BY HANAH TABIOS
The Philippines is set to receive another international award as it was named the “Best Diving Area, Overseas” in the 2020 Marine Diving Awards in Japan.
Subscribers of the Marine Diving Magazine, one of Japan’s leading magazines, voted the Philippines as the Best Diving Area, Overseas.
Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Atty. Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones said that the awarding ceremony will be held from Aug. 21 to 23.
The Tourism department has not yet decided if it will fly to Japan to receive the award. It is also not yet known if the award will be accorded virtually amid the ongoing global health crisis.
According to TBP, the Marine Diving Awards started in the year 2000.
Since then, the Philippines landed in the Top 3 diving spots annually. It was only this year that the country earned the distinction of being the best international diving spot for the first time.
Tiki Tiki Divers in Moalboal, Cebu was named as the “Favorite Dive Operator, Overseas” while the Emerald Green Diving Center in Malapascua Island in Cebu, Good Dive Shop in Bohol, Sea Lion Cebu, Marine House Seasir Cebu, and Blue Coral also in Malapascua Island landed 11th, 14th, 15th, 17th, and 18th in the same category.
Marine Diving Magazine is published by Marine Arts Center Ltd., which is also the organizer of Japan’s largest consumer event for diving enthusiasts and beach lovers called the Marine Diving Fair. (Hanah Tabios)
