My last tech dive during certification wasn’t as uneventful as my first 45m dive, so I’m a little apprehensive about doing it again. My dive club dive master in Taiwan isn’t keen on tech dives either, which makes me question my motivation. However, I know I need to gain more experience before pursuing additional training to reach 60m depths.
I’m so glad I pushed through because I absolutely loved this tech diving experience in Anilao!
In this post:
- Dive Highlights
- Day 1: Tres Cuevas and Agahuta Dive Sites
- Day 2: So What’s It Like Getting Narc’d?!
- Daryl Laut: The Sunken Casino Barge
- Tech Diving and Macro Photography
- Where to Book Your Next Tech Dive and Costs
Dive Highlights
- Reached my deepest point yet at 51.2m
- Experienced nitrogen narcosis for the first time
- Brought my GoPro 13 with Macro Mate Mini +15
Day 1: Tres Cuevas and Agahuta Dive Sites
My first descent felt disorienting since my last dives in early August were recreational single-tank dives. In addition to twin tanks, I’m using a 22L tank for decompression and rented fins. But the 20-minute boat ride to the dive site gave me enough time to mentally review the procedures, helping me stay calm and adjust as we descended. I didn’t spot the caves (cuevas) though.
Red-toothed triggerfish surrounded us throughout most of the dive, keeping things exciting. We agreed on a Total Time to Surface (TTS) limit of 20 minutes, and on this first dive, I reached 47.3m!
I decided to clip my GoPro to my gear instead of keeping it in my pocket since the decompression stop at 6m would be lengthy. This didn’t interfere with my gas switch. I only packed it away with my torch after we signaled to move to 3m.
At the end of the tech dive, I had 100 bar remaining in each bottom gas tanks and 150 bar in my deco gas – enough for a fun dive using twin tanks, another first for me!
Day 2: So What’s It Like Getting Narc’d?!
My dive guide adjusted my rented gear, significantly improving my buoyancy. The plan was a tech dive first, then use remaining air for a fun dive. TTS remained at 20 minutes, though my guide thought I could handle more.
I was here for the deep, so we aimed for 50m. I pushed a little deeper and hit 51.2m! Getting nitrogen narcosis was something I expected – my tech instructor had warned that I might become overly relaxed.
At 50m, that’s exactly what happened. My legs felt heavy and unresponsive, as did my arms. Then came the funny feeling – my first time experiencing true narcosis. I felt detached from my physical body, like my consciousness was floating separately. This is where muscle memory becomes crucial.
We were at our deepest point, staring into the abyss, when I looked at my dive guide and thought, “Is he high too?” I actually laughed at the thought. When I checked my Garmin MK3, it was finally time to ascend.
During ascent, disaster struck – I dropped my GoPro! Fortunately, there was no current, and since we were ascending along a reef, I managed to grab it. The near-miss also snapped me out of my narcotic trance. The effects wore off as we ascended – by 21m, my head was 90% clear and my mobility had returned to about 90% normal. I was grateful for all that gas switch practice on the boat, as I had no trouble performing the procedure even while impaired.
During the debrief, I told my dive guide about the experience. He asked why I hadn’t signaled my condition. I explained that I had acknowledged what was happening and compensated by paying extra attention. When I mentioned feeling “funny,” he laughed and said, “So that’s where the ‘haha!’ came from!” I had no idea I’d actually laughed out loud – I thought it was just in my head.
Daryl Laut: The Sunken Casino Barge
With 120 bar remaining in bottom gas tanks – more than enough for a fun dive – we headed to our final site: Daryl Laut, the sunken casino barge. Local legend claims it was insurance fraud. The wreck is massive, though I couldn’t identify specific sections. I descended to 30m while Gerald and the other Advanced Open Water divers stayed at 20m. I spent exactly one hour testing my GoPro 13 with the Macro Mate Mini +10.
Tech Diving and Macro Photography
Earlier this year, I built a macro photography setup that I’m still hoping to master, though I have competing priorities. I wondered if the GoPro 13 with Macro Mate Mini would fit in my IST dive shorts and whether I could streamline it effectively – turns out it works perfectly.
My setup is simple: just the GoPro with macro lens and my new Archon S10P dive torch. No camera tray needed. I do need to reposition the snap bolt since it appears in some videos, but otherwise, the setup works well.
Where to Book Your Next Tech Dive and Costs
The Philippines is just a 2-hour flight from Taiwan, making it a practical choice as long as I avoid Manila’s notorious 8-hour traffic jams. I can visit friends and family on Fridays and Mondays, then dive with Gerald on weekends. Anilao is about a 3hr drive from where we live.
I booked two tech dives, two fun dives, and an overnight room with Blue Ribbon Dive Resort. This was my second time diving with this resort/dive shop, which was also recommended by my instructor at Tech Asia.
Here’s the cost breakdown in Philippine Pesos:
| Service | Cost (PHP) | Quantity | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tech Dive | 3,600 | x2 | 7,200 |
| Fun Dive (Twin Tanks) | 1,800 | x2 | 3,600 |
| Equipment Rental/Twin Tanks | 1,200 | x2 | 2,400 |
| Dive Pass | 200 | x2 | 400 |
| Total | 13,600 |
I was expecting to spend around 10K per day, so this was quite reasonable.
The hotel room cost PHP 3,600 for an overnight stay with an off-season discount. Breakfast was included, and lunch meals cost approximately PHP 2,700. We went to SM City for dinner and picked up additional supplies.
Next time I’m definitely bringing my own fins – right after I buy new jet fins! We made it back to Manila before 8 PM with plenty of time to catch the last showing of Demon Slayer at SM Marikina.
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That’s it for now! Stay tuned for more adventures and tips on balancing work and travel! 🌹
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