WANDERLUST
Text and Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio
The world-famous Boracay is noted for its white sand. Siargao in Surigao del Norte is known for its challenging water sports. Now, if you put wind, sand and waves together in one place, where would that be?
The answer is most likely the undisputed Dahican Beach in the City of Mati, Davao Oriental. Its seven-kilometer stretch of white sand beach faces the Pacific Ocean, which makes it even more enticing.
Dahican Beach is about 15 minutes from the heart of the city. In the past, you had to pass over rough roads before reaching the beach. But since it has been identified as one of the city’s come-ons, the road is now fully paved.
There are also no regular vehicles going there. So, you really have to hire a motorcycle or pedicab to go there if you don’t have your own vehicle. As sari-sari stores are far and in-between, it may be wise to bring your own foods and snacks.
If you are not familiar with the place, you better proceed to Menzi Visitors Information Center. It has a campsite along the shoreline and is a joint project of the city government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
There are a few resorts but if you want to go inside and don’t have the budget to pay for entrance fee, you can go directly to the access road. There’s no entrance fee; just follow the road which will bring you to the unspoiled slice of paradise.
Once inside, there are several things you can do. Walking barefoot on its white sand, for instance, is a pleasing experience. Its serene and tranquil shores and cool wind air make it a great escape from strenuous busy life.
Of course, watching people swimming at the beach’s crescent-shaped coastline is a sight to behold. More so, if you join the group.
But if you like water sports like skimboarding, this is the best place in Davao region. In fact, several skimboarding competitions have been held in the place; it is being touted as the Skimboarding Capital of Mindanao.
“There are several reasons why it should be called as such,” explained Dashiel Indelible, Jr., the city tourism officer. “For one, our sand here is white unlike others which are dark or black. For another, the water is pristine and crystal blue. But most importantly, the waves are what skimboarders are looking for – not so high and not too low but something in-between.”
Skimboarders who come to the place said that the waves of Dahican are enthralling. On good days, the waves go up to as high as 6-8 feet. On other days, the waves may only be 3-5 feet, which are still good for skimboarding.
Don’t worry if you don’t know how to do skimboarding or surfing. You can always learn it from the Amihan Boys. The word “Amihan” comes from the northeasterly winds that blow through the country from November to March. “These winds create powerful waves which are perfect for skimboarding and surfing,” claims George “Jun” Plaza, the man credited for popularizing the two water sports in the area.
Dahican Beach is also noted for its marine wildlife species that thrive under its waters.
Dahican is a local term which means “to come in from the sea.” It refers to the endangered marine turtles. Hawksbills and Olive Ridleys are the turtle species that have made its shorelines their nesting site.
These two species are listed in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources as endangered. What this means is that “they are in danger of extinction and whose survival is unlikely if causal factors continue operating.”
This is one of the places where you can stay for the night when you are in Dahican.
“For every 100 pawikan hatchlings we release into the waters, only one of them will survive in the open waters,” says Winston Plaza, who works at Amihan sa Dahican’s Save Our Seas Project.
So, what’s your main reason for coming to Dahican Beach? “People come to Dahican Beach to have fun: skimboarding, surfing, and swimming,” said Indelible. “But there are those who visit this place just to relax or just see the beautiful sceneries.”
Portuguese surfer Hugo Moura came to Dahican some years back and then he fell in love with the place. When asked why he keeps coming back, he told a Filipino journalist: “It’s beautiful here. Look at that blue water.”
Travel time from Davao City to Mati City is about three hours. That is, if you take a van. It is even faster if you have your own car and if the driver knows his way there. But if you take a bus, the travel time is about six hours.
Don’t worry about places where to stay. There are plenty in the city. You can leave your things in the hotel and then proceed to Dahican Beach. After spending your time there, you can always return to the city and enjoy the night time with the locals. – ###
Winston Plaza releasing some of the pawikan hatchlings.
These are some of the cottages you can relax on at Menzi Visitors Information Center.
Swimming is fun in Dahican Beach.
