Butanding sightings in Anilao

[ryan07]

Last weekend (Nov, 30), I went diving with my good old dive buddies. A night before, I received a call from one of them that they saw a young whale shark (20-25 footer) right in front of them while they're doing there check out dive for night dive in a new dive site called "Bobot's reef" . I really can't sleep that night and envy them so much, wishing I should have gone with them on the 29th of Nov. and skipped the wedding of my cousin to go diving with them instead of following them on the 30th. When I arrived the next day, I can't help but ask about their close encounter with the whale shark. Close encounter as in 2-3 feet away from the shark and during night dive, could really be a fainting experience for weak hearted. On my first dive, all I want to see is that whale shark. Anything less than that was nothing to me. Well, with the number of dive sites in Anilao, it was really like winning a lotto to see that darn whale shark. On the 2nd dive, while we were diving in Koala reef, I got what I wished for. Not to skip the wedding, but see in person that whaleshark. It's about 15ft away from us. Silhoute at first, but the size, shape of the mouth ( as it was towards us at first), big size of the tail and dorsal fins.....truly majestic! I really don't know how to tell it to my buddy, but I shook him so hard, pulling his tank and BC just to point him towards the whale shark so that he can see it also, but also to have a witness that I saw a whale shark... ;D We still did a third dive and night dive as well but all I could think of is that experience of seeing that butanding.

Well, that's all I can share until I see it again. So for those who have done a lot of diving in Anilao for the longest time and has been diving other sites and provinces for diving, I do think it's about time to reconsider and plan diving Anilao again....like me!

[erwin]

Nice report Ryan. Saw that shark on the night dive where it appeared right in front of me and Lance. I found myself shouting into my regulator " wh#@%!!#^#sh(@#^rk ".

About 2 months ago some people saw a manta in Anilao as well. It seems large critter sightings are getting more and more common in our backyard.

[ludwiggeorfo]

there will come a time for me and that BUTANDING and nobody can stand between us! soon!

[matthew]

This is my report on the sighting, which I posted on another diving forum:

My instructor and 4 others first saw one on the night of Nov. 29 while on an AOW training night dive in front of Villa Ligaya. The huge mouth suddenly appeared infront of him and his immediate reaction was to swim backwards. It took him several moments to realize it was a whale shark, and he says it was the first time he lost his composure underwater in a decade of teaching. So everybody excitedly called me afterwards, as I was still in Manila, and while I had my doubts about seeing a whale shark in Anilao, everybody's story jived with the others, especially the 2 Chinese students in the group who, I was sure, will not lie to me, much less, fabricate such a detailed story.

The next day, on my first dive at Koala with 3 others, at around 1:30 pm, I got the surprise of my life when we saw a whale shark,a bout 15-20 feet long. We were at about 60 ft, and it swam slowly about 20 ft above us, coming from the right towards the shallow part of the reef on our left. We were so awed, nobody thought of swimming after it. We just watched as it slowly swam away. I was in Sogod 2 years ago and I was face to face with a whale shark, but I tell you this encounter was much more exciting. This was Anilao, after all, our regular weekend playground, and we were diving Koala, which we only chose because it was close to where we were staying and we were too lazy for a long boat trip (we were also tired of Cathedral).

None of the boatmen, nor other non-diving Anilao residents, were a bit surprised or doubtful of our experience, because, we were told, there were numerous surface sightings of whale sharks around Anilao recently. You better believe it guys, there ARE whale sharks in Anilao. Maybe eventually, some pattern of their movements can be established so that we can encounter these awesome creatures more often.

[ace]

We were in Subic then when Joel called up to make us realize that we made the wrong decision in not joining them in Batangas. I thought Joel was just kidding or suffering from narc when he told us that they saw a whale shark. I doubted his claim for several reasons lalo na kung maririnig mo sa background yng mga klase ng pinapanood nyo . Turns out he is telling the truth.

Hopefully, Ryan did not scare away that whale shark ;D I will also have my day with that beautiful creature!

[donna135]

so true...sana d na lang tyo nagsubic kainis.

[ryan07]

Hahaha....Ace, medyo bitter ka ha for the wrong choice? ;D It's ok and understandable. It's really a nice experience for you to miss it. Don't worry, I didn't scare it away so that you can have your chance..... maybe after a couple of years....hahahahaha

Jan 23, 2009 13:54:21 GMT 8 ace said:

We were in Subic then when Joel called up to make us realize that we made the wrong decision in not joining them in Batangas. I thought Joel was just kidding or suffering from narc when he told us that they saw a whale shark. I doubted his claim for several reasons lalo na kung maririnig mo sa background yng mga klase ng pinapanood nyo . Turns out he is telling the truth.

Hopefully, Ryan did not scare away that whale shark ;D I will also have my day with that beautiful creature!

[Gi]

Okay lang yun, Ace and Donna. We'll have our day.

Lalong malas kami nina Rodel. We were there, same date, same resort but we dove different sights... Not one glimpse of the fabled sea giant (sino kayang may balat sa $%^&?).

But I couldn't be happier with our 3 dives because it was our first Mainit dive. There's nice current, so enjoy. We saw a big school of barracudas. It was also our 1st time in Villa Ligaya. We liked it. They have a friendly package that suits our discriminating taste (hehehe).

We then joined Erwin for the night dive in the hopes of seeing the butanding but it just wasn't meant to be. Nonetheless, the dive did not dissapoint (night diving is always a rush!). Visibility became more challenging because of thick clouds of tiny, almost microscopic organisms (probably planktons, shrimps, et.). You can literally feel them hit your face! I guess that was the reason why the butanding was there. Its the smorgasbord of these juicy morsels that they are after.

Of course, having to dive with other people is the best bonus of them all (bola!)! So, until next time...