Open Water Dive - Galera Vacation Oct '07

Day 1
Thurs Oct 11, 2007. Me and my friends arrived at the beach resort at around 10am tiring but it was an exciting adventure. We left Manila at 4:30am after 2 hours of road trip to Batangas Pier, we just missed the boat ride to Balatayan Mindoro for us not to waste time we decided to take the boat trip to Calapan instead. It took us another 2 hours to get to the port and we still have to drive our way through the rocky road to get to Palangan where the resort is located. Never the less we had taken great photos along the way.

When we arrived we had lunch and a short nap. Our friend Mike who's a rescue diver encouraged us to try scuba diving. He rented a pool were he trained us the basics of diving. One by one Mike and another dive master 'Joy' taught us the proper way wearing dive gears, hand signs like OK, Up, Down etc, proper diving position, how to remove water in our mask while under water and so on and so forth. On my first dive attempt I had difficulty on breathing through the regulator and got really scared. Water would always enter my mask and I can't see. They told me to practice breathing only thru my mouth and not thru my nose so that water will not get in my mask. When I get the hang of it I did great under the pool.
Now we go for the real thing. Im the one at the right.

Day 2
Fri Oct 12, 2007. After breakfast we had a quick stroll at the beach.
My first dive. Dive master Joy guided me all through out my first dive. Observing and making sure I get the hang of it.



We dive to 2 different locations.

Day 3
Sat Oct 13, 2007. The whole day we went diving. This time 'Joy' the dive master will be diving a few distance away from me. He'll be just on a look out for any trouble I may encounter. He believes I can now dive on my own but he assures me that he'll still be at reach.
Getting ready to dive.

Excited at the same time nervous I dive under the open water. There were a couple of time I had difficulty on equalizing and sometimes panic. I try my best to make myself feel comfortable until I get the hang of it. I was so fascinated and happy to see the colorful corals and different kind of fishes swimming around it. I was so attracted by the cute colorful fishes and tried to catch them not knowing Joy was swimming after me. After 30 mins underwater Im beginning to feel my throats' getting really dry. I started coughing and like vomiting. I got scared and about to panic I looked around for Joy but he was too far away from me, so what I did I pray and ask for God to give me presence of mind, strength and courage to overcome the feelings im having. After that all my fear is gone and was replaced with excitement and joy again. I had a really great time swimming with the fishes. I feel like one of them. When we got back to the boat Mike and Joy said I swim too fast and can't catch up with me and end up teasing me "torpedo".
Coral Garden Dive Location
Another dive location - The Manila Channel
Giant Clams dive spot


Day 4
Sat Oct 14, 2007. We went back to Manila Channel dive spot for the another diving experience this time we'll try to dive deeper. This day I was able to dive 30 feet deep my deepest dive so far hehehe. Hey come on I'm just an amatuer next time I'll try 60 feet ;o).
Try to find the camouflage snail

Here are some pictures of me, Mike and his beloved future wife who happens to be my boss and my friend Cye.











After the dive we went snorkling with Jean. Joy is our underwater photographer.



After snorkling we decided to take our lunch by the beach. Here are some photos taken by the beach of Manila Channel.

We are now on our way back to the beach resort.

Our last night. We decided to have our dinner at White Beach resort and had a few drinks at the Dolphinbay beachfront resort just beside the resort we stayed in.
If you have plans to visit Puerto Galera and does not want a very crowded beach location. I recommend you visit Dolphin bay resort. The facilities are new and the rates are affordable and reasonable. For more information and rates please click this site. And if you want to dive, look for Joy and he'll bring you to the best diving spots of Puerto Galera.