Flavors of Boracay: Diving Boracay with Dive Shop Island Staff

It's been a long time since I've gone diving, and man did it feel good to hit the deep once more. On day 2 of our Boracay itinerary, a dive off the beaches of Angol was included. And you can guess who signed up first...

The sights and flavors of the island paradise extends to the depths of the pristine waters off the famed white beaches, and Dive Shop Island Staff takes you there. Offering first-time divers leisurely intro dives, it's one more must-try adventure to complete your list in Boracay. Ready to take the plunge? Then, prepare to dive...

Dive Shop Island Staff is a recognized PADI Dive Centre in Boracay offering dive tours, intro dives and certification courses. Inside the shop, you'll find a wide variety of top-of-the-line dive equipment from wetsuits and BCs to regulators, everything to make your first time plunge a memorable one. If you're a certified diver, no need to bring your own equipment. Dive Shop Island Staff has you covered.

I earned my Open Water Certification back in high school, supplemented by refresher courses since for countless clean up dives in Anilao years back. Sadly, both time and the increasing costs of diving have prevented me from pursuing the sport in a more sustained routine through the years. Imagine my delight when our hosts for our Boracay getaway, restaurateurs Patrick and Shria Florencio mentioned that a dive was part of our three-day itinerary. 

Dive Shop Island Staff is a full service dive shop managed by owner Yurin Yuko Sakanaka (L) and dive instructor Acos Nuqui (L), both seasoned divers adding to the colorful stories of the island. With spectacular sights above and below the turquoise waters off Angol, Dive Shop Island Staff is your ticket to the best dive spots of the island with their very own dive boat.

Joining me for the dive were first-time divers, and Acos Nuqui provided a detailed briefing on the equipment and basic rules of diving. For the first-time divers in the group, the relaxed vibe at Dive Shop Island Staff makes you feel immediately at ease. After running through each of the equipment, the group was ready for a basic shore entry and familiarization. 

I've missed both the equipment and the water for so long, I excitedly joined the group of first-time divers on the shore. The feel of the equipment and the cool waters just brought back streams of memories of underwater adventures from countless summers back. And it was good to hit the waters again. 

Shortly after, it was time to board the boat and head out to the shallow dive spot of Angol...

All geared up, I unconsciously and almost automatically defogged my mask the old school way from years of diving. In the age of the new normal, Dive Shop Island Staff also offers defogging solutions, but trust me, old school works all the time. A shout of "clear" and I executed my back roll boat entry and I was finally home...

I have to admit, it took a few more minutes to adjust my buoyancy and equalization underwater but everything you've learned from all those years diving just kicks in and you're suddenly in your element. Like riding a bike and muscle memory, it just takes minutes to be a natural again underwater. 

The shallow dive site off Angol had a gently sloping depth of 8m or roughly just 27 feet below the surface. The shallow depth allowed more sunlight to filter in, with average visibility of 30+ feet. The dive spot selected for first-time divers is relatively flat spaced with coral-filled rocks housing a variety of marine life scattered throughout the seafloor. You'll spot the usual suspects like clown fishes and other smaller marine life. If you're certified, you can venture further out to deeper open water and spot much larger ocean going pelagics. The number of corals and critters doesn't compare with Anilao, but it didn't matter. For me, feeling the water all around you was enough. 

The unique sensation of being underwater again brings back memories from so many dives long ago, like this one from Moalboal...

...and many more in Anilao. And it's great to feel it all again in Boracay. 

 

Some much needed bottom time again after so long just completes my Boracay experience, thanks to Dive Shop Island Staff, Patrick and Shria Florencio for an awesome reunion with the water...

Slowly, the group of first-time divers surfaced one by one. With still so much air, i decided to hang around the bottom and reconnect with a childhood connection with the sea. But like anything good, everything comes to an end and I reluctantly surfaced when my pressure gauge hit near the 500 psi mark. 

The first two days of a three-day escape to Boracay gave me a chance to discover new flavors and new friends, each weaving its own layer to the island's resilient and tight knit community. And one memorable moment to reconnect with an old passion of diving. My thanks to Yuki... 

...and Acos of Dive Shop Island Staff for making me take the deep plunge again. And you can count on both Yuki and Acos as your ever dependable dive buddies in Boracay. Slowly and halfway through the three-day itinerary prepared by Patrick and Shria, the island's many layers are slowly unraveled with so many more discoveries and experiences still to come...  

Dive Shop Island Staff is located at Beach Front, Station 3, Angol, Boracay, Malay. You can also visit their FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/DiveShopIslandStaff/ and IG Feed at https://www.instagram.com/islandstaff_diving_tour/ for updates or call 036 288 3316 for more information. 

Dude for Food is now on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, check out these social media accounts for regular updates on good eats. Better yet, click "Like" and "Follow" and enjoy the ride...just look for the FB and IG widgets on the right sidebar.