Sunday, September 19, 2010

DIGYO ISLAND, ONE MORE TIME


Got the chance to return again to Digyo after two years since I last visited the island. (For my first blog on Digyo see http://beachanatic.blogspot.com/2006/11/digyo-island-inopacan-leyte.html). The Provincial Management Group and the Board of Consultors of Gawad Kalinga Leyte went for an overnight outing on the island. Being a member of Board of Consultors and its Provincial Chaplain I got invited to join the group. There were a few physical changes on the island which I noticed at once upon disembarking from the boat. The southern part of the island has been greatly eroded. Where once there was a wide expanse of white sand beach, now even some of the trees that were there before have been eaten by the sea. The sand bar has also shifted its position. The eastern portion however, has gained more sandy beach than before. However, a bit dismayed by what I saw, it was compensated when I got to see more corals this time than before. After snorkeling for an hour in the western part of the island where I knew the corals were, I tried to snorkel at the eastern part. I was greatly surprised to see that there were also a good coral growth there. I decided to snorkel around the island since I haven't done it before. At least I was able to do something new in my third visit to the island. It took me about an hour and fifteen minutes. Since the sun was going down already, I did not bring anymore my camera and so I was not able to take pictures of the corals in the eastern and northern part of the island. The following day, I tried to go back so that I could get some pictures.I got the surprise of my life when all I could see were dead corals. It was only then that I realized that when I snorkeled the previous day it was low tide so the corals were just about a waist deep. Indeed, I had to be very careful as just a small mistake my body would get scratched by the corals and I was especially careful since there were a good number of poisonous crown-of-thorns star fish. This time, since it was already high tide, the corals near the shore were just the dead corals as the live ones were already about 30 or 40 meters away from the shore and it was already quite deep.

For the boat going to Digyo, one can contact Pedot or his wife Vicky who are the caretakers of the island at these numbers: 09067058548 or 09394163721

Recently I got a comment from Bismark who says they own the island and they gave this contact number Llany Bismark:  0917-9533384 or Marivic Bismark:   0921-7119967. 


Soft corals in Digyo looks like the yin and yang.




The southern part of the beach has greatly been eroded.



















This was how it looked two years ago when I visited the island.












































A pair of  clownfish among the soft corals in Digyo











Sunrise in Digyo


A Sunday morning mass on the beach just after sunrise.


A crown-of-thorns starfish.


12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ultimate manifestation of your essence...a priest who loves the sea and being on the island because of civil work you are involved with and for all you know you are for a higher and noble purpose doing this trip. Congratulations! -From Anonymous

Anonymous said...

Will, rofl :P

Coconuter said...

Glad to see that old blogs like ours are still alive. More power.

-David
http://coconuter.blogspot.com

Ron said...

padz! nindot kaayo ang mga pictures! i love it kaayo! idol na taka sa imong mba beach adventures!

Quezon Business Directory and Travel Guide said...

I've never been to leyte but upon seeing your pics isa lang nasabi ko WOW. I'm looking forward to visit digyo island

Anonymous said...

Thank you for revealing this nice post with an above average theme, such a great technique you have.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful content. Becoming a brand new blogger We are figuring out a lot as a result of these types of blogposts carry on the nice efforts.

beachanatic said...

Thanks for your comments.

Kaloy said...

Wow, this is such a wonderful place! Clearly, God has showered it it beautiful natural gifts. I hope to enjoy the scene personally one of these days.

Camiguin Island

Anonymous said...

in all of the trips you have, this is the best so far, it just conveys inspiration, the pictures are borne out of inspiration! Nice blog really.

Anonymous said...

hello beachanatic! oh i thought you were some one legit bachelor who loves beaching! You're a priest, it's so carzy to know. Good you're into this and surely you will inspire a lot of people.

Anonymous said...

i love you beachanatic!!!! great blog!