On Wednesday I was faced with a dilemma: what is there to do in the Philippines when the forecast for the entire country reads rain? This nation is filled with stunning beaches and spectacular hikes through the mountains. It is host to the "eighth wonder of the world," the Banaue Rice Terraces. And I am excited to see all of these outdoor sites. Unfortunately, I am hoping to see them in the sun. So on Wednesday when I woke up to torrential downpours I looked at the forecast (this being the rainy season, I wasn't sure how long the showers would last). The entire country seemed to be covered in rain and would be (according to the always accurate meteorologists) for the next 3-4 days. I decided to change my plans and do the one thing where it didn't matter what the weather was outside. I wouldn't be on land. I would be under the sea.
Two years ago in Zanzibar I completed a discover dive. In these dives anyone is able to go underwater with an instructor to get a taste for diving. I fell in love with the experience, and since then I have been itching to get my SCUBA certification. The Philippines seemed like an ideal location - full of spectacular dive sites, and high quality diving centres. I chose to come to the Thresher Dive Centre on Malapascua Island for the 3 day open water diver course.
And I think I picked the right place to visit. While other parts of the country are still covered in rain, today I saw nothing but sun. Even though rain wouldn't ruin this course, it does make everything all the more enjoyable. Unfortunately, I spent the morning inside a classroom learning the theory behind basic diving skills while outside the sun shone over blue skies. Luckily, this afternoon I was outside trying out some new skills in a shallow bay. I learned essential techniques such as what to do should my breathing regulator fall out of my mask, how to reach the surface in the unlikely event I run out of air and how to float buoyantly below the surface of the water. Tomorrow, I will be trying these out in the first two of my four open water dives mandatory for the completion of the course.
I've really been enjoying the course so far, but I'm especially anticipating finishing and having the opportunity to explore the nearby dive sites and, hopefully, see some thresher sharks.
My journey to Malapascua Island was an adventure in itself. Upon deciding to head south to this tiny island off the coast of the larger island of Cebu, I booked a last minute ticket from Manila to Cebu. The total cost for this one hour flight booked a few hours before takeoff? Approximately 60 CAD. Flights here are unbelievably inexpensive. And the aircraft are brand new Boeing airplanes with extremely friendly staff. If only flights in Canada were so affordable.
Upon my arrival to Cebu airport I hopped in a cab. The security guard working at the taxi stand handed me a piece of paper with instructions to call and report my cab driver should he violate any of a long list of offences. I'm pretty sure my driver violated most of them. He at first claimed the meter was broken and tried to charge me an exorbitant amount. I insisted he turn on the meter (which he eventually agreed to - miraculous how quickly the meter healed itself) and the journey cost half of what he had originally tried to charge me. The journey into the city was one of my most treacherous cab experiences ever. The driver found spaces for the car that I don't think anyone realized were there. Or if there wasn't a place for him to weave his car through, he made space by both honking on his horn (nothing new there) or flashing his high beams to annoy cars in front and encourage them to get out of his way as he was coming whether they liked it or not (I have never before seen someone use high beams for this reason). If there was a motorbike in the next lane, he forced it out of the way, and if there was no one in the oncoming lane of traffic, he would veer out into it to pass cars in front of him who dared to stay there. It was with relief (and tense muscles) that he finally pulled into my hostel.
The rest of the journey to the island involved another cab ride, a 4 hour bus ride and a bangka (small boat) journey across the water. Not quite as exciting, but still adventures.
I'm very happy to be here now and look forward to a few more days under the water and on the beach.
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