It was a busy 2018, full of overtime work and fun days off. After months of overtime at work, I finally got near to a month off from work in December. Hence, off I go to some place where i can greet the ocean again! This is the first time i dive abroad and the experience was really different. The destination, Anilao, Batangas, Philippines!! Don't mistake it as an island, it's just a small town near to the shore south of Manila.
Travelling light, my luggage for the 5 days 4 nights trip was within 25 litres, including my camera (Sony RX100V) and Fantasea underwater housing for RX100V. Travelling time was pretty long as there's still a 3 hours drive from the Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Thank goodness the dive trip organizer (Alpha Divers PLT) got everything sorted out, the entire trip was at the enjoyable pace.
Unlike the dive sites i used to visit in Malaysia, the dive sites that I've visited at Anilao are mostly sandy bottom and not full of corals. I'm glad that I have a underwater camera with me to really enjoy the dives. Marine life are all over the place, you just need to be patient and open up your eyes and mind as what you are about to see are not big fishes, but tiny marine life that we are too ignorant to pay attention to most of the time. My basic set of camera was just not fit enough to photograph and document the awesomeness of these tiny creatures. There is when dive buddies with poisonous camera gears come into the picture, lending their equipment part by part to me, showing the use of each additional piece. 90% of the species we spotted are all new to me! There's flamboyant cuttlefish, ghost pipefish, all sorts of shrimps, frogfish, Ambon scorpionfish, etc.
This was my first visit to the archipelago, and I feel curious more than insecure of Philippines already. I'm looking forward to return to Philippines again not only for scuba diving. Special thanks to Alpha Divers PLT and Acacia Resort and Dive center for the welcoming accommodation and arrangement.
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