Off to Palaui Island: Punta Verde

Could we still snorkel with this weather?
It was a stormy day for a boat ride and a snorkeling trip to Punta Verde in Palaui Island. The waves rocked our little boat; a little more stronger and we could have easily toppled off.

The waves have been merciful.

Punta Verde was deserted when we arrived. It welcomed us with its fine, yellow-white sand. It was like polvoron. I wonder how it tastes like.

We visited the caretaker's house nearby to sign in his logbook and our boatmen called the reef rangers to guide us in our attempt to snorkel amidst the strong current. Later, they arrived with their neon-colored gear. They shared that the Department of Tourism (DOT) certified them and gave them snorkeling gears for free.

Now that's a plus.

So off we went to the waters of Northern Cagayan. Around 100 meters or more off the coast of Punta Verde, we swam with the raging waves. I have never felt so scared in my life. The sea was black, like a river. The visibility of the water was very poor; seeing through the water was like looking into a mystery of chaos. And the waves - oh you waves - were raging with subtle anger. Again, it has been merciful. Merciful, but still nerve-wracking.

I could not see anything underneath the water's surface. Only some towering, dark-colored sea grass were present, and it only heightened my fear. But I went on with my friends and with the DOT-certified reef rangers. I couldn't have done it alone.

Please help me name this fish. Is this a lion fish?
After some swimming, the reef rangers finally pointed us to the reefs and fishes we could admire. We saw a lion fish (?), but it was hard capturing it on camera given the strong waves and the low water visibility. It was okay, nonetheless.

We then transferred to a better snorkeling spot. The reefs were bigger and more fishes were present. It was not as good as the ones in San Miguel Island and Coron, but it was still okay. I just wish the sun had been with us for a better snorkeling experience.

It drizzled as we snorkeled, and I think the waves got bigger. We boarded the boat after a while and expressed our gratitude to the reef rangers. We also paid them their fee - P200 per person, if I remember it right.

We were supposed to visit Crocodile Island too, a white-sand beach, but our boat was having a hard time going through the waves so we opted to postpone it for next time.

As soon as we reached our destination (San Vicente coastline), the rain poured madly from above. It finally released its wrath. And I bet the waves in Punta Verde were lashing it all out too, releasing the power it has subdued while we were there.

The waves have been merciful. The rain has been nice.
It allowed us to experience Punta Verde, even just for a bit.



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Where is this? Click here for the map.
How to board a boat to Palaui Island? Go to San Vicente. Take a tricycle from Sta. Ana (around 10 minutes) and ask the driver to bring you to the boat station in San Vicente.

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