divingph – Life in the Great Beyond

Exploring the Depths: Birthday Dive Trip Recap

October 28, 2025January 28, 2026cbartazo

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 dives. It was a sunny Sunday and the resort was bustling with functions, yet Sir Dong Uy was there to welcome us and after some brief chat catching up offered us a welcome coffee – on the house! 😊 There were visible changes in the resort – new structures, repairs, more rooms – yet the homey familiar ambience I so missed comforted me once more.

We went down to the dive shop for the preliminaries, so glad to see Danny and requested him to check my reg while Boboy was attending to our gear needs, obviously our guide for the day. Again, it was an exclusive dive for us, just perfect! 😊

Our first descent was at the house reef, our favorite site. We splashed for the giant stride and swam for the bouy line and slowly went down inch by inch. The viz was bit hazy but it worked well, and that same magic appeared as we got to the shoal. The swarm of scads swimming coyly lingered around, damsels and chromis. A red snapper darted and quickly swam away, giant trevally appeared from nowhere. Again, the rhythm of colors as they swarmed and wiggled on this shelter was a sight to behold. I didn’t see much of the small and obscured critters and I miss the resident moray eel lurking in its lair. Slowly I went around taking my time, feeling the cold waters, listening to my breath. Unfortunately, I failed to set correctly my computer to EAN so it went Greek! I spent my last available minute until my NDL went 2 and signaled for ascent to my dive buddy and guide. I went 30.6 meters with my 56 mins bottom time, my air still at 110 bars.

The boat speed off to Sipaka Point and had our surface interval there, our guide suggested to take refuge as surf might swell any time.

We waited for an hour and geared up for our last descent at Red Sands, the plan was to explore in the shallows to get a much better visibility. Our giant strides splashed the waters, and in a while descend to sandy grounds. Our first critter as we hit down was a devilfish pointed out by our dive guide, which something I wouldn’t notice on my own. We explored around, encountered large patch of flourishing colorful corals, peeked a crevice, inspected a small cavern and waded around feeling my weightlessness and enjoying the view. Maybe the viz wasn’t as good as it used to be during sunny days but still it felt good being there surrounded with nothing less of spectacle. The blue stars again, culcitas, lionfish, the perennial anemone fish, chromis, wiggling anthias, to name a few. Oh, the COTS didn’t escape my probing eyes, I found at least three of them and I guess there could be more. I was thinking they will surely devour the colorful corals in no time. ☹ We were biding our time as we circled the enormous Bugtong Bato, from the surface this massive granite rock looks desolate, barren and devoid of life. Yet underwater, it depicts a different picture, so colorful, very diverse and teeming with life. In no time, we signaled for ascent and clocked 69 minutes dive time with my air still at 90 bars. Both dives for the day were at 30% EAN.

We sped back to the resort feeling good at the same time famished as it was past 1:00pm already. As we savored our late lunch in the quiet ambience of the resort’s resto, we intermittently talk about the encounters and grateful we made it for the dives even with unreliable weather condition. After some pleasantries, we bid bye to sir Dong who was full at work and have guests yet still manage to send us off, promising him we will surely be back!

The two dives for the day revived my spirit, it was short but sweet so to say. As we drove back to the city, I was reflecting again how privileged I am to explore the underwater world which is so filled of wonders always. My favorite dive buddy said after diving for almost two decades and having seen all, the sensation being down there floating weightless is something we need to feel now and then. That same eagerness still caught me every time I have a dive trip coming. So grateful for my dive buddy who opted to come over to revisit MADRI after five long years, I had wonderful weekend dives in my favorite homey dive shop. Actually, it was my birthday trip and being in the depths was a tradition as it used to be, as a “one with nature” treat for ourselves! 😊

Sustainable Diving in Camiguin: Clean-Up and Relaxation

June 28, 2025June 29, 2025cbartazo

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 my favorite island – not so distant, not crowded and not expensive. Being just few weeks after the Holy Week*, it was peaceful and not crowded as I wanted it to be. Too provincial, as my dive buddy described when we had an afternoon walk from the market.

We were happy to be back at Mabini Hotel as our refuge, the staff were friendly and so helpful. And practically, walking distance to important spots in the town – church, market, police station, shops, bank. Our dives arrangement done perfect with Scuba de Oro.

The next morning, we’re up early for the preliminaries – Angel’s early walk, packing up gears, my dailies and a relaxing light breakfast. Our DM picked us up promptly at 8:30am to the dock which was 18 kms away, the cheery weather was all we need to brighten up that Friday!

Marine Sanctuary

We got on the paddle boat that brought us to dive boat anchored about 100 meters away, sunny skies and calm waters was just perfect for the dives! In no time, we sailed for Mantigue after all the necessary stuff were loaded. Just watching the wide blue seas with its gentle breeze was just a good start. Again, it was an exclusive dive for us! 😊

DM Amir joined us in our first dive at the Sanctuary, the waters was just right – on a high tide with very mild current. Our giant stride gave a huge splash on the waters! We descend slowly hoping to find a school of jacks. Alas, my dive computer wasn’t working later I realized it was battery low already and this is one of those situations when I felt lost when I don’t have a dive computer. Then I felt struggling with my buoyancy, figuring out why when I always have 6 pounds weights. I wasn’t listening when Angel suggested he would have extra weight in case my wetsuit would keep me positively buoyant. The whole time our DM was on the lookout for me.

We sighted at least three groups of giant trevallies as we went, not so much in number compared last time but much bigger. The ever gentle turtles crossed our way, three of them wading coyly. I was wondering if these turtles were hatched in the island or are they males felt safe and contented to inhabit the sanctuary. The reef fishes were all over, few drummers showed up. There were triggerfish, anthias, wrasses, fusiliers, anemone fish, sand perch, and more. There were blue stars scattered around and found more culcita which was not a common sight before. Some sponges, sea cucumbers, whips and few androids.

We spent 57 minutes, had my deepest at 22m and my air down to 70 from 200 bars.

Turtle Point

After more than an hour for our surface interval, we prepared for our next dive at the Point – Angel’s favorite. 😊This time, my weight was increased and Angel offered his new dive computer (Garmin Descent 2) which I was grateful! To make our dives count, we brought our net bag as Amir urged, for some trash clean up. And right, all was well – my buoyancy was perfect and my depth, NDL and safety stop were monitored accurately which is very relevant to me. We descend to a sandy slope and went deeper down expecting some surprise!

Well, we encountered six turtles – two were sleeping quietly in their spot, none of them were threatened as we passed by observing them. Angel and I stopped momentarily in white sandy slope observing the garden eels, their territory became wider I observed. Amir led us for the search of the elusive juvenile leaf scorpion fish, it didn’t disappoint us as it appeared perched on a stone coral. It was a rare sight, and I guess I wouldn’t find if I’m alone – one needs keen eyes for this critter. A lone chevron barracuda darted fast few meters away, stunned for a bit what was it! It was surprising, there were lot of critters I observed dwelling at the Point. Bannerfishes, angels, snappers, moorish idol, fusiliers, anthias, pufferfish, yellow damsels and lot more. A moray eel also peeped from its hole observing us, there were blue stars and culcita’s all over. It felt surreal with that large throng of juvenile cardinal fish, so tiny thousands of them wiggling over the colorful corals!

We ascend with a bagful of trash – plastic cutlery, sachets, discarded clothing, plastic caps, sanitary napkin, bottle, cans and more plastics. Well, the sanitary nap was gross, but I didn’t let it go. It was a dive clean-up indeed! We had 62 minutes with 23.1 meters as my deepest and my air down to 80 bars.

Our sumptuous lunch was waiting for us as we got into the boat, the most relaxing part after good dives was while enjoying our meal talking about the sightings and dive trips stories. 😊

Isla Charms

Our last dive in the island was two years ago right in the same spot yet being underwater is always mystery – new encounters, new lessons and whole gamut of bliss beyond the surface. It’s beauty and wonder cannot be equaled. To our delight, our DM allowed us for a quick hop to the island using the paddle boat! 😊 The white beach became wider this time, and there was some kind of sandbar that extends a little farther. What a joy – getting a good view of the main island! The mountains all green capped with white clouds, such a beauty!

We went back to Mambajao with our DM driving for us, such generous soul. We planned for sunset in White Island like we used to in previous years but unfortunately all tourist spots now in Camiguin Island closed at 5pm. Making most of the day, we had a detour to Katibawasan Falls for a quick dip to freshen up, the cold waters was good enough but have to leave immediately before the gates would close. ☹ We capped the day watching the sunset at Chill’s Resto instead!

As I watched leaving the port next morning, had that gnawing feeling of not getting enough. I whispered to myself and promised I’ll be back again soon! Honestly though, I miss those times watching sunset in White island or the night dip in Hot Spring. Those moments when there was no need to rush.

*Tourists and many people would flock during the Holy Week for the annual Panaad, where devotees would walk around the island as pilgrims for the Way of the Cross.

Diving Adventures in Moalboal: A Return to Paradise

July 20, 2024January 29, 2025cbartazo

After a wonderful sojourn and matching discoveries in Sibaltan, another diving trip was put to order in June. Yes, in summer like it used to be! For some time, I was aiming and wanted to be back in Cabilao Island but conditions were not favorable, a weekend was too short for the trip. Our instinct just urged us and we randomly decide for our fave destination in southern Cebu. It was almost five years since our last visit and it was like a homecoming!

Just like my quirky escapes – late flight, no proper meals, early dawn bus ride – yet arrived safely in town still dark. My buddy and I realized now that Moalboal is not too far from the city, we barely had three hours on the road. After five years though, there has been lot of noticeable changes, the roads are wider paved all the way, and that old acacia tree at the junction going to Panagsama Beach is now obscured with new structures. More buses are routing to south and realistically dawn rides barely had stops along the road! If not for the bus crew alerting us for the stop, we could have slept all along and ended somewhere else! 😊 So, we wind up at Jolibee’s-24H as our refuge while still dark, and had our early coffee there.

Just when day breaks, we hailed a trike that brought us to Ananas Guesthouse and accordingly had our much-needed nap! Just enough to freshen me up until 9am, to have my essentials for the day – my dailies and repacking of needed gears, we were expected for the 10:30am dive schedule at Savedra Dive Center.

Mystical Depths

An eye catching but very significant to divers is this slogan at the diveshop, “Some of us must live underwater.” It brought me thinking that I can only come for a visit in an hour or so, if only that’s possible – if only… The wall chart had our names with DM Vernel indicated Pescador Island as our first dive! We organized our gears and had my regulator for necessary check for leaks, in no time we piled up on the dive boat. We had two other divers with our DM, there are two other larger groups in our boat also heading for Pescador. It was looming before us as we cruised towards the island, there were boats already mooring in a short distance. After the briefing, we assembled with our DM and did our giant stride entry.

We navigated south to west (yes, this route made us a full circle of the island!) with our right shoulder to the wall, wonderful critters abound – a juvenile yellow frogfish, twice we encountered stonefish – alone and a couple in another spot, a scorpionfish camouflaged between the corals, lionfish, reef fishes and few bivalves that snapped as we passed by. Even with the devastation of typhoon Odette in December 2021, which is visible in its terrain yet still the critters thrived and have decorated the wall. Our DM peeked on corals and crevices for micros – few nudis, coral shrimps and coral crabs were lurking on them almost invisible if not for our DMs keen eyes. It was just so interesting searching for these tricky invertebrates, you don’t know what you find and I would always wonder that such animals exist! I wouldn’t know if don’t descend in the depths. We went around floating weightless in silence, now and then I’d look for my buddy as it should be, to be mindful in every beat. Slowly we went up from the wall over a patch of corals, until we have our safety stop. In no time our DM deployed his SMB, I signaled Angel for our ascent. We all assembled and boarded the boat as it got near to fetch us. I had 55 minutes with 23.8m as deepest, still with 100 bars.

Our pizza lunch was perfect as our surface interval, light but full. We chose Veranda Kitchen & Bar overlooking the shores for some sea breeze relaxing for the next dive.

We promptly went back at the dive shop to prepare for the next descent checking our gears, and alas Angel’s dive computer was nowhere in sight! Our last descent as scheduled was at Ludo which was something new to us, our DM informed that the highlight of this site is the sitting Mermaid statue which sound interesting! The plan was a shore dive but, in the end, they got us unto the boat as they were going northwest and just drop us off near our site. We were separated from the large group, so it’s like an exclusive dive for me and Angel because our DM said we had low air consumption compared to others! 😊We gave up looking for the dive computer and went on.

We did the entry again in giant stride, feeling the warm afternoon waters. In no time, we descend anticipating for some surprise. And there she was surrounded with some rocks, sitting quietly looking up as if waiting for someone to come and join her fantasies! We circled and lingered briefly watching her, then proceed to float silently on the sandy slope. I was glad there was no sighting of trashes, I guess the community have managed well on waste disposal and I remembered clearly in our last dive here, there were no visible trashes. Sadly though, typhoon Odette have left damage in the coral reefs and still haven’t recovered. Visibly, it isn’t as colorful before but still we had amazing finds among the thriving corals – orange frogfish couple, nudis, anemone shrimp, banded pipefish, moray eel. The rare ghost pipefish was a real surprise too! We floated we got into a large school of scads, then finally the sardines appeared above us! I turned around, all I saw was large throng of the silvery fishes.

And I always find joy in the depths just floating in silence with only the sound of my breathing audible, with the sardines swimming in unison. How marvelous, nature indeed knew how to stage an amazing show! We continued floating in the midst of this trance, absorbing the beauty and wonder until slowly we ascend in the shallows. Swimming toward the channel, we remained underwater for faster navigation. It was a long swim, thankfully the current was just manageable. I kept near especially that Angel don’t have his dive computer. Finally, we emerged up very near the shores right in the dive shop channel. I needed help walking back to the shop, and luckily, I still had the strength to carry my gears on my own! I went 66 minutes at 19 meters as deepest, still with 70 bars of air.

Well, the tiring part again was the after dive care of the gears, in our final packing Angel’s dive computer suddenly was found in the corner which put smiles on our faces! 😊 We finally left after things settled walking back leisurely to our lodgings about kilometer away. I watched sunsets here and even laze around at White Beach but it’s different now as we’re stationed distant from the shores. Still, Moalboal will always be a favorite go to for my diving escape.

Unwritten Rule

Somehow, our after-dive tradition is to have decent dinner, to compensate for spent energy but mainly to celebrate the good dives, wonderful sightings, good weather and meeting randomly new faces who were kind to us. To be thankful for this wonderful gift of exploring the depths, not everyone had the opportunity to do so. In my life tapestry, diving is a thread that adds vibrancy and warmth of my being.

Panagsama is now filled-up with lot of establishments not to mention restos and bars lined up along the road, in the night it became a rowdy tourist setting. We settled that evening at Blue Mango Bar after an assessment with others. The next morning, after meeting and thanking our French host we left for the city. We continued to splurge for a sumptuous lunch at Everyday Coffee and Tea in downtown Cebu.😊

We can only celebrate the good things bestowed, life is too short not to be grateful for His abundant graces!

NB. Photos courtesy of http://www.lakwatsero.com

Exploring Sibaltan: A Hidden Gem for Divers

June 10, 2024January 29, 2025cbartazo

At the start of the year, many agendas were set in place and some of these were plans that were put off for awhile due to other priorities. But just like every year beginnings, so many recurring interruptions occurred just the way it used to be. Nevertheless, terminating my services in my workplace was final and the necessary arrangements have continued carefully and smoothly to cushion the impact of expected bumps of my departure. Keeping my cool was the least I could do to manage a smooth transition.

Obviously, diving trips is included in the plans for the year. Perhaps to compensate during the pandemic era when I had none for three years and last year with only one dive trip was almost nothing. Exactly, I need to start off with somewhere new, a place to discover and gain more learnings as I wanted to. And I waited long enough to once again immerse myself in the stillness and silence in the depths!

Sibaltan has been in my list for some time, coming here though has been shelved momentarily for some valid reasons, visiting this barangay required much longer time than the usual quirky weekend trips. I managed a brief visit last year during a detour from an official trip and eagerly promised to return in no time for the depths. Marine enthusiasts had been arriving in this remote coastal community for the wonderful rare manta ray sighting. There are only three (3) sites in the country for mantas and Sibaltan is one! Although I wasn’t sure when but I was resolute to set foot again in this laid-back barangay.

Thankfully, my volunteer works in the town of San Vicente (in March and April) gave me good access to other towns in Palawan, so after my two-month works I went straight to El Nido setting aside four days for the detour. Right, solely for the awaited dives in Sibaltan! I was like a fish out of water after almost ten months of no dives, my gills were just pretty dried up.

I was aiming for Dive Sibaltan diveshop after a brief encounter with Ms. Rose in my last visit, the good thing was the shop have environment friendly cottages now ready for guests. And being on the eastern side, it gave an ample view of the beautiful sunrise. I needed to slow down and decided to have a relaxing night before the scheduled three dives the next day. Yes, in my comfortable pace.

Apart from El Nido

This northeast barangay forty-one (41) kilometers away is a stark contrast from the main town, far from being congested, rowdy and busy. It was so peaceful and the locals were very helpful and friendly. I was just in time when one cottage was vacated few hours after I arrived, so I went for a relaxed long lunch at Floresita’s Beach Resort until 2pm for the check-in. I love the cottage facing the waterfront, the wide expanse of the horizon was so calming.

The next morning was slow and unhurried with the lovely sunrise appeared cheerily. I took it as a promise of a wonderful day! There were two group of divers for that day, I was joined with three Deutsch who were also aiming for the manta, under DM Timur. I have to use the shop’s stuff for my gears except my dive computer, rarely will I do without my own wetsuit but I had no choice. We all boarded the dive boat with the crew and cruise for “Saan Ka” for about twenty five minutes, where the mantas have four cleaning stations. We all entered the waters in giant stride, one of the Deutsch (Christian) was assigned as my buddy, DM Tim signaled to follow him. We descend to sandy bottom and carefully followed our DM as we hopped from one station to the next, in between were some rocks that sheltered few critters and reef fishes. The visibility was a little shady, but it was good enough to find blue spotted ray and a turtle. DM Tim inspected a whip and found a skeleton shrimp! We waited after every station stop but the was no sign of mantas. I spent a good 73 minutes with my deepest at 18.1 meters, my air down to 70 bars.

After an hour of interval, our boat maneuvered and anchored for the Wild East site, which revealed a colorful reef filled with variety of corals – soft, branching, rubber, cabbage as well as barrel sponges. Taking a closer look was good enough to find critters, bivalves that quickly snap as I passed, nudis and a stonefish! Lots of reef fishes swimming coyly over the reef – chromis, sand perch, batfish, angels, butterfly, banners, wrasses, lizardfish and the ever-wiggling anthias. 😊 Androids, whips and some worms were also tucked between and under crevices. The second dive had 60 minutes bottom time at 17 meters deepest, still with 100 bars.

Our late lunch served as our surface interval for more than an hour, the boat anchored just of of Binulbulan island. I had a brief chat also with my buddy Christian and the LAMAVE volunteer for manta ray conservation who joined us in the dives for data works of the day.

DM Tim randomly suggested to try again Saan Ka for our last dive, in case a manta would give us a chance. Out of curiosity I asked the volunteer the usual time that mantas visit the cleaning station, casually Gucci said it’s normally in mid-morning. So, it would be pure luck if we got one but there’s no harm in trying. I quickly turned to Christian before we jumped off and asked to hold unto him, just in case I have trouble with my buoyancy during my safety stop of which he said not a problem. 😊

We descend to the sandy bottom carefully observing any signal from DM Tim, we followed him slowly as he carefully peeked on whips, corals and grasses looking for critters. A blue spotted ray camouflaging on the sand suddenly flipped away as we approached. We leisurely went around on the sandy bottom, a turtle showed up unperturbed of our presence. DM Tim gave it a handful of sea algae which gobbled it hungrily! Then, slowly DM Tim poked something on the sand, it revealed a pair of flounder which quickly wiggled away. I rarely had encounters with flounder, it was interesting. Then, unexpectedly not far from us, a shadowy figure hovered above the last station over few rocks and corals with fishes swimming coyly. Our DM pointed it out and carefully we came closer watching in awe of the lone manta, it stayed in our midst flapping slowly. We came too close that our DM tugged our fins signaling to move away a little, my buddy and I stayed anchored on the sandy bottom just looking up making most of the remaining time until my NDL was down to 3 minutes. I signaled to our DM for the safety stop as I slowly ascend with a little wave for the manta. It was a success, a wonderful surprise from the wild! My dive computer went Greek when I was doing my safety stop, which our DM signaled okey until my thumbs up for the ascend. I did 59 minutes with 17.8 meters as deepest, my air still at 70 bars.

We had a cheery mode as we got into the boat, so glad with the sightings until we sailed for the shores. In awe, the encounters affirmed how diverse and mysterious the depths as always. It was a good decision to be back for the last dive at Saan Ka after all. Ms. Rose was so glad when she learned we found a manta in our last dive, it’s been more than three weeks since their last sighting. 😊It was another memorable descent, new learnings and successful trip in search of the elusive manta!

For me, Sibaltan is a place to be, a hidden gem tucked in its remoteness. A spot to recharge, relax and appreciate the serenity of rural setting. And, obviously to be one with nature, to be in the bosom of its depths!

NB. Sorry, no underwater photos during my dives.

Diving at Apo Island: Return to Marine Paradise

March 21, 2019January 29, 2025cbartazo

After a successful mission at Coral Cay Conservation, I was aching to be back in the waters for my quests. There was no definite plan though, but I need to get immersed again in a more relaxed environment in my own terms in my grand element. And what a better way to start my diving year with my dive buddy in one of the outstanding community managed marine protected area in the country. It’s been more than three years since our last hop to Apo Island, after a relaxing sojourn from Siquijor, and again it was diving and snorkeling in the sanctuary. I could vividly remember the turtles silently grazing the sea grasses as I watched them while floating in the shallows, it was a lovely sight!

We took the long route by bus from Cebu City to the southern tip of the province in Santander town taking the ferry from Liloan Port. Arriving past 4am at the port, I succumbed to my drooping eyes for few minutes before we took the 4:45am first trip to Sibulan. While cruising, the waves tossed us fiercely and I begun to worry that the waters would be too rough for our dives. Approaching the Sibulan port was hard, and coming up to the port was even harder. Perfect timing was necessary, you need to run up the gangplank before another big wave tossed up the ferry. It was a good way to start the day for some adrenaline rush to be wide awake!

After a tsokolate-suman painit at the tiangge which we loved, we rushed to Harold’s Dive Center and felt relieved that our dives went as scheduled. To my surprise, we were a big pack for Apo Island that day, the Chinese and Koreans dominated the bunch. We were all in two full mini-buses!

Katipanan and Chapel

The waters was rough indeed slowing our cruise to the island yet the sight of wide blue seas lifted my spirit, I was hoping to see again the friendly turtles. There were diving boats already when we got there and to my surprise, many snorkelers were scattered already in the waters. The waters got crowded and I was sad thinking of the turtles, sea kraits and juvenile fishes in the sanctuary, the pressures of the disturbance in their habitat could cause much damage. I was hoping it wasn’t on a daily basis.

This friendly turtle allowed us to get near, it wasn’t an intrusion!

We were joined with an Australian and Chinese, four divers in one DM was good enough. The larger bunch of Chinese divers were in different groups. After setting up our gears, I was glad our DM reminded us for the buddy check before jumping off, I admitted we overlook this necessary protocol often times. The water was still choppy though it was sunny, but the cold waters felt good as we jumped in. As we waited for the other two newbie divers, we beg off for descent as the waves were surfing up and could waste my energy. Holding hands with my dive buddy, we immersed and quickly seek the depths from the rough surface. Yes, down there it was calm and safer as I expected.

Before I always mistook this as anemone, but no. It’s a Mushroom coral!

Katipanan as I vaguely remember was teeming with life, wide coral fields decorated with juveniles. Indeed, it is healthy as it was before but I didn’t see much fish life but large swarms of juveniles were visible. Surprisingly, my favorite garden eels came into view but not without Angel pointing it out to me. Their bodies half-way up poking from their holes on white sandy area, perhaps eyeing for food but as soon as we get nearer they went down slowly. Few stood their grounds and I paused momentarily, I just love watching the eels! We found a turtle resting above the corals, not moving even we got near. The turtles in this island are generally friendly, perhaps they got used already to human visitors! I was taking my time while floating weightlessly, just as it is, while it was choppy at the surface, beyond it was all serene and relaxing. It was a surprise there were group of jacks that graced as we swam around for the coral fields, a banded sea snake appeared also wiggling among the corals which we promptly evade. 🙂 We had our safety stop over the corals until we got near under our dive boat. We had 21.5 meters as deepest with 42 minutes bottom time.

A common sight on healthy marine environment, juveniles over a colorful coral field!

We had light meals that served as our surface interval, it was bit windy though and staying on the boat felt cold. The waves getting fierce in the afternoon, the waters more choppy.

The boat moved to the Chapel for our last descent, finding refuge in another dive boat as the waves tossed us. Again, we waited for the two divers after we had the giant stride – the waves kept tossing us and I practically stayed near my buddy for safety. It took forever waiting for them, but as soon as we got down there was silence and the current was just mild. We were on coral fields again, just flourishing beating each other! Different hard and soft corals abound the area, there were nudis and my favorite moray eel appeared for me too, it was a giant one. The gentle turtles again – well, it won’t be Apo island without the turtles! We roamed the colorful coral fields just near our dive boat until we had our safety stop. We ascend still with 110 bars after 55 minutes bottom time.

The two relaxing dives were just perfect, after the works during the expedition it was what I needed. No pressures, just purely at peace with my favorite critters wanting to connect with them in their natural habitat. The marine environment of Apo Island is healthy as of now but I am not sure if this can be maintained. I was bit troubled of the large swarm of snorkelers and even divers, such bulk of disturbance is surely detrimental for the marine life. I fervently hope the community shall be mindful of the risks and inevitable impacts in a better perspective.

Looking up for the sunlight, can you see the turtle?

We silently cruise back to the shores of Dauin, bearing the cold winds and salt water spraying us from the fierce waves. Again, the cruise took forever but felt relieved that the shores was very calm. Angel and I flashed a wide smile as we talk about Casablanca and Sans Rival as we drove back into the city.

Dumaguete City, pure lovely in every way!

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