March 2006 dives and snorkeling in the Philippines
STILL EDITING ...
LUZON
Took the plane from Cebu to Legazbi. This part of Luzon is very lush and green. Mayon volcano is always on the horizon. It is a very beautiful sight but it always had a small plume of smoke on the summit, which reminds you what it is you are close to.
Place: Donsol, Bicol province, South Luzon
Depth: ca. 5 m
Visibilty: 5 m

After a day around Legazbi and Mayon volcano we made our way to Donsol. The next day we took a banka out to see the Whale Sharks. We saw seven Butanding as they are called locally. Diving with tanks is not allowed, you can snorkel close to the Whale Sharks but a minimum distance is required. The visability was not very good but the sight was unforgettable.




BOHOL
The place to be here is clearly Panglao Island. We stayed in "The Lost Horizion" on Alona Beach which had very reasonable prices for the family rooms. My sister Melanie was my Buddy on my first two sea dives ever that day while Helen took the girls to the Bohol tourist attractions.

Place: Kalipayan
Location: 9°32.57 N / 123°45.56 E
Depth: Max 22m
Dive Master: Renato Bongcac
Dive Center: Sierra Madre
Visibility: 20m

Comments: Reef Wall, Drift dive with little current. Crabs, Nudibranches, Clownfish, Lionfish, Mantis crayfish, Long nose hawk fish, parrot fish, sea cucumber.

This was my very first dive in the sea and what a wonderful place to start. The colors here of the, albeit small sized flora and fauna, are amazing. Tiny crabs the size of a small sugar cube were camouflaging on fist sized bits of coral. The coral wall was close to the coast and not too deep. We did not go deeper than 22 meters and the sea floor was just below us. The camera is a very old Canon A10 with a watertight box I got on Ebay. Here my very first sea dive pictures ever:

Fish Fish
Fish Fish
There were so many fish all around us ...

Nudibranch
The nudibranches were plenty and so full of color.

Do not know
Next time I see a cluster of Bubble Anemones I'll check it for small shrimps.

Red Lion Fish
One of a few Lion fish, this one a red one.

Anemone
An insteresting looking anemone, I think it is an anemone.

Long Nose Hawk Fish
A Long Nose Hawk Fish against a coral and black anemone background.

Black Lion Fish
This Black Lion Fish did not want to face the camera.

Clown Fish
Nice to see Clown Fish Mr. Nemo on my first dive.

Unknown
On the way back up the face of the coral wall I saw this mean looking fish, I think it is a Gobi.
Place: Marine Sancturay Alona
Location: 9°32.00 N / 123°46.76 E
Depth: Max 18m
Dive Master: Renato Bongcac
Dive Center: Sierra Madre
Visibility: 15m

Comments: Plenty of Fish, Crab Eyed Goby, Bat Fish, Lion Fish, Jawfish, a Sting Ray, had a suckerfish on my tank, some sea cucumbers.

This was the second dive of the day. Took a long time to see Crab-Eyed Gobi Fish. I did not see the first two pointed out by our very good and patient divemaster but the third one later on during the dive I did see when he took my camera and tried to make a picture. As I did not realise what he was after, the camera was not in macro mode and the picture is very fuzzy, next time I'll know what to look for.

Suckerfish
A Suckerfish on my tank, picture taken by my sister Melanie. The suckerfish followed us around for most of the dive.

Red Lion Fish
Another Red Lion Fish

Clown Fish
Clown Fish again

Crab Eyed Gobi Fish
Crab Eyed Gobi Fish out of focus. Well camouflaged devils.

Fish
Fish

Fish
More Fish
Place: Balicasag Marine Sanctuary
Visibility: Plenty

Comments: Snorkeling with the kids

The next day we went dolphin watching with the kids. At lunch time we set ashore at Balicasag Marine Sanctuary. After the food we took our bangka out a few meters and the kids got a chance to see all the fish. There was even a "nemo" couple in their home and seven year old Yuuka was delighted to see her cartoon friends.




The kids loved this place, just look down and see the colorful reef fish.

MOALBOAL
We end up going to this place at least once each time we go to the Philippines. Each time we stay at Panagsama Beach.

Place: Pescator Island
Location: 9°55.51 N / 123°20.58 E
Depth: Max 22m
Dive Master: Rudy Deniega
Dive Center: Seaquest Divecenter
Visibility: 15m

Comments: Scorpion Fish, Trumpet Fish, Frog Fish

This was my first real drift dive as the currents here are very present. It was difficult to stay at the same place for long to take a picture. The coral ferns were amazing.

Fish with anemone
Anemones

Trumpet Fish
Trumpet Fish

Frog Fish
Frog Fish

Coral Fern with Diver
Dive Master next to Coral Fern

Unkown
Unknown, Anemone???

Rose Anemone
Rose Anemone?

Fish over Coral
Nice views of coral fish during decompression.

Place: Tuble Reef
Location: 9°58.02 N / 123°22.02 E
Depth: Max 22m
Dive Master: Rudy Deniega
Dive Center: Sea Quest Dive Center
Visibility: 20m

Comments: Coral Fish, Lion Fish and Pipe Fish.

The Second Dive in Moalboal was more relaxed. Although less exciting things to see, the views of the fish on the coral in the afternoon sun very beautiful.

Pipe Anemone
Anyone know what these are, there were plenty of them around.

Fish
Fish

Coral Fern
Coral Fern

Coral Fern
Coral Fern

Hiding Fish
Hiding Fish

Coral Fish
Blue Coral Fish

Stone Fish
Stone Fish

Blue Coral
Blue Coral

Coral Fish
Coral Fish

Pipe Fish
Pipe Fish