as soon as we reached the shoal the resident fishes decorated the environs, we went around the shoal – puffers, lionfish, snappers, anthias, damsels, angelfish, butterfly, nudis, and moray!  I was amused with big moray, he came out from his sanctuary when Sir Dong tapped his gauge on the rock. The pymy seahorse was all pink clinging to a rose seafan! We have circled the shoal at 32.2 meters as deepest.  We slowly ascend holding the bouy line, as I watched the moray eel and a lionfish swimming coyly displaying its intricate fins.  It was splendid!

We cruised for an hour to Mantigue Island which served also as our surface interval, watching in distance the white sand beach surrounding the island.  I was wondering if we could get the chance to walk around at the beach…. For our second dive, Sir Dong gave us a surprise! We will be diving in EAN (30%) with no cost! He said it will be credited if we took EAN certification course. Angel and I  was excited to try nitrox.  Our next descent was at the Marine Sanctuary – again it was a colorful display of a rich marine biodiversity – hard and soft corals, crinoids, sea fans, sea cucumbers, anemones. Colorful anthias are all over, wrasses, fusiliers, damsels, jackfish in schools, groupers, snappers, lionfish, scorpionfish, clownfish, puffer, pipefish and more. It was truly alive with fish life! I wasn’t expecting such display of marine life – it was another paradise underwater.  Angel held my hand and looked his eyes as we float weightlessly over the colorful reef.  The little mermaid in me was again rejoicing!  🙂  We ascend after 63 minutes with 29.2 meters as deepest.

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Blowing bubbles at Mantigue Island marine sanctuary in nitrox!

Our lunch break served as our surface interval for our last dive, we enjoyed our fish n chips wrapped in banana leaves still warm.  Sir Dong suggested we again go down at the sanctuary but on the opposite direction. We geared for the last descent but alas, the assistant mistakenly failed to bring another set of EAN so we used again ordinary compressed air. 😛 Although it was the same site but definitely it didn’t disappoint us, there was another display  of rich marine life.  There was scorpionfish, snappers, groupers and jacks – a long parade of jacks in large school. There were some nudis, lionfish, cowrie and wide spread of soft and hard corals.  We lingered just going around the slope searching for macros among the corals.  We finally surfaced after an hour with 14.9 meters as our deepest.  All were great dives!

As we cruised back to the resort, we took some nap to regain enough energy to finish off a full day.  After washing up and packing our gears we went up and chose to have an early dinner, having our left over fish n chips  from lunch plus a banana split ice cream – yummy! 🙂  We wanted to linger more in luxury and comforts of the resort, there were no other guests that day so we had the place all to ourselves.

So near yet so far!  Finally I explored part of Camiguin depths with my favorite dive buddy – indeed there is always a right time for everything.  After a brief wait at the bus stop, we boarded a King Long bus back to Cdeo. It was a long day but promising ourselves to be back again for another wonderful dive in Balingoan and Camiguin surrounding waters.

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Photo courtesy of Sir Dong Uy of MADRI

At Work: Different Pressure, Different Environment

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leaving for work...

Few days ago, I went down for a work.  Well, it was exciting especially that I waited for it for sometime.  I went to work deep down – not with rolled-up sleeves, not with  figures or computers, not on analysis, computations, and documents  review but on something new to a Little Mermaid like me.  Alright, it’s something outlandish and not everybody can do it or have the opportunity to do it.

For the past days, I chattered abut it with my team and even to Angel, I was eagerly waiting for it since last year!  One sunny Wednesday, I was up earlier than usual with my gears packed previous night.  Yea, my diving gears because I was joining the coral transplantation!  This work was my lone dive for August, but very worthwhile in making a difference for a good cause.

It was sunny in Samburon when we got there, and the folks have started already the day’s activities and obviously waiting for us.  It was good to see Lemuel, Mar Brandy, Lolong and the rest of the team. I asked Lemuel for a briefing including the procedures, he explained to us also the updates, problems encountered and why it took them long for the transplantation.  I was beaming listening to him, as he explained the diagram of the substrates submerged months ago.

The guys were busy for the preliminaries, finally we’re heading for the boat – we’re using paddle boat as it was just near the shore.  Well, donning the gears on a paddle boat is challenging!  🙂  We finally descend with Mar Brandy as my buddy. The water was bit murky so the visibility wasn’t good.  There was nothing down until we got into the concrete substrates.  We viewed the planted corals, it was all neat!  They have shown all the types of substrates- rectangle, square and round.    Lemuel made sign to watch him as he did the demo.  It went like this:

  • Polythelene pipes in clear plastic about 4 inches long and 1.5 inches in diameter will be inserted to holes on substrates about 6 inches apart
  • Pre-mixed cement and fine sand (1:1) packed in ice water plastic wrapper will be transferred to the installed pipes, carefully estimating its amount would be exact, as soon as it filled the pipe, cover immediately with  palm to avoid it spreading out, after awhile as it hardened, fill other pipes. (about 3 pipes will be filled by each pack)
  • After 3-5 minutes, pre-cut corals will be inserted to cemented pipes as in planting in a pot
  • After 4 hours, planted corals will be taken out from the pipe and plastic, leaving only  cemented corals which will be inserted back to the substrate holes

Not sitting on my desk, no desktop or laptop computer, no aircon whirring, no phone ringing, no cellphone beeps – just away from everything.  Just breathe in silence concentrating on the task, relaxing somehow and watch in awe how one can do something to help improve our marine environment, our second home – the SEA!

corals planted on the substrates...

Viewing the fully-planted substrates looked like a Christmas tree, especially the round ones!  It requires much energy for the work and the conviction that all will grow and someday would become a colorful healthy coral garden.  🙂  I learned that the coral fragments must stay underwater until planted and must be careful in the transport from its harvest to avoid stress for the planting materials. As we went around, we noticed juvenile fishes taking refuge under the substrates and it was even more surprising when we found a lionfish swimming coyly under the second floor of the slab. Amazing! A migrant, a new boarder claiming the space as its new home. I was sure more tropical fishes will troop to the spot, soon to be filled with damsels, wrasses, angelfish, batfish, fusiliers, snappers, triggers, moorish idol, puffers, moray, anthias and more…. 🙂

At 9.9 meters it was all easy to stay longer underwater but after an hour we ascend, after going around all the planted substrates with the matching photos for the documentation.  I found it very interesting and it was such a learning experience, I’m looking forward to do it again perhaps in the same site as 90% of the one hectare nursery still needs to be completed by the LGU of Linamon.

Yes, I would be willing to do it again – working in a different pressure in my wetsuit under the water!  🙂

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Photos courtesy of Mr. Lemuel Alfeche

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Counting Disasters!

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Reminiscing mishaps in my journey as a Little Mermaid, recalling them made me understand better that there is blessing in every blow and that they are not meant to harm us but allow us to be strong and mature. As I look back, I realized that there is always victory in every situation and it didn’t destroy me after all.

  • My right flipper went off from my  feet as I swam back to the boat after ascent, and without my knowledge! Good thing one of our companions behind found it for me – it felt stupid 😛
  • During a night dive as we ascend swimming back to the boat, my BC keeps on deflating! It’s bit difficult to keep inflating back as it was dark
  • While in Coron, last minute I was informed that my flight was cancelled, good thing the airline made arrangements for another airline at no cost, good thing it did not create mess for my connecting flight going back home
  • Once the visibility was murky and I got lost from my buddy, totally lost and I was left alone! I managed to ascend alone but it was truly heart pounding…
  • Another night dive on a shore entry, we begin to descend when I noticed something was wrong, I signaled for “something wrong” and for “up”!  I need one more weight as we’re using aluminum tanks, I forgot and it felt so stupid!
  • What abut having my period during my dive!  Dive trips cant just simply be moved for such reason, everything were arranged already including ticket reservations.
  • Well, what about my underwater cam caught up with leaking! L Barely ten months after I bought it, pricey of course.  My heart sank…  Now, we’re using my buddy’s cam with my casing.
  • Or while in El Nido, as soon as the plane touched down I received sms informing that my flight back was cancelled! I was disturbed – had to make last minute cancellation, booking, rebooking and accommodation arrangements – in effect new itinerary.  Good thing was, everything can be done online with some calls.  Good friends were there to help me out.
  • Or our Dive Tubbataha 2010 plan went flop!  Purely economics – my mentor wasn’t organizing anymore and the liveaboards are just too expensive – too lavish I would say.  There was too much cash outflow in the past months due to my mum’s hospitalization and finally her death. It isn’t wise to splurge when your finances is recovering yet.  Another week-long leave from work after having two weeks leave attending to our mum is I think  not a good work ethics.
  • Your Director wants to see you the following morning (holiday!) to discuss about work matters, and your flight for a dive trip is very early the next morning! How does that feel, may I ask?  Actually I felt bad, because in a sense I failed her.
  • Oh, few years back, when I had my Open Water Diver Course my period suddenly came the day before my class schedule! I thought I couldn’t make it but I did – my mentor was patient with me.

I may have a long list here now, but for sure as I continue with my diving trips, more disasters can happen.  But all of these were overtaken by the pleasures I savored form exploring the underwater world, it was simply marvelous! It is always as good as it gets. 🙂  The Lord always fix things, always….

NRM Project:Coral Transplantation in Samburon

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samburon, MPA now!

It was in December 2008 that I attended the presentation of project proposals for MRDP, I seated behind listening to the deliberations with my team, thoughts racing in my mind too interested with marine preservation. Few of things I began to be passionate about after I become a diver!

The project was approved by the Poject Advisory Board (PAB) , a Natural Resorce Management (NRM) Project funded by WB under the Mindanao Rural Development Program. I guess I was beaming thinking about the coral transplantation and was too thrilled when the project coordinator told me she would get me as volunteer diver during transplantation.  The rest is history….

Now, after more than 18 months of the preparation, logistics, arrangements, social prep, capacitation and more – the area is now ready.  Concrete domes and subsrates were submerged months ago, nursery installed, and now a protected area. Last week the transplantation have started and I can’t help to be excited! Next week (Aug 25th) I’ll be joining them down under for the job, finally!  I started to think how long would I last doing the planting with my 3000psi tank, or how many can I plant, or will I do it right?  And this is totally new – coral planting? Well, planting in the gardens is too easy – flowers, herbs, veggies – which made me remember the backyard.  But planting underwater is outlandish – it’s not for the faint-hearted I guess!  😛   Isn’t that somewhat cranky?

I’m immensely felt blessed that my passion for diving is not mere for fun, but also with a purpose not for myself  but for the community and environment, contributing to make this corner of the Earth a better place to live.  This I think is an infallible human undertaking. 

Ah, my hidden fins is starting to scratch out from me!  🙂

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