After our visit at Bunsoran Marine Protected Area in the municipality of Ferrol, Tablas Island, Romblon our next stop for the day would be the Looc Bay Marine Refuge and Sanctuary. So we headed to Looc via a private vehicle and went straight to the Port of Looc. From there we had to register at the KOICA Office and tell them that we were going to their Protected Area and pay the entrance fee.
I’ve visited a lot of Marine Sanctuaries before my visit to Looc, usually a part of the Marine Sanctuary are land but for the one in Looc everything was in the sea. There are only rafts in the middle where visitors could relax and enjoy their time with the fishes.
After paying the entrance fee (100 Pesos per person) we boarded their pumpboat/bangka to take us to the rafts. When we found out that we could sit at the top we did not hesitate to go straight to the roof and have our little picnic while enroute to the rafts.
Boarding the boat
Dazl and Jessica doing roof picnics
It was a short 10 minute ride to the rafts. Inside the rafts are chairs so people could sit, a Comfort Room and a hole in the middle where the caretakers feed some fish to let visitors see them up close and personal. Visitors cannot feed the fish nor can they swim on the hole in the raft. Even without the feeds there were a lot of fishes swimming below the raft. Maybe their trying to hide from the sun to avoid getting skin cancer. 😛
Arrival at the rafts
The lighthouse near the rafts
On the side of the rafts we swam for a bit to get our daily dose of dipping on the waters of Romblon.
When we went up the raft again we tried talking to the Bantay Dagat who were assigned on the raft that day. They told us stories of them still guarding the place even at night and even during storms.
Dazl talking to the Bantay Dagat
The lighthouse is also a part of Looc Bay Marine Refuge and Sanctuary. Other than it being an indicator of shallow water it is also an indicator that the boats should not trespass to the Marine Sanctuary.
After spending about 1 hour and 10 minutes on the rafts we decided to call it a day and head back to the port. Then drive back to Odiongan.
Looc Bay Marine Refuge and Sanctuary Details
Location: Looc Bay, Tablas Island, Romblon
Operating hours: Daily from 8AM to 4PM.
Rates:
100 Pesos/person for Adults
50 Pesos/person for Children 4-7 years old
* This rates are inclusive of the boat to the rafts.
* Rates are minimum of 3 persons.
50 Pesos/set – Mask and Snorkel
How to get there
From the town of Looc, one can ride tricycles going to Looc Port for 10 Pesos per person.
There are jeepneys from San Agustin Port, Odiongan and Santa Fe going to Looc.
How to get out of there
Since there are not much tricycles in the Port of Looc when we visited there, one can walk out of the port until you find a tricycle that would take you to town.
Notes
- You can buy some food and drinks from the KOICA Office when you register there.
- There are boats going to Caticlan from Looc Pier. According to the staff at KOICA Office fare is 300 Pesos per person. Estimated Travel Time is 3 hours. Estimated Time to Leave is 8AM daily.
Boat to Caticlan at the Port of Looc
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