Dive Safari: Sacred Depths, Cleaner Seas
The City Government of Zamboanga, under the leadership of Mayor John M. Dalipe and through the City Tourism Office, conducted the Verano Zamboanga: Dive Safari on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025. Divers from all over the region participated in the event, coming together for a underwater clean-up.
Dr. Michael Macrohon, a long-time diver and environmental advocate, regularly dives in Sta. Cruz Island to clean up underwater garbage carried in by waves from various areas. He emphasized the importance of committing to reef cleanups and stressed that the best way to sustain the cleanliness of our ocean floor—and revitalize our corals—is by partnering with different organizations to enable daily, not just weekly or monthly, cleanup efforts.” The Dive Safari Scubasurero Competition is one way of encouraging different groups to get together and participate in cleaning our ocean.
Dr. Michael Macrohon often visits Sta. Cruz Island with his dive group of three to clean the garbage from the ocean floor.
The Dive Safari gathered an impressive number of divers from various agencies—including BFAR, DENR, PCG Groups A and B, Team Hammerhead, NAVSOCOM, NAVFORWEM, NAVSOG, and the Sinag Dive Group—who collectively collected a whopping 1,219 kilograms of garbage. With the NAVFORWEM Group gathering the most amount at an impressive 334 Kilograms of Garbage.
Our Scubasureros hard at work keeping our oceans clean. (c) Photo given by Doctor Michael Macrohon.
Sangguniang Kabataan National President as well as the National Representative at NYC Sangguniang, Councilor CJ Dalipe and Philippine National Police Region IX Regional Director PBGEN Roel C. Rodolfo were present during the event. They witnessed first-hand the commitment of our divers in keeping our oceans clean.
The Verano Zamboanga Dive Safari at Sta. Cruz Island marked a meaningful observance of Easter Sunday as people from all walks of life came together under one shared goal— cleaning up our marine ecosystem and promoting marine conservation one dive at a time.