Cebu has been a hideaway for over a period of time. Maybe because of its resorts, offering excellent amenities for a family get-together and business conferences or maybe because of its historical significance and colorful festivals? One should not miss the unpolluted waters, soothing sea breeze and the enchanted call of the wild beckoning every adventurer to visit the underwater domain and be fascinated with its gratifying wonders.
One area where you can find the sea escapade you are looking for is in Gato Island, a relatively small island, considered as an islet, of Cebu. It is under the jurisdiction of Daanbantayan.
Located at about 15 kilometers away from Malapascua Island, Gato Island can be reached by a motorized pump boats for only forty-minute ride.
When viewed from afar, it is like an uninhabited landmass with nothing but thick shrubs and trees and a guardhouse built upon a rock. The guards watch and register the visitors coming around. It has a sign that reads “Sea Snake and Marine Life Sanctuary”.
Actually, it is a big rock ascends in the middle of nowhere in the Visayan Sea. It is a short, rocky island, elevated 83 meters above the sea level. One can see it as far as 20 kilometers away.
Number of animal species can be found in the island. Seabirds made their nest around the island. A colony of flying foxes are dominating the rainforest trees, fearlessly swinging from braches to braches in the cliffy shores. Kingfishers glide in the surface and in and out of the cave beneath the island.
The name was named “Isla de Gato” or “Cat Island” during the Spanish era. The word “Gato” was derived from the Spanish term of cat. This is because the island is shaped like into a “sitting cat”.
The entire island is covered with impressive rock formations, spectacular caves, cathedral, overhangs, steep walls and swim-through. It is constantly hit by the current giving life to soft corals and diverse species of nudibranchs. The undercutting of the island due to wave action makes it almost impossible for the vehicles to land, especially when the tide is high.
There is a big cave and 3 underwater caves. The Tunnel system is a journey underneath the Gato Island and come out to the other side. In its 30-meter structure, it houses various kinds of marine dwellers like crabs and lobsters. There are several hideouts, decorated with lovely corals, sponges and thorny oysters.
Gato Island is known as one of the most famous dive sites in the country. It is a protected marine sanctuary and one of the loveliest marine sanctuaries around Cebu. For photographers and diving enthusiasts, it is an underwater paradise, laden with the most unusual of the marine species.
The real excitement starts few feet beneath the waters and the exotic life forms, frolicking in carefree and untroubled manner. One abundant sea dwellers are the sea snakes, some are poisonous and others are non-fatal. The place has been famous as a breeding place for sea snakes. It is one of the three islands in the Philippines where sea snakes breed.
Among the must-sees species of snake are the black and white banded sea snake, big coral moray eel and silver eel on the move. Balingkasaw, locally-known specie of poisonous snakes are gathered for their skins which are made into bags and shoes in Danao City. Its meat is used by the Chinese as an aphrodisiac. Two Japanese fishermen discovered its breeding ground around the island in 1933.
In crevices and lagoons, many juvenile snakes hang out especially in just 3 to 5 meters below. The breeding season is from March to September. After the months’ incubation, the young are born and migrate to the coral reefs to look for food.
In the past, they were in extreme numbers but due to overexploitation, it greatly reduced its number from hundreds a night to only about dozen per night.
There are five dive sites in the area and all of them offer the same abundance of marine life from the others. There are pygmy seahorses in pink and yellow which are extremely rare, shells, shrimps, scorpion fish, frogfish, big cuttlefish, puffer fish, squids, tuna, mackerel, snapper, stingrays and nudibranchs. One will constantly see new creatures of the deep.
One of the highlight of the dive is the sighting of whitetip sharks, bamboo sharks and other reef sharks. Some are found sleeping in the corner of the cave while others are encircling its exit. If one is swimming slowly and carefully, sharks will pass you just few inches from your face. This venture is only for experienced divers and not for the faint-hearted. The sightings of the sharks are 95% guaranteed.
Gato Island is full of astonishing revelations. There is more than what sees the eyes in the first dive. Every dive has something fresh to offer. No wonder, visitors keep on going back. Experience the different kind of kick that you’ve been looking for.
