Dark sand, strong currents and the pier

diving, Travels, underwater

Our dive boat slowly got closer to the coast. We were travelling for a couple of hours already from busy Alona beach towards Dauin, a sleepy town on Negros Island. I only remembered this place as a convenient departure point to famous Apo Island which I had the pleasure to visit a couple of years ago. Eleven more couple of eyes were looking at the dark sandy beach and its huge palm trees. It was our last stop on our Visayan diving trip. Would the place meet the expectations of all?

Beach in front of the resort

After a refreshing welcome drink served by a smiling young lady we checked in our garden bungalows. No a/c, but a huge fan and a wonderful terrace. The bungalows were great and everyone liked them

Garden bungalow Pura Vida Resort

Some of us went on a late afternoon dive on the house reef, which happens to be a protected area called “Luca Sanctuary”. The place was renamed soon after by my friend Cath who thought “Alice in Wonderland” was more suitable. How to explain this dive? We entered the water in front of the resort. The dive starts on a sandy slope where we encountered the first residents : a hairy frog fish, some cuttlefish and robust ghost pipe fish. It couldn’t have started better. Then from one moment to the other we came to the coral reef…colours exploded in front of our eyes in the middle of this dark sandy spot and fish were all around. Sometimes I had problems to figure out my buddies through the compact fish walls. Upon that we met a turtle having its dinner and a nice sea snake. We hid behind the coral rocks to take a rest from the strong currents and watched the party. It was unbelievable. As we exited the water and the rest of our group asked about the dive we saw in their incredulous eyes that this dive couldn’t be explained with words…

cuttlefish on Luca Sanctuary

couple of ghost pipefish

Luca fish bowl

Strong currents were always around as we were diving during full moon. Night dives were amazing with such a variety of critters around.

praying crab

digging

All these strange bebaviours were amazing to watch.

tiny, tiny

eye to eye with a skeleton shrimp

Then came Apo. Known for its strong drift dives and amazing schools of jacks. The coral reef is in a gorgeous state as the area is one of the most protected in the area.

giant frog fish

There was still this pier on top of our list. Everybody who has dived it told me : You have to dive it. It’s a must! So we organised 2 dives for our group at the DuCoMi Pier. From the topside, nothing appealing really. Huge ugly boats and lots of noise. After the briefing we jumped in the water. What a show! I’ve never seen so many different nudibranch on a single dive. Every leg of the pier hid its own residents : seahorses, froggies, lionfish just to name a few. If you were able to focus from macro to wide angle you noticed the sunrays bursting through the water and the pier legs.

Yves under the pier

resident yellow seahorse

nudibranch under the pier

couple of resident giant froggiescolourful dragonet

I am always amazed to see that you find such amazing creatures in the least expected spots.

Wallpaper June

diving, underwater, Wallpapers

Here is one of the many critters I encountered on my recent trip to the Philippines. I hope you enjoy this curious moray eel during the month of June

wallpaper

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Philippines – Part I : Moalboal

diving, Travels, underwater

We left Luxembourg on April 11 for an 16 day trip to the Philippines. It was the first time I organised a trip and I had to deal with 10 other people I knew more or less. One thing was sure : I would have an exciting trip overland and below the waves. Here’s the first part.

Day One :

We arrived at Cebu City after a long flight via Hong Kong. Luckily the vans were waiting outside the airport and after we got our luggage and some local “Pesos” we were ready to leave to Moalboal. The two and a half hour ride brought us from the east coast to the west coast over the mountains. In the afternoon we arrived at Love’s Lodge at Sea Exlporers. The resort is small, friendly and in the middle of a garden. love's lodge

Some of us went snorkelling but most decided to invade the swimming pool area and get one of the now famous mango juices.

love's lodge swimmingpoool

After a great filipino meal, we went all to bed quite early. As diving was scheduled for the next day.

Day Two :

Dive1 : Housereef Depth : 26,7m Bottom Time : 67 min

The house reef is amazing. After a short swim you get to the edge and the wall goes down into the blue. Lots of black coral around. The perfect introduction dive.

buba

nemo

Dive 2 : Tunga Point Depth : 18,6m Bottom Time : 62 min

In the afternoon we did another wall dive not far away from our resort. Short transfers are commonplace here.

nudi

Dive 3 : Housereef (Night) Depth : 16,2m Bottom Time : 62 min

After our dive on the house reef most of the people were eager to explore this underwater scenery by night. They should not be disappointed.

and some really tiny critters

Day Three :

Dive 1 : Housereef (Early morning) Depth : 28m Bottom Time : 62 min

We were very motivated to get up early and started our dive at 6:53 am. The light was perfect and the atmosphere peaceful and quiet. Great conditions for a perfect day.

me at the housereef

Dive 2 : Pescador Island, east side Depth : 27,7m Bottom Time : 52 min

At least, Pescador, the magic dive site in Moalboal. You can see the small islet from the resort. The clouds had come back and the sky was grey by now, but we didn’t care. Of course the viz wasn’t great, but all my buddies visited the place for the first time ever and were amazed by the walls and the amount and diversity of fishes .

Vicky posing behind huge barrel sponges

as visibility was below average we focused on the macro stuff on the wall

Dive 3 : Kasai Point Depth : 22m Bottom Time : 69 min

strange nudis

and wonderful reefs

Dive 4 : Housereef (Nightdive) Depth : 16,3m Bottom Time : 72min

Those of the group still motivated joined in another night dive.

I never came across an abalone, so here’s my first sighting

Day 3 :

As Cath lost her dive lamp the day before (actually it was one borrowed from a from a friend) we decided having a first deep dive at Pescador and getting then back on the housereef to have a “search&recovery” dive.

Dive 1 : Pescador Island/Cathedral Depth : 35m Bottom Time :56 min

The sky was blue and the sun shining for this second dive at Pescador. Viz had doubled as well. Time to play with the wide angle lens.

we are in the middle of the Cathedral

I love these black forests, and Vicky as well

Dive 2 : Housereef Depth : 27,8m Bottom Time : 57min

I didn’t go on the search&recovery dive for the lamp but decided to go diving with Antoinette. She was the beginner in the group and a bit too excited. Chris and I took her on a zen housereef dive. She enjoyed it a lot.

there’s a remora hanging on me!!!

Dive 3 : Dolphin House Depth : 16,6m Bottom Time : 54 min

The name comes from the resort at the spot. Don’t look for dolphins you will be disappointed. I for myself left my camera on the dry as I buddied up with Antoinette. Quite strange in the beginning. But I have to thank her for this dive. I tried to point out a maximum of critters on this drift dive to her which was really rewarding. There’s nothing better to watch a newbie discover the underwater world. Especially Antoinette. She had her eyes wide open all the time. I really enjoyed her refreshing character . Most of us enjoy the dives but do we still react like Antoinette, enjoying a blue sea star, a turtle? We should ! We are only a few lucky ones to enjoy the underwater world. Thank you Antoinette for reminding me of this!!!

Chris took some shoots especially of this huge sponge