Earth Hour 2025: A Meaningful Dive for the Planet

On March 22, we had the privilege of joining an underwater cleanup dive to celebrate Earth Hour, thanks to Lloyd, the marine biologist from Shangri-La Hotel Mactan. He invited us to take part in this initiative, and we were more than happy to gather our Tribe for the cause.

Gearing Up for the Dive

Our group, Trek and Dive, responded enthusiastically, with ten divers confirming their participation: Val, Cristy, Chu, Grethel, Regie, Vanessa, Joan, Dixon, and us. To maximize the day, we planned two additional dives at Kontiki after the cleanup at Shangri-La.

We agreed to meet at Shangri-La at 8:30 AM. When we arrived at the parking lot at 8:10, Chu, Grethel, and Dixon were already there. Shortly after, Jhoan, Val, Cristy, Vanessa, and Regie joined us, and once complete, we headed inside. Since we were entering through the hotel employees’ entrance, we had to register and receive visitor IDs. The wait time was long due to many visitors, so we amused ourselves by jokingly "clocking in" on the biometric scanner for a fun reel.

Once our IDs were issued, we navigated through the basement hallways and emerged into the beautifully landscaped garden leading to the dive shop. Upon arrival, we saw additional volunteers, including divers from the Philippine Navy and two guests, bringing the total number of divers to 21.

Challenges Before the Dive

Chu and Grethel realized they forgot their tank bands for their sidemount setup. Fortunately, they were able to borrow some from the dive shop—crisis averted!

Weather & Sea Conditions

• Partly cloudy skies with a temperature of 27°C

• Surface water slightly wavy with 27°C temperature

• Humidity at 73%, wind speed of 15 km/hr

• High tide: 3:28 PM (1.77 meters), Low tide: 12:31 AM (0.48 meters)

The Dive Briefing & Cleanup Mission

Lloyd gathered us for a briefing, warmly recognizing Trek and Dive’s continuous support in Shangri-La’s activities and highlighting our stunning underwater photography. He outlined our dive plan: starting from the Jetty area, moving left toward the underwater pipe marking their boundary, then returning either to the beach or Jetty, depending on our air consumption.

We walked to the Jetty port, snapped some pre-dive photos, and performed a giant stride entry at 9:43 AM.

First Dive: The Cleanup

The Jetty platform was swaying slightly due to the waves as we double-checked our gear. I decided to bring only our Akaso action camera to focus on trash collection.

Upon descent, I realized I had forgotten my weights! Having gotten used to diving with my camera, I felt uneasy and struggled to stay down. I quickly descended to 19 meters to stabilize.

• Max depth: 19.2 meters

• Average depth: 8.2 meters

• Dive time: 58 minutes 30 seconds

• Visibility: 20-25 meters

We found only a few debris pieces near the beachfront, but we encountered an alarming number of Crown-of-Thorns starfish—around 50 in just 300 meters! Beyond the underwater pipe boundary, we discovered numerous liquor bottles, cans, and plastic containers.

One highlight was spotting a large black frogfish! Meanwhile, a curious remora kept sticking to different divers. At one point, it bit Cristy’s earring—perhaps attracted to its glitter.

As we surfaced, we faced a strong current while hauling our collected trash. The weight made the final ascent exhausting for some.

Post-Dive: The Search for Ikuo & Refreshments

Once on the beach, we realized Ikuo (SugbuDiver) was missing. While some divers prepared for a group photo, I scanned the cliff, looking for bubbles or shadows. I asked the lifeguard to check the Jetty port, thinking she might surface there instead of the beach. Moments later, I spotted her 100 meters from the shore. Fortunately, she changed direction toward the beach.

The dreaded 200-meter walk back to the dive shop was tough—lugging a scuba tank and a bag of trash. Clearly, I need more strength training!

Thankfully, Shangri-La provided us with cold refreshments, bread, and cookies. Lloyd then invited us for lunch at the employees' cafeteria, where we exchanged stories about the trash we collected and the marine life we encountered.

Second & Third Dives: Kontiki Exploration

After lunch, some of the group had other plans: Vanessa, Chu, and Grethel left, while Val and Regie retrieved Val’s car. Meanwhile, Dixon, Jhoan, Cristy, and we proceeded to Kontiki for more diving.

Second Dive: Afternoon Adventure

At Kontiki, Nino was waiting, fresh from dragon boat training. We were eager to test our DIY snoot, an affordable alternative to expensive backscatter strobes. We started our dive at 2:44 PM.

• Max depth: 17.7 meters

• Average depth: 10.3 meters

• Dive time: 1 hour 19 minutes

• Conditions: Slightly wavy but clear visibility

We planned to head left toward Buyong. Dixon and I took the lead while Cristy followed. Eventually, only the three of us continued toward the sardine run, where we saw a turtle munching on some food at 10 meters. With our tanks at 100 bars, we turned back. Near the stairs, we reunited with Cristy, Joan, and Nino, who had gone in the opposite direction.

During our surface interval, they told us they found fewer macro subjects than usual—only one nudibranch! The water also felt unusually cold, around 16-18°C. While waiting for Val and Regie, we enjoyed snacks: Vietnamese treats from Dixon, ponkans, and pastries. A much-needed feast, since we only brought bananas!

Third Dive: Night Dive at Kontiki

At 7:24 PM, we descended for our night dive.

• Max depth: 16.7 meters

• Average depth: 8.1 meters

• Dive time: 1 hour 10 minutes

• Conditions: Freezing cold water, limited marine life sightings

We ended the dive earlier than planned due to the biting cold and the eerie silence underwater. Even the usual macro critters were scarce.

A Day Well Spent

The Earth Hour dive at Shangri-La was a great reminder of our impact on the ocean. While we were pleased to find minimal trash near the beach, the high number of Crown-of-Thorns starfish and debris beyond the boundary signaled deeper issues.

Our dives at Kontiki added more excitement to the day, from experimenting with new gear to encountering sardines, turtles, and a biting remora. Despite the cold and challenges, we wrapped up the day with great memories and a renewed commitment to marine conservation.

Until our next adventure—let’s keep diving with purpose! 🌊🤿