Diving in Sabang Point, Mindoro

Dive #: 252

Date: 15.11.2014
Place: Philippines, Mindoro, Sabang Beach, Sabang Point
Depth: 27.1m Average: 16,4m
Dive time: 44min
Visibility: 25m
Sea temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air)  Wetsuit: 3mm long wetsuit  Weight: 5Kg
Camera: Canon PowerShot G15 + Ikelite´s housing  Computer: Suunto Stingray

Dive Center: Tina´s Reef Divers
Price: 1000PHP/17,95€/1 dive

I did a one dive in Sabang Point in Mindoro. Here is something what we saw there.

Big school of grant fish. 

Little bit closer. 

Mantis shrimps are always cool to watch. This time we saw two mantis shrimps.

Mantis posing.

Small reef fishes. 

School of small barracudas.

Moray eel in her hole. 

Sharp teeth waiting for the prey.

Garden eels dancing.

Time for the safety stop and to the surface.

This picture shows why Sabang Beach is so popular diving destination. There are so many dive spots and almost as many dive shops. This means diving there is cheap and you will always find dive buddy for you. 

It was good basic dive. Everything else worked perfectly except I had problem to switch the flash on in the camera. This meant I couldn´t take any good macro photos for instance from the yellow pygmi seahorse and nudibranches. Have to check what was wrong. 

I like diving in Sabang. All the dive spots are so near. Hopefully soon to Sabang again. 

Regards from Manila,
Mika

Lighthouse and Maris Rock in Puerto Princesa, Philippines

Second diving day on this trip in Puerto Princesa. 

Dive #: 250
Date: 14.6.2014
Place: Philippines, Palawan, Puerto Princesa, Lighthouse
Depth: 31,7m Average: 18,5m
Dive time: 43min
Visibility: 10-12m
Sea temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/220bar (air)  Wetsuit: Only shorts and sleeveless  Weight: 5Kg
Camera: Canon PowerShot G15 + Ikelite´s housing  Computer: Suunto Stingray

Dive Center: Moana Dive Center

Our first dive spot was Lighthouse. There is possible to see many different kind of nudibranches.

Moray eel.

Nudibranch.

Arch.

Jenkins stingray hiding in the sandy bottom. 

Some kind of small lobster.

Dive #: 251
Date: 14.6.2014
Place: Philippines, Palawan, Puerto Princesa, Maris Rock
Depth: 21,6m Average: 14,3m
Dive time: 53min
Visibility: 10-15m
Sea temperature: +28C

Our second dive spot was Maris Rock. There is always possible the see something interesting. Also on this time like this ghost pipefish family.

Scorpionfish.

Some kind of nudibranch.

Big yellow frogfish.

Very small bygmi seahorse. The size is only about 1,5cm. 

Cuttle fishes are real alien of the seas. They can change color, shape and even the texture of the skin. It has three hearts, which pump blue blood.

Here interesting documentary of cuttle fishes. It´s really not a "normal" fish. 

Dive in Maris Rock was again interesting. I don´t remember to seen ghost pipefishes before. 

Regards from Manila,
Mika

Putul and Crossing in Puerto Princesa, Philippines

I had a weekend trip from Manila to Puerto Princesa and I dived there two days. Here is something from the first diving day.

Dive #: 248
Date: 13.6.2014
Place: Philippines, Palawan, Puerto Princesa, Putul
Depth: 28,6m Average: 20,7m
Dive time: 38min
Visibility: 20m
Sea temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/220bar (air)  Wetsuit: Only shorts and sleeveless  Weight: 5Kg
Camera: Canon PowerShot G15 + Ikelite´s housing  Computer: Suunto Stingray

Dive Center: Moana Dive Center

On our first dive in Putul we saw something new what I haven´t seen before. It was cow tail stingray.

It was quite big one. 

I have dived in Putul many times, but I have never seen there sharks. This time we saw two whitetip reef sharks.

Same shark before it disappeared.

Corals.

Nudibranch.

Dive #: 249
Date: 13.6.2014
Place: Philippines, Palawan, Puerto Princesa, Crossing
Depth: 20,4m Average: 15,8m
Dive time: 42min
Visibility: 25m
Sea temperature: +28C

Our second dive spot was Crossing. Nudibranch.

Small fishes on the reef.

Clownfish try to hide.

Some kind of sea worm.

There are always big school of fish in Crossing. One common spice is grant fishes.

I have dived in the both places many times and I know the dive spots already quite well. Anyway cow tail stingray and shark was nice surprise this time. 

Regards from Manila,

Mika

Diving day in Mindoro, Philippines

I had a few days holiday in Sabang Beach and I did there one relax dive. 


Dive #: 247

Date: 10.4.2014
Place: Philippines, Mindoro, Sabang Beach, Edgar´s Cave
Depth: 28m Average: 13,4m
Dive time: 55min
Visibility: 25m
Sea temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/220bar (air)  Wetsuit: 3mm long wetsuit  Weight: 5Kg
Camera: Canon PowerShot G15 + Ikelite´s housing  Computer: Suunto Stingray

Dive Center: Tina´s Reef Divers
Price: 1000PHP/16,35€/1 dive


We had a group of 3 divers and DM. Back roll from the boat and under water.

Bubble coral.

School of big mouth trevally.

Closer.

Curious Nemo.

Nudibranch.

There was lots of reef fishes in some place.

Big snapper.

Same snapper.

Life on the reef.

Typical guy on the sandy bottom.

Large soft coral area and some reef fishes.

Looks nice.

It was very easy-going dive without any current. Lots of soft and hard coral. Especially in the end of dive we saw lots of different kind of reef fishes.

Regards from Manila,
Mika

Diving with turtles in Balicasag Island, Philippines

I was long weekend with my girl friend in Panglao Island here in Philippines. Two days before the trip my friend Jari from Finland told me he comes to visit short trip in Philippines. Jari came with us also to Panglao and I did two dives with him in Balicasag Island. 

Dive #: 245
Date: 8.3.2014
Place: Philippines, Balicasag Island, Black Forest
Depth: 20,1m Average: 13,4m
Dive time: 55min
Visibility: 30m
Sea temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/220bar (air)  Wetsuit: 3mm wetsuit  Weight: 5Kg
Camera: Canon PowerShot G15 + Ikelite´s housing  Computer: Suunto Stingray

Dive Center: Baywatch Diving

Price: 2200PHP/35,40€/2 dives

We booked the dives from Baywatch Diving in Alona Beach. There was only 3 divers in our group: Jari, me and our German guide Timo.

Boat trip from Alona Beach in Panglao Island to Balicasag takes about 45min. When we came to Balicasag area we saw already two turtles in the water. Sea in Balicasag looks great.

Then it was time to jump to the water.

Very soon we saw first turtle.

This guy was big one.

Then to swim.

Big and curious trumpet fish.

Big group of small striped cat fishes. 

Small moray eel in the hole.

Nemos are always cute. 

Nemo with turtle.

Turtle on the reef.

Garden eels.

First dive almost done. Jari and me in the safety stop.

Dive #: 246
Date: 8.3.2014
Place: Philippines, Balicasag Island, Fish Sanctuary

Depth: 21,6m Average: 13,4m
Dive time: 56min
Visibility: 20m
Sea temperature: +28C

Second dive spot was Fish Sanctuary, which was in practice wall.

There was lots of different size of fan corals on the wall.

Moray eel swimming.

Timo and Jari on the wall.

Same guys.

Turtle just leaving from the wall. 

Soon there came also another turtle.

It was great diving day. Balicasag itself is beautiful place and if you like turtle, you will love it. So do I! 

Regards from Manila,

Mika