Dive and Trek Batangas

Dive and Trek Resort and Marine Sanctuary

Dive and Trek Location : San Pablo Bauan Batangas. Travel distance from Manila to Bauan is 115kms and travel time is 1.5 to 2 hours.

How to get there: One may easily commute or bring your own transportation. Commuting is pretty much straightforward. Ride a Batangas City bound bus from Manila (JAM, Ceres, Tritran etc). Make sure you board a bus with a sign board - BATANGAS CITY only. When you get down at the Grand Terminal look for a jeep bound to BAUAN. When you get to Bauan ride a tricycle going to Anilao pier.

If you brought your own car there are 2 route options you may take. One is the Tagaytay-Lemery route and the other is STAR tollway-Batangas city route. Shorter is the Tagaytay-Lemery route passing by the scenic taal volcano and cheaper toll fees than doing the STAR tollway route.

For detailed map directions to dive and trek click here.
There are 2 parking lots for Dive and Trek. 1. Lemery/Balite 2. Anilao Pier (pls see the map to fully understand me). You will have to leave your car in the parking lot and a 10 min boat ride will transfer you to the resort . Parking is secured don't worry.

The resort offers daytrip tours as well as accomodation for overnighters. For daytrippers , you may bring your own food or get a meal package. Staying overnight leaves you no choice but to get the Full Board Package because they do not allow cooking within the resort premises.

Things to do:
* Dive and Trek is a very popular destination for scuba divers because of its house reef and nearby dive sites such as Ligpo Island , Cathedral , Caban Cove , Layag Layag Reef , Sombrero Island, Sepok Point , Mapating Rock (Shark Cave) , Merriel's Rock , Papaya Point, Verde Island, Maricaban/Tingloy,  Balahibong Manok Island.
* Snorkeling for swimmers and non swimmers alike. Just a few feet away from the shore throngs of fish are waiting to be fed!
* Learn to Dive! This is the perfect venue for aspiring divers.
* Introductory diving lessons are being offered in the resort. It takes just half a day to learn the basics and in a few hours the dive master will bring you to the "Classroom" while holding on to your back. You will soon find out that 30minutes is not enough to enjoy the underwater .
* Kayak is best to be enjoyed during sunrise or sunset.
* Island Hopping to nearby islands .

Dive and Trek's salt water pool. Introductory classes are being held here.

Friends who introduced me to diving

Our Dive Instructor

the "CLASSROOM"

The depth of the so called "classroom" is about 25-30 feet and this is where they bring students to experience first hand being underwater. It's sandy bottom is perfect for fish feeding and of course picture taking. Be sure to bring bread as a treat to the fishes.

Resort facade during sunset

+ points:
* Resort is very clean and always kept tidy by the staff.
* Unlimited complimentary tea/coffee/chocolate and drinking water all throughout the day.
* Staff is very friendly and always there to attend to your needs.
* They have lounge chairs. This is important specially to daytrippers who wants to catch some zzzzss.
* Buffet spread is good and ample for the price of the package. My favorite is their merienda treat of turon (banana wrapped in spring roll wrapper and fried).
* Clean restrooms
* House reef is the best. One may not need to go far to see all the fishes.
* Complete scuba equipment rental.

- points:
* No parking at the resort itself. Boat transfers is a little bit of a hassle.
* No convenience store so you have to bring all necessities for the trip.

As of this writing i am now a certified diver (i know, this post is loooong due already). I've come back to Dive and Trek many times already after my introduction to diving and am now enjoying the dive sites Balayan Bay has to offer.

Contact Numbers:
Alex Llorin Marketing & Resort Manager +639109364556 / +639228549173
Resort : +639209064123 / +639228545573
Dorie Martinez (Manila Booking Office) +63-2-851-8746
Resort Address: San Pablo, Bauan Batangas, Philippines 
Website: www.diveandtrek.com

Malcapuya Island in Coron

Undoubtedly one of the best beaches in the Calamian Islands

 It's tough to only have 4days to spend in Coron . So many islands with so little time. On our third day we had to choose the Malcapuya Tour over the Calauit tour because of the latter's proximity to Coron Town. Boat ride to Malcapuya is approximately 2 hours in which you will be traversing deep blue waters before you come to reach its sandy white beach.

There are no hotels or resorts in the island though you may stay overnight with the most basic necessities. We just went for a day tour but i found one blog  who can answer all your questions regarding overnight accomodation.

Path leading to the white beach is lined with cashew trees

Disappointment was written all over our face when our boatman docked  not knowing we were in for a surprise. First we had to walk thru a dusty path lined with cashew trees and in a minute or so voila there's the beach as white as boracay's sand. The place so quiet and secluded. Not too many crowds. And on the farther end of the beach you will see huge red rock formations. I say it's perfect! Backdrop perfect for my brother's pose.

PERFECT POSE!!!

Malcapuya's huge red rock formations

Our cute little Lyt found his perfect spot.

 We almost forgot to swim because we were having so much fun taking pictures.

Lunch buffet style brought and cooked by our able guides

The Surahan Fish seemed to smile even after grilling :)

The Surahan Fish is bigger than my head !

Our lunch consisted of fresh seafoods (shrimp and surahan fish), rice, veggies, grilled pork and bananas. All included in the tour cost of P 1,200 per person that we paid.

Oh and how i love the Surahan Fish (unicorn fish). It's meat is so tasty and tender especially the fats in its belly.Too bad we cannot buy this from anywhere in manila . I've only seen this fish in El Nido and Coron public market and so cheap at that.

Soon after we consumed the food our guide told us to put on our lifevests and snorkeling gears so he can bring us in the middle of the sea where the big clams are.

 My thoughts are: i am so blessed to be living in this beautiful country. Others may have to fly a thousand miles to reach this but for us Filipinos it's just within our reach. Until now, Malcapuya stays on my mind . . .

Kayangan Lake - Coron

Picturesque Coron Island Cove

From all the places included in the Coron Island Hopping Tour my personal favorite would be Kayangan Lake. The lake, with its limestone cliff formations and clear water is often referred to by local and foreign tourists as Blue Lagoon. It is also dubbed as the cleanest lake in Asia. Swimming in it's brackish water (freshwater with a bit of salty water) is the most refreshing thing to do. In fact, tourists seemed to not get enough of it. These local tourists boys wouldn't want to vacate the edge of the lake where they sit and wade thru the waters. We were waiting for them to leave :) so we can take their cozy little nook. :) The weather was perfect, with a little bit of rain and the water temperature just right too. With the limestone cliffs on the background it's really picture perfect.

Tourists enjoying Kayangan Lake's clear waters

Entrance to the lake after a 10 to 20 min trek

Kayangan Lake is part of the Coron Isand Hopping Tour.
Other places we visited during the said tour are:
1. Siete Pecados - is named after seven islets near the entrance of Coron Bay called Siete Pecados
2. Banol Beach
3. CYC Beach - this is where tour operators spread their lunch for the guests.
4. Twin Peak Reef
5. Balinsasayaw Floating House

Tour Cost : P 850/person (if you go with a group) It includes boat transfer, use of life vest , all entrance fees, drinks and snacks, tour guide services , buffet lunch .

Tour cost is pretty much the same price with tour operators in Coron but you may probably snag a discount if you're a big group. I recommend Nice in Paradise tour for they really took good care of us during our trip. Special kudos to them.