It was 5 a.m. on a Saturday. Though still feeling drowsy, I forced myself to get up, packed my things, and drove to the office to meet up with JJ Larcena.

 

“Good morning! So, are you ready to dive?,” chirped JJ as I boarded the pick–up which would bring us to Batangas.

 

“Don’t worry, Roehl will teach you how to dive,” assured JJ, referring to the guy behind the wheels whom I later found out was a certified dive master.

 

The day was unusually bright, with only drenched streets to remind us of the rains that fell on previous nights.

Breezing past Alabang (via the Skyway), exiting at the Sta. Rosa/Cabuyao exit, and another hour of driving to scenic Tagaytay, we finally arrived at Bauan, Batangas.

 

Bauan is a small town in the outskirts of Batangas accessible via a service road in barangay San Luis. This service road leads to Bgy. San Pablo where Dive and Trek is located amidst the intriguing coves of Balayan Bay.
 

There are two ways to get to Dive and Trek: by foot and by boat. Since the latter was easier and more convenient, we decided to take the short boat ride from Balete Parking (where Dive and Trek guests can leave their cars) to the resort.
 

After 20 minutes, a three–storey wooden lodge loomed in sight. The place stands on the slope of a mountain with a breathtaking view of Balayan Bay which stretches to neighboring islands and beyond.
 

Balayan Bay is home to popular diving spots such as Anilao, dubbed as the Diving Capital of the Philippines.
 

 

Surprisingly, Dive and Trek does not have a beachfront or a shore of powdery white sand typical of other resorts. Still, the natural cold breeze and the soothing splash of waves compensate for whatever this resort lacked.
 

Lamp posts line the paved path leading to the reception and dining area of this diving paradise, which extends up to the edge of the island where a marine pool sits. This marine pool is where first–time divers (like me) learn and practice the basics of scuba diving.
 

At night, Dive and Trek metamorphoses into a cozy hideaway made more romantic with the warm breeze and sound of rippling water in the background.
 

Not far away from the lodge is a spacious campsite cum multipurpose playground where guests can play volleyball. This campsite is usually full with students and excursionists during the hot summer months — a bustling season for the resort.
 

The rooms are equally charming. Guests have a choice of a twin–sharing bedroom or a huge suite ideal for a family of seven or more.
 

Each room is equipped with native beds (papag) with cushy mattresses, a bathroom, and aircon, with big sliding windows (similar to old Spanish houses) that give a glimpse of the impressive tableau outside.
 

Since we hadn’t eaten anything during the entire trip, we immediately helped ourselves to a filling breakfast of boneless bangus, skinless longanisa, fried egg and refillable coffee.
 

“Dive and Trek is not only known for its great dive, but also for its good food. This is because we send our cooks to culinary classes in Manila so that they can learn how to prepare international dishes for our foreign guests,” said Leah, wife of Jun Zamora who owns Dive and Trek diving resort.
 

For only Php 2,300 (for a diving weekend package) and Php 1,900 (for snorkeling weekend package), staying at Dive and Trek is quite a steal, not to mention a great adventure.
 

The rates include four meals (two breakfasts, lunch and dinner), unlimited use of a scuba tank (for divers), a short mountain trek, and most of all, the warm hospitality of Dive and Trek employees. An additional Php 400 is charged to guests who want to avail of the airconditioner.
 

At Dive and Trek, one need not rent a boat (which costs an extra Php 1,800 for a round trip) to navigate for the perfect diving spot. The marine sanctuary right in front of the resort is in itself, a great site to start with especially for intro divers.
 

“Dive and Trek was declared a marine sanctuary, through a municipal ordinance, back in 1996. This means that fishing is prohibited in certain parts of the resort,” stressed Jun Zamora, himself a certified dive instructor who’s been hooked with the sport for the past 10 years.
 

“Since our resort only occupies a small portion, we are able to safeguard and preserve the sanctuary in front. A survey was conducted last year by an international agency (and) they found out that our marine sanctuary has the highest coverage of corals and the highest density of fishes,” beamed Jun.
 

Another advantage of the place is that they have an in–house dive master who conducts intro lessons for guests who want to try scuba diving for the first time.
 

Jun’s long time buddies, Jan Acosta and Dino Domingo (who are both certified divers) also frequent the place with other enthusiasts especially during weekends for some “unwinding” underwater.
 

Fortunately, Roehl Gacilan, the in-house dive master, was very patient in teaching me the basics of diving.
 

For twenty minutes, I tried to absorb whatever information Roehl fed me such as how to breathe using the nozzle attached in the tank, inflating and deflating the lvest, retrieving the nozzle in case it got displaced, and how to “equalize” to avoid water from penetrating the ears.
 

Finally, Roehl gave me the go signal for my first real dive.
 

The world 30 feet under is literally breathtaking — a garden of corals, schools of fishes and sea creatures usually seen in pictures and encyclopedias.
 

Clams grow as big as one foot while lobsters play hide and seek beneath underwater ridges. Fishes come in all colors you can imagine — azure blue, neon pink and yellow, orange, black, white, silver, etc. Starfishes likewise paint the waters with their striking color of blue and red.
 

It is so mesmerizing down there, we regretted having to surface as our tanks were nearly empty.
 

Back at the resort, I remembered what Jun Zamora said:
 

“With diving, you learn how to be cool under pressure. Man was not made for water so you have to adapt to the environment. And you can apply it in real life… you learn to keep your cool. It’s also one way of relaxing the mind.”
 

He was right. Diving relaxes the mind. Needless to say, it was also the best way to face my fear.