The blue waters of Anilao beckon

The blue waters of Anilao beckon
This Batangas adventure zone is only 4 hours away from Manila
By Jo Erlinda Gabot
Printed in Philippines Today

Anilao in Batangas is world renowned for diving and snorkeling wannabes. The waters are teeming with marine life, bountiful and colorful corals, and amazing diversity of fishes.
It seems hard to imagine that this beautiful place is only 3 to 4 hours away from Manila .
In the amazing blue waters of Anilao, many diving spots can be found. You can arrange and rent a motor banca for island hopping to discover them.
Never mind the sunburn; it will disappear. Never mind the jellyfish that irritates the skin; it is but transient. What will certainly remain after your trip here would be great memories of swimming and snorkelling, and the beautiful pictures of sea and sun of Anilao.
This marine playground is just 140 kilometers away from Manila , and access is now made easy with cemented roads. More importantly, it literally faces the haven of marine biodiversity in the world, sharing the same waters as Isla Verde and the islands of Sulu Sea such as Apo Reef and the farther but world famous Tubbataha Reef.
There are over 300 species of corals in Anilao, and one dive site alone – the Cathedral Rock – is said to have more coral species than the entire Carribean!
Yet, you do not have to be a scuba diver to appreciate Anilao or its marine wonders: the reefs are just steps away from the shore – just be careful lest you step upon the razor-sharp corals!
A whole day of fun in the shore with lots of water sports adventures available for rent. Enjoy swimming and before the very end of the day you will find damselfish, clownfish, sea anemones, nudibranches and, of course, the coral clusters in a rich array of colors and textures!
At the end of the day, you can celebrate the phenomenon of the sunset sitting at the beach as fleeting as other wonders of nature- yet more poignantly so!
Surely, Anilao is hard to miss!