Rediscover the Philippines Through Scuba Diving
Posted on Saturday, 4 October 2014
Rediscover
the Philippines
Through
Scuba Diving
By Apolinario Villalobos
The Philippine archipelago that comprises more than seven thousand islands and islets,
is something to behold from air – islands fringed with white beaches, rolling
hills, mountains capped with green, with some hills and valleys showing patches
of green and brown , strewn between the
Pacific Ocean and China Sea. During the 80’s, the joint effort of the national
government and the private sector comprised of Philippine Airlines, scuba
diving outfits and travel agencies, resulted to the creation of the Philippine
Commission on Sports Scuba Diving, with the Special Committee for the
Development and Promotion of Underwater Diving Tourism as its action arm. From
the end of Philippine Airlines, the representative was its Tours and Promotions
Division, with its personnel, Edgar Buensuceso, Julio Luz and Thelma Villaseῆor.
That was the outlook of dive tourism when the industry was yet, kicking high.
Today, with or without joint effort between
the government and private sector, the country deserves to be re-discovered
because of the vast paradise that covers its ocean floor. With some 34,000
square kilometers of coral reef, the Philippines could well be dubbed as the
scuba diver’s haven. From the northern islands down to the atolls of the south,
what the country brags virtually make it the ultimate destination for this aquatic
sport. The geography of the country may make one’s movement seemed hampered.
But who cares if at the end of a grueling cruise or a combined air and land
travel a submarine paradise beckons?
If one may start with the northern islands,
there’s Fuga to try. It is a part of the northernmost province – Batanes. Then
going down to Pangasinan, there’s Santiago Island off Bolinao. On the eastern
cost of northern Luzon are Polilio Islands of Quezon Province. All these are
accessible via land transport, except for Fuga, going to which would need a
chartered plane.
South of Manila are dive sites which are
accessible via Batangas City. The veritable subaquatic gardens of Nasugbu,
Balayan Bay, Verde Island, Anilao coast, and Sigayan Bay, practically fringe
the coast of Batangas province.
Mindoro, an island of two provinces south
of Batangas, also has colorfully-alive marine parks to offer. These areas are
those around Lubang Islands, Apo Reef and Semirara, all on the western side of
Mindoro. On the eastern side are the equally colorful coral beds of Puerto
Galera and Buyallo.
Marinduque, the “Moriones Island”, has Tres
Reyes and Mompog to offer. The island province is accessible by air and
combined land and water transport, either through Lucena City or Gasan.
The surrounding waters of Visayas region
are replete with motley colonies of corals inhabited by pelagic fishes.
Romblon, for instance, has Dos Hermanas and Cresta de Gallo; Antique and Aklan
with their Batbatan and Boracay. Cresta
de Gallo and Sicogon Islands of Iloilo, also have memorable dive experience to
offer, and there’s yet, Nagas Island to complete this old province’s list of
dive spots.
A marine sanctuary, Sumilon Island, is
easily reached from Dumaguete City, although, it is geographically part of
Cebu. The sanctuary is being maintained by the Silliman University. Another
island which is frequented by divers in this part of the country is Apo which
is also just a short distance from Dumaguete.
Cebu, the country’s seat of Christianity
prides in its dive sites that attract hordes of divers throughout the year,
except for Capitancillo, an islet which is at its best from April to October.
From Mactan Island in the north to Pescador Island in the southwest and the Danajon Banks, there
seemed to be not just enough time for exploration. A popular snorkeling and
diving destination among shoestring-budget tourists in this island is Moalboal
which is noted for its laid back atmosphere.
From Cebu, Bohol is just a few hours on a
ferry. This Chocolate Hills-famed island-province has added two of its islets,
Cabilao and Panglao to the already long list of destinations which divers have
been frequenting. Both are resplendent with colorful marine life throughout the
year. Aside from the ferries from Cebu, the island-province is also accessible
from Manila on regular daily flights.
The diagonally-lying island of Palawan is
gifted by Nature with atolls and islets, some of which are not yet thoroughly
explored. These are the Calamianes Island, Cuyo Islands, Cagayan Islands, Green
Island Bay, Bacuit Bay, Ulugan Bay, Honda Bay, Balabac Island, Taytay Bay, and
Tubbataha Reef. Down south in Mindanao, divers will delight in Davao’s Talikud
Island, Zamboanga’s Sta. Cruz Island and the island sanctuary of Camiguin.
Most of the dive sites in the Philippines
are yet in their unspoiled stage, thanks to their almost impossible
accessibility. The rest, however, are frequently visited, so that concerned
local governments have already started to impose strict regulations.
Interested parties are advised to make
advance arrangement with dive shops if they intend to visit islands and reefs
so that necessary coordination and clearances can be made with concerned
government agencies. Dive packages are also offered by some tour agencies. Some
resorts, however, such as those in Anilao (Batangas), Boracay, and Puerto Galera, offer on- the- spot arrangements. Seaside
hotels Cebu can assist visitors with
their dive requirements.
With tourism as among the last resort
revenue earning industries of the Philippines, much effort is exerted by both
the national government through the Department of Tourism and the different
concerned private sectors in regulating it along the line of ecology.
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