Post by Gi on Dec 21, 2010 18:38:02 GMT 8
Guys!
Kinda nostalgic this morning (after eating-rice-all-you can and my nanay's pork steak) while making the Christmas E-card for my wonderful dive buddies. What a year of diving!!! I think it's only fitting to go down memory lane and reminisce those unforgetable dive sites, awesome marine life, funny, scarry or unique dive moments we had in 2010.
So here's my Top 10:
1. February 19, 2010: My first encounter with with the gentle giants in Donsol, Sorsogon. Murky water then suddenly the mouth of the whale shark was in front of me. It's dorsal fin is huge!!!
For a moment I forgot to breath. But after that, I was sprinting for dear life just to keep up. Magnificent!
2. March 20, 2010: My very first shark(s) sighting (after 98 dives) in Apo Reef, Mindoro Occidental (Island Front South East Corner). White Tip, Black Tip and Grey Reef sharks were present on all our succeeding dives. The sharks there were not skittish. They just swim by without a care in the world
. Astig!
3. March 21, 2010: Apo 29 is a blue water dive site in Apo Reef. Its a small mound in the middle of nowhere at 90 ft. Its EDSA underwater. Each kind of fish follows a straight line on an invisible highway that sometimes cross with another school of fish. Then there were the sharks that break all the rules.
4. March 21, 2010: Snorkeling with a pod of bottlenose dolphins
in Apo Reef. I heard their clicks and chirps under water.
5. March 27, 2010 in Sabang, Puerto Galera: Down current and poor vis on our descent to the Canyons. Nagkahiwa-hiwalay kami ng dive buddies ko ;D. Two attempts botched. No Canyons but a hell lot of experience to take home for me. Chaos. Walang ganun sa Anilao! Bwahahahaha!
6. March 28, 2010 in Sabang, Puerto Galera: Alma Jane Wreck with poor vis and strong current in PG. Not the best conditions but I love every minute of it. All that jogging paid off.
7. July 2010: Coal spill clean-up in Nasugbu, Batangas where we picked up fist-size to sandy volcanic coal at 20 feet and placed on sacks. The coal debris and silt have spread and covered several kilometers of coral reefs. I also had a great time with my dive buddy, Tintin. We were literally laughing the whole time under water because we had so much to say to each other (directions, strategy, who's going to hold the sack, how to carry the heavy sack, etc) but diver signals is extremely limited. A lot was lost in translation. So, Everytime we begin to signal, we end up laughing our reg off!!! ;D
8. October 17, 2010 Tinuto Wall in Lemlunay Resort, Maasim, Saranggani Province. New place, Wall, current, giant gorgonians, lots of fish... the makings of an enjoyable dive. I enjoyed it so much it was my 1st time in a very long time to signal 'low on air' on two of our three dives.
Na-narc ata ako.
9. November 16, 2010 at the House reef in Diver Sanctuary: I took the time to correct my weights. This dramatically changed my whole diving experience. I'm more steady when hovering, I appreciate breathing for bouyancy control, better air consumption, better form, better everything. Bonus: Saw a group of pairing and dancing cuttle fish, squid eggs (which look like white grapes) and 4 white tips.
10. November 27 Apo Reef Island front night dive: Dived with another group of divers. All boys. O-oh, trouble. I commited every possible mistake in the history of dumb diving! Shore entry. I was in the water. Started finning... no fins! Going down... no weight belt! Check on my console... no goggles! Bwiset!!!! And this is only half of the story, morning glory. Tsk, tsk, tsk... now you know my Achilles heel.
11. November 28, 2010 South Corner Apo Reef: Legendary encounter with three eagle rays which was caught on Matt's videocam. Awesome!
Merry Christmas everybody. Wishing you all the best dives in 2011!
Regards,
Gi
Feel free to share your top 10!
Kinda nostalgic this morning (after eating-rice-all-you can and my nanay's pork steak) while making the Christmas E-card for my wonderful dive buddies. What a year of diving!!! I think it's only fitting to go down memory lane and reminisce those unforgetable dive sites, awesome marine life, funny, scarry or unique dive moments we had in 2010.
So here's my Top 10:
1. February 19, 2010: My first encounter with with the gentle giants in Donsol, Sorsogon. Murky water then suddenly the mouth of the whale shark was in front of me. It's dorsal fin is huge!!!
For a moment I forgot to breath. But after that, I was sprinting for dear life just to keep up. Magnificent! 2. March 20, 2010: My very first shark(s) sighting (after 98 dives) in Apo Reef, Mindoro Occidental (Island Front South East Corner). White Tip, Black Tip and Grey Reef sharks were present on all our succeeding dives. The sharks there were not skittish. They just swim by without a care in the world
. Astig! 3. March 21, 2010: Apo 29 is a blue water dive site in Apo Reef. Its a small mound in the middle of nowhere at 90 ft. Its EDSA underwater. Each kind of fish follows a straight line on an invisible highway that sometimes cross with another school of fish. Then there were the sharks that break all the rules.
4. March 21, 2010: Snorkeling with a pod of bottlenose dolphins
in Apo Reef. I heard their clicks and chirps under water. 5. March 27, 2010 in Sabang, Puerto Galera: Down current and poor vis on our descent to the Canyons. Nagkahiwa-hiwalay kami ng dive buddies ko ;D. Two attempts botched. No Canyons but a hell lot of experience to take home for me. Chaos. Walang ganun sa Anilao! Bwahahahaha!
6. March 28, 2010 in Sabang, Puerto Galera: Alma Jane Wreck with poor vis and strong current in PG. Not the best conditions but I love every minute of it. All that jogging paid off.
7. July 2010: Coal spill clean-up in Nasugbu, Batangas where we picked up fist-size to sandy volcanic coal at 20 feet and placed on sacks. The coal debris and silt have spread and covered several kilometers of coral reefs. I also had a great time with my dive buddy, Tintin. We were literally laughing the whole time under water because we had so much to say to each other (directions, strategy, who's going to hold the sack, how to carry the heavy sack, etc) but diver signals is extremely limited. A lot was lost in translation. So, Everytime we begin to signal, we end up laughing our reg off!!! ;D
8. October 17, 2010 Tinuto Wall in Lemlunay Resort, Maasim, Saranggani Province. New place, Wall, current, giant gorgonians, lots of fish... the makings of an enjoyable dive. I enjoyed it so much it was my 1st time in a very long time to signal 'low on air' on two of our three dives.
Na-narc ata ako. 9. November 16, 2010 at the House reef in Diver Sanctuary: I took the time to correct my weights. This dramatically changed my whole diving experience. I'm more steady when hovering, I appreciate breathing for bouyancy control, better air consumption, better form, better everything. Bonus: Saw a group of pairing and dancing cuttle fish, squid eggs (which look like white grapes) and 4 white tips.
10. November 27 Apo Reef Island front night dive: Dived with another group of divers. All boys. O-oh, trouble. I commited every possible mistake in the history of dumb diving! Shore entry. I was in the water. Started finning... no fins! Going down... no weight belt! Check on my console... no goggles!
Bwiset!!!! And this is only half of the story, morning glory. Tsk, tsk, tsk... now you know my Achilles heel. 11. November 28, 2010 South Corner Apo Reef: Legendary encounter with three eagle rays which was caught on Matt's videocam. Awesome!
Merry Christmas everybody. Wishing you all the best dives in 2011!
Regards,
Gi
Feel free to share your top 10!
