Underwater Photos by Ram Yoro
The 2nd Camiguin Dive Festival recently concluded its monthlong underwater photography competition, which was participated by 20 divers from different parts of the Philippines. The event was also an opportunity to re-visit and capture the beauty of Camiguin’s lush marine life.
The event is organized by the Department of Tourism-Northern Mindanao headed by DOT 10 Regional Director Marie Elaine Salvana-Unchuan, in partnership with its local government unit represented by the Provincial Governor of Camiguin Hon. Xavier Jesus D. Romualdo. The governor provided a big role in making the event happen, embracing dive tourism as one of its major economy booster, after the pandemic lockdowns in the province. The 2nd Camiguin Dive Festival is also supported by the Camiguin Tourism Office headed by Candice Borromeo-Dael, including the municipal mayors of Catarman, Guinsiliban, Mambajao, Mahinog, and Sagay, with the assistance of DOT Region 10 Project Coordinator, Kurt Chan.
“I would like to commend our Dive Tourism Stakeholders who have shown immense passion, appreciation, and concern for our dive sites here in Region 10,” Department of Tourism Region 10 Director Marie Elaine Salvana-Unchuan reveals. “Your love for diving equates to its sustainability and the preservation of our treasured dive sites will forever be a source of honor and pride for all of us,” she added.
The 2nd Camiguin Dive Festival’s main event was the Underwater Photography Contest. This was open to all UW photo enthusiasts and hobbyists aged 18 years old and above using any camera of their choice. This year’s champions were Franca Wermuth for the Open Macro Category, Topo Yasay for the Open Wide Category, Vince Yves Zamoro for the Freediving Category, and Fra-And Quimpo for the Compact Macro and Wide Categories.
The distinguished panel of judges are luminaries in the Philippine scuba diving industry, who are also multi-awarded international underwater photographers composed of Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD) Commissioner Yvette C. Lee, award-winning marine cinematographer Bo Mancao, and renowned underwater photographer and tech diver Ram Yoro.
DOT Region 10’s Camiguin Dive Festival was first mounted in 2019, signaling its deeper involvement in the growing dive tourism market. It also showcases Camiguin’s rich biodiversity, and aims to promote the area as a world-class diving destination. It’s truly extra special diving in Northern Mindanao, another bucket list fulfilled for many participants.
Notable Dive Sites in Camiguin
When diving in Northern Mindanao, it is most convenient to stay at resorts with its own dive tour operators. During our visit, our group stayed at the sprawling Mantangale Alibuag Dive Resort, which is around two hours away by car from Cagayan De Oro City. Meanwhile, in Camiguin Island, the laid-back Kokomo Dive Resort in the Municipality of Mambajao that is now in partnership with Scuba De Oro, was our home for the next four days. Both resorts mainly cater to divers from all over the Philippines and abroad, with a competitive price range. Most importantly, they are the most knowledgeable in bringing divers safely to the best sites around NorthMin and Camiguin Islands.
Mantigue Island
A trip to Camiguin is never complete without a dive to the nearby Mantigue Island. It features a long wall dive filled with colors and life. Also a sea turtle sanctuary, expect plenty of them to accompany you during the dive. One can really go partying with sea turtles. I saw eight of them in one dive.
Old Volcano
The Old Volcano is located on the Catamaran side of Camiguin Island. The amazing rock formation underwater are dramatic extensions of the cliff on this side of the island. Here, amazing soft corals with a mixture of solid rock formations is a sight to behold.
Burias Shoal
A favorite among divers is the Burias Shoal. It is not for the faint of heart because surely, the breathtaking lush marine life will make your heart skip a beat. These lush, colorful scenes are typical with an abundance of marine life encounters like a school of jack fish that swirls around you.
Cabuan
On Cabuan dive site, you get to enjoy plenty of huge green tubastrea scattered along the slope. When the current picks up, the tubastreas come alive with small schooling fish taking shelter in them.
Cantaan
The Cantaan dive site is one of Camiguin’s best kept secrets. This seldom visited site is known for being a giant clam sanctuary, but just a few fin kicks away, you will find amazing branching coral cover peppered with countless small schooling fish.
Matangale House Reef
The Banaug, or black coral is an atoll 300-sq-m wide, and seen 15 meters deep studded with hard and soft corals. Schools of various fish, and a resident snowflake eel which rests behind hard corals will not be shy to welcome diving visitors.
The success of the second edition of the Camiguin Dive Festival is an important step in promoting responsible dive tourism in Misamis Oriental and Camiguin. The psychedelic, aquarium-like underwaters in this part of Northern Mindanao is truly what divers’ dreams are made of.
Image credits: Ram Yoro