Atlantis Dive Resorts
Registered
Atlantis Azores Trip Log: Nov 23 – 30, 2013
The Bohol charter aboard the Azores this week was filled with a group of avid photographers led by group leader Carl B. Once everyone was settled, we started with two days diving in Cabilao where we came across 2 different species of pygmy seahorses (Denise and Bargibanti) – and that was on the first two dives! This tiny island is justly famous for its seahorses, not to mention the plethora of macro life to also be found here. Additionally, Cabilao has a crazy amount of anemone fish, and one can quite easily find 5 different species of these colorful fish on a single dive!
A stop at Panglao next provided us with an opportunity to explore topside. Here we visited the Chocolate Hills and had a peak into the world of the cute little tarsiers (small nocturnal primates). These cuddly looking critters are located on only a few islands in the Philippines, and this is one of their select homes.
Next up at Balicasag we came across the resident monster school of jacks. On one of the dives, we spent practically the entire dive with the massive school, making for some amazing wide-angle shots. Balicasag is one of the few places in the Philippines where you can regularly see such large schools of fish. Turtles are also very common on Balicasag and it is easy to spot 8 to 10 on one dive. They are usually very easily photographed, as they are accustomed to divers on a daily basis. A couple of large frogfish were found as well.
Sumilon provided us with some more fine macro opportunities, followed by wide-angle heaven the next morning at Oslob. Whale sharks galore! Hands down the most amazing whale shark experience I have ever had. Well over a dozen…. probably closer to 20 or so! And as our little group was the only ones in the water it made for some amazing photo opportunities!
Just an absolutely epic experience to end the week.
Captain Randy Wright
