Foreword by Ms. Ethel Wagas: This article is an output from FCD’s project entitled “Rapid Resource Assessment of Four Philippine Underwater Cave Systems”, funded by The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) under the PAME Project, in partnership with the Department of Biology of the University of San Carlos and the local government unit of … Continue reading Biophysical Survey of the Enchanted River: A Scientific Report
Exploration of Katipunan Spring in Siargao
Background At the onset of summer 2013, website designer and videographer JM Libarnes, accompanied by Siargao’s tourism officer Donna Tiu, visited a little known spring in Siargao. Libarnes published a video of the spring on YouTube , and from then on, curious visitors started to make a detour on their way to Siargao and take … Continue reading Exploration of Katipunan Spring in Siargao
PREHISTORIC DAO-DAO FROM PAWOD
Millions of years old dao-dao from Doc's Chamber of Pawod Underwater Cave. I wonder if those homo erectus Oponganons then were smart enough to knock the tip of the shell off and suck the meat out? The specimen was discovered by Bernil; Photography by Doc Amores.
PAWOD – A TREASURE TROVE FOR SCIENTISTS
Q & AHow old are these specimens?What geologic events and forces brought about the possible widespread scorching?If these coral skeletons are indeed scorched, what intense flash burn occurred? Super volcano (nearest one is in Carmen, Cebu)? Meteor/asteroid?If these are scorched, then the specimen were surface located..and eons older than Pawod cave.Pawod cave is a mute … Continue reading PAWOD – A TREASURE TROVE FOR SCIENTISTS
PAWOD COMPREHENSIVE PHOTO DOCUMENTATION PROJECT: PHASE I – NORTHWEST QUADRANT OF DOC’S CHAMBER
The staged comprehensive documentation project of Pawod Underwater Cave System (PUWCS) is underway. Phase I was done on May 31, 2013. Cave divers: FCD's Bernil and Doc Amores. Photographer: Doc Amores. Photography was done using Nikon DSLR in housing, Tokina 10-17mm fisheye lens, Nikonos SB 105 strobe. Phase I covers the northwest quadrant of Doc's … Continue reading PAWOD COMPREHENSIVE PHOTO DOCUMENTATION PROJECT: PHASE I – NORTHWEST QUADRANT OF DOC’S CHAMBER
Cave diving is featured in M magazine
Our article on Lake Bababu is featured in the latest issue of M magazine, Life & Living in Mindanao. It gets front-billing on the cover. This may be the first time that a national magazine has featured cave diving. We appreciate the big boost Mr. Editor. Thank you! Get your copies now!
THE PAWOD UNDERWATER CAVE SYSTEM
INTRODUCTION The Pawod Underwater Cave System (PUWCS) is one of Lapu-Lapu City's most precious natural resources. It is a dissolution cave formed over thousands, maybe millions of years. It is located in Barangay [bar-ang-gai] Agus [Ah-gus] along Mactan Island's circumferential highway. "Agus" is the local term for spring. The barangay is named after the springs … Continue reading THE PAWOD UNDERWATER CAVE SYSTEM
Hinatuan Enchanted River Expedition 2013
Hinatuan Enchanted River Expedition 2013 By Jake Miranda, TDI Dive Team 1. Jake Miranda, TDI Full Cave Diver #495188 2. Ivar Almhjell, TDI Full Cave Diver #488306 3. Michael Allen, PADI Divemaster 4. Johm Rey Pingkian, SDI Divemaster The Cave Hinatuan Enchanted River begins as an underwater spring that spouts freshwater from a deep … Continue reading Hinatuan Enchanted River Expedition 2013
Siargao’s Blue Cathedral
Being unfamiliar with scuba diving does not really prevent you from admiring all that Caraga has to offer under the water if one looks at all its endless coastlines, countless islands, islets and shoals. Surfing in Siargao became such a phenomenon that there is one more product that perhaps we did not seriously take a … Continue reading Siargao’s Blue Cathedral
Punta Bilar Dive Center, Surigao City
A base for cave diving exploration in Southern Philippines is Punta Bilar Dive Center, Surigao City. PBDC has technical and cave dive equipment and several well-built survey and exploration boats. It has supported the expeditions in Hinatuan Enchanted River, Lake Bababu and other notable underwater discoveries.
The 6th Casili Spring Exploration 2012
6 down, a few more trips to go–from the looks of it..
“Holy Mother!!” — I cringed, turned my head away and shut my eyes as a snake-like form lunged from the dark mouth of the Casili Spring and slithered towards me.
“If this thing decides to bite me, I’m just darn out of luck!”, I thought as the serpentine creature came within kissing distance.
Thankfully, it was not hungry or in a biting mood since Doc and I finned away unscathed from our first encounter of the fabled freshwater eel that the spring is named for. “Casili” after all is the local word for eels that thrive in rivers and springs.
The approximately 1 meter/ 3ft eel of robust girth (size probably gained from feeding on tadpoles and toads) was seen again observing us from the muddy ledge of the Gold Mine Chamber. It must have been attracted to the lights because it approached within touching distance. Its curiosity sated, it left and…
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Lake Tiktikan
By Jake Miranda|April 22, 2013, (Doro the Explorer) One of the more popular tourist spots in Mindanao this summer is Sohoton Cove. This hidden lagoon of limestone rocks is the well-advertised attraction of Bucas Grande island in the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. Its popularity is second only to nearby Siargao island. However, there … Continue reading Lake Tiktikan
Filipino Cave Divers 