Gigi's DiveLog

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Another Raja Ampat liveaboard catches fire!

The Ocean Pure liveaboard diveboat, carrying 28 people, caught fire on Dec. 31, 2024, in Raja Ampat waters near the Yefmas Islands, West Waigeo District. All 10 dive tourists and 18 crew members were safely evacuated. The fire, believed to have started in the laundry room due to a short circuit, prompted a swift response from a joint rescue team. No injuries were reported.

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Missing Divers in Palau rescued!

Eight Chinese divers were rescued a day after going missing at Peleliu Corner, Palau, on Dec. 26, 2024. Strong currents carried them nearly 30 miles north to the Mutiaur reef system. The rescue operation, involving local rangers, private boats, and the Division of Marine Law Enforcement, used U.S. Coast Guard drift modeling to adjust the search northward. Private operator Jerome Sakurai spotted the divers Friday afternoon, and they were brought ashore in good health. Peleliu Corner, known for its currents, has a history of dive incidents. Officials credited enhanced training and coordination for the successful rescue.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

A Visit to Taal Heritage Town

I had no dives scheduled today so decided to go into town to get supplies for the weekend.

After running my errands and grabbing lunch, I thought of driving through Taal town before heading back to the resort.

Taal is a National Historic Landmark, famous for its old ancestral houses. Founded in 1572, it still has the air of an old colonial town, with its small streets and beautiful Spanish era houses. The most prominent landmark is the Basilica of St. Martin of Tours.

Taal also has a place in Philippine history - as it was the hometown of many historical figures who were instrumental in the success of our revolution against Spain.

I drove around the town and got myself "lost" in its narrow streets. I wanted to go down and walk around but it was just too hot. I will save that for another visit.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Bauan-Mabini Road,,

Friday, March 27, 2015

Someone tried to build an island on top of a dive site!!!

While having lunch w some diver friends last March 10, we were told that a certain lawyer was trying to reclaim some land in the vicinity of the Ligpo Island, which is a popular diving area. He was going to do this by pouring gravel, broken coral and rocks onto the shallow portions of the reef to extend the small parcel of land that he owned. He was also planning to turn the tiny piece of rock that juts out above the coral reefs surrounding the Ligpo Cavern into a bigger island and maybe put a structure on it to extend his property.

To say we were very upset about this news is an understatement. Several people from the Batangas Dive Pros had found out about it at around the same time and they were all trying to do something to stop it. My dive buddy wanted to help too so she immediately called her friend who works at the DOT and he in turn called a friend at the DENR.

The very next day, DENR people showed up at the dumping site to stop the construction/destruction.

A big THANK YOU to DOT and DENR for the quick work!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:San Luis,Philippines

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Day 1 of my Holy Week workweek

It's good to be back at the office. I didn't even get to go into the ocean today though. I was busy teaching a dive class in the pool all day!! Tomorrow we dive.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:San Luis,Philippines

Monday, March 23, 2015

A New App

Found a cool new app on the App Store that allows me to post to my blog from my phone. I will be able to update my blog on the go! And it's so much easier than using my desktop! So this is my first update. Let's see how I can make full use of this.