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Cheers for the reply Rhoody

I really don't want anyone to think that I'm getting on a high horse by making undeserved criticism when I do know that many good things are happening.

It's just that I really do care and believe that it would not take much (relatively speaking) in a few areas of the Philippines to bring sites up to a level where they are better than most other palces in SE Asia.

You're lucky in Dumaguete to have Silliman there. However, this does put a bit of pressure on you guys to set the standard and lead by example. Many people want to learn from Dumaguete's example to duplicate the models that work there.

So, reading on this forum that fish traps have caused criticism for you guys is not good - reagardless of where they are placed or how people explain them away.

If they camnnot be removed, better not to take divers anywhere where they will see traps (in my opinion). For example, if I paid 350 pesos and saw a fish trap, they I would feel that I had been cheated. Many others would go further and just shred the trap. I have witnessed this many, many times.

Therefore, if you are charging a park fee and fishing/traps are allowed (on some sites), then you must make this clear to divers in advance and explain carefully why this is.

Then. they can make their own decision whether to dive there or not.

 

WWD,

thats exacly what I said, you need to explain the divers.

It is simply to exlain the divers "They allow us to dive, not we allow them to fish" in nice words, because that is the real truth and nothing else... and it also very easy to make that understandable clear to the divers...

when my divers try to free the fish I stop them under water as the guide will loose a lot of money (I will not explain here why, but it happened in our diveshop) and eventually his permit to dive (and earn money) in Dauin and Apo.

There are rules and regulations and the diver has to take it or not... if not than he will not dive several divesites.

Ask around at the local dive-shops, there is a famous guy (not me) who got arrested and put into jail with his group in their wetsuits cause he was diving inside a sanctuary at night...

If all that rules make sense is a question, but I rather stick to them, as the local fishermen do the same. Actually last week was one arrested in Masaplod (after a claim of his fishermen-friends) as he was sneaking in a sanctuary and try to catch some stuff there...

Still way more to do, but we here are also way further than in most other places in the PI

Rhoody

 

Hi Rhoody - sorry for the late reply, but probs with my Davao dsl connection.

Just two things I would like to say;

First is just do not take anyone to sites with traps if they pay a big fee;

Second; I totally blame fishermen in the Philippines for blasting and cyaniding reefs.

Further, I consider that there are plenty of them out there who still continue to do this. I also think that there are some who would happily revert back to this if there was no policing or control over their activities.

As far as restrictions on night diving around Dumaguete, then I think your Mayor should get off his behind and travel to some premium dive sites in SE Asia where he would get an education. On this point, he is making himself look the big fool in dive tourism.

Therefore, my sympathies are with the divers - not the fishermen.

 

Well spoken WWD. Nobody here I guess will deny that statement.

 

The Mayor in Dauin is indeed special.... not only when it comes to diving.
good !?! news "special permits" for night-diving in sanctuaries are now available, I don't know the price yet.

Rhoody

 

An Insight!

Just stumbled upon this thread through linking from rhoody’s posts…

I don’t have any intelligent comments about the issue because, I’m not a diver or a swimmer either and really very ignorant w/ the matter. But I heard a lot about APO and wld just love to go there someday even just to see the island…
ZambeziKid started a good thread w/ a li’l anger on the side though, but the discussion between him and EarlMJ, plus all the links from PN gave me a lot of insights about the great sea treasure lurking in our own Philippines, of w/c sometimes we Filipinos ourselves, just took for granted.
It’s so awesome reading all the names of ocean species and islands that EarlMJ mentioned …it was all really a very different lingo for me. (convinced me to browse the net for every named species and islands mentioned :D ) But one thing I could say about this thread, is, everyone got my respect from reading about their opinions about the important issue about conservation. Coz this is not an issue endemic only in the phil, but throughout the world. Right?
Rhoody,. what was at least being done to solve the problem is a good news And thanks for posting the diving rate. Coz of my ignorance, I thought it wld cost me a thousand for a dive :p plus + + so never even bothered to ask.

More power!!:D
.

 

On the subject of dive tourism, can you please update on the port closure and if passenger ferries are affected? I assume that your good Mayor - Agustin Perdices - has some involvement in this fiasco.

Thanks

WWD

 

wwd.

question 1, see other thread
asumption 1 not really
advice 1 take your hands off assuming things

 

Dumaguete execs seek Arroyo help in opening port - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

I understand this issue is not actually exclusive to Dumaguete. There is a similar problem in Zamboanga at present.

Difference is Dumaguete has a big tourism industry - Zamboanga does not.

And, with respect, this situation reflects directly upon him as he is your elected Mayor. This is why he has appealed to Arroyo to help resolve this matter.

However, he could have ordered the police to the docks to maintain order and allow passenger ferries to dock if he had wanted - why not?? Maybe because he has not got the respect/full control over the police there (if you believe what you read in the media).

Do you really think that this same situation would happen in Davao?? I think not - why?? Because of Duterte. Therefore your Mayor is partly responsible for this mess 'cos it seems he cannot control the police there and has to run to Arroyo for help to sort out a domestic dispute.

And, who is losing because of this??? Tourists trying to get to Dumaguete and all businesses in Dumaguete.

Finally, knowing the speed at which things happen here, I would not hold your breath for a speedy conclusion to this matter either.

To be honest, this is what I and others seem to gather from the net/media regarding this situation.

 

You are completely right, it has nothing to do with the Topic, why dont you use the appropriate threads ???

Going to Gloria is probably the best way, as her son runs the company who wants to fire 50 % of the porters at the pier.
I hardly believe that tourists looking for the dumaguete pier in the internet, and if they do they will end up on Dumagueteinfo anyway, where are more info that in each newspaper and they can see that shipping-lines are running. and Tampi and Ducom are used as alternatives.
Isn't it in almost each place in the world that people strike when 50% of the staff should be fired?
In Dumaguete it took less than 24 hours and alternatives where used, that does not happen when the Metro in France strikes each year, so I think not too bad for Dumaguete.

But ok back to Apo Island, the topic here...