Borongan is reaching new depths in its dive tourism bid with its recent attendance at this year’s Philippine International Dive Expo (PHIDEX), which took place at the World Trade Center in Pasay City last Feb. 23-25.
With the Borongan pack composed of Cherrie Ann Calacal, a PCSSD-accredited diver and owner of Borongan’s sole dive center; and personnel from the Borongan City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the city had a strong presence at the event that formally carved its name in the national diving community.
According to Calacal, what mainly propelled her to attend the PHIDEX was the desire to learn about how the dive business community operates. During the event, Calacal was given an opportunity to meet dive operators from other countries with whom she talked about Borongan’s potential as a premier dive destination.
“The main reason why I really wanted to take part in the PHIDEX was to observe and learn about how the dive business community operates. We had business-to-business meetings with dive operators from other countries. I told them where Borongan is geographically located because most of them don’t have any idea where Borongan is in the Philippines. It helped that they’re familiar with Southern Leyte, since Sogod Bay has been in the dive business for so many years now. So it was easier to show them where Borongan is.”
Among the highlights of the event, Calacal added, was learning about the fundamentals of diving through a series of informative lectures.
“Talks during the three-day event were also informative, like [the ones about] underwater photography and where the new dive destinations are. But what interested me most was how to observe proper dive techniques in order to prevent accidents, and how to handle emergencies when dive accidents occur.”
Aside from meeting dive operators from all corners of the world and gleaning invaluable insights from the lectures, Calacal also reunited with her friends in the dive industry who helped her introduce diving to Borongan.
For Calacal, diving is more than just a recreational activity. Diving means committing oneself to the preservation of marine life and knowing the responsibility that comes with being able to experience the exhilarating beauty underwater.
“When you become a diver, you automatically become a marine life conservationist. You become an advocate for the preservation of the wildlife under. So when I started diving, I was not just mesmerized by what I was seeing, I also feared the damage we are causing them. So I would have to say I got more hooked to scuba diving because I believe I have a responsibility as a diver to protect what we have left and spread awareness to those who do not dive and experience what we see underwater.”
Asked about what the future holds for Borongan’s dive industry, Calacal said that while much has yet to be done, with support from the government and the local community, Borongan is on its way to the global dive map.
“We have yet to assess and explore more dive sites and invite more divers, especially photographers to help us promote our sites. I know we have a long way to go but with the government’s and the community’s support we could make it to the global dive map and everything else will follow.”
In September last year, Calacal and the CDRRMO Team dove into the marine life wonders of Divinubo Island and were able to capture its rich biodiversity. The groundbreaking venture eventually led to Borongan’s invitation to the PHIDEX, which marks the first of many initiatives slated for the promotion of dive tourism in the city.
After going through laborious training, the CDRRMO has successfully produced four licensed rescue divers from their team. Meanwhile, sixteen personnel are trained in open water diving, of which six are at the advanced level.
Aside from capacitating its divers, the City Government of Borongan has also launched a program that aims to explore and promote other dive areas in the city for the world to see.
The Philippine International Dive Expo is an annual gathering of dive experts and enthusiasts from around the world spearheaded by the Department of Tourism. Borongan, along with Sogod, Southern Leyte, were the only dive destinations invited from Region 8.
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𝙋𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚 𝘼𝙣𝙣 𝙇𝙞𝙢 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙖𝙡.
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