But like Anilao itself, the
beauty is underneath. A rusty gate leads to a hundred or so steps
down into the resort itself, two rows of charming cottages of light
mustard color, thatched roofs and doors that open wide to the a view
of the sea, suggestive of Meditterenean-Carribean inspiration. There
are fourteen cottages, six of which are air-conditioned as preferred
by Filipino guests, in the three and a half hectare area with a
200-meter shoreline.
Dive Solana is nestled in the
Calumpang Peninsula in Anilao's only small beach area,
allowing some recreational swimming along the shore. Beside Dive
Solana is El Pinoy, owned by the now-exiled popular movie actor
Gabby Concepcion who was one of the people responsible for
popularizing Anilao, making it a chic place for an elite group of
adventurers and making diving a hip pursuit.
But Dive Solana has its share
of celebrity with acclaimed movie director Marilou Diaz-Abaya as one
of the owners. Diaz-Abaya is often in Dive Solana if not directing a
movie, diving, reading a book and painting. Her paintings of Anilao
scenes, coral reefs and seashells bedeck every cottage.
Marilou shares ownership with
two other sisters and a brother—Mary Ann, Mayette and Mike. The
property was bought in 1994 from a Japanese resort owner and was
supposed to be a rest house for the Diaz siblings to indulge in
their passion for diving. At first, they allowed a cottage or two to
be rented by acquaintances, but more people began asking until they
were being edged out in accommodation. From a rudimentary four
cottages, Mary Ann Diaz-Lee was responsible for designing and
building more cottages, with materials hauled all the way from
Manila or wood gleaned from nearby areas. Mayette Diaz-Belleza
serves as corporate secretary, managing guest
arrangements.
Belleza said that at first,
guests were mostly seasoned divers and diving students, then whole
families, and lately expatriates who had taken to diving as a hobby.
Peak diving season seems to be whole year round except for July to
August, when the west wind called habagat arrives, making
diving precarious.
The popularity of Anilao as a
diving site is due mainly because of its proximity to Metro Manila.
Moreover, Anilao has a diverse marine life in numerous diving sites
located mostly around the Sombrero, Maricaban and Caban
Islands just offshore, five to fifteen minutes from Dive
Solana.
Novice divers can dive near
Dive Solana, around the Calumpang Peninsula, where there are shallow
gardens, caves, fish feeding stations, rock formations, underwater
hot springs,
