This year we experienced a couple Typhoons , hammering the reef and our house. Kristine and Pepito. Both super Typhoons that changed our reef , making them unrecognizable. The Mesa shelves that stood like trees were strewn across the reef like upturned umbrellas. The marshmallow towers that stood like high rises were swept out to sea and dropped down to the deep channels. Some survived , most gave way for new growth that quickly took advantage of the open sand and sun needed to anchor and supply warmth and energy. It’s a brand new reef. The fish and clutches of eggs abound with new life, like there was no problem. Shows the tenacious nature of sea life, just how strong the will to survive is. Here I must mention the forever chemicals and foreign matter hampering the life of everything living there in our oceans. Those things we humans place in the way of growth, stunt the size and reproductive cycles, killing everything quietly while offering an easier life for a few humans, profit above all.
Our house got hit by Kristine. Breaking down a wall along the east side and washing fill under and around the foundation. We acted quickly to repair as the next storm was already on the way. Pepito was expected to join with another Typhoon in the Pacific and become the bigger storm, maybe of the decade. Thankfully that turned north and hit in northern Luzon.
We breathed a sigh of relief and helped rebuild the crew quarters that were destroyed along with most neighbors houses along the wall. Thanks to the crew, neighbors and family we are doing well now. Anyayahan , Welcome friends, is the boat that crosses to Calapan, Mindoro. Best crew, captain and safest passing. I recommend the trip to anyone visiting the area.
Our next visit will be to Isla Verde, the dense reefs boasting 2000 species of fish and over 2500 coral types alone. Shallow waters make snorkeling a pleasure for the novice as well as professional divers. the deep comes quick and current can take you off quickly so stay aware of your surroundings. Even so there are football size areas in waters 2 to 4 meters allowing sun rays to show a brilliance of color. Great for cameras. Isla Verde sits in the middle of the Tiburon channel flowing from the Visayas to Batangas and on to Manila. There’s another reef we plan to visit just west of us, before mount Maria. I’ve heard very positive reports of their reef and resorts. Better keep my camera charged. I’ll post a report on that reef after the holidays. We’re excited to be home and so many things have kept us from reporting but there are no excuses only the job at hand. Giving you the information and passing it along to others interested in saving our environment has no price tag. Thank you all for following.
We hope to bring family along on more expeditions, being divers from young we old timers have to keep up with the grand kids. Some were babies when we started this site and our pride of their growth and knowledge is amazing to us. Watching them teach others and grow confidence among their piers looks like a generation of new thought and action here in the eye of life among the waves. Our world is vast yet small enough to be a baby among planets. There isn’t anyplace we’ve found remotely like Earth. We despairatly need to help it, and us survive the pollution frivously cast like dumped garbage. to ignore it any longer is a death sentence we can’t afford. I’m sure you’ve heard we’re on the cusp of no return. If you’re not part of the solution now, maybe it’s time to think about joining.
By 2050 our plastic industry will triple. Just over 20 years and there won’t be anything living without plastic in their system . There is no way to pick up every piece of debris. There are methods of biodegradable material to be used instead though. Who cares if the plastic can last forever if we’re all long gone before it’s tarnished and lost it’s shiny gloss? Recycling is a fiction made up to keep green believers busy looking the other way. Fish species have shrunk in size and population and that’s been cast as to many people while it’s the chemicals dumped in our oceans by the tons and tons unchecked. Every time we ban one chemical there are ten more to take it’s place. The game isn’t a game we want to play. Switch and bate has to stop, be exposed and there are people now willing to listen. Sound your voice and write your leaders. Gather together and shout about what’s costing your life and those coming after us. You can see it above the waves just as well as below the oceans. PLEASE HELP!
