Northern Samar eyed as next diving hub in Eastern Visayas

Biri Island in Northern Samar. | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of the Provincial Government of Northern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY — Northern Samar eyes to become a prime diving destination in Eastern Visayas with its expansive seas, coastal wonders, and rich marine biodiversity.

Jhon Allen Berbon, head of the provincial economic development and investment promotion office, said the local government hosted a three-day freediving certification course in partnership with Tugkad Freediving that ended Monday.

“It aimed to establish a community of freedivers who will enhance the tourism experience by offering diving tours and knowledge on the underwater treasures of Northern Samar,” Berbon said in a phone interview Tuesday.

The workshop, the first in the region, taught divers the fundamentals of breath-holding techniques, safety protocols, and the science behind optimal freediving performance and introduced them to open-water freediving.

Aside from promising coastline attractions featuring rock formations, maritime forests, coves, and grains of fine sand, Berbon said divers could also “take relish in the wonders beneath the Northern Samar waters, where vibrant corals, an abundance of fish, and other marine species can be found.”

“The pristine waters and vibrant marine life in places such as Mapanas and Lavezares offer a great deal of water adventure, ideal for freedivers and freediving enthusiasts,” Berbon added.

Located on the third largest island in the Philippines and surrounded by the San Bernardino Strait, the Samar Sea, and the Pacific Ocean, Northern Samar is home to 24 towns, 20 of which are coastal areas, including tourists’ favorite islands Biri, Capul, San Antonio, and San Vicente. (PNA)