Scuba Diving Adventure: Fixing Regulators, Spotting Harlequins, and Fun at Kontiki

Today’s dive was special, as Sugbudiver teamed up with our friends from Taga-Isla Outdoors, Chu and Gethel for a fun dive at Kontiki Beach Resort. With weekends being a busy time for divers at Kontiki, we were fortunate enough to have a reserved table thanks to Chu and Grethel of Taga-Isla Outdoors, who arrived early and secured a spot for us.

We reached Kontiki at exactly 1 PM, right on time for the agreed meet-up between 1 and 2 PM. The warm camaraderie set the tone for a great diving day, but before we could gear up, we hit a slight snag—our regulator was free-flowing non-stop. This was unexpected, especially since we had cleaned it the night before. Thankfully, Chu from Taga-Isla Outdoors had brought along his scuba service tools and quickly repaired it. A big thanks to them, as the regulator worked like brand new afterward!

First Dive – Sardine School and Turtle Encounter

With our gear in top shape, we began our first dive, descending to an average depth of 15 to 25 meters. The conditions were excellent, allowing us a bottom time of 90 minutes, with enough air remaining at 50 bars upon ascent. One of the highlights of this dive was visiting the school of sardines, a mesmerizing experience as always. On our way back, we were delighted to spot a turtle munching on dead corals, a serene sight that added to the beauty of the dive.

Surface Interval – Low Carb Treats

After the first dive, we took a one-hour surface interval, during which Taga-Isla Outdoors generously shared their low-carb meal of pancakes, broccoli, peanuts, and coffee. Unfortunately, we hadn’t brought anything to share, but their hospitality made the break enjoyable and refreshing.

Second Dive – Golden Hour Macro Hunt

Our second dive began around 5 PM, just in time for the golden hour. We brought our torches, as it was getting darker. This dive was all about macro hunting, and we weren’t disappointed. We spotted numerous nudibranchs, and at one point, I saw a pygmy squid, but it was so tiny—less than 1 cm—that I couldn’t capture a photo. The real highlight of the dive came when Grethel spotted a harlequin shrimp, a rare and beautiful creature. We took turns photographing it, thrilled by the encounter.

Wrap-Up – Dinner and Gear Wash

After ending our dive, we packed up and said goodbye to Chu and Grethel. We headed off to Alfresco in Newtown for dinner, a perfect way to conclude a day of diving. Once we got home, we washed our gear and camera to ensure everything was ready for our next adventure.

On a personal note, I experienced a bad headache during the first dive due to a slight runny nose, but I managed to push through and enjoy the dives.

Overall, today’s meet-up with Taga-Isla Outdoors was a success, filled with fun, teamwork, and exciting underwater moments. We look forward to more dives together in the future!

See you on the next dive!