Author: filipinocavedivers

There she is... an earthquake long ago created Hinatuan Enchanted River Underwater Cave. A beauty born of Mother Nature's rage. Like Tinago River north of her (exiting at Portlamon), she lies on a fault line. In fact two lines terminate at her spring. That's the reason for the sharp and almost vertical cut on her … Continue reading A Beauty Born of Mother Nature’s Rage

During the 18th National Cave Committee (NCC) meeting chaired by Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) held last February 23, 2014, at the National Museum in Tagbilaran, Bohol, the Filipino Cave Divers (FCD) presented the completed penetrations of underwater caves inside Lake Bababu in Dinagat Islands, Hinatuan Enchanted River, Pamuntuanan and Campamento-Lanuza (all in Surigao del Sur), … Continue reading FCD attends the 18th National Cave Committee Meet

Thank God All Divers Live LONG! by FCD Jake Miranda Cave diving pioneers began using the TGDAL acronym as an easy but important reminder for new and experienced cave divers to prepare for cave dives. Sheck Exley in 1977 espoused the use of guidelines, rule of thirds for air consumption and depth limits. Wes Skiles … Continue reading Thank God All Divers Live LONG!

By FCD Doc AmoresThe media are full of stories of diver(s) surfacing from a dive only to find out that the dive boat is gone. Some cases have been presumed fatal; some tell of horror stories - being adrift anywhere from one to 19 hours.Back-mounted tanks are fixed flush against the body and can easily … Continue reading SURVIVAL AT SEA – STRANDED ON SIDEMOUNTS

Much have changed since the discovery of the Pawod Underwater Cave System in 2001 by FCD Doc Amores. These are testaments to the Pawod's status as the birthplace of the burgeoning culture of cave diving in the Philippines. The cave is now home to a few cave training programs; it has graduated more than a … Continue reading RELINING OF DOC’S CHAMBER OF PAWOD UNDERWATER CAVE

By Doc Amores One of the biggest earthquakes to hit the Visayas region shook up the entire area on October 15, 2013 at 8:12AM. It registered intensity 8 to 9 in Bohol where the epicenter was some 6 km from the town of Sagbayan, to intensity 7 to 8 in the Cebu area. Pawod! On … Continue reading PAWOD AND THE BIG EARTHQUAKE OF 2013

Rumors have it that aside from its notoriety as a world-class surfing destination, Siargao Island hosts many caves and springs. An FCD team composed of Lyndon Cubilan, Larry Williams and Doc Amores conducted an initial look-see on January 12, 2014. The attached video shows two out of three springs. Tuburan II is said to connect to … Continue reading SEARCH FOR NEW UNDERWATER CAVES – SIARGAO ISLAND

This article is a follow-up on the article "New Underwater Cave in Lianga, Surigao del Sur" written by FCD Jake Miranda. The article relates to the cave diving expedition (Pamutuanan Cave Diving Expedition I) conducted by the 2-man team of FCD Jake Miranda and guest Ivar Almjhell, a series of two dives, the last one … Continue reading THE CHIMNEY AND THE CORKSCREW AT PAMUTUANAN CAVE

Nature of Problem: Failure of BCD Halfway out of Mayor's Chamber of HERUC (Hinatuan's Enchanted River Underwater Cave), my BCD suffered a leak through the purge valve. Four FCD's use Hollis SMS 100 in the sidemount configuration. Out of convention, the power inflator and the purge valve were switched positions: Figure 1, right shows the … Continue reading INCIDENT REPORT #1 – Failure of BCD

As planned, FCD (Filipino Cave Divers) went to Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur for Expedition VI on November 10. The team was composed of Jake Miranda, Lyndon Cubilan, Larry Williams, Andy Berame, Clint Sia and Doc Amores. On tap for the trip were: Video documentation of HERUC (Hinatuan's Enchanted River Underwater Cave) with advanced camera and … Continue reading FCD HERUC EXPEDITION VI

Few underwater caves have been discovered in the Philippines. In the world of cave diving, a discovery remains a secret for the pride and pleasure of the pioneering cave diver who first ventured inside a new underwater cave. Only recently when local cave divers pooled resources and information together to form the group Filipino Cave … Continue reading New Underwater Cave in Lianga, Surigao del Sur