History of LWUA Divers

There are scuba diving enthusiast in LWUA during the time of former General Manager Carlos Leano there are about a handful of them some of them undergone formal lessons and eventually passed on to others.

It started with a simple snorkeling activities sometime in 1983, they were young engineers of LWUA so energetic and adventurous and because of the camaraderie and with a common love for nature they eventually move on and enrolled and undergone formal training under the NAUI programs and become certified divers namely; Engrs. Izzy Yee, Fred Espino, Roland Espino and Boidi Almeida.

During that time, there were few diving schools in the Philippines and the only known organization who offers training is the Aquaventure Diving Schools. Aquaventure management is conducting a series of activities to enhance the diving knowledge of their divers and one of the activities is the Underwater Treasure Hunt participated by the Izzy, Fred, Roland, Boidi and they invited Tom Villaroman and Noel Samonte to form the team. It was in that event that Fred won as the Best Diving Leader competing with the other groups.

It was then on the group conducted as part of their weekend activities the Scuba Diving! Scuba Diving was really fun. As the years goes on, some of the pioneer divers were no longer with LWUA the weekend activities became once a month, every summer, once and a year and so on… Willy Balagot who was then a certified diver is having a hard time joining the group.

In 1995, When Fred, Olan, Izzy, Egay and Noel were tapped to undertake investigation of the existing pipeline in Boracay Island. Rod Magno joined the group and was eventually introduced to scuba diving, at first he was reluctant to go into the sport of recreational diving with the common perception of diving is expensive with all the gears you have to carry and of course the JAWS syndrome.

But I was wrong! Scuba diving is affordable and sometime we call our self as Tipid Diver. Rod was amazed about the underwater world and appreciated the wonders and fell in love with the sports and eventually was certified as PADI Open Water Diver and shares his experienced and convinced Alwin Lagniton and Fidel Paglingayen to try and was later certified also by PADI. The next batch was Jess Laigo, Allan Polon, Olga Poblete and Jojo Pag-ong.

Early 2000, the LWUA scuba diving group became active again and became a regular activity and even extending to its family members and soon enough the said water sports was rejuvenated in LWUA because of fun, enjoyment and common interest and we intent to share our experience with any one who has the love for nature! During those years, some of the LWUA divers one way or another were able to assist the water districts in extending their skills they developed in the planning and design for water district requirements for the underwater pipelines are namely;

a. Assisted the Alaminos WD under former GM Raffy (who happen to be scuba diver) led by LWUA Engr. Izzy Yee, in the underwater pipeline installation in Hundred Islands;

b. Fred and Olan was involved in the Basilan (Isabela) WD for the underwater pipeline installation serving the island of Malamaui and Maluso;

c. Underwater pipeline installation at pamana Subic, Zambales which was disrupted by Mt. Pinatubo eruption;

d. Fred, Olan, Izzy, Egay Espino and Noel were tap to make the underwater pipeline investigation for the Boracay Island.

e. Conducted an investigation of the natural reservoir in Mt. Sto. Tomas Rain Basin for Baguio Water District in 1984. This was during the ascendancy of Engr. Yee as the Assistant Manager for the LWUA Construction Department.

Rod Magno continued his education in scuba diving and eventually reached the teaching status for PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), a world-wide organization with headquarters in California, USA. Rod Magno became a certified diving instructor. Bobot Aguinaldo, was long before would like to try scuba diving but was only constrained by time. Noel Gatchalian and Ronnel Palencia were likewise certified by Rod Magno, LWUA divers have decided to form the LWUA Divers Club in order to share our fun and experiences.