Palawan 2011 - Day 3 (Honda Bay)

Day 3, last day in Palawan and we did our last itinerary, Honda Bay tour. Our tour guide was Kuya Robert and Kuya Ceasar was our driver. We woke up at five o'clock to prepare and as we had requested a six o'clock breakfast the night before. At De Loro you will be asked what breakfast you like from their menu so they can prepare it the following morning. 

Jose, as usual posing early in the morning at De Loro

We left De Loro at six thirty AM and headed to Honda Bay wharf where our boat was waiting for us. As per our tour guide the proper way to pronounce Honda is with silent "H". Kuya Robert said you have not been to Palawan if you do not know how to pronounce Honda properly (because you were not corrected by a Palaweño). 

We first went to a shop where we could rent snorkeling gear (water shoes, snorkel mask and breather tube). Don't worry all of their breather tubes are clean and in good condition. They even have an underwater camera case that you could rent for a whole day for only Php250.

Honda Bay wharf is situated at Santa Lourdes, that is 30 minutes drive from city proper to the wharf where several pump boats can be hired/rented to take you on any island/islet you like. 

 

 

Snorkeling! In the background is the floating schoolhouse built for Dalub-Karagatan project

Pambato reef 

First stop, Pambato reef - It is 30 minutes by boat from port of Honda bay. It has become one of the best tourist spot in Puerto Princesa. It is sometimes called the "mini-Tubbataha" It was accidentally discovered by a fisherman while fishing his hook got entangled underneath. He dived and attempted to remove the hook from entanglement. While doing so, he was amazed to see a wonderful world of virtually untouched reef in a frequently traveled area in Honda Bay.

A lot of the reefs in the bay are already damaged because of the exposure to exploitative use before but not Pamabto reef.

ABS-CBN’s  environment program, the “Dalub-Karagatan” project was created to let people learn about the coral ecosystem. Dalub-Karagatan means “School in the Seas” and a floating schoolhouse was built at the site.

Corals of Pambato reef

There are some corals that are so big you can almost step on it BUT it is imperative that you do not 'coz you might damage them and eventually they will die. It's no-brainer to understand the importance of corals under the sea. So please refrain from getting and making them a decoration in your house. They are meant to be under the sea NOT out of the sea.

Jose on top of the corals

Us on top of the blue corals

Snake Island

Second stop, Snake island. Its elongated and winding sand bar resembling a snake is the reason why they name it as such. It is where most of the tourist take their lunch. They have "pa-luto" system on this island. You can buy fresh fish, crabs and meat and you cantell them how you want it to be cooked for a fee  You can do fish feeding and snorkeling on this island too.

Second stop, Snake Island. Me and Jose playing volleyball with our boatman.

Lunch time!

Pandan Island 

Third stop, Pandan Island. They called it Pandan island because it is home to a lot of Pandan plants. This island is really more on relaxing. No videoke can be heard. They have an outdoor massage area for a fee. We had our buko juice by the beach. The place is really nice. I can say that the sand here is finer than the Snake Island.

Colorful flags can be seen from afar to attract tourists

Welcome!

I like the fishes in Pandan Island because they are cute. Compared to Pambato reef and Snake Island the fishes they got there are really big and really scary to feed because of their big mouth like the Lapu-lapu and Salmon. Takot ako! Seriously! lol

 

Looking for a nice spot to do fish feeding

 Fish feeding

Buko juice

Tellin' stories

After a quick rest we headed back to our boat and went back to mainland as we have a plane to catch back to Manila. The three days experience of Palawan was awesome. It did not disappoint me at all, from people, food and scenery. It is worth traveling, worth filing for a leave, worth saving your money for the trip and worth saying that I will be back!