In front of Sea Forest Resort a few days ago. It had bronze and tan bands for color-about an inch and a half wide or so. Its head in the ended up sandy ocean floor after a while, wrestling with something for the entire minute or two we watched it before we headed to shore. Not sure if something underneath was pulling it down or if it was trying to wrestle something free. It didn't pay any attention to us as we watched it slither around slowly before it stuck its head in the sand. I looked up sea snakes philippines online, but mostly got results about eels. I don't think it was an eel, yet it didn't seem to be needing to come up for air..
Most snakes, whether land or sea, have a rule.. "Don't Tread On Me".. very poisonous but not dangerous unless you antagonize or invade their space. Anti venom available as many sea snakes in the Philippines.
Maybe it was not a snake..If the tail is a verticle "paddle" ,its a snake..If tail is pointed,its an eel.. Sea snakes are seen frequently at Apo in excess of 1 meter and last week one 2 plus meters (longer than me with my fins on )..They are not aggresive but if you are bitten...you are dead in 20 minuts..No anti venom.Migue