THE first Camiguin Dive Festival — an initiative of the Camiguin Provincial Government and the Department of Tourism-Region 10 — registered over 500 dives from dive groups from Manila, Batangas, Cebu and Bohol, as well as foreign enthusiasts from Spain, Japan, Sweden, Finland, Australia, Korea, Russia and the United Kingdom.

Located off northern Mindanao mainland, it has 20 top dive sites including the Mantigue Island Nature Park, a marine sanctuary surrounded by a drop-off reef, and Old Volcano which has a spectacular canyon.

A highlight of the two-month festival was the Underwater Photography Competition topped by Peter Gosling and Lauren Hubbard, who bested other contestants in the wide angle in macro categories, respectively. Both are from the United Kingdom and hosted by Black Beach Divers.

Jo Nathaniel Yasay of Scuba de Oro placed second in the wide angle, along with Daniel Dominic Calo of Ajis Camiguin Adventures in the macro division. In third place were Jeffrey Ong of Ajis Camiguin Adventures and Edgar Alan Zeta Yap of Black Beach Divers in the wide angle and macro categories, respectively.

Judging the competition were underwater photographers Penn Delos Santos, Ram Yoro, and Ramon Suijo, and Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving commissioner Bo Mancao.

With its powdery beaches, waterfalls, and hot and cold springs, diving is another compelling reason to come to Camiguin for the forthcoming 40th Lanzones Festival which will be held from Oct. 20-27.

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