Davao: Macro Paradise

posted on Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Third time’s the charm as my third trip to Davao in September 2017 finally got us diving. I long wanted to dive in Davao ever since I’ve seen Jerome Kim’s underwater photo of a bumblebee shrimp years ago. Ling and I have never seen one so a trip to Davao is more than necessary. ;P

I scheduled a 4-day stay with two days allotted for diving. Scheduled 5 dives with Carabao Dive Center, which turned out to be one of the most affordable. During weekends, divers can join organized boat dives along with intro divers. This makes the boat rate cheaper at P1,250/diver. As Ling and I brought our own dive equipment, P200/tank is the only additional cost.

Organized boat dives in Davao only offer two dives/day. Boat departs Sta. Ana Wharf around 8 in the morning and returns past 3 in the afternoon. Our first diving day was done in Talicud Island. Ling and I personally met Carabao Dive Center’s manager, John Neri, in this year’s dive expo in SM Megamall. He was able to get East Pardillo as our dive guide. East was also the same guide that showed Jerome Kim those bumblebee shrimps years ago. Just our luck! =)

After diving in the Coral Garden, I’m onto macro subjects for our second dive in Babusanta dive site. East granted our request of seeing the Cyerce sp. found in Davao.

Our most-wanted bumblebee shrimp was spotted during the day’s third and night dive in the Shipyard dive site. Everything I haven’t seen underwater was all there in the taking. Literally a macro haven! After seven years of diving, for the first time, I’ve finally seen and photographed a tiger shrimp. Nudibranchs also abound. East also showed me a pregnant hairy shrimp but my 60-minute dive was cut short by a case of indigestion.haha

Thanks East for the underwater photography pointers. Salute to you and Jay for awesome guiding!

Davao Bumblebee Shrimp 1

Davao Bumblebee Shrimp 2

Davao Bumblebee Shrimp 3

Davao Bumblebee Shrimp 4

Davao Bumblebee Shrimp

Davao Cyerce Sp 1

Davao Cyerce Sp 10

Davao Cyerce Sp 11

Davao Cyerce Sp 12

Davao Cyerce Sp 13

Davao Cyerce Sp 14

Davao Cyerce Sp 15

Davao Cyerce Sp 2

Davao Cyerce Sp 3

Davao Cyerce Sp 4

Davao Cyerce Sp 5

Davao Cyerce Sp 6

Davao Cyerce Sp 7

Davao Cyerce Sp 8

Davao Cyerce Sp 9

Davao Cyerce Sp

Davao Nudibranch 1

Davao Nudibranch 2

Davao Nudibranch 3

Davao Nudibranch 4

Davao Nudibranch 5

Davao Nudibranch 6

Davao Nudibranch 7

Davao Nudibranch 8

Davao Nudibranch

Davao Paddle Flap Rhinopias 1

Davao Paddle Flap Rhinopias

Davao Sea Hare

Davao Tiger Shrimp 1

Davao Tiger Shrimp 2

Davao Tiger Shrimp 3

Davao Tiger Shrimp 4

Davao Tiger Shrimp 5

Davao Tiger Shrimp

Davao Xenia Soft Coral Shrimp

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About Mona

Certified as a PADI rescue diver. Got my first compact camera in 2011. I was simply content then to just capture a glimpse of what I see during my dives. It was only last February 2014 that I fully maximized the use of manual macro settings.

My camera skills and knowledge are still a work in progress. Enjoy browsin’!

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