Kind of Magic

SCUBA Editor Simon Rogerson goes in search of strange creatures on the Philippine Island of Bohol

A soft coral cowrie , about 1cm long

Ah , the enduring appeal of a dedicated diving resort ; all the finer things of life in one boutique package . Barefoot luxury at a price that flirts with your finances , but falls short of taking you to the cleaners .

All of which brought me to Magic Oceans Dive Resort , on the island of Bohol in the central Philippines . There ’ s a resort enclave in the south , but we ’ re avoiding the fleshpots and turning our gaze to the peninsula of Anda on the east coast , a rural area where tourism is only starting to gain a foothold .

Ailyn and a soft coral tree 53