Boracay Island Warnings and Dangers

While on a paraw sunset cruise, we saw how one of the passengers of the Banana boat was thrown out into the sea after the speedboat made a sudden turn. Fortunately, he wore a lifevest. Imagine if he did not! Although the speedboat hurriedly turns back to fetch thrownout passengers, banana boat riders must obey rules and wear the lifevest at all times.

Even on a smooth sailing paraw, you will be provided with a lifevest. And even if you see that your skipper/captain and his assistant/balancer do not wear lifevests, use yours for your own safety.

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I was so excited with our helmet dive/ reef walk that I listened only halfheartedly to the dive master thorughout the orientattion. When it was my turn to descend to the coral reef, I had ear aches and I forgot the proper way to equalize. Also, I forgot that I shouldn't move my legs, but just let go and let the dive master lead me down smoothly. Fortunately, my dive master-guide was sensitive to my needs and when he saw I still couldn't equalize, he put his hand through my helmet and he himself pinched my nose while instructing me how to breath. How embarassing! The water was cold, but I must have felt colder because everyone else was looking at me instead of the fishes! When I motioned the hand signal for OK everyone smiled, and we all proceeded with feeding the fishes.

Please don't be like me. No matter how excited you are, listen attentively to the orientation.briefing.

Our dive master in the helmet dive experience heard my daughter convincing me to join them in the flying fish ride. He cautioned us that the activity might be too "battering" for us because structurally, as the speedboat goes full speed, the inflated flying fish boat will be lifted up, then fall on the waves causing us to bounce on the boat. While it might be thrilling for some, the flying fish ride could be a "battering" experience for some, especially women.

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Most of us thought that algaes are natural phenomena. They are. They are in fact an indicator how polluted the water can be.

Algaes appear in Boracay during the peak season, whe polluters are plenty, when rain are rare and sea is calm.

The algae disappear when the conditions is reversed.

Please see the other pictures.

WATER ACTIVITIES OVERPRICED!
When we went to Boracay, we were approached by several locals offering different activities such as reef walking, snorkeling, island hopping, etc. Most of these guys were charging us way too high! The man we talked to said that the cost for fly fish per person is P600! Luckily, one of our friends has been to Boracay just last month and he said they were just asked for P350/head!

My suggestion is before you agree with the locals offering such activities, be sure to ask other locals too or other friends who have been to Boracay for the prices because those people will take advantage of you! DON'T BE FOOLED! Also, beware of these locals offering activities because they are very very aggressive especially to foreigners! Also, if you have already agreed with the local in charge of your activities, DO NOT GIVE YOUR MONEY RIGHT AWAY. Be sure to write down the activities and the prices agreed upon so that the locals you talked to won't ask for any hidden charges if you are already paying! Payments for these activities are given after you have finished already so better keep your money first and not pay right away.

Prices for activities in Boracay as of July 2009 are: Reef Walking = P500/head, Flyfish = P350/head.. as much as possible try to bargain with the locals especially if you are plenty in your group.

OVERPRICED SOUVENIR ITEMS AT PUCA BEACH
When we went to Puca Beach, I was so excited as I was planning to buy anklets made from Puca shells as one of my friends gave me one years ago and it was really nice. I was planning to buy some as "pasalubong" to my friends. When we got off the boat, locals rushed to us offering different necklaces, bracelets, anklets, made from shells. Most were really nice. The anklets were selling at 3 pcs for P100 but you could ask for a free if you purchased 6 pcs (P200). I bought a necklace for my mom for P100, a bracelet made from their so called "magic stones" for P150, and rosaries made from "mother pearl" shells for P150. I thought I was lucky because I got to purchase some "limited edition" items only available at Puca Beach. My disappointment came we went to D Mall and D Talipapa (Station 1-2) where I saw the same necklace just like what I purchased. When I asked the lady how much it cost, it is just P50!!!! I cannot believe that I was FOOLED by the locals at Puca Beach!!! BEWARE OF THESE LOCALS SELLING SOUVENIR ITEMS AT PUCA BEACH! I remembered they were also selling necklaces for P300-P600!!!! Whew! Good thing we weren't that stupid to buy those. And guess what, we saw the same necklaces at D Mall & D talipapa and these items were just selling at P35-P50 each!!!! Whew!!!!

My suggestion: DO NOT BUT ITEMS AT PUCA BEACH. Maybe the anklets were fair as I wasn't able to see some at the market but the necklaces made of shells/beads/"magic stones", CRAP DON'T BUT THEM IN PUCA BEACH!! You can have those items in the market for waaaay below the price.

Also, you will see locals selling Boracay sand inside bottles of different sizes. The smallest one, like the one they're selling as cellphone accessories, cost P50 each!! Don't but them!! Aside that it's prohibited to bring samples of sand, it is also overpriced!! It just costs P20 per piece in the market!!!

Tricycle cost normal just less than P30 fare. Of course, you need to ask the price for the ride. A short ride should be P7 and it usually doubles at night. Fares for longer rides should be displayed on a chart inside the trike.

Warning. Because too many people like the white sand, so started to pick a few bottle of sand back to home. Now, the PH government has rule, this is illegal to bring back the sand, and when they catch you, you are fine for US$50,000. You will find the local shop selling these kind of bottle, don't buy it, it is also illegal to buy it on the plane.

UNA, WAG NA WAG NYONG IIWAN ANG MGA MAHAHALAGANG BAGAY SA LOOB NG INYONG MGA HOTEL AT HINDI KA SURE KUNG SAFE NGA ANG MGA IIWAN MONG BAGAY SA LOOB NG INYONG TINUTULUYAN. MARAMING MALILIKOT ANG KAMAY SA BAWAT PUNTAHAN NATIN. KUNG MAAARI, IKALAT ANG INYONG PERA SA IBAT IBANG PARTE NG KATAWAN PARA IN CASE N MAHOLDAP KAYO O MADUKUTAN, HINDI KA SIMOT AT UUWING LUHAAN, UN E KUNG MAKAKAUWI K P SA BAHAY NYO E KUNG WALA K NG PERANG PAMASAHE. WAG MAGSOSOOT NG MGA ALAHAS KUNG PUPUNTA KA SA ISANG MATAONG LUGAR LALONG LALO N KUNG ALAM MO N ANG LUGAR N PUPUNTAHAN MO AY KILALA SA PAGIGING DELIKADONG LUGAR. WAG MAGYABANG AT WAG IKALAT KALAT ANG CELLPHONE N MAMAHALIN SA KALSADA DAHIL MAKUKUHA MO TIYAK ANG ATTENTION NG HIOLDAPER AT SNATCHER.