Couple marks 200th dive in Shangri-La's Marine Sanctuary

CEBU, Philippines - After their retirement, Dr. Akiho Wada and his wife Hiroko got all the time in the world to enjoy each other’s company “deeply.”

Now 80 years old and 75, respectively, the two continue to be unstoppable, traveling around the world to pursue this type of recreation they both have fallen in love with in time – open-water diving.

To the Japanese couple, the underwater world broadens their understanding of life and creation and their impression on various people and cultures. This has also raised the fact that age alone failed to stop them from pursuing the extreme despite its inherent danger. And with the eagerness to learn something new everyday, this becomes a potent force that draws them to the “depths of Europe, the Caribbean, and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region.” 

With the help of interpreter Mika Livingston (also a Japanese diver who got married to an Englishman), the Wadas from Yokohama shared that because they grew up on a mountainous area of Hokkaido they failed to develop the skill to become good swimmers. However, they didn’t treat such as a handicap.

“You can never go wrong with the best dive instructor. So if you pursue this extreme hobby, get the best teacher,” says Akiho, a doctor in engineering (in the field of sound dynamics specifically). 

Meeting the Wadas stemmed from a planned surprise the Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa staff and the Scotty’s Seasports crew prepared to mark the two’s 200th dive at the Shangri-La Marine Sanctuary with a congratulatory streamer unfolded at about 50 feet below water surface.

The gesture also served as a thank-you note to the couple for being regular guests of Shangri-La Mactan. “They have been back 11 times at the Shangri-La since 2005,” this was learned from assistant communications manager Rica Renee Rellon.

As for the marine sanctuary, this is being protected by the hotel since 2005 with the help of Oceancare advocates. In fact, it was further learned from Rellon that some of the “residents” in the said sanctuary are those giant sea clams about to be smuggled out of the country. Through a successful operation, such were intercepted at an airport in the capital and were turned over here in a bid to facilitate rescue and rehabilitation.