Exploring Boracay

Useful Tips for First Timers from an Experienced First Timer

The last time I was in Boracay was when I was 19 years old, about seven years ago. A lot has changed since then. The island is busier but only enough that parts of the island still match my memories. For instance, the beach is still that beautiful, wild green-blue with tall white waves. Fewer palm and coconut trees line the beach in favor of new businesses but the sands are still that cool white against my feet as I wade through the waves. My family and I arrived in August, a month considered Boracay’s off-season. Despite that, there are still a lot of tourists about; a few Filipino tourists, some Europeans but mostly Chinese and Korean. Boracay has gained a great amount of international popularity. Even in my teens, the place was pretty popular.

One of the first things I did was revisit some classic Boracay activities: parasailing and underwater helmet diving. The experiences were definitely different the second time around. Parasailing was met with less apprehension and fewer freakouts (I was on the verge of tears the first time I was about to try this) and diving under water with a helmet weighing over 20kgs was less daunting. This time I took my glasses up with me so I could enjoy the view from above the water. And man, this time I could see the view was beautiful.

While underwater helmet diving, I learned to hold my breath as I submerged myself so that the helmet had more room for air. One thing they don’t tell you when you try helmet diving for the first time is that the water level under your helmet will rise whenever you take a breath, and if it’s your first time under the water like that, your breathing’s anything but calm. Just make sure to hold your breath as you submerge yourself so that exhaling creates more air-room under the helmet. You’ll see what I mean when you try it. Divers will be there to guide you anyway and you will learn the hand signals people usually learn in scuba diving.

Crystal Cove has definitely gotten nicer. It’s one of the islands you’ll be taken to if you go on an island hopping excursion. Even though I love the unruly waves in the main beaches of Boracay, going island hopping is where it’s at for the sweet snorkeling spots and scenic island hikes.

Perhaps after island hopping by day, some would like to go bar hopping by night. Station 2 of Boracay is known for its nightlife. There are plenty of bars and restaurants. Even if you are not inclined to drink, there is still plenty to do since shops and restaurants are still open late. Getting braids and henna tattoos are available at all hours as well. Oh and here is one thing that’s gotten a major overhaul since the last time I was here: the firedancers are SEXXXier.

There are many things people like to cross off their bucket list while on vacation. Luckily Boracay can provide, especially if one of those things to be check off is scuba diving. The diving team that took me were from Easy Dive, and were PADI certified. I admit I felt I started get more than nervous during orientation. What if I couldn’t get my ears to equalize when we went deeper? What if the water got into my goggles? How do I breathe? All these questions and more are answered during orientation. If you’re a first time diver like me, you probably anticipate you have to worry about a lot of things while diving. I actually found that I only had to be sure I was breathing evenly and calmly through my breathing apparatus. They have diving instructors dragging the first timers like me around while I stare/ breathe at coral and fish. My worry about how deep we were going is also unfounded. The dive is deeper than when you go underwater helmet diving, but still not intimidating enough that the surface feels waaay too far. At the first hand signal for trouble, the divers bring you right back up to the surface. But if you’re okay, make sure you use the “OK” hand gesture. A thumbs up hand gesture means you need them to go right back up and they won’t hesitate to do that even if they understand you’re fine. Safety was clearly of utmost importance to my instructors so if you want to try this out but haven’t due to fears OF DYING, this scaredy cat can assure you it is all safe!

But here is the main reason I returned. Scuba diving was definitely on the bucket list for me but I wasn’t in a hurry to mark this one off. Revisiting a place gives it a different energy: partly nostalgic yet it still carries the allure of exploring somewhere new for the first time. And there was something definitely new in Boracay that wasn’t available when I was nineteen:

YOU CAN NOW ALSO BECOME A CERTIFIED MERMAID. LOOOOOOOK

That’s right. You can now be a certified mermaid in Boracay. Renting a tail for pictures is reasonably priced, but if you want to learn how to use a monofin/ become a certified mutha-effin’ mermaid/merman, it will cost more. Definitely take advantage of the cheap fares for renting. However I do recommend learning how to do the dolphin kick with their instructors at the Philippine Mermaid Swimming Academy. The budding mermaid enthusiast will not only learn to dolphin kick but to do those cool picturesque tail whips against the water’s surface. You know. Like a real mermaid. Using the monofin was also a surprising full body workout. No wonder real mermaids are so lithe. You’d expect more abs though, considering what I went through. After the one hour lesson, you feel it in the abs. Better yet, if you do the mermaid class, you get a certification for becoming certified mermaid. #priorities

When you’re tired and properly hungry from all of these activities, I recommend going to the Talipapa market where you get to choose fresh seafood, meat and vegetables. After picking out what you want to eat, go to one of the nearby eateries where you can instruct the chefs on how you want your food cooked. Everything fresh and everything picked out by you. It’s delicious. For vegetarians and veggie lovers, I recommend finding this vegetable called sigarilyas. Hopefully it’s in season. It is a crunchy vegetable that compliments well with rice in whatever flavors it is cooked in. Ask for it to be cooked like adobo (a soy sauce based, well, sauce) OR guinataang (in coconut milk -just say coconut milk if you can’t say that word). Go nuts and ask for both dishes. It’s amazing, delicious and a surprisingly little-known superfood.

So there were old and new things to try out during my trip. Whether you want to try a few of these things or simply wander, there is a ton to see and worth getting lost in. However, if you do get lost, for real. Not to worry. There is always a tricycle driver or a stray fisherman there to bring you back to shore.