BULANTING REEF

                                                                                                                                                -  CZALDY

I organized a dive last November 23, 2003 and invited two German friends who works with the German Development Service in the person of Mr. Holger Woyt and Ms. Sabine Gonelli. Joining the group were Drs. Jude Escovilla and Jun Mabunga and Maeng from ProDive Center. 

The dive started around 10 am and walked for some meters as the tide went to its lowest. First dive was in an offshore reef called Bulanting which is a 50 hectare declared marine sanctuary of the municipality of Padada. We hit a maximum of 90ft on one part of the sanctuary and were surprisingly dismayed to see the destruction 90% of the dive time. Good coral covers were found on the shallower portion. Although other portions of the sanctuary are in good condition but it still need to be protected because the rate of its destruction is fast as the data from CRMP (Coastal Resource Management  Project) shows. Constant underwater monitoring and policing the area from encroachment are needed to save this vital ecosystem from further destruction. Moreover, the people of Punta Piape should guard and protect this life supporting ecosystem themselves as they are the direct stakeholders.

Lunch were served at the white sandy beach of Kolagsig (Colapsin pt.). After an hour dive interval, we geared up and plunged in the clear water of Kolagsing, the visibility was good and the water a bit colder. We were beholden to see a school of curious cuttle fish and some flatfish camouflaging in the sand. Our third dive was in a shipwreck within the Malalag bay, we got directions from a fisherman but only Holger and Sabine hit the site as the rest of us got lost and resurfaced and hit the area on the second attempt. It’s a Japanese world war 2 boat according to the folks, still intact with coral growths and is an abode to some fishes.

Any of you guys interested to help in the preservation of the Bulanting Reef Marine Sanctuary, please contact me through my email and lets see how you can help.