Tacdogan Bay.............................................................Fisherman returning to the village
After leaving Donsol we travelled for only a few hours and then stopped at Ticao Island and, you’ve guessed it, another recommended dive spot. We anchor in the Tacdogan Bay and dinghy in to Ticao Island Resort to organize the dives on Manta Ray Bowl, just a few kilometres out in the Ticao Passage. Daryl and Amber negotiate NZ $100 per person for three bottle dives, average for around here but pretty good by world standards. That of course includes the boat ride, a guide and skipper plus lunch –and only the two of them booked aboard.
Rico, the manager on his horse.................................View from the restaurant
Daryl goofing around.................................................Cool Bananas from the dive boat
The dive was down 17 to 22 metres where you hook yourselves onto the bottom and wait………. The strong currents provide ideal conditions for manta ray cleaning stations, where the mantas queue to have the cleaner wrasse remove parasites from their skin……but not today!!!! Three dives and they didn’t see a one. They did, however, see reef sharks, nudibranches and other bits and pieces. Still, not a bad way to spend a day. Meanwhile, I have the day to myself aboard, pottering around - swimming, internet, photo sorting and baking.
Daryl and Amber
A big nudibranch
Rather large sweetlips
Dinner at the resort is a quiet affair, both nights with broken power supply that saw us provided with candles. We appreciate that it’s now low season but typically these places bring you the full menu, leave you for half an hour to choose, take your order to the kitchen, then back they come “sorry, no fish curry”. You reorder, they go out to the kitchen and back, sorry……. (Congratulations, Abanico Yacht Club in Puerto Princesa, for bringing us a blackboard with the choices of the night written up – so much simpler, more positive and such a time saver!! ) All that said, the Ticao Island Resort was marvelously accommodating, friendly and a magic setting.
No comments:
Post a Comment