22/12/2024
Why go to the Space when there’s so much to see under the sea?
Who would have thought that one day my photography journey would expand into the underwater world? (All photos were with )
In 2024, I was fortunate to fulfill this dream on diving and, together with my boyfriend, obtained our Open Water, Advanced Open Water, and Nitrox diving certifications 🤿🫧🫧
For my very first trip to the Philippines, I went straight to the underwater world of the Palawan waters.
We started off the dives at Barracuda Lake on Coron Island. The lake, resembling an underwater hot spring, has a mix of fresh and saltwater, creating an environment where the surface is cool, and the depths are warm (30°C–38°C). The thermocline, located about 15 meters underwater, distinctly separates the warm and cold layers. It was an unforgettable experience swimming through this divide and feeling half cold and half warm.
The waters around Coron are vibrant blue and crystal clear, rich in underwater biodiversity and home to several World War II shipwrecks.
Out of the eight dives we completed, four were dedicated to exploring shipwrecks—a true “shipwreck diving marathon”.
🚢 Olympia Maru: A Japanese freighter from World War II, used as a supply vessel for the Japanese Navy. During the dive, our Dive Master showed us the rice stored on the ship, which is amazingly still intact after more than half a century.
🚢 Morazan Maru: A British passenger-cargo ship captured by the Japanese Imperial Navy and repurposed for war.
🚢 Akitsushima: A seaplane tender constructed by the Japanese Imperial Navy.
🚢 Okikawa (Tai Ei Maru): An oil tanker from World War II that transported fuel for the Japanese Navy. Inside the wreck, we saw a prison cell once used to hold war prisoners - an eerie yet fascinating discovery.
Checking off “diving” from my bucket list is not the end. Owning a diving certificate feels like holding a key to a whole new world, unlocking mysteries and revealing the hidden beauty of our planet.