Thursday, March 27, 2008 Summer fun with Wind and Wave By Ben O. Tesiorna
I USUALLY spend my Holy Week either at my hometown in Mati or at the peak of Mt. Apo or just about anywhere interesting and new for me. But seldom do I spend it at the beach for some reason that it's Holy Week and I should be soul-searching instead of frolicking at the shore.
But my plan to go home to the City of Mati was cancelled at the last minute, thus last Maundy Thursday, I did nothing but stare at the ceiling of my house and surf the Internet.
Luckily (or is it unfortunately?), I received a text message from a dear friend about a landslide in Sta. Maria, Davao del Sur. That momentarily made my day interesting as I have to file the story for our website even though our local paper is on a two-day holiday.
After I filed the story, I went back sulking at my bed and doing nothing while watching my son and his friends play around the house laugh at the pivot stickman animator they are doing at his laptop. My boredom was worsened by the wet weather all day Thursday.
Come Friday, weather was good. Sun is shining bright so I decided to spend it somewhere where I could enjoy the sun and still remain cool.
Giffard had long been pleading for us to go to a swimming pool. So I told him I have a better idea, lets go to the beach instead.
So off we went to Paradise Island. I expect people to be flocking to the resort considering that it's summer and a holiday. But it was not the beach that I actually wanted to enjoy but the aqua sports facilities available at the said resort.
Wind and Wave is a concessionaire of Paradise Island resort where equipment for various aquamarine activities is available. From wind surfing to banana boat ride to wake boarding and jet ski to island hopping and coral tour are available for those who want to try it and has the money to spend.
Stephen Amomonpon, Wind and Wave marketing manager, said they started operation in 1993 and is then focused on diving only. From diving they branched out to other aqua sports and the rest is history.
Wind and Wave is now the leading aqua sports company in the Davao Region that services popular beach resorts along the Davao Gulf like Paradise, Pearl Farm, Chemas, Costa Marina and Blue Waters.
Amomonpon said that back in 1993, aqua sports like diving and Jet Ski are likened to the sports of golf where only those who can afford could play. They say it's the sports of the rich and famous.
But with Wind and Wave in the scene, they slowly introduced aqua sports to the Dabawenyos who are not so rich yet could afford to pay their reasonable rate.
How reasonable? Amomonpon said that if before a dive would cost around P5,000 each, now it is only at P700 each. That's how reasonable the price is today.
He said those who wanted to enjoy aqua sports would also be getting a lower rate if they come in groups 'organized', was the term used by Amomonpon.
He said that an island hopping that cost P7,700 for an exclusive rate would normally be just around P399 each for a group of around 40 persons. The rate includes lunch for the group while cruising at the islands of Malipano, Talikud and Liguid.
Aside from providing aqua sports facilities to their clients, Wind and Wave is also into worthwhile activities like cleaning the gulf and protecting the marine environment.
On April 20, in time for the Earth Day celebration, Wind and Wave will be joining the Department of Tourism (DOT) on the 'Dive the Gulf' activity where participants will be cleaning up Davao Gulf of garbage. The participating divers will also collect crown of Thorns so as to protect the corals in the sea.
On April 23 to 24, they will also be organizing a leisure dive for their clients outside of the Davao Region, which will be conducted on daytime as well as nighttime.
Every 3rd Sunday of the month, Wind and Wave also organizes an introductory diving tutorial and island hopping for those who are interested.
If interested of their offered services, Amomonpon said they could be contacted at 305-3483 (305-DIVE) and at 09053305045.
I tried their jet ski and it was exhilarating. The speed, the wave and the wind surely made my Holy Week special. It may have not revitalized my soul but surely it did my love for the sea and my resolve to protect it at all cost.
