CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--Department of Tourism (DOT)-10 recently held the MisOr Dive Festival Photo Exhibit, a main event to conclude the four-month Misamis Oriental Dive Festival that started in November 2021.

The exhibit displays winning photos and all other entries in the underwater photo competition.

DOT-10 Director Marie Elaine S. Unchuan said the event highlights the diving destinations of Misamis Oriental. “As early as 2017, we started exploring the dive potentials of Region 10. We started first with Camiguin Island because it was already known as a dive destination although we only have 2 operators at that time."

Unchuan added that when they began promoting the dive potentials, people were encouraged and from two accredited dive operators, they are able to encourage six more. Aside from that, they were able to bring a lot of foreign tour operators in Camiguin.

However, the pandemic came and the province got closed, and DOT-10 decided to use their time explore the nearby places such as Balingoan, Medina and Agutayan Island in Jasaan for these have existing operators, namely Mantangale Alibuag Dive Resort, Duka Dive and Scuba de Oro. DOT-10 also discovered world-class potentials of Gingoog Pantalan.

“Since we discovered Gingoog Pantalan, photos have become viral, thanks to our local photographers on a lot of inquiries, a lot of interests that we got from exploring and showing our pictures in social media. And we decided to really launch the Misamis Oriental Dive Festival. So, it’s two years in the making," the regional director said.

With the help of the local government, especially the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental and the town mayors, the province was able to really establish its reputation as a dive destination, she added.

Unchuan said they are also looking into presenting the amazing accomplishments of Misamis Oriental Dive Festival to the Philippine Dive Expo this year.

Further, the director added that the activities slated are to entice people to also go diving not only because it is an enjoyable sport but they can also help jumpstart the local economy, not only in the Misamis Oriental but the whole region. 

“I would like to also encourage everybody to also try diving as one of your bucketlist of things to do and I assure you that when you try it, especially in Misamis Oriental and Camiguin, you will not regret it and you will be amazed by the underwater world and all the things that it has to offer,” Unchuan said. (IJBD/PIA-10)