TRAVEL continued Philippines when the United States military exited the country in phases from the end of WWII through 1992, when the last
Near the north end of Cebu is Malapascua Island, where divers can view rare pelagic thresher sharks, while near mid-center of
base closed. No two Jeepneys are alike, and decorations are at the discretion of the owner. Another common mode of transportation, often used as taxis, is the Philippine “trike,” which is a motorcycle with a sidecar attached and usually has a roof and windshield over everything and, again, is usually modified by the owner for an individual look and usage. Entire families can be seen on one motorcycle or trike. There is a saying here: “there is always room for one more!” To the east of the Batangas/Anilao and Puerto Galera areas, in the mid-channel of the passage, is the popular Verde Island, which is a full-day boat adventure from both areas. The submerged seamount claims to have the most fish, corals,
Cebu is the island of Bohol and its protected sanctuary areas of Balicasag Island and Panglao Island, where you can find dense areas of marine life. Across Cebu on its western side is Moalboal and its island of Pescador, where divers can experience the action of a “sardine run” and other pelagic fish in this protected sanctuary. When to plan a trip: Being in a tropical zone, water temperatures remain warm throughout the year (as mentioned before, from 79-84º (26-29 C), but the rainy season is generally from June to November, which increases the chance of typhoons. However, the main dive sites described in this article are centrally located in the island group, with
The Walls of Verde Island, Philippines
and sea creatures per square foot anywhere on Earth. It is often hard to see an open patch of blue water because of all the schools of fish. Flying to other islands: There are a few other areas of Luzon where you can go diving (such as the Subic Bay and Bicol areas), but the rest require a domestic flight to one of the other islands. If you like shipwreck diving, then a flight to the island
buffering islands located to the east that take the brunt of any storm. From March to May is a warm dry season, while December to February is also dry but with cooler air tempera- tures. English is one of two official languages in the Philippines (the other being versions of Tagalog, depending upon island regions), so communication and signage are usually not a problem. There
of Palawan would be worth your while to see many WWII wrecks from heavy action in the retaking of the island by Allied forces, plus war relics on land to explore. You can also dive on a battleship in Subic Bay on Luzon, where the de- commissioned USS New York was scuttled at the outbreak of the war. Many other shipwreck sites can be found on most of the islands, as well as mixed in on the reefs of Tubbataha Natural Park (a UN- ESCO World Heritage site) that can be reached by liveaboard dive boats.
is a good chance that you have already had a conversation with someone from the Dumaguete area, as many corporate call centers are located there and around the Philippines. From the early days of being a colony of Spain, Spanish is also spoken in areas, and most of the popu- lation is Catholic, although all other re- ligions are accepted as well. No trip to the Philippines would be complete without taking land tours when not diving, as there are around
Sharing a Local Tricycle with a Friendly Driver
13,500 plant species (several thousand can only be found here), as well as hundreds of animal and reptile species (most endemic to the Philippines), since the area had a head start on the rest of the world by not being affected as much by the Ice Age. Waterfalls are plentiful in the hills for scenic beauty, and volcanic
Another popular island destination is the Dumaguete/Dauin area of Negros Oriental for macro shots of rare marine life. From here, you can also take a day trip to another designated nature park, Apo Island, for its abundance of fish and coral species. The Philippines has designated nearly 1,800 areas as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to ensure its marine life remains protected. A short ferry ride from Dauin takes you to the southern tip of the island of Cebu, and in Oslob you can snorkel with whale sharks that are fed daily by fishermen as a tourist attraction.
hot springs allow visitors a chance to relax sore muscles with a relaxing dip. A dive trip to the Philippines will involve rare encounters and unique experiences for your dive center clients, so expect large groups and remember, “there’s always room for one more!”
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FORTY-FOUR | SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY
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