Safety First, Adventure Always: Scuba Diving in Cebu’s Kontiki Reef

The best way to beat the scorching heat? A dive, of course! Today, February 8, 2025, we set out to explore the waters of Kontiki Beach Resort—not just for the thrill but also to test Jaira’s newly serviced regulator, expertly repaired by our friend Chu. With Grethel and Chu joining the dive, we were in for an adventure.

Pre-Dive Buzz & Unexpected Stories

The moment we arrived at Kontiki, we ran into Neil, who had a student with him. He shared some concerning news—a diver was rushed to the hospital due to DCS (decompression sickness). We glanced at a table where two foreigners, both sidemount divers with double nitrox tanks, were seated. According to Neil, they may have gone as deep as 40-50 meters, well beyond safe limits. Another instructor, pointed out that the diver’s buoyancy was crappy, and they had no local guide.

This was a stark reminder that experience alone doesn’t guarantee safety. Proper planning, adherence to dive limits, and having a local guide can make all the difference.

After the chat, we shifted our focus to taking photos and videos—this time testing the Akaso EK7000 action camera for underwater footage.

The Parking Struggle & A Surprise Party

Despite being early (2 PM), Kontiki’s parking was already full. Strangely, the tables were empty—only four other divers were around. Then we noticed a teenage party at Wave Bar—the likely reason for the full parking lot!

The weather? Brutally hot. At 32°C, with a humidity of 83%, it felt like we were baking under the sun. But beneath the waves, a cool 29°C awaited.

Dive #1: Wall Explorations & Sardine Spectacle

At 3:18 PM, we descended into the familiar blue depths, reaching a max depth of 17.4 meters. Our route? Straight to the wall, then left towards Boyong.

Marine Highlights:

• Egg-Laying Nudibranch – A rare sight! I tried capturing shots, playing with lighting, but it was tricky to highlight the eggs beneath her.

• Stonefish & Blue Starfish – I caught a stonefish mid-yawn beside a blue starfish, an oddly comical pairing.

• Barrel Coral Shrimp – A tiny shrimp hid inside a barrel coral, but its minuscule size and tricky lighting made photography nearly impossible.

• School of Sardines – The sardines were closer than usual, making for a breathtaking video opportunity.

Surface Interval: Military-Style Training & Dried Mangoes

Back on land, Neil shared tales of his SDI Instructor course in Dauin, describing it as military-like training—one mistake, and they had to drop and do push-ups. As we laughed at his struggles, we munched on dried mangoes and nuts to refuel for our night dive.

Dive #2: Chasing Shadows in the Night

At 6:18 PM, we geared up again, this time diving into the dark abyss, guided only by our Orcatorch torches under an 84% waxing gibbous moon.

Notable Sightings:

• Tiny Cuttlefish – I hesitated to take a photo, thinking I’d see more later… big mistake! That was the only cuttlefish I saw all night.

• Sea Hares in a Love Dance – Two sea hares looked like they were mating, an unusual yet fascinating sight.

• Donald Duck Shrimp – Spotted two of these quirky little creatures, always fun to see.

• Swimming Turtle – Around 40 minutes into the dive, I saw a turtle gracefully swimming. I kept my distance, remembering a friend’s night dive turtle attack story!

Strangely, there weren’t many creatures tonight—I wonder why? Maybe the temperature drop made them shy. Speaking of cold, I peed in my wetsuit… twice.

Post-Dive Feast: Vietnamese Comfort Food

After surfacing at 7:50 PM, we washed our gear while showering (classic diver multitasking), packed up, and headed out. Hungry from the dive, we discovered a hidden gem—an authentic Vietnamese restaurant in Maribago. Their noodle soup? 10/10.

Final Thoughts & Shoutouts

Today was a great dive day, especially after missing out last week. Huge thanks to:

• Chu for the regulator repair—Jaira’s gear is working perfectly now!

• Grethel for always being a great dive buddy.

Want to be part of our next dive adventure? Book a class or fun dive with Sugbu Diver—who knows, you might get featured here!