Siargao named one of the world's greatest surf spots

Both a death ride and a slice of paradise, Siargao's Cloud Nine break is making waves in the global surfing community.

A top destination for thrill-seeking surfers, Cloud Nine was ranked ninth among the world's 50 greatest surf spots, as compiled by CNN. Number one on CNN's list was Pipeline in Oahu, Hawaii.

Apart from Siargao, other surf spots in the top 10 were Lance's Right, Sipora, Mentawais Islands, Sumatera Barat, Indonesia; Puerto Escondido, Southern Oaxaca, Mexico; Hossegor, France; Maverick's, California; P-Pass, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia; Uluwatu and Kuta, Bali, Indonesia; Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia; Supertubes, Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa.

Siargao's 2013 ranking is one spot lower than last year, when Cloud Nine was eighth on CNN's list.

Located in Surigao del Norte in the Philippines, the famous surf spot is not for the faint-hearted. "This dramatic and powerful reef break, which crashes onto shallow razor-sharp coral, offers right and left death rides," Jade Bremner wrote on CNN.

Despite the danger, surfers can't help but be drawn to Siargao, where Bremner says "fearless surfers will experience a slice of paradise or hallucinations as waves wrap over them like a liquid cocoon."

Still, surfers must beware before going for a taste of ocean heaven. "Skin and sometimes bone are often ripped to shreds by the ocean bed," warned Bremner.

In Siargao, kids begin surfing as young as five or six. Visitors who come to the island fall in love with the place. Some never leave, like Australian surfer Kyrone Rathbone, who features Siargao surfers in his videos.

"We call it a paradise talaga. Most people who go there don't want to go back anymore where they came from," Janice Talosig of the Tatus Siargao Surfers Association said on Kape at Balita on July 3.



Michael Eijansantos, a surfer and travel blogger, said that three days is not enough time to experience Siargao, which offers other recreational activities, such as diving and island hopping. "Kailangan tagalan mo pa, siguro mga ten days, two weeks," said Eijansantos, who went to Siargao last year, and will be returning in September.

But it's the waves that are irresistible to visitors. "World-class waves po talaga ang Siargao. The waves are barrelling... locals would always say that when you're inside, it's like heaven," Talosig said.

Mags Martin of the Manila Surfers Association welcomed the recognition from CNN, saying it helps the group get more members. "It becomes a north star for them to achieve, in terms of elevating your surfing ability to the next level," Martin said on Kape at Balita.

Although the waves are much bigger in other famous surf spots, such as Hawaii, Talosig said that Siargao's waves are smooth. "When you surf, it's fast but at the same time, it's smooth. So hindi siya magulo," she said.

No matter what time of the year, surfers can catch waves in the Philippines. "There are swells that come in at different parts of the year. Mayroong tayong tinatawag na north swell, and then the south swell. The Philippines is very blessed because year-round kahit saan ka pumunta meron kang makikitang alon," she said.

Siargao was also named one of the destinations to watch in 2013 by international travel magazine Conde Nast.



According to Talosig, more and more tourists and surfers are making their way to Siargao, and the locals are doing their part to help preserve the island's beauty. "Ang kagandahan, the locals are very strict when it comes to their island. Especially yung mga beach cleaning, pagdating sa pagtatapon ng basura, they're very clean with that," Talosig said.

For those planning to visit Siargao, the best time is from September to November. "Kapag hanging habagat, yun ang best time to go to Siargao. 'Yun ang big waves," Talosig said. The annual Siargao Cup competition will also be held in September. — Carmela G. Lapeña/BM, GMA News