The Bounty of Bohol
by Amanda
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The team (left to right): Greg, Amanda, Calvin, Jay
Tuesday 8th
5am: Calvin and I arose, bleary eyed but excited at the prospect of our first diving holiday. Much to my surprise, we actually had time for a cuppa AND made it out of the apartment on time, arriving without problem at the Airport Express terminal just as the check-in counters opened. Having arranged to meet Greg and his friend Jay on the first train, we promptly missed it! However, with the airport so quiet, we found them without problem and boarded the plane together. So far, so good. It was not to last, however. Our schedule had given us a connection with the ferry to Bohol at 11:15 a.m. but due to our flight being delayed, we missed it! Out went our plan to get in a dive that evening. Still, by the time we reached our destination, some 30 minutes by car to Alona Beach, found out that we could only book the one night at the hotel (we had only booked the first night there as we had decided to arrange the ensuing accommodation after having sorted out our dive schedule), secured accommodation at other hotels, we were so tired that we just ate and fell into bed (or whatever was at hand).
| "Wherever I lay my beer, that's my bed" |
Wednesday 9th
9:30am: After a good night's sleep, we were raring to go. We loaded our kit onto the banca and set off. Halfway to our destination, the boat stopped. A problem with an overheating engine meant that instead of diving at Napaling and Doljo Point - two four-star sites according to our book, we went to a couple of the three-star sites that were closer at Kalibayan and Arco Point. Where we disappointed? Not once we descended below the surface. Hordes of Damselfish, Sergeant Majors and Anthias greeted us as we floated above the coral garden. Even better sights awaited us on the wall below. Amongst the many creatures that caught our attention were Moray Eels, Black and Spotfin Lionfish, juvenile Pinnate Batfish, a school of Yellow-tailed Barracuda, a huge Star Pufferfish, about three different types of triggerfish and a Banded Seasnake.
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Juvenile Teira Batfish |
We ended the day with a night dive off the home reef wall, and were lucky enough to see a free-swimming Snake Eel and Trumpetfish in quick succession, Not to mention several very large crabs, including one gigantic decorator crab!
Thursday 10th
8am: After having transferred to a different hotel from the previous night, we were merrily on our way to Balicasag Island, reputedly offering some of the best diving in the Philippines. As an added bonus, we saw a couple of Dolphins and a group of Pilot Whales on our outward journey, which caused great excitement. Once at the island, the dive sites lived up to their reputation. On offer for our delectation were Blue spine and Vlaming's Unicornfish; Clown, Titan, Red-toothed, Pink-tailed and Blue-tailed Triggerfish; Black Streak and Thompson's Surgeonfish; Gold and Grey Trumpetfish; Regal Angelfish; Chevron Barracuda (which Jay and I chased after out into the blue sea - unsuccessfully, I might add); juvenile and adult Teira Batfish; and a very large Golden Jack to name but a few.
Much to my delight, when we replayed my efforts at videotaping that night, I had managed to capture most of these on film! Tired but satisfied, we retired for the night.
Friday 11th
7am: We awoke to the sound of high winds rushing through the trees and whipping the ocean up into foaming whitecaps. After a short debate, which Calvin (ever the optimist) won, as to whether we should get up for the previously planned eight o'clock departure (which I knew would be cancelled), we made our way to the dive centre. The sight of bancas being tossed about like corks greeted us, and one had even been sunk! No diving today! Nothing daunted, our Divemaster Jomel, very kindly offered to show us the sights of Tagbilaran City. As I thought I had a slight ear infection, I felt this was a good idea as I could then check in with the doctor and sort myself out for the rest of the trip. We now waited with bated breath to see whether the ferries - cancelled due to bad weather - would run on Sunday. If they didn't, it would mean another day's diving! Our Cabilao trip, however, had also been cancelled, due to bad weather conditions. We also made use of this day off to transfer back to the Alona Kew hotel.
Saturday 12th
7am: We were very pleased to look out of our windows and find that the weather had cleared and that the day was bright and sunny. Enthusiastically, we tramped off to find out where we would be diving. The answer? Doljo Point and two sites at Balicasag - what a great combination!
No pilot whales were spotted this time, but we did find a Giant Frogfish (which I think must be one of the ugliest creatures in the sea - if you don't include our venerable membership secretary! [Calvin's opinion, not mine]) and a juvenile Pinnate Batfish at Doljo Point, a Crocodile Needlefish plus a number of large snappers and Bluefin Trevally, more juvenile batfish, this time of the Teira variety at The Cathedral, and the final dive brought sightings of a golden Moray, a fish I later identified as a Comet, a Squid and three Cuttlefish, one of which I managed to track through three amazing colour changes, one of which was to blend in with a school of Yellow-banded Fusiliers. Needless to say, I was thrilled to see behaviour that I had only been told about before.
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Nothing much to say here, really, |
Sun 13th
In contrast to our first day's problems, the final day passed effortlessly. After beachside massages for Calvin and myself, and an adventurous motorcycle ride to some local caves for Greg and Jay, we leisurely packed our gear and were smoothly transferred from dive centre to ferry (which, much to our amazement, departed six minutes ahead of the published schedule), and from ferry (where we said goodbye to Greg) to the airport. The plane took off on time and even made it back to Hong Kong early.
Happy, relaxed and satisfied, we were home.
For those who may be interested in a diving holiday based in Panglao, here are our thoughts on both the accommodation and the dive centre:
Alona Kew Resort: We stayed at Alona Kew Resort both in the standard and deluxe (with air con) rooms. The bathrooms were equipped with flushing toilets (which are not to be taken for granted in this neighbourhood!), but there was no hot water - cold showers were the order of the day! We found the deluxe room at the Alona Kew to be very comfortable, and the staff were very friendly. Accommodation at Alona Kew also included American breakfast.
Pyramid Resort: Cheaper than Alona Kew with prices per cottage as opposed to per person, Pyramid was more basic. No air con (mosquito nets provided over the bed), no flushing toilet and the bathroom fittings were Neolithic (literally), but otherwise (says Amanda), quite comfortable.
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Seaquest Dive Centre: We found the staff friendly and helpful. They were willing to tailor their diving plans to ours. The divemaster, Jomel Lopez, recognised us as responsible and experienced divers and treated us accordingly. He was quick to point out marine life that we could easily have missed and was also willing to sit down with us after our dives and help us identify what we had seen on the day's dives. Although not having its own nitrox mixing facilities, they apparently had a deal with a nearby shop where they could rent the necessary tanks (we discovered this at the tail end of our trip from talking with the owner, BJ Schaap). If requested, Seaquest can arrange all your transfers and accommodation. As an interesting sidenote, Jomel grew up on Cabilao Island and has in depth knowledge of the sites here (no pun intended!). Bancas maintain radio contact with the dive centre, where two sets of oxygen kit are available (oxygen will only be carried on boats on dive safaris, for which a portable compressor is also available).
Information:
Seaquest Dive Centre:
Tel: (63-32) 346 9629, 416 0831
Fax: (63-32) 346 0592, 253 0265
Email:
seaquest@sequst.com
www: http://www.sequst.com/seaquest
Alona Kew (booking office):
Tel: (63-38) 411 2615, 411 4686
Fax: (63-38) 411 2471
Email:
alonakew@mozcom.com
DISCLAIMER: Opinions are personal. Information here may not be accurate.
Amanda Wong, Calvin Wong
Posted: 07 January 1999
