MEDIA RELEASE

March 2011

Marine marvels on show at 1st Philippine Dive Seafari

The 7,107 islands of the Philippines sit on what some consider the “center of
global marine biodiversity”, and more dive enthusiasts are catching on.

With its abundance of wildlife, the Philippines is a biodiversity hotspot in its

entirety, one of only a few countries in the world with such distinction. It is also one of
six whose waters comprise the Coral Triangle, the richest collection of marine life
anywhere on the planet.

Here, the world’s most diverse array of corals and reef fish – three-fourths of all
coral species and over 2,000 varieties of fish, to be exact – populate the sea. There’s
even more upon closer inspection, as the array of wildlife includes everything from
dolphins to crustaceans, sea slugs to eels. The variety of creatures is simply
staggering.

While it shares some of this wealth with its neighbors, the Philippines is wonder
on its own. In fact, biologists have been finding new creatures here consistently in
recent years, both those thought to exist only elsewhere in the world and entirely new
species altogether.

Among the more noteworthy marine ambassadors of the Philippines are five
species of pawikan (sea turtle) and Sorsogon’s enormous butanding (whale shark). But
among macro photographers, the small and often strange critters wandering the sea
garner the most attention and intrigue.

With much of the world’s marine biodiversity housed in the Philippines and the
Coral Triangle, collaborative conservation efforts among stakeholders have fittingly
stepped up. Challenges posed by pollution, dangerous fishing practices and climate
change, among others, remain.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) puts the Philippines’ marine marvels on show
this summer as it hosts the 1st Philippine Dive Seafari. To headline familiarization tours
at four of the country’s top dive spots – Anilao, Bohol, Samal Island and Coron – are top
international underwater lensmen Bob Whorton, Robert Yin, Dave Allen and Alex Wu as
well as our very own Gutsy Tuazon.

“With this event, we hope not only to establish the Philippines as a world-class
marine macro photography destination, but to build appreciation for the beauty and
fragility of marine life as well,” said Secretary Alberto A. Lim.

Sponsored in part by STI-Tanauan & Lipa, Acacia Resort in Anilao, Batangas,

Davao Pearl Farm, Bohol Divers Lodge, Balicasag Dive Resort, Peacock Garden
Resort in Baclayon, Bohol, Calamianes Expeditions, Davao Dive Guides Association
Sonny Dizon of the Davao City Government, the 1st Philippine Dive Seafari will run from
April 25 to May 5, 2011.

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CONTACT: EVELYN A. MACAYAYONG

Office of Tourism Information
525-18-05