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Schools in the Black Forest
By Tony on September 1, 2010 | 2 Comments »
The Black Forest dive site off of Balicasag Island is one of the most breathtaking underwater locations we have visited in the Philippines. Located a short distance from Alona Beach, the underwater slope boasts a rare forest of black coral growth featuring all the favorites: hawksbill turtles, scorpionfish, lionfish, bright yellow leaffish, tall-fin batfish, and giant white frogfish. But what really blew us away were the huge schools of swirling Jacks.
Since our temporary replacement underwater camera can’t be used while diving, I’ve embedded another diver’s Youtube video featuring the schools. Enjoy.
The Beach
By Tony on July 26, 2010 | No Comments »
Before we leave El Nido, I thought I should mention one little relatively unknown tidbit on the region. It is believed that Alex Garland based his novel “The Beach” on tiny Secret Beach hidden on the west coast of Matinloc Island. Many assume his perfect beach was a reference to the beach backing Maya Bay on Phi Phi Le in Thailand, especially since his famous novel was set in Thailand. Moreover, a computer-enhanced version of Maya Bay was used in the film version of his novel.
But many people do not realize that Alex Garland spent an extended period of time in the Philippines before he wrote the famous book. And it’s rumored that Alex himself has admitted the beach he was describing was indeed in the Philippines. If that’s true, Secret Beach must be the legendary backpacker hideout.
As you can see in the video, to access Secret Beach, visitors must dive off their boat into the deep waters of the Tapiutan Strait and swim towards a seemingly impenetrable karst wall. During calm tides, gutsy swimmers can make their way through a keyhole crack in the wall to access a tiny lagoon backed by a white-sand beach within. Although Secret Beach is much smaller than the beach described in Alex Garland’s novel, the adventurous approach is exactly the same. The fantastic location and evocative atmosphere would certainly inspire many an author.
Kayaking and Snorkeling Palawan
By Thomas on July 21, 2010 | 4 Comments »
Craving a little more adventure, Tony and I have been exploring Palawan’s beautiful coast by sea kayak. From the karst-enclosed coves of Coron Island to the hidden beaches of El Nido, we have been paddling to discover Palawan beyond the tourist bangka tours. As you can see in the video, it was well worth the effort.
Puerta Galera Underwater
By Tony on June 17, 2010 | No Comments »
Sabang’s incompetent dive shops have caused us quite a bit of pain, but the underwater experience completely makes up for it. With over 40 spectacular dive sites close to shore and plenty of snorkeling off of Monkey Beach and Big La Laguna Beach, we have managed to look beyond the sloppy service and, instead, look at colorful coral, fish and crustaceans. Hold your breath and follow along on our underwater safari.
Whale Sharks of Donsol
By Thomas on May 3, 2010 | 4 Comments »
Whale sharks are elusive creatures. You don’t just happen upon them. By 1986, there had only been 320 recorded sightings globally. With increasing research, including better tagging and counting methods, the numbers of sightings have steadily climbed, especially in the plankton-rich feeding grounds off Belize, Honduras, Western Australia and the Philippines. Today, the total number of whale sharks in the Philippines alone is estimated to be 327. Of these, 122 sharks have been identified off the coast of Donsol this season. And that’s where we spent the last week snorkeling in the bay. Unbelievable! Watch this video so you can share this amazing experience with us.
Although whale sharks ARE sharks, they don’t feed on humans but rather on plankton and small fish (which was very comforting to know). I can’t even imagine how much they must eat to get to their full size. The largest ever confirmed specimen was 12.65 metres (41.50 ft) long and weighed more than 21.5 tonnes (47,000 lb). But unconfirmed sightings of sharks up to 18 meters (59 ft) have also been reported. Well, maybe next time. By the way, the biggest whale shark we saw in Donsol was about 10 meters (32 ft) – it was like swimming next to a jumbo jet.
