By Ercel Maandig
Cagayan de Oro City – The Department of Tourism (DoT) regional office 10 on Wednesday kicked off the 3rd leg of the “Dive Festival” they have started since 2021.
The Dive Festival is the official flagship campaign of DoT since there were many potential dive spots in Northern Mindanao, most especially in Camiguin Island, Duka Bay in Medina Misamis Oriental and the newest destination recently explored in the wharf of Gingoog City known as “Pantalan,” which is very potential for photo offs for nature lovers and trekkers.
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The 3rd Dive Festival kicked off Wednesday afternoon with a photo exhibit at the Event Center at SM Downtown Premiere here, with DoT 10 Regional Director Marie Ellaine Unchuan who led the official cutting of ribbon. The photo exhibit will run until September 10.
This is already the 3rd year since it was started and it has evolved into series of activities designed to captivate local and domestic scuba divers, nature lovers and tourists, according to Regional Director Unchuan.
A lot of international underwater photographers have already visited these diving spots and they experienced the very exciting and beautiful dive sites in Camiguin and Misamis Oriental thru their camera lenses.
Unchuan said that their goal is to draw a broader audience to the underwater landscapes of Region 10 and providing local dive operators and stakeholders with an amplified platform to expand their networks and reach new markets.
Unchuan also said that by promoting diving sites in Northern Mindanao as a thrill and rewarding activities in tourism, it could spark into something that people in the industry would be able to benefit.
On September 7, a coastal clean-up in Gingoog City will take place and on September 7-10 there is also an underwater shootout at the dive sites in Misamis Oriental, while a familiarization tour will also happen on September 7 and 8, with DoT Secretary Christina G. Frasco. A free diving clinic is also slated on September 9 and 10 at the selected Misamis Oriental dive sites, it was learned. ###
