Rip Tide: Cebu’s island hopping partner

White sand beaches, seashells, stones, starfishes, few of the things that fascinate our hearts every time we go to beaches.  Certainly, the mood for summer is in the air.  Likewise, this mood stimulates a good business impression for summer business operators, just like Rip Tide Island Hopping Services.

If it is island hopping that you want to experience this summer, then you definitely need their service.  Rip Tide caters small to big pump boats that will take you to the various beautiful islands surrounding Cebu.

According to the patriarch of this business, Simplicio Ompad, 80, a native of Baybayon, Maribago, this business once started to be a family’s means of livelihood.  Simplicio recalled their single pump boat which serves as a means of their living when; he used to go on fishing then.  Apart from that, that single pump boat was used to be rented by the common folks crossing Lapu-Lapu to Olango Island.  It was then that the concept of this business was realized.

Due to old age, Rip Tide is now managed by the Ompad’s younger generation.  With a capital of P365,000 only, Rip Tide Island Hopping Services was born on May 1994.   For 14 years, Rip Tide has been the favorite island hopping partner to island hoppers in Maribago and Lapu-Lapu.  It has been the regular contact among the beach resorts in Lapu-Lapu and Maribago and other diving shops in Lapu-Lapu.  Also, Rip Tide is availed by families and foreigners who go for beach parties and island hopping.  It travels and visits islands like the Bird Sanctuary in Olango, the fish Sanctuary in Gilutongan, the little Boracay in Pandanon and the white sand beaches in Nalusuan.  They also accept long distance travels.  Their pump boats can be rented for travels in Bohol, Bantayan, Moalboal and even in Leyte.

Certainly, they offer reasonable rentals for a much reasonable island hopping experience.  For one day, one small pump boat can be rented for diving, island hopping or cook-out for P1,800 only, while large and big pump boats can be rented for P3,000 only.  For long distance travels, the rent would vary depending on the distance of the place and the amount of crude oil that it consumed.  A small pump boat is good for ten persons and the big ones can accommodate 20 to 25 persons. 

With this kind of business, the number one problem of the Ompad family is the weather.  Indeed bad weather would result to bad business.  However, Rip Tide is at its peak on summer and Christmas holidays.

At present, Rip Tide is maintaining its good and gratifying services that it offer to people, especially that they have been the regular partner to most diving shops and resorts in Lapu-Lapu and most especially in dealing with their foreign customers.  The Ompad family has been optimistic that Rip Tide Island Hopping Services will continue to rip numerous tides of business distractions and will keep on rising and uphold its success.