Caves represent beauty and splendor amidst the darkness. They are one of the most amazing natural wonders on Earth. The inside is composed of different rock formations formed in a very wondrous and strange way and let's not forget the bats residing in it.
In my previous blog about Sohoton, I have listed the fun activities in Sohoton Cove and included the must-see destinations. I have mentioned four caves and these caves have a different level of excitement and adventures. The caves are grouped into two as per group has the same location. In this blog, I will be sharing the two caves located in the secret Sohoton cove.
En Route To Sohoton Cove
Before entering the Sohoton Cove, we had to register at the Sohoton Cove tourist registration center. We were given a helmet and a life vest for the caving adventures. Then we grouped into eight and seven with one guide and two boatmen.
On our way to the secret cove, there were islets everywhere covered by trees. The water was serene and clean. For around 15 minutes, we were just amazed by nature. Sohoton is a gigantic maze of nature.
Then, we reached the sole passageway of the secret cove. This passageway is a cave only accessible during low tide or when the high tide subsides. The cave has a very low ceiling with stalactites that we need to duck in as we enter the cavern. The boatman slowed down and there was no way that we can take pictures in sitting position while in the cave of 60-meter in length. Crossing slowly to the cavern then reaching the other end feels like entering to a new realm.
Sohoton comes from the word so-oton, meaning to enter in a narrow opening.
Horseshoe
Shortly after crossing into the cave, our boatman slowed down when we reached to an odd-shaped rock formation. The locals called it horseshoe because of the resemblance. The horseshoe is an important landmark as it is the locals' reference that the passageway is near.
Hagukan Cave
Hagukan Cave is labeled as a snoring luminescent cave. The cave's name comes from a Cebuano word "Haguk" which means snoring. The narrow opening of the cave produces a snoring sound. The snoring sound is produced during a specific period of tide's regression. As the waves of the tide subside and a splash hits to the cavern's ceiling, the air from the cavern rushes out in sync with the waves producing a snoring sound.
During low tide, the entrance is visible where you can go swim into the cave and witness the luminescent water as you keep on splashing. The ceiling is full of stalagmites making the water cold. However, when the water is still not at its lowest, you need to dive and hold your breath for about ten seconds to reach the inside. Our tour guide led the way into the cave. We were instructed to neither move our legs nor our arms. All we did was to hold our breath.
My classmate's boyfriend lasted for a few seconds only. He instructed the guide to steer him out of the cave. His face was a beet red and forewarned me not to go inside because I am asthmatic. I was even more curious because my first travel was an easy one. The water was at its lowest, and I just swam inside the cave. Since I don't want to go home with regrets, I decided to go in. I was the last person to enter the cave. I had to breathe more air to prepare my lungs.
The inside was considerably dark. Then our guide instructed us to start splashing, and the water started glowing beautifully in electric-blue color. We kept splashing like little kids playing around. The water was so refreshingly cold but the area had provided thin air. I was sweating and got tired of the fun splashing.
In the center, there's a rock where I stood on top of it and rested for a few minutes. I decided to go when I was pushed out of the rock. It was just good for two people. Then my leg muscles began to stiffen, so I decided to go out and asked our tour guide to lead me out of the cave.
Magkukuob Cave
The adventure never stops. After around 15-minutes of a boat ride, we arrived at the second cave destination—Magkukuob Cave. Before jumping off into the water, our tour guide warned us that those who enter the cave will have their way out through cliff jumping. We were not allowed to wear a life vest. We brought a flashlight and wore a helmet.
On my first travel, the water was low that we only walked into the cave with about one-meter high water. However, it was the opposite of my second travel. Our local tour guide carefully instructed us to form one line and put our arms on the shoulders in front of us. We walked like a train at a slow pace and the water became deeper and deeper. I had to hold my breath again for about ten seconds. The water reached my forehead.
Then after that walk, we climbed into the cave. It was pitch-black with bats on the area, very steep and slippery. The exit is filled with stalactites and stalagmites. We had to go down to a steep pathway to the wooden cliff board. Those who went out of the cave first must jump into the lagoon where we began. It was a 16-feet high cliff board.
During my first travel, we brought the GoPro and other camera gears of our office. We had these cameras for our fieldwork. One of my officemates jumped while holding a GoPro. When he emerged out of the water, the GoPro was missing. Three of our tour guides dived into the water. When they emerged, they were out of breath. We asked our tour guide how deep is the water. He said it was about 80 feet deep since it's low tide but in high tide, it can go high up to 120 feet.
My officemate decided to abandon it and he will pay for the GoPro instead. But the three tour guide dived again for one last time. Only one went down and the two waited half-way. They merely had a few seconds to spare to eagerly grasp some air. After a minute or two, they all emerged with thumbs up. They were given a tip by my officemate.
While waiting for the others to jump, some of us enjoyed the swimming session in the lagoon. I dared myself not to wear a life vest knowing that the water is really deep. Going back to the reception area, we rode to our boat and mesmerized by the forest-covered islets and the rock formations. Then, we exited back to the cave where we entered first.
When we reached the registration center, we were smiling so wide. The fun and excitement were unexplainable. Then we were instructed to ride again to the boat but this time to a two-man boat. It's another set of adventures!
This is my entry to Friday Filipino Five Challenge initiated by
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