About Me

Hi, my name is Ara. I am a thirty-something girl boss with a passion for traveling, scuba diving, and marine conservation. I’m also the proud author of “Dive into Paradise: Your Guide to Scuba Diving in the Philippines” ebook, where I share my extensive knowledge and experiences of diving in this beautiful archipelago.

I was born and have lived in Manila most of my life. But every so often, I find myself jumping on a plane, bus, or boat to escape my city. I enjoy discovering new places and trying new things. And right out of college, I had a long list of places to visit. My bucket list never seemed to end!

One of my goals was to learn how to scuba dive. To be honest, this was something I was putting off for the longest time because scuba diving can be an expensive hobby.

When I heard of the opportunity for Filipinos to learn scuba diving for FREE, I immediately applied. Luckily, I was accepted to the program! I received my PADI Advanced Open Water certification in 2013 through Coral Cay Conservation. Since then I have become an ocean advocate.

In June 2019, I participated in a 1-month environmental tourism campaign in Fiji. I was selected to be a “Protector of Paradise“. Together with 6 other ocean-advocates, we promoted Fiji as a travel destination while spreading the message of conservation.

In September 2019, I received my PADI Rescue Diver certification. Maybe someday I’ll even become a dive professional! To date, I have logged over 400+ dives and have no plans of stopping!

Growing up in a third-world country, I consider myself very fortunate to have traveled outside the Philippines. I was able to scuba dive in places like Nusa Penida and Tulamben in Bali, and Komodo in Indonesia. I’ve also visited Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia, and the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, Australia.

I have encountered scuba divers during my trips abroad and I realized that not a lot of people know how great scuba diving is in the Philippines!

To be honest, even I have taken it for granted. I was so intent on traveling the world to see beautiful reefs and sea creatures when I really didn’t have to look too far. I realize now how lucky I am to have access to so many beautiful dive sites in the Philippines. This realization, combined with my extensive diving experiences, inspired me to write my ebook “Dive into Paradise: Your Guide to Scuba Diving in the Philippines”. It’s my way of sharing the beauty of our underwater world with both local and international divers.

Where I have Gone Scuba Diving

Philippines:

1. Anilao, Batangas
2. Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro
3. Verde Island Passage
4. Apo Reef, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro
5. Napantao, Southern Leyte
6. Limasawa Island, Southern Leyte
7. Sogod Bay, Southern Leyte
8. Panglao, Bohol
9. Balicasag Island in Bohol
10. Pamilacan Island, Bohol
11. Mactan, Cebu
12. Malapscua, Island – Thresher Shark Diving
13. Gato Island, Cebu
14. Sardines Run in Moalboal, Cebu
15. Pescador Island in Moalboal, Cebu
16. Dauin in Negros Oriental
17. Apo Island in Negros Oriental
18. Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental
19. Siquijor Island
20. Romblon, Romblon
21. Anini-y, Antique
22. Caluya, Antique
23. Sibaltan, El Nido, Palawan
24. El Nido, Palawan
25. Coron, Palawan
26. Diving with Dugong in Calauit Island, Palawan
27. Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Palawan
28. Sarangani Bay, Sarangani

Malaysia:

1. Kota Kinabalu

Indonesia:

1. Padang Bai, Bali
2. Tulamben, Bali
3. Nusa Penida, Bali
4. Komodo National Park

Australia:

1. Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

Fiji:

1. Taveuni
2. Mantaray Island Resort

My Dive goals

I decided to start this website to encourage sustainable travels and scuba diving in the Philippines, maybe once in a while around the world.

And also because I had my heartbroken and needed the distraction!

My intial diving goal is to explore at least 20 of the top diving destinations in the Philippines. Having achieved this milestone, I now aim to dive in all the best spots across my home country and share those experiences with you!

This objective aligns perfectly with my ebook, which serves as a comprehensive guide for anyone eager to discover the underwater wonders of the Philippines. This ongoing exploration not only fuels my writing but also allows me to keep my ebook updated with the latest diving experiences and tips.

I’ve also started to organize trips so I can take you with me on my dive trips around the Philippines!

Here are some of the trips I’ve organized:

• • Romblon Island on July 5–12, 2024
• • Cebu and Negros on August 1-7 , 2024
• • Sarangani Bay on September 25-30 , 2024
• • Sogod Bay on November 24-30, 2024 and March 17-23, 2025
• • Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park on May 17-23, 2025

I hope that Diver Bliss and my ebook “Dive into Paradise: Your Guide to Scuba Diving in the Philippines” will inspire other ordinary sea-tizens like myself to scuba dive, travel sustainably, and help save our oceans.

Join me in my adventures as I find happiness above and underwater!

Love my content and are interested in collaborating with me? Visit my Work With Me Page for more details.