I’ve always rode a bangka going to the best places here in the Philippines. A lot of times the waves were big that it felt like the waves would capsize the boat. Scary!
When is the highest probability that the waves are calm? I’ve asked this a lot times to boatmen and here is a compilation of their answers.
- Not during Hanging Habagat, also known as Southwest Monsoon. This is the rainy season of the Philippines. Usually from June to September. Thus it’s best to travel by boat from October to May. I got this from folks of Isla Verde.
- Mornings. According to boatmen of Pundakit and Puerto Galera, waves are calm in the morning.
- 1st & 3rd Quarter Moon. I’ve experienced this during our travel to Isla Verde. The water was calm and I asked the boatman why was it, he answered because the moon’s circle is cut in half.
- Not during a storm, this is obvious but I still asked. Got the answer from Isla Verde, Pundakit and Roxas, Palawan. But according to one of the boatmen in Pundakit, when it’s drizzling/raining the waters are calm, but not during a storm. It is best to check the weather forecast 3-4 days on where you are going before your scheduled trip.
- When the tide is shifting from high-tide to low-tide. Got this advise from boatmen of Pundakit and Bataan.
If their advises are right, then it would be good to travel by water on the morning of July 18, 2010 from 3:23AM to 9:10AM. Though it’s still habagat, at least the probability of travelling on calm water is higher than travelling on July 25, 2010 after 5:49PM.
This information may not be applicable for all places here in the Philippines, just like in Hundred Islands National Park in Pangasinan.
I’ll try to research more on this scientifically and try to verify if all their advises are correct.
You can check weather here http://www.accuweather.com/en-us/ASI/PH/RP016/Batangas/quick-look.aspx. If you’re not going to Batangas, just change the location of the weather forecast.
A good lunar calendar can be seen here http://www.kwathabeng.co.za/travel/moon/full-moon-calendar.html, just type Philippines on the Location.
Good tide calendar can be seen here
http://www.myforecast.com/bin/tide_extended.m?city=72326&metric=false&tideLocationID=T1331
http://www.mobilegeographics.com:81/calendar/year/3574.html