Batangas

posted on Monday, April 4, 2022

If there’s one place where you can’t run out of things to do, it’s definitely in Batangas.

Scuba Diving

Our go-to accommodation for affordable dive trips is Anilao Boarding House with its beachfront view rooms costing P2,000 per night, good for two pax. The Filipino and English owners, MJ and Stuey Whiteside, can assist in booking boat and dive masters yet they also allow guests to personally arrange dives with their preferred DMs. If you prefer to not go on boat dives, the Basura dive site is easily accessible from the resort via shore entry.

For individuals interested to try scuba diving for the first time, you can book a Discover Scuba Diving session with our regular dive master, Jesmar Tabangay. Average DSD rate is at P3,000, inclusive of dive gear rental.

Freediving

We had our 10-year-old daughter certified under Azul Freediving last July 2021. This is to ensure that she is taught basic freediving skills like breathholding, finning techniques, equalization, duckdiving, rescue and buddy system. For the cost of P9,500, Xandy underwent three days of pool sessions and passed her online theory exam. By Christmas weekend of 2021, we finally brought her down to Anilao Boarding House to see how she fares underwater. Ling and I have both tried freediving in El Nido, Palawan before but doing it together with our child was simply incomparable.

Our daughter’s Basic Freediver RAID Certification allows her to dive within 5 meters or 15 feet. We stayed within the limits and simply enjoyed the beachfront freedive sites. There are several buoys up for use along Anilao’s coastline.

Island Hopping

Our 2021 Christmas weekend trip has been a family adventure of sorts as I’ve also brought my senior citizen parents along. From the resort, we contracted a boat for the price of P3,500. First stop is the Dive and Trek Resort’s marine sanctuary in Bauan where we took our time freediving while the seniors snorkeled near the boat. We then proceeded to Il Sogno Beach Resort where we rented a cottage for P500 for some grilled lunch goodness. Freediving can as well be done in front of the resort and the kiddo also enjoyed playing on the sand.

Kayak

Anilao Boarding House also offers kayak rental. Our fave destination is to go beyond Amor Laut and dock way past the line of glass-built rooms. Another option is to kayak towards Aguila Beach Resort and moor by the beach. Appreciating the sea view after an upper body workout can no doubt soothe both body and mind.

Windsurfing

Anilao is also home to the country’s Windsurfing Training Camp. You can head down the camp from Anilao Boarding House and book a one-on-one windsurfing session with the Philippine team’s windsurf coach, German Paz. Beginners need not worry because PH team’s young windsurfers will assist you all throughout the sesh. And yes, it’s definitely a feat to try windsurfing at least once in your lifetime.

For boat rental, contact JR for bookings: 09056125251.

See also our visit to Pili Paninap Farm in Tanay, Rizal, Moolk Farm, Balai Tanay, Phillip's Sanctuary in Antipolo, Rizal, Preziosa Botanic Resort in Alfonso, Cavite, Ataalaya Farmhouse in Alitagtag, Batangas, our day trip to Pililla, Rizal, Ybonita Farm, The Cabin in San Miguel, Bulacan, and our drive down Cavite.