Incredibly surreal, I thought to myself as we glided over the choppy waters off the Bicol Peninsula towards the island of Ticao. My excitement at finally making it to Masbate—the seventy-seventh province I've visited in the Philippines—was palpable as our boat inched closer to the isle's powdery shores.
Ticao Island: Of baby sharks, a unique waterfall, and pristine waters
Aside from being one of Masbate's three main islands, Ticao is also home to Halea Nature Park. The waters around this marine environmental park are home to newborn sharks, bountiful undersea treasures, and a thriving coral reef that nature has sculpted and decorated with jagged rock formations covered in lush greenery.
Halea Nature Park is located on San Miguel Island, one of two islands on the northern tip of Ticao, the other being Bagababoy Island. The winding coastline is broken up by a few beach coves, and it was on the biggest of these that we anchored our boats and set up our boodle-fight lunch.
Baby Sharks Doo Doo Doo Doo
After chowing down on our tropical-themed boodle feast, we lounged around underneath the shade of the many trees and planned our next activity. When our guide, divemaster Junery, told us about the high chances of spotting baby sharks even in the shallows, the catchy children’s song “Baby Shark” instantly played inside my head.
We went into the waters of the next cove in batches of six to eight so as not to crowd the habitat of the juvenile sharks. Our turn came as the waves picked up, making it more challenging to snorkel while wearing a life jacket.
A couple of my free diver companions, Milet and Ferdz, quickly discovered a school of juvenile sharks. Cautiously venturing farther from shore, I spotted a single little shark a few meters ahead of me. As frightening as I thought it would be, it turned out to be completely harmless. Perhaps, if I saw an adult shark, the theme from the movie Jaws would replace the baby shark song in my head.
A waterfall that meets the sea
There are only around forty waterfalls in the world that directly debouche into the ocean, and one of them can be found here on Ticao Island, Masbate. Catandayagan Falls, located on the western section of the island, features a cascade of more than a hundred feet plunging over the edge of a seashore cliff into the clear waters of the Masbate Pass.
As our boat circled to the other side of Ticao Island facing mainland Masbate, we were introduced to a rare view of Catandayagan Falls from afar. Despite the great distance, I could already see the white streaming waters falling from the cliffside and straight into the ocean. Coming closer only made it appear more dramatic and spectacular. I had seen all shapes and sizes of waterfalls before—from wide and tall to multi-tiered—but this one clearly appeared in a rarified form.
As soon as we docked fifty meters from the wall of the rocky face of the island, I stood on the boat’s edge, face-to-face with the towering and jaw-dropping Catandayagan Falls. It was a sight to behold, watching endless streams of fresh water crashing into the saline sea below with a deafening noise. Our female companions from the boat dived into the water with their life vests on, and not long after, the deafening boom of the waterfall merged with the sounds of their delighted giggling.
More reasons to come back
The rock formations at Borobongkaso islet caught our attention as we traveled to our overnight destination, Ticao Island Resort, a popular spot among scuba divers. To achieve a better view of the pristine waters and the islands of Ticao and Masbate, you can climb over massive rocks of varying forms that look like they were piled up together by a giant's hand.
Later in the night, as we enjoyed another feast—this time highlighted by a whole lechon—our guides shared with us more reasons to come back. This includes going out on a scuba diving exploration to witness the many manta rays, hammerheads, whale sharks, thresher sharks, and tiger sharks that are normally spotted in the marine-life-rich waters of Ticao Island.
Waiting for sleep to come while I swayed on a hammock tied in front of my small villa, I recounted the day's happenings and easily convinced myself to come back for more of what the island has to offer. Exploring the island's picturesque tiny towns and undersea wealth, as well as seeing baby sharks, swimming in crystal-clear seas, and being delighted by the uniqueness of Catandayagan Falls, are more than enough reasons to return.
