Dauin

DAUIN MAP

Dauin, is a small coastal town in the province of Negros Oriental, recently known for macro photography and muck diving. Back in the early 1980’s, irresponsible fishing practices and destructive fishing methods by the locals led to the destruction of it’s coral reefs and demise of its fishing habitat. It was only in the year 2000 when several sanctuaries were established in the area. Thanks to Mayor Rodrigo Alalano who revived the Coastal Resource Management (CRM)  that his predecessor started.

The CRM was patterned after the Apo Island project of the Siliman University Marine Laboratory. The CRM program taught the fishermen sustainable fishing methods an encouraged the citizens to form civil associations to manage the different aspects of the program. Ordinances by the local government strictly implemented a no fishing and boating on the sanctuaries.

The sense of ownership and the concerted effort of its citizenry has finally paid off.  In 2005, the Dauin Coastal Resource Management Program won the Outstanding Local Government Award. Now, Dauin is an eco-tourism destination and its nine marine sanctuaries generates steady income for the municipality through its divers fees.

Dauin’s dark sandy shores and calm waters is home to colorful nudibranchs, frogfish, leaf scorpionfish, colorful mandarinfish, seahorse, a variety of pipefish, seasnakes, friendly pufferfish, lionfish, groupers and many unusual critters.

Here are some of the shots taken in the Luca Sanctuary, The Ducomi (Dumaguete Coconot Oil Mill) Pier and the Bahura Resort House Reef.

REFERENCE: Wikipedia, iRazoo

PHOTOGRAPHY: Carlos Trabal & Paz Santos

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