Philippine dive sites make a splash in Beijing exhibit

By Jasmine W. Payo
Inquirer

BEIJING–at the heart of the exhibit hall of the 2007 China Dive exhibition is a luminous underwater photo mural that never fails to captivate visitors.

The mural is an image-based invitation to take a plunge in the Philippine seas. And judging by the queue at the booth that leads to the exhibition, indications are that the mural is doing its job as far as drawing the curiosity of foreign divers.

“Diving is a recreational sport; you need physical fitness to support your safety,” said Filipino-Chinese dive master Ding Bang Ho.

“Why are we promoting diving in the Philippines? So that people will realize that we have such beauty in the country and it will be protected.”

The mix of sports and tourism may potentially turn into one of the country’s drawing powers — or better yet, one of its economic top-grossers.

“Divers visiting the Philippines return by an average of 10 trips each; this is due to the rich and varied underwater scenery,” Jazmin Esguerra, tourism attaché of the Philippine embassy in China, said during the exhibition, an international trade exhibit, conference and networking event held here.

And there’s a good reason the Philippines want to build on the enthusiasm of mainland China’s diving community.

“China has a billion in population, but their total number of divers is just 30,000; they’re just starting,” noted Simon So, a full-time dive guide and scuba instructor accredited by the international Professional Association of Diving Instructors.

“We need to generate more divers and create the interest that the Philippines is an ideal dive site for them.”

The Philippines has more than 60 dive sites including the Tubbataha Reef and Busuanga in Palawan, Anilao in Batangas, Puerto Galera in Mindoro and Malapascua in Cebu.

There are also 25 shipwreck sites in the country that more adventurous divers can explore.

“The Philippines can be the best dive destination for those interested to start learning the sport,” noted Esguerra.

And expert divers guarantee that anyone can easily make a splash in the diving scene.

“It’s easier to learn diving than to learn how to skateboard,” said Ho.

But attaining the required level of physical and mental competence is also important.

“You also have to take a course,” said Ho. “A lot of people say that learning how to dive is like learning to drive a car. If you know how to snorkel, you can take an introductory diving course and go down to 15 feet. But in diving, there’s also the physics on the expansion of liquid and air. There are lessons.”

Divers assured, though, the course is not as intimidating as it sounds.

“It’s not that technical,” said So. “Since we’re not born to be under the water, there are things we just have to learn.”

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