El Nido Resorts hosted underwater videographer Robert “Bobbit” Suntay in Miniloc Island Resort in El Nido from June 3-10, 2012 and in Apulit Island Resort in Taytay this June 11-14. Bobbit shot videos of El Nido’s different underwater and topside attractions, including the Miniloc jacks, yellow-lined snapper, and the Big and Small Lagoons.
When he’s in the water, Bobbit Suntay is a professional divemaster and a “very enthusiastic” amateur underwater videographer. His works have appeared on different websites and television programs, including an episode of the Filipino teleserye “Mula Sa Puso” (he’s since learned that it’s easier to shoot fish than human beings). His video on diving in Bohol for the Department of Tourism is currently playing in the Philippine Pavilion of Expo 2012 in Yeosu, South Korea. Very recently, his video of an octopus dragging around its “mobile home” of a tin can was featured on CNN news television, as well as on their website as an iReport Editor’s Pick. By July, his video on Anilao, Batangas (with Mel Segarra) will be broadcast on the “Islands Insider” series on the National Geographic Channel (Philippines).
On land, Bobbit serves as the co-founder and executive director of the Cancer Resource and Wellness Community Foundation (CAREWELL). CAREWELL is a non-profit, non-government organization that provides free psychological, emotional, and spiritual support for people with cancer and their loved ones.
We did a brief interview with our distinguished guest on why he loves El Nido so much and why he keeps coming back.
How did you find your stay here in El Nido?
“I loved it! …. I’ve been to Miniloc three times already … So obviously, I keep coming back because I love it. I’m very, very happy diving here.”
Did you spot any interesting things while you were here?
“Yeah! …. We saw quite a lot. We saw the beautiful school of barracuda … a very friendly turtle who stayed with us for a very long time and allowed us to get really right up close and take videos. We saw stingrays, cuttlefish … a batfish getting cleaned, schools of yellow-lined snapper, surgeonfish … Yeah, we saw lots of interesting stuff in the water.”
Where would you rate El Nido in your personal list of favorite places?
“El Nido for me is not just about the diving. For me, it’s the total experience both on land and underwater. And for that, it’s definitely in my top three list because again, as I’ve said, I’ve been to Miniloc three times and each time is better than the last. I love the resort [Miniloc Island Resort]. The staff are so nice, the DMs [divemasters] are great, the boats, the facilities are fantastic, the scenery… My God! The landscape! The limestone cliffs, lagoons… Hardly anywhere else in the Philippines, or in the world for that matter, will you see stuff like that. And the diving also is very good, especially when the weather cooperates! So yeah, this is in my top three list.”
Bobbit also willingly shared his top 10 tips for underwater videography beginners. Watch out for our next article!
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