For avid divers, going for two and a half months without a dive is a long dry spell. But it happens because there is work, there is the inavailability of dive buddies, and there are travels where diving is not possible. And thus, when the invitation was made to join a dive with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the Island Garden City of Samal, I dived at the opportunity.

It wasn’t among my favorite places .. Coral Garden off Talikud Island is a popular divespot because of its corals and aquarium fishes. We love the unusual critters and Coral Garden isn’t known for these.

But I’m not complaining. First, it’s a free dive. Second, it comes after a long dry spell.

Anyway, anemone fishes are cute little beings. And so are popcorn shrimps… The dry spell has just been broken, and at a good time too. Less than week later, tropical storm Ofel arrived and churned the waters as the waters are still churning until today, most likely until tomorrow.