Diving in Marigondon Cave

Marigondon Cave is one of the famous dive spots in Mactan, Cebu, although this dive is strictly for advanced divers only.  It is a shore entry and drift towards the cave entrance, about 30 meters. Then drops about 35-40m deep to the cave entrance. The diameter of the cave is about 10m.  It is advisable to bring a reel, torches and ensure that every diver keeps watch of time.

There are lion fish at the entry, deeper inside a school of strange flash light fish blinking in the dark and some giant crabs. This is truly an amazing dive. Nitrox is strongly recommended for this dive.

The first time I went there was during day time, the current was strong so the drift was so fast that I almost got disorientated.  But then thanks to the training and the buddy that I had, I didnt panic at all, the only thing was that I forgot to bring a torch so I had to tail with my buddy.  It was not bad but I vouched to come back.

Indeed I went back so many times that It became almost my daily routine that we didnt need a reel to come back to the mouth of the cave.  And then my buddy and I decided to go there at night. At first I was scared coz we realized at the bottom of the mouth of the cave were 4 tomb stones. Those were tomb stones of divers that apparently died there while diving. But I guess something that divers only understand, excitement was more than fear.  And we went scuba diving at night.

As soon as the sun was about to set we started our swim by the time we submerge the sun was out.  It was a total different from the day dive we been doing. When we were at the bottom on the mouth of the cave my buddy decided to turn off all our torches and sit still for 3 minutes. It was pitch dark and then we saw a lot of flashlight fishes that seemed to glitter in the dark, they hardly move in the same of a big fish.  It was one of the most amazing thing I have seen.

I would really go back there soon, unfortunately my camera is not good enough to take photos in total darkness. I have to upgrade my camera too soon. So if you are heading to Cebu, make sure to do this side trip scuba diving.

Stop! Dynamite Fishing

Since I was young I've heard about dynamite fishing being practiced in our small island - Mactan.  I never really saw this happening however I've heard from my parents and others.  My mom used to tell me that the fishes sold in the market were caught using dynamite fishing.  I never really know what this means before but since I started diving many years ago, I realized how this method has damaged our reefs.

Dynamite fishing or blast fishing is a destructive way of catching fishes.  The fishermen uses a bottle full of kerosine or gasoline and insert a cloth which serves as a wick and then they light it and throw it in the sea and then it explodes underwater.  Unfortunately the blast kills everything in its way including the corals.  There are some fishermen that aren't lucky and blast their hands in the process.  I know a few.  The fishermen also does not realize that this method leaves them very little fishes for human consumption and most dead fishes are turned into pieces and are left underwater for other species to feed on and yet, kills the natural habitat of fishes to breed.  This is very sad.  Although the government is trying their best to stop this way of fishing, but it is very hard to crack the system.

I thought it has been stopped since the construction of many international resorts on the island has somehow prevented local fishermen to do this around the reefs, however just recently while I was diving I heard blast underwater.  It did sound very near us but we never saw it.  Sound travel fast underwater, it may be very far from us however it sounded so near.  The dive master confirmed that it was dynamite fishing.  I thought to myself, no wonder there are no great reefs around the area and fishes has declined in numbers.  I wish the government will do something to rid this practice, so we have a sustainable environment and nice reefs for us divers to enjoy.