DIVING Coordinator of the Municipality of Governor Generoso (GovGen) in Davao Oriental Juan Miguel Inojales said there are 17 newly discovered diving spots in the municipality but only five are open for exploration.
Inojales said this during the press conference for the three-day Davao Dive Expo (DDE) held in SM Lanang Premiere on July 7, 2023.
These new diving spots could attract more or less 30 divers monthly.
GovGen has always been a tourist destination for people seeking to unwind and explore the depths of the ocean.
The municipality is also a good destination for scuba diving since travel time from the Davao International Airport is only three hours to three and a half hours.
Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD) Commissioner Alfredo P. Medina said that GovGen is a safe place for scuba divers.
Department of Tourism-Davao Region (DOT-Davao) Regional Director Tanya Rabat-Tan added that the municipality is a good diving spot for its proximity to the city, easy diving conditions, and easy access to medical equipment like a hyperbaric chamber used for diving emergencies.
Through the partnership with the Department of Tourism and SM Lanang Premiere, the 2023 Davao Dive Expo (DDE) came about. This is the second year that the Davao Region conducted DDE.
Led by DOT-Davao’s Tan and VP-SM Supermalls Mindanao Operations Oliver John, the expo boasts of a bigger and better event where people will be able to have a glimpse of what Mindanao can offer.
The three-day expo takes place on July 7 to 9, 2023, and features a series of talks by well-known speakers, Pablo S. Quizon for “Capturing Underwater Stories through Photography”; Vani Vergara for “Diving with a Purpose”, Leachim Padron for “Safety Freediving and Davao Region’s Freediving Destinations”; Dr. Aa Yaptinchay for “Responsible Marine Wildlife Interactions”; Dr. Michael Francis Perez “Scuba Diving Safety: Mitigating the Risks”; and Lee Butler for “Importance of Trainings and Certifications in Scuba Diving”.
Also, DDE will be conducting a diving activity with 27 divers from Manila, DOT, and Davao Region to showcase the wall, one of the never-before-seen five diving spots that will approximately take you about two to three days to fully explore.
Aside from DOT-Davao, several regions are also participating in the event: Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, and Caraga. Each has its own corresponding booth where they will be able to exhibit what their region can offer.
"We have high hopes that through launching new dive sites, exciting dive packages, and networking with other experts and stakeholders, we will be able to help promote and establish better plans and development of Davao’s dive industry,” said Tan.
Next year, DOT-Davao intends to conduct an even bigger DDE. RGP