Discover SCUBA Diving at GULI Diving Puerto Galera

WARNING: Long post is long… but I got photos and funnies so hopefully, you won’t get bored! XD

DIVING WILL KILL YOU. That’s what I believed for the longest time. You’ll either be eaten by a shark or bitten by some poisonous sea snake. If you won’t die, your ear drums would explode. Well, I’m still alive so it looks like I was wrong all along.

For almost two years now, Jayvee has been bugging me to do an intro dive but I always gave excuses and put it off, until this trip came along and I could say no any longer. In fairness, I was really excited, especially since we’d be diving in a big group with other friends, Jimmy included. BUT. I WAS STILL. MOTHERFUCKIN’. SCARED.

The Guli Gang: (left-right) Fritz, Kring, Jimmy, Jayvee, Chie, Nonie, Armin, Jane, Chris and Gus (not in the photo lol)

On Saturday morning, we pulled out for Batangas pier where we took a boat going to White Beach, Puerto Galera. Puerto Galera?!?! Who would’ve thought you could go diving in Galera? I’m sure you all think it is just for the gays. And maybe getting pissed drunk on the beach. With gays (don’t get me wrong, I love the gays!). Well, well, well, we were surprised, too!

Our instructor, a French-Canadian guy named Gus also owns the resort. He’s super cool! And I’ve met a lot of nice people in my life and I tell yah, he’s literally one of the genuinely nicest.

That’s Gus Punk, owner of GULI Diving. Also, that’s their logo, giving you the middle finger.

Entrance of the resort. GULI stands for Gus and Lisa, his Filipina wife. That’s so Pinoy, right?

GULI is right in the middle of the VM and White Beach resorts and the tiangge complex, so it’s not so hard to find it! The place itself is very cozy – not so big and is made of nipa and bamboo. We were actually booked in another resort but our meals were provided by GULI and oh man the food was so delish, Jimmy Kim was freaking out! Hahaha!

After our lunch and a bit of freshening up in our hotel rooms, we went back to GULI to watch the 1st chapter of the PADI video. Apparently, the “course” the we took is called Discover SCUBA Diving. Or something like that. Let it be known that in our group, Jayvee, Chie and Jimmy are certified divers. Nonie and Chris have done it before (I’m not sure about Armin) and it was the first time for me, Jane and Fritz.

The 30-minute lulz PADI video. You’ll know why when you get to watch it.

They got my surname right OMG~

After the video, it was Gus’ turn to explain and show to us up close how the equipment are used. And what the heck, Jimmy was nudging me the whole time going “Bebe this is important!”, “Bebe you have to do it like that!”, “Bebe you gotta listen!” LOOOL.

Look at us listening intently. And intensely.

Gus showing us how to find Spongebob underwater.

If you do not listen and follow your dive master, the shokoy will eat you. ALIVE.

Because it’s my 1st time to go diving, I am not very familiar with their equipment but I guess my visual judgment can attest that their equipment are reaaaally good and everything is brand new! Like you wouldn’t feel scared to go underwater with those tanks and BC’s! Jayvee and Jimmy even say that they’re branded and expensive!

Aqua Lung Buoyancy Compensators and Dive Suits

Oxygen tanks, fins, etc.

We put on our suits and gears and headed to the water to uhm, “practice” before we go to the dive site. I just wanna reiterate again that less than an hour prior to this, I totally had no idea what a BC is. -___-

I wanted to just snorkel.

So these are the things we had to learn: 1) how to breathe through our regulator 2) how to equalize 3) how to retrieve the regulator in case it gets pulled out 4) how to clear the mask if the water seeps in. ALL OF THESE ARE DONE UNDERWATER asdfghjkl!!! My mask was initially too big for me so we had to get a smaller one and oh, nobody told us that you shouldn’t put sunblock before diving ‘coz it hurts the eyes like a bitch. After 15 minutes…

We shall conquer the seas, said our dive master. I said 15 minutes of preparation is not enooouuggghhh~

On the boat with Fritz. The uncertainty on my face, it’s apparent.

I don’t know if I was just being a perfectionist but I really felt unprepared going underwater. I mean, 15 freakin’ minutes to practice breathing?!? But I had no choice, that was our only moment. With my tank, BC, fins and mask on, I back-rolled off the boat and immediately realized that swimming with all those gear on was super Nelly Effortado! WTF. Fritz and I were laughing the entire time because we looked like a bunch of noobs swimming around. In fairness, we’re still considered noobs. Gus, Fritz, Jimmy and I were in one group and I was sooo happy to be with the dive master who never let go of my hand.

My boyfriend, making me focus and calming me down. In fairness to him, he dives really well and can do the Dyesebel body wave. I was impressed.

Finally, a decent shot! The obligatory Koryan pose underwater~

Well, If you think I’m such a pro now, I’m sorry to burst your bubble but I had sooo many booboos!

1. For some crazy reason, I really had trouble sinking and I ended up floating and rolling around like a lechon being roasted. I literally had to hold on to Gus for fear that I’ll be swept away by the current or something.

2. My right ear was hurting so I had to go up to equalize A LOT. In fact, I was equalizing the whole time just to relieve the pain, but to no avail.

3. My throat was dry and itchy from the compressed air, which was apparently common but I ended up having a coughing fit. So I had to go back up to the surface and oh, did I tell you I had a problem sinking?!

LOL. I think Gus must’ve given up on felt bad for me (and Fritz) that we ended up just swimming a little below the surface, while clinging onto both his arms. You know, like snorkeling. With your daddy. I honestly feel kinda bad that I didn’t get to go 30ft deep but oh well, there’s always a next time. Where’s my boyfriend, you ask? He went berserk when he saw the turtle swimming in our area and followed it to the deeper waters, therefore leaving us behind and ending up with Jayvee’s group.

Jimmy left me for a turtle! I’m so devastated!

The dive lasted for about 30-45 minutes. Soon as we got on the boat, the crew handed us hot towels with calamnsi for our sea water-drenched faces. OMG SO GOOD!!! We then headed back to the island and the resort to freshen up and have the rest of the day to ourselves.

What you see is genuine happiness. From the heart and the soul. And the compressed air.

Although my first dive was half fail and half lulz, I had loads of fun with the group and I’d do it again in a heart beat. I’ve decided to take up the open water course hopefully this year (Jimmy will pay for it, of course) so I could explore the ocean more and maybe even see a barracuda *inside joke*.

You know what guys, listen to me. If you have the means and the resources to try SCUBA diving, just go for it! It may be scary at first but fuck that shit, Ju-on and Sadako are scarier! You don’t even need to know how to swim! You actually have the opportunity to see a world that most people on earth will not even be given the chance to see. Grab that opportunity! You don’t have to like it or do it again but at least give it a try. It’s worth it, I tell yah!

Discover SCUBA Diving is worth Php 3000 only. It’s half the price of a digi perm in a Korean salon. Seriously. No excuses.

Whoohoo! Video by Jayvee~ Can’t wait to go back!!!

The GULI Gang!

Krimmy Couple paparazzi shot! La lang heehee…

Thank you so much, Gus Punk and the whole team of GULI for this incredible experience! You’re a bunch of awesome people and I wish for the great success of your resort! Thanks, too, Jayvee for uhm… a lot of things! ^^

GULI Diving
Brgy. San Isidro White Beach, Puerto Galera
Oriental Mindoro 5302
email: guli.diving@gmail.com
website: www.gulidiving.com
Facebook: GULI Diving

Photos courtesy of Jayvee Fernandez, Fritz Tentativa, Nonie Tobias-Azores and Jane Chua

Related posts: