Adventures for the intrepid can be as varied as far one can go, many travelers have become so audacious and ambitious as if motivated in conquering one goal after another.
After years of diving and continually aiming for off beaten sites, I realized there are still a lot of places around the country that needs to be explored. I have learned so much from my travels and in many ways have gained new insights especially destinations that are closest to nature. The rural scenery is almost and always a plethora of learning and new understanding of our culture, the environment and wide issues of protection and preservation.
There are few places that are close to my heart, destinations that are perhaps distant and advance arrangements are necessary, yet the urge to keep coming back was hard to resist. Much that I love the depths, I am always fascinated by heights. So that, a combination of both in a trip, is a real indulgence, actually a luxury. Climbing a peak or searching the depths is a real show of grandeur in all scheme of things!
Coron – Climb Mt. Tapyas and dive in Coron Bay
One of my favorite dive destination is Coron due its collection of World War II wrecks, the underwater museum have tickled my curiosity and I have tons of write-up about the mysterious wrecks. I was always blown away every time we penetrated the old ships, these silent monsters abandoned in the depths. My visits to Coron though, is not complete without climbing Mt. Tapyas to catch glimpse of my beautiful sunset. I guess sunsets are more spectacular to watch from a mountain top. I would linger just watching, killing my time looking the horizons getting a good view of the changing hues. Until the golden sun would finally ebbed down and the white cross would light up.
Tawi-Tawi – Climb Bud Bongao and dive in Bongao waters
This southern most cluster of islands in the country is not a touristy one, in fact some if not most would think twice before coming to Tawi-tawi. Coming here was one of my most memorable trip, the discoveries were too precious to ignore. We visited here during Ramadan and by 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon, the market was oozing with people and there was great array of food! The locals were friendly and helpful, the town is naturally peaceful.
We climb Bud Bongao the day we arrived, we trek and were welcomed by the macaque monkeys with our banana offerings. Bud is the highest point of the province, the view was just unmistakably breath taking! The three dives the next day was a great opportunity to explore the rich surrounding waters of the islands. Well, the currents made it challenging! The heights and depths combination was just marvelous!
Southern Cebu – Trek Osmeña Peak, traverse to Kawasan Falls and dive in Moalboal
Well, this is actually a combination of three! The southern towns in Cebu have its own charms, so that in these three towns you have equally remarkable adventures. Drive to Mantalungon in Dalaguete, trek to Osmeña Peak and be amazed with those peaks shaped like peanut kisses! Trek down the fourteen kilometers trail and traverse to Badian right in Kawasan Falls, rafting and taking a dip in its aquamarine waters is truly refreshing! Stay in the next town of Moalboal and dive in its waters replete with diverse marine life. The awesome sardine’s run is too hard to resist, I came here again and again because of it. Pescador Island is also a renowned site, the sightings here are too good to be true, mind blowing as they say!
Camiguin Island – Trek Mt. Hibokhibok, traverse to Ardent Hot Springs and dive in its waters
There a lot of reasons to be back here again and again, this island is also my favorite. It’s practically dense with nature wonders. Volcanoes, falls, hot and cold springs, islets, rich marine life and more! Climb Mt. Hibok-Hibok, this active volcano is safe for trekking and it can be done in a day. The view in the peak is undoubtedly breath taking, but it was foggy when we reached the top. We were surrounded with white clouds, the trail was challenging at different levels. It has a total of fourteen kilometers from Yumbing and traverse to Ardent, right in the hot spring pools! A dip is undoubtedly a good relaxant after the arduous trek.
The island is perfect for diving – from marine sanctuaries, coastal reefs to sunken cemetery! There’s a lot of choices and this island province is literally surrounded with dive sites in its coastal waters. Mantigue Island is a must, so with sunken cemetery, Old Vulcan, white island and many more. All of the sites are practically filled with diverse marine life.
These are just few, I know there are a lot of destinations around the country with this ridge to reef combinations. New learning, precious discoveries and the realization that every place has its own share of wonders and the God of order have made everything in nature in accord with all scheme of things.
Heights and depths are both nature’s display of its wondrous splendor!
Life in the Great Beyond 
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