Come again to Camiguin
SCUBA DIVERS AND GUESTS HAVE ANOTHER REASON TO COME AGAIN TO CAMIGUIN AS THE CHARMING ISLAND PROVINCE has become the country’s latest diving haven, with the successful conclusion of the first Camiguin Dive Festival.
An initiative of the Camiguin provincial government and the Department of Tourism-Region 10, the event registered over 500 dives from dive groups from Manila, Batangas, Cebu and Bohol, as well as foreign enthusiasts from Spain, Japan, Sweden, Finland, Australia, Korea, Russia and the United Kingdom.
Located off northern Mindanao, it has 20 top dive sites topped by Mantigue Island Nature Park, a marine sanctuary surrounded by a nice drop-off reef, and Old Volcano which has a spectacular canyon.
According to Camiguin governor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, the two-month dive festival placed the province in the dive circuit of the Philippines due to the unprecedented number of dives in all of northern Mindanao. He stressed the importance of responsible diving and the province’s efforts in protecting its rich environment.
A highlight of the twomonth festival was the Underwater Photography Competition topped by Peter Gosling and Lauren Hubbard, who bested other contestants in the wide angle and macro categories, respectively. Both are from the United Kingdom and were hosted by Black Beach Divers.
Jo Nathaniel Yasay of Scuba de Oro placed second in the wide angle, along with Daniel Dominic Calo of Ajis Camiguin Adventures in the macro division. In third place were Jeffrey Ong of Ajis Camiguin Adventures and Edgar Alan Zeta Yap of Black Beach Divers in the wide angle and macro categories, respectively.
Judging the competition were underwater photographers Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving commissioner Bo Mancao, Penn Delos Santos, Ram Yoro and Ramon Suijo.
Partners in the event were PCSSD-accredited dive centers Ajis Camiguin Adventures, Black Beach Divers, Camiguin Souldivers, Camiguin Volcan Beach Eco Retreat and Dive Resort, Johnny’s Dive N’ Fun, Kurma Eco Beach Lodge and Scuba de Oro.
The festival was also supported by FujiFilm, Primer Group of Companies, ROX, Billabong, Aquamundo, Aqua Ventures and official carrier Skyjet Airlines, which flies directly to Camiguin.
Romualdo noted that as a follow through, Camiguin will roll out its programs to support dive tourism with various workshops and assessment expeditions. He envisions the fest to be another sports and adventure tourism event which raises people’s environmental awareness.
Early this year, the “Climb Camiguin” showcased Mt. Timpoong-Mt. Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument, a twinvolcano protected area which was recently declared by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Center for Biodiversity as an ASEAN Heritage Park.
With its powdery beaches, enchanting waterfalls and hot and cold springs, diving is just another compelling reason to come again to Camiguin for the forthcoming 40th Lanzones Festival set this Oct. 20-27.