Marine marvels at 1st Philippine Dive Seafari

MANILA, Philippines - The 7,107 islands of the Philippines sit on what some consider the “center of global marine biodiversity”, and more dive enthusiasts are catching on.

The Philippines is one of six countries whose waters comprise the Coral Triangle, the richest collection of marine life anywhere on the planet. Here, the world’s most diverse array of corals and reef fish – three-fourths of all coral species and over 2,000 varieties of fish, to be exact – populate the sea. Biologists have been finding new creatures here consistently in recent years, both those thought to exist only elsewhere in the world and entirely new species altogether.

Among the more noteworthy marine ambassadors of the Philippines are five species of pawikan (sea turtle) and Sorsogon’s enormous butanding (whale shark). But among macro photographers, the small and often strange critters wandering the sea garner the most attention and intrigue.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) puts the Philippines’ marine marvels on show this summer as it hosts the 1st country’s Dive Seafari. To headline familiarization tours at four of the country’s top dive spots – Anilao, Bohol, Samal Island and Coron – are top international underwater photographers Bob Whorton, Robert Yin, Dave Allen and Alex Wu, as well as our very own Gutsy Tuazon.

“With this event, we hope not only to establish the Philippines as a world-class marine macro photography destination, but to build appreciation for the beauty and fragility of marine life as well,” said Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim.

Sponsored in part by STI-Tanauan & Lipa, Acacia Resort in Anilao, Batangas, Davao Pearl Farm, Bohol Divers Lodge, Balicasag Dive Resort, Peacock Garden Resort in Bohol, Calamianes Expeditions, Davao Dive Guides Association, Sonny Dizon of the Davao City Government, the 1st Philippine Dive Seafari will run from April 25 to May 5, 2011.