It was my first time to visit Anilao in Batangas, one of the country’s famous diving sites. Since mom’s friend, Ate Mary, was going to attend her scuba-diving class, she invited me to come with her in this all-expense paid 2-day getaway. At the same time, it was a treat to celebrate my new-found job and get relaxed. I was also allowed to tag along a friend to accompany me while she’s out taking her lessons somewhere in the deep. So I plucked Nitay out of her usual Saturday Bible study schedule.

A good morning view of Anilao.

We left Manila as early as 6AM. With Ate Mary on the steering wheel and Scubaworld.com’s dive master Roger keeping her awake, we arrived in Outrigger Resort in less than three hours considering the entire length of SLEX being constructed. If you haven’t been through hell, I suggest you take SLEX on a Friday.

The air was crisp and everything else around the resort was calm and peaceful. Outrigger Resort was perched below the rocky hills of Mabini, Batangas. It was a typical diver’s zone – scuba gear rental booths, boatmen waiting, and divers checking their equipment, wind and water conditions. I was told that a complete diver’s equipment would cost around P50,000. Expenses paid for diving courses and trips to diving sites are excluded. Divers even have to undergo certification. This is quite an expensive and serious hobby.
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