Scandi divers had the pleasure of hosting the Puerto Galera leg of the Dive Spotters Training Program. Alongside this we refreshed our knowledge about bonfire and blackwater diving.
Dive Philippines stalwarts Wen and Cels only work with the best, with the main presentations conducted by Ram Yoro. Ram is well known and a true sensei in the bonfire/ blackwater field. There were 19 participants from the dive shops in Puerto Galera. There was the added dangled carrot of a nice t-shirt and some great meals from chef Ivan at Scandi divers.
Ram shared his knowledge and techniques from the blackwater world to the enthralled room of dive professionals. We got to learn about all the amazing species that can be seen around the bonfire of placed dive lights. Time was also spent refreshing everybody on the current hot marine critters and where’s the best place to find them. After a break of almost 2 years from major tourism it was a very worthwhile exercise to reboot our knowledge on the bountiful marine life in Puerto Galera.
As the sun went down we prepared the lights and lines for a bonfire dive right in front of Scandi divers resort. With the dive pro’s spread over four light set ups we were flabbergasted at the amazing species that live in the mid-water. There were many larval fish, with juvenile pipe fish and seahorses drifting around. A tiny larval octopus decided to attract itself to one of the guys, even hiding in the sleeve of his wet suit. We lost count of the number of crustacean species that were attracted by the powerful lights. The dive blew the minds of the participants, for some it was the first time to experience this kind of diving.
The next morning was spent going over proof of life images and video footage taken by the divers. Ram was also mightily impressed with the amount of night life. We finished up by honing our spotting skills with two dives in our muck diving area. The area outside of Montani was described as a AAA dive site by Ram. The sightings included a hairy shrimp, sean the sheep nudibranch, blue dragon and a tiny flamboyant cuttlefish.
The evening was spent giving out certificates to the participants and then of course the Red horse started to flow. The karaoke was fired up and all the blackwater creatures decided to go to deeper water.
Scandi divers would like to thank Dive Philippines, the department of tourism and the master Ram Yoro for sharing his amazing experience with us. We now look forward to using our new skills to impress our guests once international travel restarts again.
Puerto Galera is one of the most diverse scuba diving destinations in the world. With over 40 dive sites and 3,000 marine species to dive with we have given our verdict on the top 5 dive spots that you have to visit during your stay at Scandi divers resort.
The Drop off at Verde Island is not just the number 1 dive in Puerto Galera but must be classed as one of the best in Asia. The Pinnacle breaks the surface before dropping down to three hundred meters. It can have very strong currents which brings in fish by the bucket load. You can see large tuna and snapper mixed in with massive schools of wide mouth mackerel, Chub and the neon colored blue streak fusiliers. The population of anthais is so thick that you struggle to see the reef in places. You can see banded sea snakes, hawksbill turtles and warty frogfish. There are some massive sea fans and barrel sponges that can dwarf scuba divers. With a spectacular ecosystem existing here also look out for large pelagic species in the blue.
Canyons have been listed in the 50 top dives in the world. Best visited with a decent incoming tide, it can be a jaw dropping experience. There are 3 separate canyons the deepest one at 27 meters. You can see schools of jacks, Spanish mackerel and batfish. The delicate soft corals that cover the reef are beautiful soft pinks, purples and orange in color. The large sea fans quiver as the currents rush through them with pygmy seahorses clinging on for dear life. Hiding from current are oriental sweetlips, scorpion fish and moray eels. As you get to the last canyon there is an old anchor embedded into the reef, look out in the blue for spotted eagle rays and tuna before heading up for your safety stop.
The Alma Jane wreck was sunk in 2003 and has become one of the best dives in Puerto Galera. This artificial reef is down at thirty meters and is encrusted with some great coral growth. There is a resident school of a hundred or so batfish that are always facing into the current. Around the prop shaft you see large snappers. You can explore inside the wreck very easily, look out for banded sea snakes living in the celling. There are some large lion and scorpion fish. There is a high chance that you will see a few giant frog fish.
The Giant Clams are one of the best muck diving locations in the Philippines. If you would like to see mimic octopus, thorny seahorses, ornate ghost pipe fish, Dragon sea moths, Hairy frogfish, wunderpus, harlequin shrimp, blue ring octopus and the flamboyant cuttlefish then you will have to visit this magical macro playground.
Kilima Steps creeps in at number 5, we chose this site not only because of its beautiful stepped topography but this is place where you can see the majestic thresher shark. If the sharks don’t show up then you can still find the Palate surgeonfish otherwise known as Dori from Finding Nemo. You can discover many tropical reef fish and a number of nudibranch species.
So what do you think about our choice of the top 5 dive sites? You are welcome to let us know what your top 5 dives are from Puerto Galera. Thanks for reading this blog and we hope you can share it with your friends.
There’s a small but feisty species of fish that have evolved to live in a dangerous place in the ocean. Sea anemones may look beautiful, soft and colorful but they are armed to the teeth with tiny little darts that are used to poison fish before being eaten. That has never bothered anemone fish, they have been blessed by evolution to become bulletproof in the anemone world. Due to this blessing the anemone – anemone fish symbiotic relationship has become one of the most famous in the underwater world.
There are twenty-eight species of anemone fish worldwide, they form part of the damselfish gang. There are over eleven hundred species of anemone but only ten are used by the anemone fish. Once they decide on which to call home there are some rules which keep the house in order. There is only one female, she mates with the largest male. Once the female dies the broken-hearted male will swap genders to become the new mother and will then mate with the next male in line. Eggs are carefully laid very close to the anemone, they are attached to the reef or if on sand they use items like empty coconut shells. The parents take it in turns on aerating and cleaning them. After a while you can see tiny little eyes forming, after around fourteen days they all hatch.
If you are lucky enough to see some eggs you will notice parents are very vigilant, doing everything to protect the young. After watching these guys for many years there has been some very brave behavior. One fish took a very small bite out of my cheek, you could see tiny teeth marks on my face. Another headbutted the glass in my mask multiple times in an effort for me to vacate the area, one was biting the cloth of my rash guard trying to drag me away. You could say they are the Chuck Norris of the reef, even though we are million times bigger they will not be intimidated.
On the many dive sites of Puerto Galera, you can witness this amazing behavior while scuba diving. The most common species of anemone fish are Clarke’s, False clownfish, Saddleback and Pink. The most common anemone species are carpet, magnificent and bubble tip. They come in a few colors like orange and green. They can be found on most reef and muck diving sites. They are found at depths from five to thirty meters typically.
We hope you enjoy seeing these guys on your next dives at Scandi divers resort and remember don’t get to close if you value your life. We have made a short video for you to watch about anemone fish. Please like our Facebook page and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
If you spent hours in your garden looking through the flora for tiny little slugs, then your neighbor would probably be concerned for your welfare and call out the local psychiatrist recommending an emergency check-up. Yet scuba divers in their thousands spend hours searching through the corals looking for the underwater version of these creepy crawlies.
With Puerto Galera located in the Coral triangle and the Verde Island passage, it has more nudibranchs than you can shake a stick at. There are reason’s why the Godfather of the nudibranch world Dr Terry Gosliner has made numerous trips here. The Verde Island Passage has over a thousand named nudibranch species, when you consider the Caribbean has less than a thousand reef fish species the abundance is clear to see. The word nudibranch comes from Latin and ancient Greek words naked and gills which comes out of Google translate as nudibranch.
So, what’s the attraction of nudibranchs?
For a start the patterns and colors are so vibrant that they make great subjects for underwater photography. As slow movers, the chance to get a great image is high. They come in all shapes and sizes, one of the smallest and most famous is the Costasiella kuroshimae, affectionately know as Shaun the sheep, it’s sometimes smaller than a grain of rice but can be seen with the aid of a macro lens or magnifying glass.
At the other end of the spectrum we have giant nudibranch like the Hexabranchus sanguineus or Spanish dancer, these guys can be seen at night and are a fiery red color. They can grow up to ninety centimeters in length and bust impressive dance moves that would have made Michael Jackson jealous.
There are great opportunities to observe nudibranch behavior on our reefs. The Chamberlin nembrotha seem as sexually active as mandarin fish. You can see a mating pairs curled up together, being hermaphrodites they both pass sperm into each other for about ten minutes before breaking apart. The Chromodoris reticulata has the added skill of a disposable penis which is ideal if his partner starts to nag him to death about the washing up.
Nudibranch eggs can be found on the reef, look out for swirls of tiny egg. Some are more ribbon type which can be white or pinkish in color. To deter predators the eggs are covered by a slime from consumed sea sponges that are toxic.
There are a few species that eat their own kind, this is a pretty gruesome death as some have teeth inside which shred the poor victim making it easier to digest. So there is some information on the attraction of nudibranchs, we hope after reading this you will become a sea slug enthusiast.
You can watch our latest video on nudibranchs to give you just a sample of these amazing creatures. Come and join us at Scandi divers resort to see some with your own eyes.
This episode of The Dive is a great introduction to Puerto Galera, and the incredible dive sites of the Verde Passage, “The center of the center of marine biodiversity”, with Scandi Divers as hosts and guides to the UNTV team.
Earlier this year Scandi Divers Resort offered resort staff the chance to experience the thrill of scuba diving for the first time, and see what all the fuss is about. Here is Milcah Manocsoc’s account of her experience, in her own words:
Nowadays, most people may be fond of hiking, trekking, camping or other outdoor activities. Meanwhile if you’re looking for a new adventure , scuba diving is a perfect must-try. As a beach lover, this is my most wanted kind of adventure on the sea and is definitely on top of my bucket list.
And there came a wonderful day when I was finally able to check scuba diving off on my bucket list. This happened on March 29, 2019, when I have experienced one of the most wonderful adventure of my life.
As a first timer I have felt mixed emotions, a day before my scheduled free DSD experience all I felt was pure excitement. Come the morning on that day, Kuya Rey, our instructor, met us to finally start the diving course wherein he played a video showing how scuba diving was done and all the equipments to be used and also how it works. During that time I really felt nervous and realized that it will not be easy as what I have thought.
Before, when I’m just seeing people scuba diving, my perspective is, if you know how to swim and have tried snorkeling, it will all be easy but I was wrong. You have to know many important things about it. From the gear that you need to use, up to your first breath under water.
After watching the video, we went straight to the dive shop to wear our diving suits and then our instructor Kuya Rey taught us the uses of each piece of gear that we’ll be using and taught us some skills when we went to the swimming pool. First, using the regulator, BCD (Bouyancy Control Device), inflating and deflating, and I was just amazed while our instructor was demonstrating every skills. He also taught us the hand signals. The hardest part for me was trying not to breathe through my mouth. My instructor knows whenever I use my nose to breathe because my mask becomes very foggy. It was really tricky. He also taught us three basic skills which are regulator clearing, regulator recovery and mask clearing.
After making sure that we already know all the things we need to know, Kuya Rey then instructed us to go to the sea. I was guided underwater by Kuya Rey and I was really nervous going down because I am very used on being just in the surface.
As we explored the underwater world, I eventually became comfortable knowing that Kuya Rey was with me and I am in good hands. But what really made me comfortable was seeing the underwater creatures. I was able to have a face-to-face with nemo and saw his home. I was totally amazed with all the different kinds of fish and the coral that will automatically close whenever it was bothered just like the “makahiya” plant on land. It was indeed a fluttering moment for me seeing all those beautiful creatures that we didn’t get to see everyday.
After that dive I realized how much I really love the sea. Not only it makes you feel calm and at peace once you’re at the sea but it will literally blow your mind when you see the amazing creatures there is living under it.
I feel very grateful being part of the Scandi Divers and for letting their staff experience this one of a kind adventure. This is unforgettable, I hope there is more to come!
Travel blogger, Angelo The Explorer shares his travel experience at Scandi Divers Resort, when he joined us in beautiful Puerto Galera to get his PADI Open Water Diver certification, and enjoy some of the incredible diving and Scandi hospitality.
Below are some excerpts from his blog, and you can read the full article here
We arrived at Scandi Divers Resort just before lunch time. It was generally a good trip and the weather was good and I couldn’t wait to start and learn how to scuba dive. Checking in was very easy and in a few minutes, they already led us to our amazing beachfront room.
Big Lalaguna Beach, home of Scandi Divers Resort
Three Bedroom Oceanfront Suite
As we opened the door, it felt like a home away from home! It was so spacious and felt really elegant. I think this is the biggest room that they have. We have our own living room area with comfortable sofas, flat screen tv, home theater videos and and it’s also air conditioned.
One of my favorite parts was the large private terrace that is exclusively for our room. Waking up with that view was really something else and my favorite place to just relax and watch the day go by.
Terrace of the 3 bedroom suite
Scandi Divers Skyview Restaurant and Bar
If you are looking for a place to eat along Sabang or Big La Laguna, no need to go far as you have a fine dining restaurant right at Scandi Divers. For guests, you get a complimentary Continental Breakfast of home-made breads, fruits, butter and jam.
During our stay here in Sabang, we only went to White Beach once to say hello to friends, but most of the time, this was our favorite place to hang out at night because aside from the food being excellent, it was a great place to chill and just relax.
I don’t know why but I always felt I was starving after every dive, good thing that the serving of food here are big enough to fully satisfy your craving for good food. Here are some of the meals that you could try when at Scandi Divers. To be honest, I forgot the prices of each but they normally average from Php 200.00 – Php 500.00 per meal. The food prices are quite competitive but the quality and the amount of serving of their food is commendable!
PADI Open Water Diver Course
One of the main reasons why we stayed at Scandi Divers was to learn Scuba Diving and in the end get an Open Water Diving Course Certification. Upon arriving, I met up with my Scuba Instructor Marlon Daliposa who was to teach me everything I needed to learn for the whole 3 day course. I was really excited to do this and at the same quite scared, but I knew I was in good hands because the staff here were really helpful.
PADI E-Learning
Normally, as part of the certification, scuba divers spend long days reading a book before they do their actual dive. But there are also some people who are so busy with their schedule just like me and couldn’t fit much time or additional days into my dive. Good thing that there is PADI E-Learning which was so convenient that I could read and take assessment anywhere and anytime. So I had been reading the modules for an entire week and when I arrived at the Dive Center, all we needed was to review and recall the valuable information I’d read from the PADI E-Learning Modules. It’s so good!
After a sumptuous meal at Scandi Divers restaurant, I went straight to the dive center and Marlon and I started the course by learning how to put an air tank on my BCD [Bouyancy Control Device] and explaining to me everything in detail and how each of the component plays a big role specially when you are underwater.
After a hectic first session, next day was even more exciting as we were going on a real dive at one of the many dive sites in Puerto Galera. I was excited for this, I thought I would be happy just by snorkeling around but I now find Scuba Diving more enjoyable.
In the span of 3 days, we did a total of 4 open water dives in some of the well known Puerto Galera dive sites. The first 2 dives were near the coral gardens and around the giant clams. It was a famous snorkeling area as well specially for tourists coming from White Beach. It was a pity I didn’t bring my GoPro action camera during those dives as we saw such amazing marine life and beautiful coral. It was really amazing!
This was taken during our last and final dive just across from Sabang port Puerto Galera. I didn’t know that 18 meters down there, you would find a few wrecks and the amount of fishes around there was incredible. They were not shy and they were huge. I enjoyed it when the fish swam by so calmly. I also found a large sea snake close to the wreck. I used to freak out, but not anymore now as I realized that they are gentle creatures as long as you don’t mess with them.
After 3 days, my PADI Open Water Course ended with flying colors! I would like to thank my Dive Instructor Marlon Daliposa, for all the knowledge he imparted to me and the safety practices I needed to know before and after the dive. Thank you also to all the staff of Scandi Dive Center who were also very friendly and professional.
With so many resorts in Sabang Puerto Galera, we made the right choice to stay at Scandi Divers Dive Resort. The staff were amazing and very accommodating. The resort is very clean and the restaurant serves really good food. And it was located in Big La Laguna where you can relax on the white sand beach.
A new craze has ripped through the scuba diving world. Blackwater diving has grown dramatically becoming a new and exciting way to see many new species and also to see fish in their early larval stages.
We were lucky to have the professional guidance of Jerome Kim to help us with our blackwater education. Jerome has already taken hundreds of world class blackwater images from locations around the world so were in very capable hands.
As we prepared the line our guides became wide eyed at the thought of hanging out in the Verde Island passage with two hundred meters of water below during the night. We measured out twenty meters of rope, fixed 5000 lumens of lights at the end of the line with some lead weights.Smaller lights were attached at five-meter sections of the rope, gallon containers were attached with plenty of knots to make sure our equipment didn’t drop to the ocean floor.
As the sun started to drop Jerome briefed our team, we would be a mile away from shore before dropping the line with all the lights switched on. Its important to leave it down for a while as the lights attract all the weird and wonderful creatures that live in the open water.
With darkness descending we kitted up and pushed thoughts of sharks and barracuda to the back of our mind. You question your sanity a little bit as you see the lights of Big La Laguna way off in the distance. Looking out into the black water the dive lights were giving off a tremendous glow, we back rolled into the water and descended down into the abyss.
It’s a strange feeling at first, you feel yourself holding the line tightly, staying next to the safety of the glowing lights. After a while you get comfortable, weird little creatures float into your view, things you have never seen before that blow your imagination to pieces. Before you know it all those pre-dive scary thoughts disappear and you finally let go of the line and follow these creatures in the dark waters.
The plankton population was picking up due to the effect of the lights, our light beam focused on a small creature that was about the size of a small pea, as it come closer to us you could see its beautiful round blue eyes that were reflecting in the light. It landed on top of my hand, after a while its legs unfolded and crawled along. After doing some research we figured out it was a larval stage zoea crab.
As the water became darker it felt like being in space, little aliens were all around you, amazing jelly fish with little flashing lights resembling a UFO drifting through the galaxy. The amazing finds continued with a larval scorpion fish about half an inch in size. One of the most common sights was what looked like tiny transparent manta rays that are called sea butterflies, these would swim by flapping their wings, the beauty of these creatures really was something else.
Atlanta Peroni
The dive was a great success, we were happy to see so many exciting critters. Jerome took so many images. One of his favorite images was of a beautiful mollusk called an Atlanta Peroni which you can see on this post.
If you would like to try black water diving then speak to the dive team on your next visit to Scandi divers.
Life is too short not to try out new things, they say that scuba diving is the nearest thing to being in space, add the blackwater effect to that and you are one step closer to the moon!
