Palawan and the Bacuit Archipelago — one of the most rewarding ourdoor-sports destinations not just in the Philippines but in all of Southeast Asia.
We are traveling as novice scuba divers, emboldened by earning our advanced certificate at our previous stop, Malpascua Exotic Dive Resort on the north end of Cebu Island. Traveling with diving as your focus enables you to actively interact with other travelers with the similar interests, albeit most are East and Western Europeans who speak excellent English.
After one week at Malapascua, we flew to Manila for one night, and then hoped a 19 seater local SeaAir shuttle to Busuanga Island, at the northern tip of the Palawan group of islands; this is a one hour flight.
The Philippines is composed of over 7,104 islands, the Palawan area is one of the real treasurers of the Philippines. The composition of islands stretches from the Mindoro Strait down to the tip of Borneo; it is a stunning, coral-fringed range of jungle-covered mountain island jutting up dramatically from the Sulu Sea.
We chose the Sangat Island Reserve for its proximity to the 11 or more Japanese wrecks sunk by American planes at the end of WWII. We were pleasantly surprised to find the accommodations as you would picture in most of those exotic island magazines for thousands of dollars per day, only these thatched huts delivered more personality for far less money.
The owner, Andy Pownal is one of those classic ex-pats who caught on about 20 years ago that owning your own island with limited beachside cottage accommodations, a dive facility and friendly restaurant bar were an excellent way to make a living. It is his island, the resort runs exceptionally well, very eco in nature (electricity is from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., supplemented by solar panels) and there is plenty to do plus excellent local cuisine.
The Japanese wrecks are still very much in place and accessible in 40-120 feet of water, the eerie part is there are now rows of cultural pearl farms on the surface that Japanese corporations own. As history has it, at 6 a.m. on September 21, 1944, 180 Gruman H6F Hellcat and SB2C Helldiver planes took off from aircraft carriers of Task Force 38. At the time it was the longest range air attack ever launched from aircraft carriers, some 200 miles from the targets, requiring more than six hours to total flying time.
At 9 a.m. the planes reached Busuanga Island and surprised the Japanese fleet. After a 40 minute attack they left behind a scene of devastation with 24 ships sinking or seriously damaged. Most of the ships sunk are in the vicinity of Sangat Island, there are 11 that remain closely accessible from the Resort.
We spent seven days at Sangat Island Resort, watched various travelers come in and out, enjoyed a group of Slovakians who when joined by a local group of British divers on a live aboard ship, made quite a feast of roast pig one evening. One day was spent island hoping on wave-runners, another kayaking the back side of the island.
There is always considerable beauty when diving coral reefs, viewing the sea-life and floating suspended underwater. Wreck diving provides that element of mystery and discovery that archaeologists must feel when they find buried evidence of prior life, only this is underwater.
As we terminate our travels to the Philippines with a short trip to El Nido in the Bacuit Archipelego for the next two days (no diving planned), we look back on the past three weeks knowing that we have become more experienced not only as scuba divers but have discovered an amazing part of the world that is so accessible to us if we take the time.
Multimedia: Check out the slideshow of Wendy Wood's photos below.
Comments
Only registered users can write comments. Please login or register.
The Philippines is composed of over 7,104 islands, the Palawan area is one of the real treasurers of the Philippines. The composition of islands stretches from the Mindoro Strait down to the tip of Borneo; it is a stunning, coral-fringed range of jungle-covered mountain island jutting up dramatically from the Sulu Sea. 
The Japanese wrecks are still very much in place and accessible in 40-120 feet of water, the eerie part is there are now rows of cultural pearl farms on the surface that Japanese corporations own. As history has it, at 6 a.m. on September 21, 1944, 180 Gruman H6F Hellcat and SB2C Helldiver planes took off from aircraft carriers of Task Force 38. At the time it was the longest range air attack ever launched from aircraft carriers, some 200 miles from the targets, requiring more than six hours to total flying time.
There is always considerable beauty when diving coral reefs, viewing the sea-life and floating suspended underwater. Wreck diving provides that element of mystery and discovery that archaeologists must feel when they find buried evidence of prior life, only this is underwater.