Hautea said the DiveSOX campaign started three years ago when the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving, in coordination with DOT 12, conducted a Rapid Exploratory Assessment in Maasim and Glan in Sarangani.

It was then followed by the development of DiveSOX logos that was adopted by the Regional Eco-tourism Committee 12 as a logo to be used for any dive activity in the region. Thus, the DiveSOX campaign is introduced.

Included in the DiveSOX strategies and activities are Sarbay Exploratory Dive Assessments, Scuba Diving Awareness to Tourism Stakeholders, DiveSOX Branding Development, Tourism Stakeholders Open Water Dive Class and Training, and many others.

One of the main objectives of the DiveSOX Campaign, according to DOT 12, is to take advantage of the opportunity to check on the current state of the coasts and their marine inhabitants.

Several scuba and free divers from different government and non-government agencies all over SARGEN also joined in the massive Crown-of-thorns Collection at Susan’s Beach Resort in Maasim, along with the DiveSOX launching.

“We give our full support to Sarangani’s celebration of Sarbay Festival 2022 through the conduct nitong Dive Cleanup or the Crown-of-thorns Collection in the municipality of Maasim,” Hautea said.

Also, DOT 12 is set to launch the DiveSOX campaign in KALEPA which stands for Kalamansig, Lebak, and Palimbang in the province of Sultan Kudarat on June 1 and 2. (Jori Mae R. Samillano/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

Photo taken by Jake Narte on May 28 during the ceremonial launching of the DiveSOX campaign held at Lemlunay Resort, Maasim.