Siargao Island Mindanao Philippines

a beautiful island located at Surigao, Mindanao, Philippines. Its sites and attractions remain to be one of the best-kept secrets where unspoiled islands and beach hideaways are concerned. Get hooked to the rural charms of the city which 17 islands and its surrounding waters beckon to be experienced repeatedly (again and again and again).

Swimming

The 27-mile long white sugar-fine sand strip of Gen. Luna, Siargao Island, Basul Island and Sagisi Beach and Danawan Island.

Snorkelling & Scuba Diving

Islets, boulders and rocky beaches of marine lives, the clear shallow waters, the Zaragoza rock formation (in Sibale Island has a one-hectare beach park of dagger-shaped structures as high as 20-feet arising from waist-deep crystal clear waters), white-sand beaches and underwater maze of rock and coral formation

Succulent Seafood

Marlins, tuna, groupers, crabs ... even squids, rays and octopuses

Sailing

Island-hopping through sailboats, sailbancas (Regatta), kayaks, catamarans and yachts.

Spelunking

Sohoton Cave at Bucas Grande Island, the Silop Cave in the mainland , the Buenavista Cave in Hikdop Island, the Suy-ang Cave in Quezon, in Dinagat and the mainland caves of Mapawa

Spectacular Seascapes

Nonoc Island has one of the world's largest deposits of nickel

Dinagat Island has major reserves of chromites

The smaller ones either rest on sand and gravel, or have a limestone base bounded by boulders, reefs and sandbars.

Islets of rock formations of Del Carmen, San Roque and Hagakhak

Surfing, beautiful environment, and Sea Kayaking

Springs, lagoons, coves, waterfalls, mangrove forests and whirlpools

Surigao is a mosaic island in the northeastern tip of Mindanao. It's a province that has managed to preserve its natural marvel through the years.

On the eastern side of the province is Siargao Island, a tropical jewel that hosts one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and home of wave surfing, the latest sport and tourist attraction to take the country by storm.

Siargao is a tear-drop shaped island situated 800 kilometers southeast of Manila. It has a land mass of approximately 437 kilometers. The east coast is relatively straight with one deep inlet-Port Pilar with a coastline marked by a succession of reefs, small points and white sandy beaches. There are similar neighboring islands and islets with similar landforms. The reefs and points are excellent for picking up any swell that comes along turning into clean, fast waves.

The best known surfing break now with a world reputation of being in the top Surfing Waves in the world, is nick-named "Cloud Nine". But there are literally scores of breaks down this coast, and everytime a surfing expedition is mounted in the area, more new breaks are being discovered.

General Luna (GL) is just a small town at the edge of the world. It is safe, clean and friendly, the laid back kind of place where you could stop by for two or three days and not want to leave for a year. It is undeveloped and unspoiled, and that's the charm of it.

Surfing

Boat trips

Motorcycles & Jeeneys

Diving & Snorkelling

Fishing

Sailing

Swimming

Caving

Jungles

Basketball

Cockfighting

Mountain Biking

Sitting around

Shopping

Food, drink, nightlife

Geography

Surigao del Sur is naturally advantaged. It is located in the northeastern coast of Mindanao facing the Pacific Ocean. It is approximately kilometers in length and 50 kilometers at its widest stretch.

It is bounded on the northwest by the province of Surigao del Norte; on the southeast by Davao Oriental; on the east by the Pacific Ocean; and on the west and southwest by the provinces of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur. The Diwata Mountain Range lines the northwestern boundaries of the province.

Population

Surigao del Sur has a total population of 501,808 with one city, 309 barangays, two districts, and 18 municipalities.

Climate

The province falls under the second type of climate in the Philippines, characterized by rainfall that is distributed throughout the year. Months with low level of rainfall are from July to October, with September as the driest month. Wet months are from November to June, with January as the wettest month.

INDUSTRIES

About 45 % of the total land area is developed to agriculture. Major crops are palay, corn, coconut, abaca, soybeans, coffee, and other high value crops.

The province has 148 sq.km. of wetland that can be developed. Fishponds are responsible for the continuous production of prawns, milkfish, and crabs both for consumption and exportation.

It is one of the few provinces that have the largest forest covers with 2111,067 has. The forest land is predominantly covered with dipterocarp type of forest while some areas are covered with mossy and mangroves types. Commercial woods species are Narra, red and white Lauan, Mayapis, Almon, Apitong, Yakal, Bagtikan, and Tanguile. Rattan and Bonbon also abound.

CLOUD 9 MASTERS OPEN TO BE HELD IN THE PHILIPPINES

A Siargao-based surfing organization, Tatus, in cooperation with the Philippine Surfing Federation, will be staging the first ever CLOUD 9 MASTERS OPEN from May 8-11, 2008 at Siargao Island's Cloud 9.

Around 100 men and women surfers are invited to compete in this prestigious tournament in one of Asia's hottest surfing destinations and win a total prize money of PHP 22,000 (approximately US$550) with trophies.

The event will be held on the best two days of conditions from Friday, May 9 to Sunday, May 11. The opening ceremony will be staged on the eve of Thursday, May 8 with the competition commencing on the 9th.

Leading the charge of the prestigious tournament will be the 12-strong field of the Philippines' best surfers. The tournament contest site is Siargao Island's Cloud 9, a powerful hollow right hander that has been hailed as one of the ten best waves in the world and has been frequently compared to the renowned surf of Hawaii and Indonesia.

The Cloud 9 Masters is proudly supported by Siargao's resort owners, San Miguel Corporation, Local Government of General Luna and the Department of Tourism Caraga - Region 13.

An entry fee of PHP100 will be charged per participant.

Should you have queries or more information, please contact Mr. Manuel M. Melindo, President of Tatus and Contest Director at (011 63928) 7440495 or email http://us.f523.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=mrdiveswell@yahoo.com (http://us.f523.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=mrdiveswell@yahoo.com); or Ms. Zeny Pallugna of the Department of Tourism and Secretary General of the Philippine Surfing Federation at (011 63929) 6666490 or email http://us.f523.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=zenpallugna@yahoo.com.ph (http://us.f523.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=zenpallugna@yahoo.com.ph).