Introducing Kids to Scuba Diving

Perhaps the best thing about being a parent is having your kids with whom you can share your passion with. You can pass it on to them and let them understand the things that you’ve dedicated most of your life to. If one of these things happens to be diving, then you’ve already most likely thought about introducing your children to the sport as early as possible. Yes, it can be done! There are a lot of scuba diving programs and courses designed specifically for kids. Diving can be a fulfilling experience for young people as it teaches them how to work under pressure, trust their instincts, listen to classes, and develop focus and mental concentration under stressful conditions. Moreover, it increases their sense of responsibility and confidence while enhancing their skills in certain classroom concepts such as physics and maths. Today we’re going to take a look at how to introduce kids to scuba diving in the most fun way.

Scuba Diving Courses 

“PADI offers a choice of youth programs for kids aged eight and older. The most basic of these is the PADI Bubblemaker program, which allows children to experience the thrill of breathing underwater in a confined environment no deeper than 2 meters/ 6 feet. The PADI Seal Team program is more comprehensive.” For children to become fully certified, the minimum age requirement is 10 years old to be able to enroll in the PADI Junior Open water diver course. There are of course restrictions and limitations that follow upon enrolling, including the maximum depth to be dived in, and the age limit of who they should be diving with.

Diving Destination

If you sign up your kids for a scuba course while on a family trip, it’s always helpful to choose the right destination. You need to be realistic in choosing the spot that has the best conditions for novice and young divers. We all know how frightening bad visibility or strong current can be during your first time - and if your kids get scared, the chances are they won’t want to continue with their course. Choose somewhere with calm and clear seas that have an abundance of marine life and sandy dive sites. Locally, there are a lot of best places to scuba dive in Davao, like this new resort in Davao Oriental called Camp Bernardino.

 

Camp Bernardino de Lavigan’s activities include free diving, scuba diving, snorkeling, and snorkel boarding perfect for kids who are curious about the water. Wondering what else to do in Camp Bernardino de Lavigan? Just check out their Facebook now and learn more!

 

 

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An “It” Place in the Oriental Coast

Are you sick of hearing all about the hype in Mati? I mean, all we really ever try to go to is Dahican. Whenever we’re in need of a quick escape, then the default destination for most of us is Dahican. Then we go there to chill and drink our hearts out. But beyond the long stretch of white sands of Mati, there lies a quaint underrated “it place” that would definitely capture your hearts, dahican lovers! We’re talking about this new beach resort in governor generoso, the best place to visit in davao oriental, none other than Camp Bernardino de Lavigan.

Quite a longer drive than your usual Davao-Mati trip, but we promise the coastal road scenery is definitely worth the extra hours! The road going to this place is not a problem at all because all are paved well with concrete. You’re in for a bigger surprise once you get there because of its unique accommodation, many water activities, nearby tourist spots, and exemplary local cuisine that will surely capture your taste buds. Today we’ve rounded up some testimonials why Camp Bernardino:

Byaheng Lokal from Facebook says:  If you are planning a long weekend vacation, this place is perfect! They offer a glamping style of accommodation.

Ian Garcia from Facebook also says: “Aside from the paved highway that cut travel time to half, GovGen now has world-class resorts, like El Don Resort in Barangay Pundaguitan and Camp Bernardino de Lavigan in Barangay Lavigan. There are now 28 inland and beachfront resorts in the municipality.  According to tourism officer Joey Gamao, the municipality is also a favorite destination for diving, boasting of, at least, 16 dive sites. GovGen has also lured various bird watching clubs, both national and international, as migratory birds from China, Korea and Japan have made the municipality as one of their stops on their way to Indonesia. While tourism is starting to recover as we continue to brave the pandemic, the DOT and the LGU still require the wearing of face masks, practice physical distancing, regular washing/disinfection of hands, and logging in for possible contact tracing for both locals and visitors.

These are just some of the testimonials that say the next time you’re wondering where to go in Governor Generoso, better check out campbernardino.com!

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Starting and Ending the Day at Davao Oriental

Camp Bernardino de Lavigan

The view of the sunrise is such a magnificent thing to look at. It’s like a holy reminder that today is a new day and a new chance to do the things that you want to explore. It’s like a sign of hope that new beginnings are coming for us all. Especially during a time like this, we all need a sign of hope and something to make us remember that despite what is happening in our world, there are still better days that we can look forward to. It’s best enjoyed with your loved ones over a full breakfast meal to get you started for the day. Sunrises are also best enjoyed by the beach where you hear the sound of the waves crashing on the shore and the birds making their early morning wake up calls.

On the other side, many people enjoy sunsets more. It’s like this famous saying that “even endings can be beautiful” which is really true when you see a sunset view. It’s so romantic especially when you watch it from the shoreline with your husband or your special someone over a glass of wine or a cup of coffee. These simple things are what we need most right now to keep us positive. Sad to say, we can’t really enjoy them here in the city because we have been in quarantine since March. We cannot go out and reconnect with nature. Which is bad for our mental health.

Good thing, since it’s already GCQ here in Davao City, then we can go and have our vacation but with proper safety measures. We need to get health clearance and a private car to be safe. Most of you think of going to the usual Mati resorts. But there’s actually a new beach resort in Davao Oriental which is the best place for sunset and sunrise watching. Camp Bernardino de Lavigan offers the best of both worlds. It’s facing Malita, so on that side of the coastline you can enjoy sunsets. But just a few minutes away is a viewing deck called that is the best sunrise place in Davao Oriental. You can get up early to catch the first light there. To see the wonderful photos of these times of the day, you can check out Camp Bernardino’s Facebook page and be mesmerized!

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Patience is a Virtue

The routine that you’ve experienced while you were in the quarantine period is not only physically draining but emotionally and mentally tiring as well. We’ve been in our houses for such a long time that you almost forgot what it feels to be outdoors and experience the bounty of nature. Sometimes you feel like you’ve lost the passion to do your interests and engage in hobbies that are beneficial to your well-being.

You might not realize it, but the routine in the new normal time is slowly taking the life out of your system. That’s why it’s highly recommended to take a break once in a while. No, of course, it’s not about breaking the rules of the government, or being reckless and going out without proper precautions. But it’s simply about going outdoors and seeing the beauty of the landscapes and seascapes that will bring you back the positive outlook in life. You can go to the beach and still be safe by wearing masks and practicing social distancing. You can relearn the things that you forgot like the patience or the reward of doing things that are considered simple pleasures of life. 

The best and new beach destination to unwind and relax is called Camp Bernardino de Lavigan. If you’re wondering what to do in CBDL, there are tons of exciting things ahead! You can go from land to a variety of beach activities that will help you forget for a while the stress of the pandemic. In CBDL, they offer unique activities like squid catching which is very new to many of us. It’s not frequently offered in many beach resorts in Davao, but it’s an experience worth trying since it not only tests your patience but it also makes you realize that the ocean is full of wonderful mysteries even at night when we don’t really appreciate its beauty. CBDL Squid Catching is available for group trips which is a very exciting bonding experience for friends. It’s something you definitely don’t want to miss! Head on over to Camp Bernardino’s Facebook page if you want to find out more about the exciting and unique activities they offer.

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Where the Abundance of Nature Meets Luxury

Glamping - this may be a familiar word to some. But what really is glamping? Glamping is basically a play on the words glamorous and camping. 

It was initially introduced in the United Kingdom in 2005 but it was not until 2016 when it finally became an official entry to the oxford dictionary. Glamping was rather foreign to some of the favorite international tourist destinations, including the Philippines. But now, the idea of luxurious tent living is already all too familiar to be ignored. If you’re one of the few who still haven’t heard of this new type of vacation yet, then you should definitely check it out and try out for yourself!

The typical image that comes to mind when one thinks of camping is usually a sleeping setup in tents with a bonfire prepared right outside where food is cooked. But with glamping, you’re provided with hotel living whilst spending more time with nature. There is still the presence of camping elements like bonfires, tents and freshly burnt smore since we don’t want to skip that part! Glamping just makes the typical camping experience much better through the integration of luxurious elements like air-conditioning units, being in a proper camping location like a resort, and having proper food to order in instead of hunting for your own.

Since its introduction in 2005, it has steadily risen in popularity and eventually it found its way to the Philippines. Currently, there are only a few choices where one can really experience the unique concept of clamping. Most of them are in Luzon, such as the one in Tagaytay and Batangas. Here in Mindanao, there are fairly new sites such as the new tourist destination in Davao called Camp Bernardino de Lavigan. 

Camp Bernardino is a new Gov. Gen Beach Resort that is perfect for those who’d want to go on glamping trips with their families. One of the reasons is their tents being huge! With a maximum capacity of at 8 persons plus extra bed, the entire clan can go on a one-of-a-kind glamping trip by the sea where there’s abundant catch of fresh seafood and a priceless view of the Pacific sunset. With the tagline “where sunsets and bonding moments meet,” this is really the best place to stay in Davao Oriental.

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Ride the Waves with this New Spot

Whether you’re a newbie or a professional surfer, I have the place that might just be the perfect spot you’re looking for. I know you might have heard of Siargao, Mati, Baler and all those other usual surfing spots in the Philippines and you’ve probably visited those countless times too. But what if beyond these typical destinations, there is someplace else that’s not yet known to the public but is definitely worth the long trip. Directly facing the Pacific ocean is the latest surfing gem that will get you excited in some of the most impressive waves of the country. Located in Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental, it can be an understatement to say that this is the best for all levels of surfers. 

The waves are mostly consistent throughout the year. Though you are in for a treat in the month of February, when waves are at their biggest. The best thing about this surfing resort in Davao Oriental is that there are 2 areas where you can catch waves - the one in Lanka, and the one near the tip of the Oriental coastline, near Cape San Agustin. The first is known for the picturesque rock formations nearby, and the second for its pristine and calm environment perfect for a quiet time of learning to dance with the waves.

What makes the location even better to visit is there’s a very good place to stay that offers both comfort and peace. Just 10 minutes away is Camp Bernardino de Lavigan, Davao Oriental’s new surfing place, that is perfect for chilling while waiting for the waves to come back to the shore. For travellers who are not really sure when they want their surfing vacation to end, you wouldn’t even have to worry because the resort is working on cashless transactions which means, you do not even have to bring much when staying there! Sounds tempting? Wait til they finally go on their grand opening. For now, you can check the best surfing place in Davao Oriental on their Facebook page and see what else you can expect in this piece of paradise for all levels of surf lovers.

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