Close Encounters of the Wet Kind

Looking for an underwater thrill that doesn't require going through immigration, emptying your wallet, or getting chased by actual sharks? Dive & Trek Resort and Marine Sanctuary might just be your next weekend obsession.

- RICARDO T. PAMINTUAN

Nestled in Bauan, Batangas, this PADI-certified dive resort—rated a solid 4.5/5 stars on TripAdvisor—offers world-class scuba diving just a two-hour drive from Bacoor (or a bit more if you're crawling out of Manila traffic and depending on your family's ability to leave the house on time). In yet another tropical paradise in our glorious archipelago, the sea is generous, the fish fearless, and swings and lounge chairs are always calling your name like a sale on Shopee or Lazada.

Sure, there are other resorts in the area, and boats often drop by the Dive & Trek reef because—why not? Some resorts specialize in free diving, which I haven't done in decades and have no intention of doing now. So scuba it is. Or snorkeling if I'm vacationing on a budget.

But my wife and I were celebrating a milestone, so on a sleepy weekday before the Holy Week exodus, I drove the family to Balite port, parked the car, and hopped on a 20-minute boat ride to the resort. We arrived before lunch, and it was clear I had chosen wisely: smiles and friendly gestures from Jericho Sato-Alvarez, the amiable on-site operations manager, greeted us—along with complimentary welcome drinks. I didn't get to meet Arlyn Cueto Enriquez, who deftly assisted me in booking the place and made sure we got there unscathed.

Dive & Trek, of course, gives you options, but we opted to stay in the water. Trekking did cross my mind—briefly before a staff member, young and strong from what I could see, warned of the steep ascent, which he claimed to be especially challenging. He had me at "steep."