There's no Danger of Scuba Diving In Cebu

Cebu is very famous for scuba diving and it has some of the most impressive diving spots in the world

Most Cebu dive resorts here have their own house reef. It consists of a shallow reef plateau that leads to an impressive drop-off with a steep wall plummeting to a depth of more than 50 meters (170 feet). The reef is covered with hard and soft corals and is inhabited by the typical reef dwellers and the occasional turtle (even on night dives). Diving in Cebu will also allow you to have a close encounter with sharks, a truly priceless experience!

I have to admit I am the biggest chicken there is. But here I was staring at the open sea. It was me staring at fear. This was it. And as I prepared myself to enter the water, my insides tightened into knots. I wanted to panic so badly; the thought of the surging waves flooded my mind with doubt.

This was really it. Breathe in...slowly...and breathe out. Our scuba diving instructor finally signaled the group to start the scuba lessons which was no easy task, I assure you. We had to walk backwards in the water and in full scuba diving gear!

Our instructor signaled us to go underwater. One last breath of fresh air before we put on our mask and regulators; my body prepared for the worst. Our scuba diving instructors took us to deeper water making sure everyone was okay.

And once we got there I felt this sudden surge of joy; sense of freedom from being weightless. For that one moment time stood still. It was like nothing I had ever experienced before, and for once I understood why people get hooked on this. It felt like you were privy to a secret world of colors and movement. And you would never have known that there was so much life underneath the calm waters.

Before you hit the water try and remember these very helpful tips:

Get the pros

Make sure your instructors are PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) certified. This one is a total must.

Make sure you can handle it

NEVER go scuba diving if you have colds or sinus problems. When your head is congested, you will have difficulty clearing your ears and sinuses while descending. The most important rule in scuba diving is to breathe continuously and never hold your breath.

You dont have to be an Olympic swimmer but during a certification course you will be asked to complete a 200-yard swim and a 10 minute tread/float.

Learn the essential skills.

If you want to try scuba diving but don't want to take the certification course you can opt for a "discovery diving course" or a "resort course", which permits you to dive with an instructor to a maximum depth of 10 meters (33 feet). Just ask a local beach resort if they offer individual or group courses. Your instructor will teach you the basics - hand signals, gear and situations you might encounter while diving.

Remember, safety first.

Check all of your scuba diving equipment before taking the plunge, and then double check it. And most of all always remember to have FUN!

So I finally ticked scuba diving off from my to-do-list. What next? Hmmm... Maybe bungee jumping?

Contributed by: Rocky Rojas