In February 2008, I got an assignment from Mabuhay magazine to write a dive / destination piece about the Manta Bowl at Ticao Island. I stayed at Ticao Island Resort, and had great dives with their staff (thanks again to Delsie and Suzanne!). We didn’t see the mantas, and unfortunately my camera case leaked and killed my digital camera so I didn’t get any photos from the dives, but we did see several whale sharks while diving which was just awesome. The current is so strong that you have to literally hook yourself into the bottom, and at one point on the first dive, a huge shark (over 30 feet long!) swam directly over me. It was like being underneath an elephant!