almost tubbataha

this was supposed to be my 2nd tubbataha trip and i was so looking forward to it because i will be with my friends and new found dive buddies. we have been planning and anticipating for this 8-day live-aboard trip for almost a year but it was not meant to be. i was crestfallen but i can only imagine how my tubbataha first-timer friends felt, to say that they were heartbroken would be an understatement.

come to think of it, the expedition fleet had it easy with our group, we were all friends and acted/decided as one, we calmed each other down, we balanced each others emotions and we had back-up plans at the back of our minds while fighting to salvage what was left of the 8-day trip. with all that happened, we were basically good-natured, understood their situation as best we could and were willing to meet halfway just so the trip would push through.

but then again the expedition fleet messed with the wrong group, by the time they finally cancelled our trip, we were calling lawyers and media friends and by the evening of march 7, we had tv news crew come to outrigger resort and interview the group to tell the story of our plight! and come march 8, all of us -- 24-strong trooped to the expedition fleet office and made our demands and gave mr. john wee, the owner of the company a piece of our minds.

below is the story of our Tubbataha trip that never was (by me) and our two cent's worth (suzette's sentiments but echoed by the whole group) on how the whole situation was handled by the expedition fleet...let this be a warning to those who are planning to dive with Expedition Fleet!

last July 2009, we booked the Transition Trip 1 of the Cruise Island Adventure, Inc. of SCUBAWORLD which is scheduled from March 5-March 12 departing from Anilao Pier and to Apo Reef, Cuyo Islands and finally to Tubbataha for 7 days of diving.

We were scheduled to arrive at Apo Reef at around 9am but come morning we were informed that Pacific Explorer 2 had engine problems and that we are currently docked in the area of Mamburao to wait for another boat that we can transfer to. Given this situation we have lost a day of diving in Apo Reef.

When the Borneo Explorer arrived in Mamburao, we were again informed that the Borneo Explorer had to tow the Pacific Explorer back to Anilao and that from Anilao the Borneo Explorer will continue the Pacific Explorer 2’s trip to Tubbataha. This is another day of diving loss but we were still willing to push through with the Tubbataha trip despite getting less than what we paid for.

When both ships arrived in Anilao we were again informed that the management finally decided to cancel the trip to Tubbataha. This is without consulting us or giving us any other option.

What We Want (If the World Were Perfect)

WE WANT TO DIVE TUBBATAHA!!! BUT SINCE THIS IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE –

Full refund of the Tubbataha Transition Trip

Other expenses/Damages:

• Bus Rental from Manila to Batangas

• Loss of income (due to days missed at work)

• Airfare from Shanghai, Vancouver, US, Davao to Manila

• Airfare from Puerto Prinsesa to Manila

• Diving Insurance Purchased for Tubbataha Trip

• Extra Equipment and Diving Classes Taken/Paid for (Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver Course, EFR Course) in preparation for the Tubbataha Trip • Sleepless nights

• Anguish

- - -

march 7. the Management agreed to refund in full the cost of the cancelled trip or rebooking and nothing else, allowed us to stay at Outrigger for the night and provided us a van back to Manila.

march 8. we all went to the CIA office, they released the money for those who refunded and accepted the rebooking of those who did, and finally agreed to also refund the Puerto Princesa-Manila tickets which will not be used anymore.

..this is after giving him our two cents worth...

our point is:

1) The Cruise Island Adventure/Expeditio n Fleet/Scuba World Management almost risked our lives by deploying a ship that is not fit to sail. Our unverified but reliable source informed us that one of its Engineers texted that it was not seaworthy. Despite an unverified report, the fact that we had trouble 6 hours into sailing, means there is indeed something wrong with the ship. They initially told us it was some "bearing", but we found out it was the whole engine.

2) Why was it allowed to sail if indeed there was a problem with the engine? Who gave them the permit to sail? Of course Management will not admit it. They claimed they even did a "test sail".

3) This raises the question on how sea worthy are the boats of CIA. Will I go back to Tubbataha? YES I will...but definitely not with CIA or any of Mr. Wee's boats again! This is a classic lousy crisis management handling. We booked the whole boat in June 2009, fully paid by Jan 2010. Everyone, including those who flew in from other countries literally re-arranged our lives to go on this trip. Getting a 7-day leave is no joke to some. The least we could have expected was a much better and quicker response from Management.

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a sad and a truly unforgettable experience. looking at it on the bright side, we had a story to tell during surface interval times on our future dives and the 24-strong tubbataha 2010 group bonded together and quite possibly lasting friendships which we will have forever.