It all began in March last year when Steven Ng, Patricia Au Yong, David Hoon, Chan Kong Fatt and Danny Ng returned from Puerto Galera, with lots of the nicest things to say for the dives they made. The only negative point was that it was really cold with water temperature at 23°ree;C. Somehow at the back of my mind, I was churning ideas that I may need a trip to a new place for me to gain more grounds and experiences, and Puerto Galera is one place I have not visited.

"However, the airfares were a little expensive and the travel time was really a waste of good money spent," I have been telling myself.

Then one fine day, Patricia, called to inform me of a very good offer from Tiger Airways (one of the many budget airlines that have sprung out in the region) for this particular trip. I immediately said, "OK book me for the trip!" I had to say yes or she might think I talked too much and never would go diving with her then.

And so it all really began: With my preparation for the trip to Sabang Beach, in the Philippines.

My very first concern was the water temperature, so I went looking to get myself a hood to complement my wetsuit. I wanted to buy one but the axiom of "Beg, Borrow or Steal" became reality. Thanks to so many friends like Norman Loy, Alicia Zee, and Ronnie Tan, I eventually got a hood cum vest that fits me like a glove. Next I went looking for a camera. So I seek another good Sports Diver by the name of Anna Tan.

As usual, in as many trips I had, I did my packing: Checked my gear, rechecked them mentally to see if all the scuba gear and the accessories were all packed. Assuring myself that I had done my best, I settled down with still a little worry that I may have missed something. That is my usual self.

Patricia had advised us earlier that we must be at the airport by 5.30 am. When 14th September 2005 came, I went to Changi Airport Terminal 1 as early as 4.30 am for the simple fear of not being able to get a taxi (I did not see the need to book one) on the road. Actually, the minute I reached the kerb (4.00 am), I sighted a taxi and flagged it down. So I was the very first at the airport. I waited for a while and soon realized that I was hungry. Pushing my luggage to look for food at the airport, I sms Patricia, asking if she would be on her way. Time passed and soon all 5 members of the trip were at the check-in counter of Tiger Airways.

7.00 am - Roger Coasby, Patricia Au Yong, Joyce Hongyen, David Hoon and myself were soon up and away. Airborne for the next 3.5 hours. There was not much to do on my first budget air travel; I think I slept a bit, interrupted only via the announcements highlighting the blanket and pillow for us to buy, and food like "lor mai kai" at a price only justifiable when you are 11,000 metres above ground. And there was some special offers available to Visa Tiger Air/UOB gold cardholders.

Day 1 (14th Sept) 10.35 am- We landed at Clark Air Base on schedule and the check-out was usual: slow. Ray, our very quiet mini van driver, picked us up for a 4-hour journey on a straight road. About 2 hours into the journey, we had a break to stretch our legs, smoking time for the smokers and toilet affairs for all. The road was a long and straight super highway (over 60 km) leading to the seaside at Batangas. The tide was low when we reached our next leg of travel by sea. Wading into the brackish water, every single one of us got wet up to waist level (maybe less for Roger who is the tallest). My only worry was for the cameras I had in my backpack. As I waded slowly into the water, I made sure of my footing step by step, thinking of my 2 cameras in the bag. We got up the boat half wet but nonetheless safe, and started to cross the water for another 1 hour to Sabang Beach, Puerto Galera. Boats, large and small, are all fitted with out riggers, and it reminded me of my Davao City dive trip. The sky was gloomy, all along the way we had sprays of fresh water from the drizzle falling from the sky and salty water from the wind swept sea.

5.00 pm - We reached Sabang Beach, 1 hour of smooth sailing, the pontoon floating by the jetty that will lead us to our final destination: Frontiers Scuba, Sabang Beach. I felt a sense of uneasiness as I walked towards the dive centre, ..., I was not given any briefing about what to expect. I was only a follower on this trip, and I followed, always walking behind.

We met the general manager, Richard Kirkham, or Rick for short as the days went by. Harry Ambong was to become our dive master cum guide. Soon we were ushered to our rooms for the rest of the remaining gloomy daylight. The rooms were very good except for the water and electricity but there was no interruption during the night. Dinner was available beside the Dive Centre. Food was pretty affordable and quite good too. After dinner we did a little shopping and went back to our rooms, plodded to bed and I slept well.

Day 2 (15th Sept) - Got up to have breakfast with the gang and got all ready to do diving by 9.30 am. We were rather fresh after the previous day's long journey over sky, land and sea.

9.30 am - West Escarceo
"Dressing up" myself and getting familiar with my hood for the first time. Not much excitement but we were nearly made to dive with 2 other divers from Hong Kong. Rick had said the day before that we would be having our very own boat - all 5 of us with a guide and nobody else. I mentioned this to Neil (our first Dive Master) and things got sorted out immediately. And so our dives went well. I overweighted myself slightly to counter to the extra hood and vest.

11.00 am - Monkey Beach
We had Harry Ambong - a local who knew where and how to look for whatever we wanted to look for. The dive was better.

02.30pm - Sabang Wreck
On this dive, we sighted 3 frog fish, somelionfish and all the etc.

Day 3 (16th Sept) - Got up much later than Roger. Was getting very acquainted with the bed I guess. We had breakfast and talked a bit.

09.00 am - Dungon Wall
Slight current otherwise coral life was aplenty. I realized that this place is filled with so many feather stars. These will stick to wet suites like Velcro.

11.30 am - LaLaguna Point
Another dive with a slight current. I noted that I was always the one lagging behind the group engrossed in my digital fantasies.

2.30 pm - Ernie’s Point
Supposedly, we would meet a "biggy", something to do with a grouper but I did not see any.

6.30 pm - Sabang Wreck (Night Dive)
Night dive will cost an additional US$8.00. It was only Patricia and I for this dive and we had a wonderful time. I was so excited, and only half way into the dive, feeling a little too cold for comfort, did I realized that I had not pulled my hood over my head. I was seen grinning ear to ear as we walked out of the edge of the water towards the dive center. We sighted stargazers, sea horses, crabs, large lion fish etc, etc. One of my best night dives since a long time.

Day 4 (17th Sept) Today the sun came out for the first time since we arrived. Verde Island is a 45-minute ride on the fast boat to the dive sites and cost US$5.00 more. We would not be back for lunch. I had quite a heavy breakfast, so it was OK. David provided some bananas between dives. We did 2 dives here.

10.00 am - Verde Island: Drop Off
The surface wash was quite tricky. We were told to drop below surface as soon as we hit water. Yes underneath was even trickier. The current was like everywhere. Sighted sea snakes and several schools of big jacks and red snappers.

1.00 pm - Verde Island: Washing Machine
Went to a less choppy area but I found that a little boring.

3.30pm - Sabang Point
It rained again. Another drift dive but manageable as usual.

6.30 pm - Sabang Wreck (Night Dive)
After hearing the previous night’s adventure, David and Joyce decided not to miss out on this. Joyce would be doing her first night dive. And this time I pulled on the hood well ahead of the backward roll into the black water. Except for the sea horse and the lionfish, I was quite disappointed for not being able to see what we saw the previous night. The dive was ok though. We met too many other divers along the way.

Day 5 (18th Sept) Our last day of diving and David had managed to talk the others into doing a dawn dive.

5.00 am - Dawn Dive (not my cup of tea)
I think they dived at Sabang wreck. I did not do this. I would rather sleep. Heard that Patricia, David and Roger woke up at 4.00 am for this dive. Joyce woke up too, thanks to her two roommates who were doing "taichi" to see who gets to wash up first and to get ready for the dive! David was all smiles after the dive at 6.15 am and went on to get everyone up to have an early breakfast and a spot of shopping!

9.30 am - Canyons
The dawn divers ran out of no decomp-stop dive time, so the dive lasted only 38 minutes.

After the dive we started packing up, as we had to leave Sabang Beach at 2.20 pm to return to Batangas. Reaching Batagas at 3.35 pm, we then set off for Angelyn’s City. By 9.30 pm we reached Swagman Narra Hotel

Day 6 (19th Sept) Checked out at 9.15 am to head for Clark Air Base for our 11.00 am flight home. The plane departed at 11.15 am and arrived in Singapore at 2.50 pm. We had late lunch at McDonald’s and I reached home some time around 5.00 pm. I guessed. I did not pay much attention to the time as the excitement had died down so much and I was really tired with 12 dives logged on this trip.

Thank you Patricia for this beautiful trip. I did not worry at all. I knew you were the capable one.

Thank you Harry Ambong for giving us such a wonderful time underwater.

Thank you all for helping me get hold of a hood. And Ronnie Tan, thanks for the last minute hood that fit.

Thank you Anna Tan for the lovely Canon and underwater casing. Hey, you should have joined us on this trip.