E. Samar boasts ‘unexplored’ underwater world

Can-usod Fish Sanctuary, Brgy. Betaog, Lawaan, E. Samar

Eastern Samar has the potential to become a recreational diving destination with aggressive campaigns highlighting the province’s marine life, a tourism official said.

Karen Chan, executive director of Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD), the area’s potential is high due to its aqua marine coral reefs and marine life.

However, she said there is a need for a strong tourism development and promotion of its rich marine biodiversity if only to attract local and foreign diving enthusiasts to visit the province.

“The province is a bit unexplored but once the infrastructure is also in place and hype-up its natural resources, it can be a potential dive destination,” Chan said.

“I would think that there are people going there on their own but unlike in other established areas they already have a plotted map of the dive site. I think this one needs to be developed first,” she said.

According to her, one way to promote dive resorts is to have them accredited with the PCSSD, the tourism department’s regulatory arm for scuba sports and technical diving establishments.

“Afterwards, among the benefit they could get from us is they get notification when we have trade shows abroad. We will include them in our materials that we give out abroad,” Chan said.

“They also have the prerogative to join that trade fair that we join abroad,” she added.

Online travel guide website, www.philippinesboard.com, listed the islands of Calicoan and Kantican, both in Guiuan town, as among the province’s “best diving and swimming sites.”

The DOT is currently promoting diving as one of the major attractions in promoting the Philippines with nearly 500 unexplored dive sites.

Chan said that 15 percent of foreign tourists come here for diving. “It is regarded as one of the top activities in the Philippines, though it is still not as well-promoted. What more if it was?” she said. (PacificTimes.org)