With the chilly winds brought about by this lingering cold front, it may not seem to be the perfect time to think about scuba diving. But hey, the summer months are fast approaching, and come the warm sultry months of March to May, wouldn’t it be great to pack the family off to some exotic resort for weekends of scuba diving?
I discovered the joys of this sport several years back in Vistamar Beach Resort in Anilao, Batangas. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no certified diver. In fact, I may not even count as a diver at all, except that I have had the pleasure of a few dives in the past, and my forays into the deep sea were all breathtaking and memorable, no matter that they were shallow by a certified diver’s standards.
Back then, with just a couple of hours of basic instructions and snorkeling, we braved the deep waters for our first dive and discovered the underwater wonders of Sepoc and Sombrero islands including those found right in front of the resort. All first-timers go through this “novice phase”, although certified or seasoned divers still can’t help checking them out every now and then. For us first timers, though, we were in complete awe of these deep-sea wonders just in front of the Vistamar Beach Resort and we couldn’t stop talking about it months after the first foray.
The good news is, Charlie Leobrera, owner and proprietor of Vistamar, together with members of his family, has finally decided to put up an honest-to-goodness dive center in Makati to cater to all those who can’t wait to take on the country’s world-renown dive sites.
Charlie, a certified scuba diver himself, swears by the wonders of the sport. Not only is it therapeutic (his nephews were asthmatic as kids, so he immersed them into the sport early on and all of them got over their asthma!), it is also the most soothing, exhilarating sport imaginable. According to Charlie, the deeper one goes, the more concentrated the oxygen, which helps nourish the body’s cells. His son, Albert, himself a professional diver, says diving is actually addictive because of the over-all wellness that you experience after every dive. Sinuses tend to clear too because of the salt water though you will not be allowed to dive if your sinus is swollen.
The Vistamar Dive Center, located at 7805 Mayapis cor. St. Paul st, San Antonio Village, Makati, opened in November last year. With the family’s advocacy of educating more Filipinos on the joys and benefits of scuba diving, they decided to go full scale into this diving center because not too many of our countrymen bother to learn about the sport which is a pity. The Philippines is the center of marine bio-diversity because where we are, the currents from the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean meet. Charlie says the outstanding diving sites in the country are in Anilao, Panglao and Balicasag in Bohol, Dumaguete, Siquijor and Northern Cebu. Of course, the most fascinating and challenging is the Tubbataha Reef in the middle of Sulu Sea, 98 nautical miles east of Puerto Princesa. In these diving sites, one can cavort with schools of exotic fishes, ride a manta and watch sleeping sharks on the ocean floor.
Anilao itself is home to 36 dive sites, all accessible from Vistamar Beach Resort & Hotel, which is why this resort is favored by many divers. Well, for the uninitiated, this is the very resort you get to try when you graduate from the dive center’s training.
Anyone at least 12 years old, knows how to swim, and is in good physical condition (they require a medical certificate as recent as two weeks) can enroll at the center. In fact, they are currently offering an introductory promo that is hard to resist on their Discover Scuba Lessons-free lessons where you can already learn the basics of scuba diving. All you have to pay is the rental of the scuba gear which is P1,500 per day. This already covers the tank, equipment, use of the pool, and you’re on your way to discovering the joys of scuba diving. You learn the proper breathing, the basic ins and outs of the sport, in just two to three hours of orientation. Incidentally, the pool they built is dedicated to scuba diving, the first of its kind. Albert says “it’s for people who still have second thoughts about scuba diving because the cost is really minimal and, should they want to pursue scuba diving seriously as a sport, the orientation will be credited by our instructors.” And not to worry, even if the lessons are for free, because the in-house instructors, practicing strict professionalism, take no short cuts. As Albert says, “In the diving industry, we are very particular about maintaining a certain level of quality because you cannot have fun if you are not safe. There is only one kind of diver, and that is a safe diver.”
The second course is the Standard Open Water Course, which takes three to five days, depending on the student’s performance. This is actually the first level of education for getting into the sport. Albert says “once you get an Open Water Certification, then you will be issued a Sea Card. That entitles you to dive anywhere in the world within 60 ft.” After that, if you gain the number of dives required, you can progress to the next level which is advanced, and even take up specialty courses. Each certification agency has its own set of curriculum, but generally, it is: 1- Open Water; 2- Advanced Open Water; 3- Medic First Aid and Rescue. Specialty courses include night diving, drift diving, boat dives and mixed air diving. If you still want to pursue the sport further, they also offer Dive Master Courses.
Groups of three can avail of a special package - for P12,500, the group can have their lessons/actual training, all the materials and equipment needed, accommodation and overnight stay at the resort and meals. For the value offered, this is by far the most reasonable package yet. For security, Vistamar requires that students use only their equipment to ensure the best quality. In some cases, external equipment is allowed like when the diver requires graded lenses and graded masks.
Diving, contrary to what many perceive, is actually one of the safest sports around. Albert says that, in terms of accidents, bowling would easily outrank scuba diving. Serious accidents can happen, according to Albert, “if you go against the rules, neglect your training. But if you stay within the realm of the rules, apply your training, you can have tons of fun.”
Graduation rites are held right at the Vistamar Beach Resort & Hotel when you take your actual dive. The resort also boasts of its own house reef featuring an old dive site of Anilao in front of the resort called Steps. This is a series of small ledges and platforms. They also have their own wreck, and their own underwater classroom which actually features an artificial (made of concrete) mermaid! How cool is that? And while other resorts do not have the luxury of space, Vistamar has the biggest and widest parking space in the whole of Anilao. You don’t have to lug your equipment up a hundred steps to reach the reception area. All you have to do is park your vehicle.
Summer is just around the corner, flashing a sunny smile. Though I would hate for the cold spell to end so soon, I look forward to the magic of summer, the beach and yes, maybe a refresher course on scuba diving. Call Vistamar Dive Center at 899-2833 (Lydia) or 821-8332 (Mila).
Mabuhay!!! Be proud to be Filipino.
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