Bauan Divers Sanctuary Resort

www.diverssanctuary.com Bauan Divers Sanctuary Batangas Philippines Community-based Ecotourism Project
Baun Divers Sanctuary currently develops many interesting alternatives to mainstream tourism. One of these is community-based ecotourism in Conservation Areas. This aims to show foreign visitors the magnificent Beauty of our Batangas Diving sites, without affecting the people’s life and their environment.
The local people receive full participation in the development process and create new sources of income. This way the wonderful but poor people of will have a decent future. Furthermore, nature can be protected and tourists experience a memorable time in Divers Sanctuary.
You are welcome to visit our Seaweed Farm/Diving House reef, but are asked to understand and cooperate with the local people. This way, you can help preserving their culture and nature!

Project Aims
Bauan Divers Sanctuary Area aims to start sustainable tourism as a basis for nature conservation and environmental education. The main goals of this project are:
- To conserve the nature reserve, its diverse ecosystem and its wildlife through
tourism;
- To reduce the exploitation of natural resources by educating the local people and
creating alternative income opportunities;
- To raise funds for infrastructure, divesite management, maintenance and improvement
of divesites facilities;
- To create general public awareness on the importance and benefits of waste management, recycling,composting using renewable energy for lights and water heating;
- To provide environmental education and create awareness building for tourists and ceating alternative livelihood in surrounding areas
San Pablo/Locloc, Balite coastal areas
- To create new tourist destinations at Locloc.

Achievements so far
Some activities that have been achieved so far or will start in the nearby future are:
- The improvement of infrastructure;
- Capacity building and training for the Divers sanctuary staff, guides and local
villagers;
- Planning and implementation of consumer-oriented activities that coincide with the
goals and ideals of nature conservation in Batangas Coastal Area. Amongst these
activities are Diving,Snorkelling,trekking, , boating, kayaking,
camping, training local fisherfolks seaweeed farming as an alternative livelihood and on-site environmental training

Project Partners
The BFAR is responsible for the implementation of the Seaweed Farming ecotourism project. It works in close cooperation with the Management of the Department of Forestry, which is in charge of the National Protected Areas and their wildlife

Where your Money goes
Your visit to Divers Sanctuary a contributes to the development of these villages and the creation of new jobs. The money you spent while booking your trip will foremost benefit the local people as well as nature conservation in 4 divesite infront of the property and farm.
Part of your money goes to the ‘revolving fund’. This is a micro-finance scheme, in which the money gained from tourism goes into a so-called ‘village account’. Villagers can use this account, following strict rules, to borrow money as capital for the seaweed seedlings, buoys monolines. They use this money to improve their farm or house and to buy seeds. The money, of course, has to be paid back in due time and with some interest.
An elected village committee supervises the funding system. Lending of money is only allowed after discussing the application in a public meeting. This transparency contributes to minimizing fraud and corruption. Under normal circumstances, the village account itself will never shrink. It will permanently grow with money gained from visiting tourists. The money is just revolving into the system!
Furthermore, the money you spent on Sanctuary fees (which allows you to enter the reserve/dive sites) contributes to the conservation of the underwater . Therefore, you money is well spent: you are participating in the development of rural communities and conservation of Balayan Bay/San Pablo Dive Sites.
Thank you very much for your contribution and understanding!

Make sure your dive doesn’t destroy what you’ve come to see

It’s a privilege to be able to enter and experience the magical underwater world. However coral reefs around the world are under extreme threat, and if we want to ensure that our kids can enjoy the same wonderful experiences then we need to dive responsibly. My top tips for responsible diving –

1. Anchors cause serious damage to reefs. Ask your skipper if they will be using a mooring, and about how they ensure the reefs will not be damaged.

2. Make sure that your point of entry to the water is away from fragile corals, it’s all too easy to damage them as you enter.

3. Practice your buoyancy over sand before moving towards corals and reefs. Even the sand kicked up by fin kicks close to corals and vulnerable organisms can damage them.

4. Look don’t touch. Even robust looking corals and polyps can be destroyed by the gentlest touch.

5. Resist the temptation to feed fish and discourage others from doing so. You might affect normal patterns of behaviour and/or encourage aggression.

6. Ask your tour operator for their responsible tourism and diving policy – if they haven’t got one they are probably not taking it seriously. Find responsible dive operators on responsibletravel.com.

7. Coral reefs are under immediate threat from global warming. If you have flown to your destination offset the carbon emissions of your flight via www.co2.org.

8. Poorly treated waste from hotels destroys water quality and corals. Ask your hotel how they manage grey water.

9. Do not buy and gifts or souvenirs that are made from corals, shells or hardwoods. If you witness trade in these items report it to www.earthdive.com via their science log.

10. Remember that local communities may have used the seas and reefs for their own purposes for generations. Make sure that they are compensated for allowing us to enjoy their heritage by ensuring local communities benefit financially from tourism – think local about hotels, restaurants & where you buy your crafts.



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