GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
How to achieve the ‘ultimate Bohol experience’?
Have you been to Bohol? If not yet, here are some recommendations on how to achieve “UBE” or the “ultimate Bohol experience.”
Famous for its Chocolate Hills and tarsiers or the world’s smallest primates, Bohol is truly one of the must-visit provinces in the Philippines.
But aside from its destinations and attractions, the province has many to offer, especially now after two years of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Scuba diving in Panglao, Bohol
Your Bohol adventure is not complete without going to Panglao’s famous diving spots. For beginners, even those who are not good at swimming, scuba diving is perfect for your next adventure.
Before the actual diving, a series of lectures conducted by professional divers is a prerequisite for beginners. You’ll learn the basics such as what to expect underwater, how water pressure affects you, and important skills such as equalizing underwater and hand signals.
After the lecture, it’s time to apply the basics.
Wearing a wetsuit and other scuba diving equipment, your personal dive master will demonstrate how to properly execute the basic skills you need to do underwater—in a mini pool first.
Non-divers should properly learn how to equalize or rebalance the pressure in their ears due to pressure changes; familiarize themselves with underwater hand signals and scuba equipment, and remove water from their masks.
And when everybody’s ready, it’s time to conquer Bohol’s famous diving spots, such as House Reef and Sirena site at South Palms in Panglao.
It could be very uncomfortable and weird at first. Aside from your body adjusting to the mode of breathing, it’s the change in pressure that can be very irritating and painful in the ears especially if you forgot to equalize.
Travel agency owner and first-time diver Jho Orlino said diving was for everybody even if they’re not good at swimming.
“This is my first time na mag-scuba dive and it’s a very nice experience para sa mga non-diver as well. Sa mga beginner maganda rin talaga, it’s for everybody kahit ’di ka magaling lumangoy,” said Jho.
[This is my first time to go scuba diving and it’s a very nice experience for non-divers as well. Scuba diving is good for beginners too, it’s for everybody even if you’re not good at swimming.]
According to our dive masters, the deeper you go underwater, the more pressure water exerts. And increasing pressure compresses unequalized body air spaces. That’s why divers need to equalize ears and sinuses as they go deeper.
In my experience, the key to having a smooth scuba dive on the first try is to keep calm, not hold your breath, equalize properly, and trust your dive master.
Once your body has adjusted and can swim more comfortably, that is when the magic starts. It will start to make sense why people who have experienced diving have the same sentiment: “It’s a different world down there.”
From colorful coral reefs to different species of fish, marine life in these diving spots is thriving. If you’re looking for the famous clownfish, you’re lucky because different species of this fish can be spotted in these diving spots.
And if you’re lucky, you can have a close encounter with large sea turtles!
For professional divers, Balicasag Island is the perfect diving spot. It’s one of the top diving spots in the country because of its rich marine life.
Famous for its sea turtles, Balicasag is also host to sharks, schools of jacks and barracudas, and other marine creatures.
Jack Baller, a professional scuba diver from Florida, shared how he experienced the best diving activity in Bohol.
“It’s a solitude down there and it’s a different place, it’s like being in a different land. I experienced the best diving in my life yesterday at Balicasag Island and I saw white tip sharks, a school of barracudas, turtles, frogfish, and the nicest and healthiest corals I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said.
Sotera’s ATV Ride
Missing the famous Chocolate Hills? If you’re planning to revisit the beautiful geological formation, you can try seeing it from a different perspective via an all-terrain vehicle at Sotera’s ATV in Carmen, Bohol.
Situated a few minutes away from the Chocolate Hills complex, Sotera’s ATV offers a unique experience by letting tourists cruise on an extraordinary landscape.
For those who are not keen on driving, you can ask assistance from the establishment. An ATV driver will be assigned to drive for you instead.
Sikatuna’s Mirror of the World
After scuba diving and visiting the famous Chocolate Hills, it’s time to visit Sikatuna’s Mirror of the World, the newest tourist destination in Bohol.
_2022_06_15_19_38_15.png)
The attraction highlights the well-built replicas of famous landmarks around the world, such as the Statue of Liberty in New York, Eiffel Tower in France, Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Merlion in Singapore, and many more.
It’s like touring around the world in less than an hour. To maximize your experience, it’s best to visit the attraction at night to see its colorful lighting to the fullest.
Sikatuna’s Mirror of the World is located in Libjo, Sikatuna, Bohol, and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. – RC, GMA News
PART 1: Bohol tourism: How is traveling now with the easing of health protocols?
