The Deadly Bitaugan Whirlpool of Surigao City

GPS waypoint: N 09 47.564 E 125 37.953
Location: Brgy. Bitaugan, Bayagnan Island, Surigao City, Province of Surigao del Norte

Heard it through the Grapevine
I first heard of Bitaugan Whirlpool at Cody's Bar from a runner/doctor. He described it as a thundering roar of swirling water that was both powerful and spellbinding! He got my attention. Then I heard of the whirlpool again about a man who was swallowed together with his boat...and regurgitated back, only to be swallowed again. This happened 4 times before he was rescued. The tale was so over-the-top I thought it was urban legend. When the Surigao tourism office asked me to tag along a group of guys from Data-Byte, who was contracted by GMA to take aerial shots of Bitaugan Whirlpool, it was an offer I dropped everything for. I even brought my snorkeling gear with me, thinking I can hang-on to the outrigger while I watch the whirlpool from below the water surface.

Bitaugan Whirlpool

High-Tech Gizmo
Upon boarding the van, I noticed some high-tech gadgetry these guys brought with them. I saw this strange disc-like contraption about a meter in diameter with propellers. Initially, I thought it was a submersible, but with all the wires sticking out, I figured it must be a aerial drone with 8 independent propellers. Whoa! I've never seen anything like that before. It got exciting.

Now You See it, Now You Don't
After a little over an hour on a double-engine pumpboat, we arrived at Brgy. Bitaugan at the Island of Bayagnan I thought I would see the whirlpool there but I was told it wasn't a 24/7 spectacle. There is precise timing to actually see it. First, it only shows up either on a full moon or a new moon...hmmm, that narrows it down to twice a month. Then, it only shows up during the low tide...hmmm, that narrows it down again to just an hour or two. If that wasn't restrictive enough, you have to show up only in the months of April to August since the low tide happens in the daytime - other months, low tide happens at night. Whoa! Coming here requires careful planning!

From Dr. Jeckyll to Mr. Hyde
Looking at the calm placid water in front of the village, it was hard to imagine that in a few hours, it would be the scene of a ferocious vortex - a black hole in the water sucking everything within its orbit! True enough, when low tide began, I could see the current getting stronger, seeming to drain all the water out of the bay and funneled out into the open sea. The entire seascape in front of me was morphing. It came to a point the water level was low enough to expose the shallow coral rocks leaving only the deep trench where water was rushing out. With the coral rocks exposed, the trench looked like a deep river with a very powerful current. You could actually walk on the rocks until you're right up the edge where a massive amount of water is rushing out. On its edge are the menacing whirlpools - not just one but a few. About 20 feet away from it, huge volumes of water is violently pushed up intermittently creating a swell. I was told that the man who was swallowed by the whirlpool came out of that swell. It was a powerful sight.

The 1978 Tragedy
In 1978, tragedy struck when a pumpboat was swallowed up including its 9 passengers. 6 survived, 3 died but only one body was recovered. When this happened, Mr. Eleno Denzo was only 15. Now in his 50s, I got the rare opportunity to listen to him first hand about what really took place. In May 1978 at 3pm, coming from Surigao to engage in a copra transaction, the pumpboat made an erroneous swerve and capsized on the whirlpool. All 9 passengers were sucked-in together with the boat. They were all thrown around and got separated. The current was so strong as they were pulled down. He saw some of the passengers banged up against the rocky edge of the coral wall. Some were already stripped of their clothing. Mr. Denzo hung tight on the boat as they were violently pulled down. He saw sand and a lot of bubbles as he was tossed like a rag doll. He thought he was going to die until he was suddenly thrown back up. He thought he was saved. But the vortex caught him and his boat again, and pulled them down again, got chewed up, and spewed out again. This happened 4x times until he was rescued. 5 others were rescued. 3 died, but the first body was recovered a week after - it was the wife of the barangay captain at that time. The other bodies were never found For 5 months, Mr. Denzo was afraid of the water. It was not until 2 years later when he felt safe to go on the water again

Ending Thoughts
With Mr. Denzo's story, Bitaugan Whirlpool suddenly had more dimension to it. As magnificent as it was on this visit, we were actually 2 days late. During the Supermoon, 2 days back, the tides were amplified. The frightening roar of the whirlpool was bone-chilling. The spiraling vortex was wider and stronger. I now begin to wonder what it could possibly be like. Moreover, the deep undersea ravine where strong tidal waters rush out must be full of marine life. The coral walls must be teeming with bio-diversity. What if I go to Bitaugan between the new moon and the full moon when the whirlpool is in hibernation? I would like to free-dive that abyss and see for myself what secrets this enchanting river-trench keeps.

--- TheLoneRider

ps - If you want me to objectively cover the features of your city or municipality or barangay for this website (fiesta, waterfall, mountain trail, lake, river, cave, food, islands, beach, etc.), email me.

How to Get to Bitaugan Whirlpool from Surigao City

1. take a tricycle and ask to be dropped-off the pumpboat station at Nueva Extension, P8/pax.
2. take the pumpboat bound for Bitaugan, P50/pax, 1 hour 10 mins. Boat bound for Bitaugan leaves 12 noon everyday - just one trip.
3. upon arriving, ask around where the best vantage point is. Better if you can climb a coconut tree!
4. *** going back to Surigao City, pumpboat leaves Bitaugan 7 a.m. daily. This means you'll have to stay overnight. Where to sleep? None yet, but contact the Surigao Tourism office to make arrangements: tourism_surigaocity@yahoo.com

• About Surigao City
• Hotels in Surigao City
• Things to do in Surigao City
• Culinary delicacies of Surigao City

SUGGESTED ITINERARY
(along the Surigao coastline from Surigao City to Surigao del Sur)

Surigao City

• Rite of Passage on Cantrasa Shoal Jul 12, 2013
• Karma Yoga in Surigao City July 5, 2013
• The Wooden Footbridge and Waterfall of Cantiasay, Surigao City July 1, 2013
• Outdoor Adventure Tour in Nonoc Island, Surigao City Jul 1-2, 2013
• The Deadly Bitaugan Whirlpool of Surigao City Jun 26, 2013
• Beaching it at Pebble Beach and Looc Beach, Surigao City Jun 22-24, 2013
• Exploring Silop Cave of Surigao City Jun 22, 2013
• Free-Diving the Coral Reef of Birok Islet, Surigao City June 12, 2013
• Boat Ride through the Floating Village of Day-asan June 12, 2013

Surigao del Norte

• Island Hopping Adventures in Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte July 23-25, 2013
• Exploring Siargao's Cloud 9 July 18-20, 2013
• Judging Del Carmen's Beauty Pagent and Street Dancing July 15-16, 2013
• Diving the Reef of Cagtinae, Surigao del Norte Jul 7, 2013

Cantilan

• Ayoke Island May 27, 2013
• Casarica Island May 27, 2013
• General Island May 27, 2013

Carmen

• Sua Cold Spring - in Brgy Esperanza. From main highway, get off at Madrid terminal and take motorcycle ride for the spring. If coming from Lanuza, get off at crossing of Cangcaban then take habal-habal for the spring
• Hubason River May 18, 2013

Lanuza

• Lanuza Marine Park and Sanctuary May 17, 2013 - coral reef, snorkeling, cafe. Also a short walk to Magkawas Falls.
• Magkawas Falls in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur May 16, 2013
• Silop Spring May 16, 2013
• Campamento Cave May 16, 2013
• Herrera Ancestral Home

Cortes

• Lubcon Falls - from Tandag, take jeep for Cantilan or Cortes and ask the driver to drop you off at Lubcon Falls, P25, 30 mins, 15 kms
• Burgos Togonan Falls
• Laswitan - strong waves crashing against the rocks and spilling over to fill up a rock pool (while you're dipping in it)
• Campiri Rocks - going over huge boulders, dipping in a rock pool, standing on a rock summit as waves hits and splash against it, and to cap all, you rest on the base of the light house perched on top of the rocks in full view of the magnificent Pacific Ocean
• Bakwitan Cave - a refuge by the towns folk during the Japanese occupation and during the typhoon of 2004
• Buybuyan Beach - small beach, almost like a personal beach, fine white sand (there are no commercial establishments on the beach...its undeveloped)
• Sihagan Beach - fine white sand for long walks on a beach (there are no commercial establishments on the beach...its undeveloped)
• Uba Marine Sanctuaries - scuba dive with gear from the LGU. At P250 per dive, you can't beat it!
• Capandan Marine Sanctuaries - scuba dive with gear from the LGU. At P250 per dive, you can't beat it!
• Balibadon Marine Sanctuary
• Mabahin Marine Sanctuary
• Tigao Marine Sanctuary
• Poblacion Marine Sanctuary

Tandag

• Exploring Dayao Cave of Tandag, Surigao del Sur May 12, 2013
• Brgy. Bongtud - Twin Linungao Island, Mancagangi Island & MPA (Marine Protected Area - fish sanctuary)

Cagwait

• white sand beaches

Salvacion

• Britania Islets May 6-8, 2013 - small islets dotting the bay. Island tour, beach, mangrove forest.

Hinatuan

• Enchanted River May 6, 2013
• Sibadan Fish Cage May 5, 2013

Mangagoy

• Tinuy-an Falls

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