I came to Siargao in search of waves but the Turtle Surf Camp crew made other plans.

This time, instead of jumping into a blue lagoon, we were headed to a little known island: Casulian. It boasts of a beautiful white sand beach called Corregidor. I'm always in for unexpected adventure especially when it comes to lesser explored places. So I didn't pass up on this opportunity.

We joined the Palaka Siargao Dive Center tour group with a few other guests and crew in tow. The plan was simple: swim, snorkel, eat, and watch the flight of a small unmanned aircraft (drone) to take aerial photos and videos of the island.

It became a mission of sorts. 

Of course as soon as we docked on the island, all the guys jumped into the water. I was so enchanted by the island that I couldn't stop taking pictures. The sand was so white, the shore was pristine and the azure waters were definitely calling out to me! But I couldn't help but snap away.


Who would have thought Siargao would have such gorgeous shores?

After an hour of swimming, chatting and simply lying on the sand, we were already starving. We were spared from having to catch our own fish and grill it ourselves. The crew had already prepared a delicious seafood feast for us! We were treated to some fresh kinilaw or raw fish with onions, spices and vinegar. It's a delicacy in most places in Southern Philippines. And we also had grilled fish, adobo and mangoes. Everything tasted so good!


Nothing beats fresh food and a picnic on the beach!

I thought it was time for another swim and a nap. But Captain Ben, our UAV pilot, thought it was a good time to scout for a nice area to fly. Ben is a UAV flight instructor for Lehmann Aviation and this guy has traveled to places that I could only wish to see. He showed us photos of flying over fjords and waterfalls in Iceland, a fiery volcano in Japan and magnificent coastlines in Australia.

This time, he was so excited to shoot over Casulian Island Siargao!


We went through the small town and over some hills that looked like a natural golf course. That's where he found a clear spot where he could do a quick takeoff and a neat little landing.