An underwater version of a bustling metropolitan city can be found in the waters of Mantigue Island. Measuring four hectares in diameter and located three kilometers off Camiguin Island, the island has now been groomed as an eco-tourism destination. Today, the Mantigue Natural Park's lush forest houses different species of trees and plants. A localized tourism management program set up by the local government makes this island a model for nature preservation.
Mantigue is manned by a few families belonging to the island's original settlers, who were trained to oversee the island, the forest, and serve as tour guides. It's a simple case of people-empowerment, while at the same time safeguarding the island from falling into the hands of misguided and greedy, questionable island "developers".
A Hawksbill Turtle Sighting at Mantigue Island
Ikoy the Great
Ikoy the great is one of them—our assigned tour guide for the day. He walks with a slight limp brought about by a deformity in his right hand and foot. At first glance, you might feel sorry for him. However, that thought quickly vanishes the moment you listen to his expressive character. The joyful and exuberant nature of Ikoy rubbed off onto our group instantly.
He showed us the forest trail with the enthusiasm of Kuya Kim Atienza. He'd take pictures of us and follow them up with an array of adjectives ranging from 'marvelous' and 'perfect' to 'amazing' and 'splendid', to the point that we'd ask him to talk more just so we could hear another word recited with Shakespearean gusto from him.
Mantigue Island's Underwater Gem
I had enjoyed our previous day's snorkeling incursion in the waters surrounding the Sunken Cemetery so much that I was looking forward to doing the same at Mantigue Island. I had heard a lot about the marine life that teems under the current, so I came mentally prepared, as I am not a strong swimmer. Wearing my boardshorts, I was already eager to jump into the water while still aboard the small boat ferrying us from Barangay San Roque in Mahinog, Camiguin, to Mantigue.
After our short forest hike, Ikoy the Great directed us to the waters. After putting on my life vest, I saw Ikoy, along with free-swimmers Lois, James, and Ferdz, quickly heading out into the water. I chased after them, only to see Ikoy swimming like a real-world version of Aquaman. Not long after, they all left me behind—still struggling to fit my life vest—as they swam deep into the waters.
Underneath me, I felt my feet walking over a grassy seabed, until I kicked further into the deep. I started to see a vibrant and healthy system of colorful coral reefs and different kinds of fish. To borrow one of Ikoy's adjectives, I was telling myself how "amazing" the scenery below me was. The angle from where I was swimming faced the current, which was pushing me toward my left. So as I advanced forward, the more I leaned to my left, which proved to be a good thing, as I ended up exactly where Lois, Enzo, James, and Ikoy were huddled.
I heard them cheering aloud and motioning to each other "this big" with both their hands. I swam faster to catch up with them, and as I looked below me, there it was—my very first sighting of a sea turtle in real life. The first time I had ever seen such a sea creature outside of television screens and glossy magazine pictures. (Author's note: after showing Ferdz's photograph of it online, we found out that it was a Hawksbill Turtle.)
Again, I borrowed another adjective from Ikoy and declared "Magnificent!" while swallowing seawater in the process. The Hawksbill floated calmly, flipping its feet just enough to glide smoothly for a minute before it disappeared underneath one of the large coral formations. I wanted to make another pass to catch another glimpse of it, but the strong current had started to push me back. Exhausted and already deeply pleased at seeing my first sea turtle, I just let the flow of the sea carry me back to the shore.
