TheLoneRider
a seeker in search of Easter Eggs

Country > Philippines > Bohol > Dauis
Date > 2017 > Nov
Activity > Freediving

Freediving

Freediving at Molave Point, Dauis Nov 6, 2017 Location Google Map: Molave Point, Dauis (municipality), Bohol (province), Philippines
Freediving Guide: Jeffrey Huerte Jeffrey Huerte

Off to Dauis for Water Adventure
I've heard the 'cliff dive' in Dauis bounced off a few times but it was just an idea until Jeffrey invited me to tag along. I'm not really a cliff diver but I don't mind trying. Together with JR, the 3 of us headed out to Dauis not just for a cliff dive but also for snorkeling and freediving. We brought our dive gears with us plus my 20m nylon rope and my 30L drybag to act as floatation device to anchor the rope to (more like a nylon string really).

Cliff Dive
We entered into Molave Resort for a P30 entrance fee. It's a daytime beach resort with shaded nipa huts and picnic tables mostly for locals (it's by the water, but no beach). They have a concrete diving platform that lands you in the water below. The jump is about 20 feet and the water below is perhaps 15ft deep. No, we didn't do a jump. Instead, we went down the concrete steps and into the water for snorkeling.

Video by Jeffrey

Sardine Bowl
The entire time, I thought the sardine bowl was exclusive to Moalboal, Cebu. But here in Dauis, the sardines by the tens of thousands are just by the shallows on the coral reef where the cliff diver lands. They open up whenever we dive into their bowl. I'm surprised that there is no tourism effort to highlight this feature. People come from near and far to swim with the sardines of Moalboal, dangerously competing against pumpboats for space. But here in Dauis, it's all for ourselves!

Dive Wall
Just a short distance away is the drop-off where the deep blue begins - you don't see the bottom! From the surface, I could see scuba divers along the wall. I did a little freediving along the vertical wall and the coral wall is intense with marine life - plants and fishes. A school of Jacks are visible. The wall is no different from the dive wall of Apo Island, Pescador Island or Balicasag.

Freediving at Molave Point, Dauis
plunging into the depth

Little Shack by the Sea
Jeffrey's friends, Leonid & co, were just adjacent to Molave Resort, on an undeveloped section of the coastal strip frequented by locals. We joined them later and feasted on grilled and kinilaw fish washed down by bahalina. We also assisted a fisherman with his net. He had a modest catch of rock fish - hardly a kilo for all that work.

Freediving
After feasting on the fish, Jeffrey and I setup the 20m rope with the drybag on the dive wall. We tied-up the running line onto a heavy rock and took turns freediving. Jeffrey reached down to his new record - 15m! I had difficulty equalizing and consequently stopped trying after a few unsuccessful attempts. But seeing the wall at a deeper level revealed more of its marine diversity. It was a different kind of fun as we usually do saddle time together.

Blue Dragon's Lair
The group later on decided to continue our hang at Leonid's place - a working farm near the proposed airport with ample space for expansion. There was more bahalina than we could finish. There was good talk, good bantering and good bonding. Half tipsy, we headed back home.

Ending Thoughts
Molave Point is perhaps a best kept secret in Dauis despite not having a beach. No need to go far from Tagbilaran. Molave has a sudden and deep drop-off you just see a deep blue - perfect for scuba diving and freediving. The shallows offer an animated coral scene for snorkelers. To top all of that, you have the sardine bowl right smack where you do a cliff dive. What more could you ask for?

Jeffrey, thank you for taking me along your magical adventures!

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit Yoga by Gigit | Learn English Learn English | Travel like a Nomad Nomad Travel Buddy | Donation Bank Donation Bank for TheLoneRider

GoPro screen captures by Jeffrey

on the back of the pick-up with RJ
no sand or beach in Molave Point
good friends, Jeffrey and Leonid
assorted grilled fish
checking out the fisherman's catch
snorkeling fun with Leonid
locals started coming in
out in the open
nose dive
Jeffrey disappearing in the depths
Jeffrey on the way up for air
exploring the coral reef
RJ on the prowl
scuba divers below
equalizing on the way down
Jeffrey silhouette
drysac as a floatation device
moving the fun to Leonid's Bluedragon Farm

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Reader Comments:

Leonid MarapaoLeonid Marapao Philippines
Bohol Touristas Transport Services Bohol Touristas Transport Services
(Nov 9, 2017) When ever you wanna come back sir, were just a text message away.

Juan HuerteJuan Philippines
(Nov 9, 2017) Ok Git buti dinala ka ni Jef doon

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Loboc Map
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Loboc, Bohol, Philippines

tourist attractions in Bohol tourist attractions hotels in Bohol hotel

Bohol Travel Info/Tips

Bohol FYI / Tips

  • the tourist area where most of the hotels, restaurants, ticket offices, tour operators are, is located within the Alona Beach area
  • the tourist attractions in Bohol are far apart and spread-out. It would be difficult to visit them all using public mass transit. Better hire a van (P3500/day) if in a big group, or rent a motorcycle (P400/day + gas)
  • Bohol relies on its tourism for revenue. As expected, everything they can capitalize on from tourism is extensively used and developed

Tagbilaran Port to Panglao

You can charter any tricycle from the port all the way to Panglao (~P300), but if you want to do it on the cheap,
  1. don't take the tricycles lined-up inside the port. Walk past the port gate and immediately outside, you'll see many tricycles. Take one to the bus terminal in Dao (~P15)
  2. in Dao, take the jeep that plies the Panglao route (~P20)

Tagbilaran (Bohol) to Cebu City by boat

** schedules and rates keep changing, call for latest schedule
  1. Weesam Express - departs 6:15 AM, 11:30 AM, 4:00 PM
    one way: Economy (aircon) P500.00, Economy (non-aircon) P400.00, First Class P600.00
    round trip promo (at least 2 days advance booking): Economy (aircon) P600, Economy(non-aircon) P500, First Class P1200
    round trip promo (1 day or on the day booking): Economy (aircon) P800, Economy (non-aircon) P700, First Class P1200
  2. Ocean Jet - departs 6-7:05-8:20-9:20-11:40AM, 1-2-3:30-4:20-5:30-6:30PM, 2 hours, arrives Pier 1 in Cebu
    Open Air / Tourist Class P800, Business Class P1000
    +63(32)255 7560 / +63 (32) 255 0115 / 0917 638 0000
  3. SuperCat (2GO) - departs 5:50-11AM, 3:45-5:25-8:15PM, arrives Pier 1 in Cebu
    P 500.00
    +63 32 233 7000

Things to do, Places to go in Bohol

  1. Chocolate Hills - this is a clustering of more than 1200 hills within a 50km2 area. They range in height from 30-50 meters. What's unusual is their near-perfect conical shape resembling an individual chocolate chip. No one knows how they were formed. Entrance is P50/pax.
  2. Tarsier Conservation Area - located Upper Bonbon, Loboc. The tarsiers are no longer being played at by tourists as circus props, but instead, visitors now view them in cordoned-off areas in their natural 6ha habitat. As they are territorial and nocturnal, they are predictable on where they can be viewed. P50/pax.
  3. Alona Beach (Panglao) - Alona Beach is the tourist hub of Bohol. It has 1.5 kms of white sand beach lined-up by bars, hotels and restos. Alona is also the jump-off point for Balicasag Island, a world class dive destination.
  4. Danao Adventure Park - located in Barangay Magtangtang, 72 kms (2 hours ride) from Tagbilaran. Adventure activities include river trekking, tyrolean traverse, rappelling, bouldering, rock climbing and ziplining.
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