Surigao del Norte is a mosaic island in the
northeastern tip of Mindanao. A province that has managed to
preserve its natural marvel through the years. On the eastern
side of the province is Siargao Island, a tropical jewel that
hosts one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and home
of wave surfing, the latest sport and tourist attraction to
take the country by storm.
Siargao is a tear-drop shaped island situated
800 kilometers southeast of Manila. It has a land mass of approximately
437 kilometers. The east coast is relatively straight with one
deep inlet-Port Pilar with a coastline marked by a succession
of reefs, small points and white sandy beaches. There are similar
neighboring islands and islets with similar landforms. The reefs
and points are excellent for picking up any swell that comes
along turning into clean, fast waves.
The best known surfing break with a world reputation
of being in the top Surfing Waves in the world, is nick-named
"Cloud Nine". But there are literally scores of breaks
down this coast, and everytime a surfing expedition is mounted
in the area, more new breaks are being discovered.
Siargao Islands contain the biggest mangrove
forest reserves in Mindanao. Long stretches of wetlands likewise
indicate potentials for commercial seaweed propagation. Siargao
Island is greatly influenced by the winds and currents coming
uninterrupted from the Pacific Ocean, intensified by the Mindanao
current running westward through the Siargao Strait.
Offshore, a classic tropical island lay protected
within its surrounding coral reef and the dozen coconut palms
dressed in the center circle of the island rustled gently
in the morning breeze. Off to the right, well within the massive
coastal reef, lay a shining white sand bar some 200 meters
long, claimed by a flock of some forty black-headed terns
that stood chattering among themselves at the waters edge.
The tide of Siargao is diurnal with tidal curves typically
present especially on the east coast of the island.
Siargao?s ?Cloud Nine?, a powerful hollow
right hander, featured in ?Surf Magazine? as one of the ten
best waves in the world. East of Siargao Islands lies the
Philippine Deep that rises from over 34,000 ft to a belt of
reefs. This Oceanic trench is the reason for the excellent
surf in Siargao; because it is so deep and the continental
shelf narrow, the waves break with juice straight out of deep
water and focus the wave energy straight at the beach. This
area is set to become Asia?s next hot surfing destination
and is truly one of the worlds? last great frontiers for surf
exploration.
