Underwater Kingdom in Davao the Philippines

For those who love underwater activities, you definitely have to visit Davao city in the Philippines.

The City of Davao is the largest city located in the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. That city is one of Philippines' most progressive cities. Davao city has emerged as the business, investment and tourism center for the entire Southern Philippines. The city boasts of some of the finest beaches and mountain resorts in the country and it is the Philippines' most captivating diving spots as well as the highest peak, Mount Apo.

There are a lot to enjoy in Davao City. Davao has many cultural diversities that make the city very rich and life. This immense city – one of the largest in the world in terms of land area – is home to the ethnic Bagobo, Mandaya, Manobo, Tiboli, Mansaka and B'laan tribes, whose ancestors were first to arrive in Mindanao across land bridges from Malaysia. Catholics mix freely with Muslims, and churches stand alongside mosques. The name Davao was derived from the word "baba-daba", which evoked images of fire-breathing mythical figures and rituals of fire carried out before tribal wars.

Although Davao once had experienced armed struggle that almost brought Davao to its knees economically, but Davao today is a peaceful city, home to one million people and growing in stature as an investment and tourist destination.

To this day, Davao City continues to straddle two worlds - the new and the old. Part of it is a flourishing metropolis of business districts, mechanized farms and cosmopolitan villages where "instant millionaires" live.

The other part is a rural landscape of hills that roll down into fertile valleys, dominated by Mount Apo, the grandfather of all Philippine mountains.

You will find magnificent view in Davao underwater life. Like beautiful and unique corals, and colorful fish such as clown fish, little baby frog fish that has bright orange color. For you who really love diving and underwater activities, this underwater treasure will definitely satisfied you.

The Philippines forms an ocean region that has long been recognized as the world’s center of marine biodiversity. With the Malay archipelago, Papua New Guinea and Australia, the country forms the ‘Coral Triangle,’ so-called because of the abundance of its coral reef life. Some 400-500 species in 90 genera of reef-forming corals are believed to exist in this region. Sulu-Sulawesi Sea, a 900,000-square-kilometer marine eco-region that lies at the apex of the Coral Triangle (70% in the Philippines, 20% Indonesia, 10% Malaysia), is home to some 2,500 species of fish.

There are many fine and cozy hotels there.

Start from the fancy onelike Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Davao. This Hotel has very complete facilities like scuba diving, snorkelling, pool (outdoor), jooging track, fishing, water skiing, boating/sailing, child care, laundry, room service, beach, game room, tennis, and many more. This is an impressive hotel but the fare is high too. Some said that you should be carefull when you swim on the beach because it could suddenly get so deep.

Marco Polo Davao, Marco Polo Davao is situated in the bustling City of Davao, the economic hub of Mindanao. Conveniently located at Claro M Recto Street in the city's business and commercial district. 20 minutes drive from the Davao International Airport. 245 luxurious rooms and suites all with beautiful vistas overlooking Mount Apo and Gulf of Davao. All rroms are equipped with an executive desk, IDD telephone with voice mail facility, fax modem port, internet access, remote control television, cable television, complimentary tea and coffee making facilities, minibar and in-room safes.

Another hotel that is near the city is Apo View Hotel, Davao. This is a Modern 10-story Hotel in central location, 9 km from Davao City Airport. Only minutes to reach malls, churches, and other place. The price is not as high as the first one. The staffs are pretty friendly.

By air,
Davao City has direct flights to major cities in the Philippines and some Asian Cities. Francisco Bangoy International Airport (Davao International Airport) is currently being served by the following airline carriers:

• Cebu Pacific 4 flights weekly to Cagayan de Oro, 3 flights daily to Cebu City, Once daily flight to Iloilo City, 6 daily flights to Manila, and Once daily flight to Zamboanga City
• Philippine Airlines 7 daily flights to Manila and daily flights to Cebu City.
• PAL Express One daily flight to Zamboanga
• SilkAir 4 flights weekly to Singapore
• Zest Airways One daily flight to Manila

By land,
You will find roaming around the city streets accessible by the number of buses, jeepneys, multicabs, cabs (taxi) that run the city streets. Getting your way around Davao City is never a problem with the mode of transportation available.

Davao City also offers a wide bus network connection to major cities and provinces, not only in Mindanao but even as far as Manila and Pasay City in Luzon. Davao City is connected to Manila by a series of roll on roll off or inter-island ferry connection. You can reach Davao City by bus to and from all of the Cities in Mindanao like Cotabato, Kidapawan, Digos, General Santos, Koronadal, Isulan, Tacurong, Tagum, Cagayan de Oro, Surigao, Butuan, Cebu city and Pasay City in Manila.

By sea,
You may reach this city by passenger ferries throughout the Philippines at Sasa Wharf and Sta. Ana Wharf.

• Sulpicio Lines twice weekly from Manila.
• SuperFerry twice weekly to Manila.

If you love to get the unforgettable of underwater experience, try Davao :)