Q-and-A: Snorkeling the Philippines’ Bacuit Bay
Jul 6th, 2010 by wwftravel
Green sea turtles are a common site in Bacuit Bay © Lee Goldman
Between researching coral reproduction at the University of the Philippines in pursuit of a Ph.D., guiding nature-oriented expeditions throughout Asia and spending time with his family, Lee Goldman keeps himself busy.
Still, the Philadelphia native’s schedule always allows time to snorkel in one of his favorite spots in the world: the Philippines’ Bacuit Bay.
Nestled in a secluded part of Palawan Islands in the Coral Triangle – a WWF priority place for protection – Bacuit Bay is a biodiverse snorkeling spot with protected reefs, abundant coral and fish, gentle currents and stunning vistas.
We spoke with Goldman from his home outside Manila about why Bacuit Bay should be on every diehard snorkeler’s must-see list.
WWF Travel: You have snorkeled all over Asia and the rest of the world. Why is Bacuit Bay an especially remarkable place?
Lee Goldman: Bacuit Bay is a very small and semi-enclosed bay. What is amazing, however, is that it is so incredibly diverse. A fish census in 2008 recorded over 800 species of reef fish. A 2009 coral census in 2009 showed more than 400 species of coral.
The Philippines are already recognized as being the epicenter of inshore marine fish diversity and one of the leading countries for coral diversity, yet to find such high numbers in such a small area is remarkable. Each time I go I see something new and amazing.
WWF: Is the habitat as diverse as its inhabitants?
LG: To go from a shallow channel to steep drop-offs to sheltered reef flats to sandy sea grass beds, all within a 15-minute boat ride, is heaven for the marine enthusiast. It gives us the chance to see a wide range of fish, coral and invertebrates that are specific to these habitats.
The snorkeling in Bacuit Bay is very shallow, making the reefs and the inhabitants extremely accessible for all snorkelers. And the scenery in Bacuit Bay is some of the most dramatic in the world. Two-thousand-foot cliffs soaring above pristine beaches makes for a truly breathtaking experience.
Lee Goldman will guide WWF's Snorkeling Bacuit Bay tour.
WWF: Being that it’s such a protected nook, is Bacuit Bay a haven for juvenile species?
LG: The Bay is a great place for juvenile fish – juvenile blacktip sharks, eagle rays, cuttlefish and dozens of juvenile reef fish are common sightings for us.
In 2008, I was running a tour for a group of avid snorkelers when one of them commented that their favorite fish to see was the juvenile humphead grouper. This fish is rare and I had not seen it here before. We were snorkeling at Seven Commandos Beach when I spotted a pearly white fish with black spots swimming near a rocky outcropping. Sure enough, here he was, and it was the highlight of tour!
WWF: What has been one of your top marine life sightings so far this year?
LG: Perhaps the most memorable this year was the juvenile whale shark. We were returning from a snorkel around Matinloc [Island] when we spotted, from a distance, what we thought was a dolphin on the surface. We approached slowly and the “shadow” never broke the water’s surface to breathe, as we would have expected.
At 10 feet away, we saw the spots and characteristic square-shaped head. “A juvenile whale shark!” I yelled. I couldn’t believe it!
I have had over 100 encounters with whale sharks but never with one only a meter long. This was a real treat to see, especially since they are so rare. We didn’t get to spend a very long time with it, but it was an experience that will stay with all of us for many years to come.
WWF: What corals should travelers keep an eye out for?
LG: As a coral guy, I get excited about coral species that are rare or have interesting behavior. Recently, I found an Acropora species that was a rare color morph – red.
I love seeing things like this and I love even more that after explaining why it is rare. It gives the guests yet another reason to appreciate the marine life of the Philippines.
Travel with Goldman on WWF’s Snorkeling Bacuit Bay tour, February 26 – March 13, 2011.
