Experience This Paradise In Sarangani

By ARMANDO A. MORTEJO

Blue-green waters

MANILA, Philippines — "A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” When poet John Keats wrote that famous line, he might have been thinking of the Lemlunay Dive Resort in barangay Kamanga in Maasim, Sarangani.

Lemlunay is a T’boli and B’laan word for “paradise.” Judging from the breathtaking view (it is situated on a cliff overlooking the beautiful waters of Sarangani Bay to the left and the Sulawesi Sea to the right) and the wonderful underwater experience the resort offers, it is indeed a heaven of sorts.

I was supposed to attend the Kalilangan Festival in General Santos City but because the street dancing was scheduled on a Monday and there was nothing to do on Sunday, my good friend Andrew J. Dorego decided to bring me to this gem of a resort.

The travel from the city to the place took us about 45 minutes. But the road trip was scenic. It reminded me of my trip along the shores of Superior Lake going to Duluth, Minnesota. Imagine a beautiful deep blue sea on your left and mountains with various karsts on your right. The road was smoothly paved and beautiful green trees lined the highway. A bonus: few houses along the road.

The trip was fleeting. I didn’t know what to expect as we entered the place. We paid our entrance fee (P100 per person, which is consumable) and went straight ahead to the restaurant. After we ordered our food, we immediately began our familiarization tour.

Andrew and his girlfriend (Apple Joy Ochoa), who had been to the place before, served as my guides. Deo Sunico, a high school classmate of Andrew who tagged along with us, also helped in showing it off.

Unlike most beach resorts, there is no sandy beachfront. However, Lemlunay’s pristine greenish-blue waters teeming with beautiful marine life more than made up for the lack of luxurious resort amenities.

From the al fresco restaurant, guests can get a glimpse of the white sand beaches in other parts of Sarangani, particularly Gumasa in Glan. Its ambience is comparable to those places featured in Greek and Mediterranean films.

One of the resort’s interesting features is the infinity pool, where visitors can take a dip. There’s an area for kids and the deepest spot is about seven feet. “We went to the infinity pool after snorkeling and took lots of pictures,” one visitor wrote. “We love the view from the pool to the sea. It simply felt relaxing and calm.”

Guests won't get bored while at the resort since it has a myriad of activities available for everyone. Those who don’t feel like snorkeling or diving can rent their Hobie cats (catamarans) for a measly P1500 (maximum of six passengers for 30 minutes).

Lemlunay used to be the vacation resort of Paul Partridge and his family. Later, he established the South Point Divers, which offers a number of services that suit hard-core divers and weekend enthusiasts alike. Activity offerings include PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) courses, snorkeling and guided diving, among others.

“Each dive comes with tanks, weights, dive guide and chase boat to make your diving experience more enjoyable,” says its website. “Our staff are ready to cater to your schedule 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Be one of our many satisfied clients from all over the world.”

Sarangani Bay, declared a marine sanctuary, has a wealth of good diving sites and one of them is located in the huge Tinoto Wall, which runs about 10 kilometers along the bay in front of the dive resort. The wall drops off well over 50 meters about 10 to 20 meters from shore.

According to those who have dived in the area, a wide variety of hard and soft coral, huge gorgonian corals, sponges and an endless array of reef life can be found in the waters. Pelagics are also a common site. Divers can also expect to see turtles, rays, rainbow runners, groupers, snappers and patrols of sergeant majors. The majestic Napoleon Wrasse is also frequently seen on the house reef.

Here’s an observation of a blogger who had dived the area: “A short distance from the cliff’s side, the bottom of the sea drops dramatically to about 30 feet, then a coral wall presents itself with marine life all a-bustle. The variegated colors on the fish and on the coral is a delight against the backdrop of soft-hued sand and dark-toned rock that dot the seascape.”

Another one said: “My entire Lemlunay experience is surreal. I can’t believe I swam with Nemo and his friends!” (Nemo was the leading character in the award-winning film, Finding Nemo.)

We ended our short visit with a lunch at the restaurant. And yes, we enjoyed the food since we were hungry and thirsty
.