What to do in a dive resort when you’re in no mood for diving?
It is rare for a place to be like this: near the Metro, yet without the usual horde of tourists that almost always comes with proximity. Perhaps because getting here wasn’t as easy as one might think. That “tucked in a forest” and “perched on a cliff” both apply to this place should clue you in. By the time you get to the access road, privacy would be expected. Narrow and hemmed by foliage thick enough to splinter light, the road tilted and curved. It ended here. To Eagle Point. Tucked and perched. And quiet.
The resort enjoys Anilao’s aquatic bounties, having access to a network of 30 dive sites along the Verde Island Passage. It mainly offers year-round diving, but I find that its selling point, at least for me, is the calm. I find it amazing that despite being popular among divers, the place still manages to afford a certain brand of seclusion.

More then marine life
Our first day there was spent munching on fish tacos and inhaling sea breeze. The sea was just at arm’s length. Its songs were ubiquitous. I was content.

Of course, I thought of diving, but while I believe in my core is the ocean, I prefer to love it from afar. They say you miss half the world’s wonder if you don’t explore the seas. Well, I’m totally fine with that. I was never taken by the underwater world. If I were to choose, I’d go to the mountains, amongst the clouds and trees. With that said, I was determined to find another angle to Eagle Point. I was sure there was more to it than just a (albeit popular) dive resort.
The next day, we took a boat and visited an island. Seco it was called, supposedly because of the trees that grew along its shores. I wasn’t enthused by the whole affair to be honest. At that point, I was happy to stay in my room, listening to sea songs. Even the raging waves did not faze me – then again, I’ve been to Itbayat.
I closed my eyes, feeling sea spray on my face. The bobbing of the boat, although a little violent, was making me drowsy. I knew I’d slid into slumber when I jolted as we came to a stop.
An oasis
I blinked away the residual sleep and tried to focus on what was before me: a cove of cream sands, bordered by hills and limestone sculptures. Scattered across the beach were low trees that looked a bit like bonsai Talisay. I jumped off the boat, feeling the undertow just behind my ankle. There were hiking trails, we were told, so off I instinctively went up the slopes.
The path was short and easy. It took me about five minutes to reach the top. From this vantage point, Seco Island appeared in its full form: a green-white-gray sickle cutting across a cerulean sea.
I took a deep breath and savored the ocean air, the brine tickling my nostrils slightly. I squinted at the horizon. A patch of clouds was the only thing that distinguished sky from sea.
Well, I guess you could say I fear the ocean, but what fool would not? I thought about marine life, how vast and largely unexplored our oceans are, how it’s as alien to us as outer space. I thought of mermaids. And Relicanth. Cthulhu. Giant squids. I swear I heard “Release the Kraken!” in the background.
In any event, for all of Eagle Point’s clout as a dive resort, I think Seco Island is its best feature. It’s common ground. Accessible. Still mostly a seascape, but not as foreign as the underneath. There’s still the sea within reach, but you could just stay inland and get lulled by the scent and the sound.
But, really, go see it for yourself. Don’t take my word for it – see, I’ll take trees and stacks over corals any day.

 
GETTING THERE
Eagle Point is located in Anilao, Batangas. To get there, take a bus bound to Anilao from one of the terminals in Cubao. DLTB, and Jam Liner have daily trips going to Anilao. Alternatively, there are also Anilao-bound buses in Pasay. Get off at either the Anilao Port or the Anilao Crossing. Fare is PhP165 to Php170 if coming from Cubao; travel time is about three hours.
Then, rent a tricycle to take you to the guardhouse of Eagle Point. Fare is PhP300, good for two; travel time is about 30 minutes. Once there, the resort’s shuttle will come and pick you up.
Eagle Point has exclusive access to Sepoc Island. A boat ride costs PhP2,500 for four pax, to and from the resort. For room rates, diving rates and schedules, plus other information,
visit www.eaglepointresort.com.ph
 
By CELINE MURILLO