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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Antique seeks to become premier diving destination

Antique seeks to become premier diving destination

Published Oct 15, 2023 05:14 am

ILOILO CITY – The province of Antique is eyeing to become a premier diving destination.

To kickstart this goal, the Antique Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (APTCAO) is pushing for the creation of a diving organization.

“We have very virginal dive locations. We don't have formal dive facilities and dive operators,” said Juan Carlos C. Perlas, APTCAO supervising administrative officer.

SCUBA DIVING ANTIQUE.jpg

SCUBA diving in Pandan town, Antique province. (Antique Amor Bungalows & Villas)

According to Perlas, Antique has rich ocean biodiversity at par with Tubbataha Reef in Palawan but largely unknown due to lack of facilities and licensed diving operators.

Antique currently has five major diving sites – Nogas Island in Anini-y, Patria in Pandan, Igdalaguit in Tobias Fornier, San Roque in Libertad, and Manta Point in Sebaste.

Perlas noted that with the lack of licensed diving operators in Antique, neighboring Aklan province earns income when groups hire diving operators based in world-famous Boracay Island. “There are a lot of things to fix,” added Perlas.

APTCAO said a self-regulating diving organization must be created to enable the province to have standardized policies, rates, and permits in all 18 towns. Perlas said it would be difficult if these 18 towns have different sets of rules.

A diving organization is part of the provincial government’s measures to be included in the Western Visayas Dive Circuit of the Department of Tourism (DOT)-6.

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