MAASIM, Sarangani -- The Department of Tourism Region (DOT) XII has launched its DiveSOX Campaign in the province of Sarangani in line with the celebration of the Sarangani Bay Festival 2022.

According to DOT 12, DiveSOX is a campaign established to uphold the diving industry in SOCCSKSARGEN as one of the economic drivers in terms of tourism.

Armin Hautea, regional director of DOT XII, led the launching of the DiveSOX campaign on May 28 at Lemlunay Resort in Maasim, along with other guests and divers’ organizations.

“In SOX, short for SOCCSKSARGEN, Sarangani Bay or the Celebes Sea is blessed with marine resources that attract foreign visitors and those who have the opportunity to visit the region’s dive sites expressed that our diving areas are at par with international diving spots,” Hauteau said.

Hautea said the DiveSOX campaign started three years ago when the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving, in coordination with DOT XII, conducted a Rapid Exploratory Assessment in Maasim and Glan in Sarangani.

It was then followed by the development of DiveSOX logos that was adopted by the Regional Eco-tourism Committee 12 as a logo to be used for any dive activity in the region. Thus, the DiveSOX campaign is introduced.

Included in the DiveSOX strategies and activities are Sarbay Exploratory Dive Assessments, Scuba Diving Awareness to Tourism Stakeholders, DiveSOX Branding Development, Tourism Stakeholders Open Water Dive Class and Training, and many others.

One of the main objectives of the DiveSOX Campaign, according to DOT XII, is to take advantage of the opportunity to check on the current state of the coasts and their marine inhabitants.

Several scuba and free divers from different government and non-government agencies all over SARGEN also joined in the massive crown-of-thorns collection at Susan’s Beach Resort in Maasim, along with the DiveSOX launching.

“We give our full support to Sarangani’s celebration of Sarbay Festival 2022 through the conduct nitong Dive Cleanup or the Crown-of-thorns Collection in the municipality of Maasim,” Hautea said.

Also, DOT XII has launched the DiveSOX campaign in KALEPA which stands for Kalamansig, Lebak, and Palimbang in the province of Sultan Kudarat on June 1 and 2. (Jori Mae R. Samillano/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)