I have proven how nice Mati's people and destinations are in my previous posts but there's another thing you absolutely couldn't miss if you're in Mati. Yup, this post's cover photo says it all: Surfing!
I have surfed a few times in famous surfing spots in the Philippines including La Union, Siargao Island, Gubat in Sorsogon, Dulag in Leyte and Calicoan in Eastern Samar. And I was thrilled to add this new spot in the list of places I've surfed.
It's my third and last day in Mati City. I jumped out of my bed and ended up in another morning stroll in the beach. There, I found more people than my first visit. People either gearing up for a morning surf or just chilling by the beach while soaking themselves in the morning sun.
At first, I was just there as a bystander; I haven't made up my mind to surf. I wanted to observe and check how my surfing skills fared with the waves that morning. From the shore, the glistening waters looked calmer than the day before. The waves were stunning and strong but they looked manageable, or so I thought.
I came across other tourists doing touristy things such as surfing for the first time. You don't need to be a seasoned surfer to take the least control of Dahican's waves; it's just a matter of balance, with a dash of courage and confidence. With this being said, you can either rent a surfing board or bring your own. But if you're like me who have surfed more than twice but hasn't grown enough self-esteem to do it yourself, there are always guide around who can accompany you for an hour for Php 500 (~$8). Not bad if you really wanted to enjoy and ensure your safety at the same time.
I've had enough scrutinizing the place and the vibe. I've decided to go back to my homestay, change into a proper surfing attire. "I'm not missing this!" I told myself.
In less than 30 minutes, I was back in the beach ready to stand up for my life on that huge board. If you're getting a guide, they'd usually start with a crash course of how everything you need to know before going to the battlefield. The quick discussion will cover, but not limited to, topics such as how to stand up on the board, if you lose balance which side should you fall, how to ride and enjoy the long waves, paddling, etc.
While waiting for my turn, I spotted kids as young as five (5) years old who looked like they own the entire ocean; they were fearless. Each move they made in the water was calculated to show nothing but their perfect control of each spin and turn. I can watch them all day!
I started my own crash course with other tourists; we were all eager to learn and in my end, relearn the basics of surfing. If you think you can't do it, think again. I still encourage you to give it a try! The guides in Dahican were super friendly, kind and patient; you might not learn everything at once but you'll pick up just the right information to least, get started. And for any beginner surfer, this gives you enough confidence to try.
Then off we go. By this time, more and more people gathered by the shore. Others came to spectate while others went for a swim although I'd say this isn't the best spot to swim. The waves were massive and strong.
I imagined myself finding my rhythm as soon as I'm deep in the water but I was wrong. In fact, everything went really wrong. Every time I tried to stand up on the board and ride a wave, I lost all the balance my body could muster; balance was nowhere to be found. I watched other tourist stood up and rode the waves effortlessly and just when my time was about to ran out, I thought of changing my technique and voila! I stood up, high and mighty, like a queen commanding the waves to carefully carry me from start to end. Euphoria took over my entire being; it felt like I took a strong drug and all I feel was a heavenly bliss each time I'm up and riding a wave. The entire time I was doing this, my supportive guide was right behind me giving me hints of which wave to ride and boosting my confidence.
But just like anything, the hour passed by so fast; it was time to take photos of the 7-8 feet of before retiring it to the next renter. I thank my guide and of course, myself for breaking the limits. I would've felt really bad if I wasn't able to ride even a single wave.
This activity toasted my entire body. Look at those perfect morena skin I got after an hour of exposure in direct sunlight! Not complaining tho! Be sure to bring a lot of sunscreen when you're out exploring especially here in the Philippines. As we say, it's always summer somewhere in the Philippines. 😅
One thing I am thrilled to share are photos of me that a standby photographer took. On the onset, you have to tell him if you wanted your photos to be taken while you're surfing. You don't have to pay him in advance, you'll only pay for the photos you like. He took photos of me (tons actually) and after surfing, I selected 4-5 photos which I paid Php 50.00 for each. No cash? No problem, you can wire the money via Gcash. It's a way to help a local earn decent money and damn, my photos are so worth the money I paid. These aren't photoshopped; he snapped photos as if I was the only one there surfing. Impressive photography skills! 👏🏻
Surfing might not be for all; it looks scary from afar but if you ever find yourself in a situation where you can surf, give it a go! It's soothing to the soul and rightly so, meditative. You don't believe me? Try it then and go back to this post! 😎
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The beauty of the beach is very amazing, you will definitely get extraordinary pleasure ❤️
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Thanks for your kind words! We are already looking forward to your next adventure 😘
so amazing that you have a talent in surfing. I want to learnt surfing also because Ill never got to try of that. keepsafe and enjoy swomming,surfing everyday.
The guides will teach you how to do it. You can do this in the right time. 😁
Oi marunong kna, sana maexperience ko rin to hehe
galing mo sis !LADY
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Matagal na akong marunong sis, mga 2016 yung first surf ko pero di talaga pro, nakakatayo lang hehe Try mo na sis @jane1289! :)
Sana maka try someday hehe
I was impressed by how confident you were, even though you admitted you hadn't felt ready to surf alone. I'm proud of you because you took it and made the most of the experience. The most important thing is you are safe while you're having fun. I hope I can try surfing soon too.
I have never surfed in my life, and it is not even a popular thing in this part of the world. I hope I find an opportunity to try it out someday
I hope you can try at least once! It's thrilling, gives you all the goosebumps but worth the try really!
The surf it's a incredible experience.
Beautiful! Hope you won't mind me sharing your content and wonderful experience with the waves.
I miss the beach. I think I will visit the beach here this weekend.
Summer's just around the corner, hit the beach before everyone else will. HAve fun! 😁
!PIZZA
That's smart enough to do it this on water nice photos
Such an amazing paradise. I love it . My kind of place.
Wow!!!!!what an incredible experience!Your surfing adventure in Dahican sounds absolutely exhilarating.I love how you described the feeling of riding the waves,that "heavenly bliss"is something I can only dream of!The photos must be amazing.I'm definitely adding Dahican to my travel bucket list.Thanks for sharing such a vibrant and inspiring story!
Dahican is just a 3-4 hour ride from Davao City. I hope you can pay a visit one of these days! It's truly amazing there!
Most children still feel connected to their mother's womb or water. They are taught from young or babies. And we the older ones... sorry, adults... have a balance problem, haha. But surfing teaches us patience, and like in Yu-Gi-Oh - "Trust the cards" - you have to trust the board, haha.
Definitely! My patience was tested even stretched to its limit!
The beauty of the beach is simply breathtaking; it's an experience that transcends mere sight. The immense expanse of the ocean, the tranquil rhythm of the waves, and the warmth of the sun combine to create a profound sense of peace and serenity. You'll find yourself completely captivated, feeling a profound sense of joy and wonder.
Perfect words to describe the perfect destination! 😁
Wow MATI! Your photos are STUNNING! @patsitivity I can smell the salty air in them. This is one of the places where I want to go to but I guess I will not try surfing. I'm scared. The place isn't so far from my hometown. Hopefully, I could visit this year.
This year or next and or the year following that, it wouldn't matter. Dahican will be just as beautiful. I hope you can visit it in your lifetime! :)
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I am from Mindanao but I never have time visiting this place. Surfing maybe is not for me. Me and balance are not friends. Haha. But if given a chance I would love to try.
Wow!! Excelente! Me ha encantado esta publicación! Es un deporte que aún no realizo pero me gustaría mucho hacer. Muchas gracias por acercarnos una experiencia tan bella!
This sounds incredible.How challenging were the waves for a beginner?I'm considering trying surfing for the first time,and your experience is very helpful.Also,what kind of board did you rent?
wow... what an amazing talent you have in surfing. You have the confident to go dancing in the waves. It's not difficult to balance standing on the surfboard? The place is so stunning and i love it so much, how i wish i can visit it there also, I'm from Mindanao but i haven't been visiting that place...
What a beautiful beach, I love the view of the palm trees, it must have been super exciting to surf despite the intense sun and tan.