From Zero to Deco: A Guide To Diving | Blog | TravelBook

Jayvee Fernandez draws on his personal experiences to give would-be divers a great chance to get into this unique sport. No need to go abroad, either--not when some of the best diving in the world can be found off our shores.

The Philippines is considered to be one of the best places in the world to go SCUBA diving, bar none. This is due mainly to two reasons: the country is divided into more than 7,000 islands, with reefs that boast of unique marine flora and fauna. Secondly, it is also because the archipelago is located dead center in what is called the Coral Triangle, one of the major centers of biodiversity around the world.

In the same way that Filipinos dream about traveling through the European countryside, those from the West venture to the Philippines to experience the island paradise, and then go straight underwater to enjoy the coral walls, reefs and atolls.

Filipinos are lucky because they are presented with a unique opportunity to experience SCUBA diving right in their backyard. However, many do have some reservations about diving, and may ask the following questions:

"Can I dive even if I don't know how to swim?"

Knowing how to swim is not a necessity when SCUBA diving.
Photography: Wowie Wong

The experience of SCUBA is very different from swimming. You'd be surprised to know that there are many divers who don't know how to swim. Underwater, your mobility is controlled by three things--fins which help you move swiftly underwater, weights to help you sink, and the buoyancy control device (BCD) that helps keep you neutrally buoyant, and that also keeps you afloat when you surface after a dive.

Swimming skills are necessary only for divers who wish to pursue a rescue or dive master course. But for the rest of the recreational diver population, knowing how to swim is not a necessity.

"Can I afford it?"

Because of technological advancements in equipment and the increase in number of suppliers, diving has become more accessible to people with varying pay grades. If you just want to get acquainted with diving (perhaps to see if it's something you'll enjoy as a future hobby) you can always take an introduction dive session, which will set you back around PHP 2,000. The prices may vary per resort and instructor, but that's the average you'll spend for a course introduction.

Once certified, however, resorts in Anilao offer unlimited diving from their shores for as low as PHP 500 a day, with a buffet lunch included!

Note that the more money you invest in diving, the greater the rewards. Having your own dive gear, buying an underwater camera and booking a live-aboard trip for several days can truly enrich your diving experience. 

"Will the sharks eat me?"

It's mainly the media's fault. Because of movies like Jaws, sharks have been stigmatized as ruthless man-eating predators. The truth is that divers absolutely go crazy with delight when they see sharks and other pelagic fish swim by.

Luckily, the Philippines is situated in warm tropical waters, and there are no seals or penguins native to the shores of the islands. Thus, the sharks in the Philippines are composed mainly of the reef--white tips, black tips, nurse sharks and gray reef sharks among others.

Before letting newbie divers go into open water, instructors teach the basics in a controlled environment.
Photography: Wowie Wong

Step I: The Intro Dive

An intro dive is what you call a 'quick win' in your journey to SCUBA diving. Basically, this consists of a discovery course where the instructor teaches you how to dive almost immediately. This is meant for people who want to see if diving is really for them. If they find that they're comfortable underwater, the usual route is to get certified in an actual course. Introduction dives or "Discover SCUBA Diving" ideally takes you through a classroom session at the resort, skills practice in a confined water space, and then finally into open water with the instructor looking after you as you dive. The average price of an introduction dive is PHP 2,500.00.

1 2 3