The Rich Marine Life of Balet Bay in Samal Island

On the summer of 2017, a month before my wedding, the Sumalinog fam had decided to take a time off from the tedious wedding preparations. My sister-in-law knew someone who rented a beach house in Balet, Samal which was very affordable at P3,500 good for 15 persons. The Balet Beach House had a large upstairs bedroom, spacious living room, veranda, and kitchen/dining with complete utensils and cookwares and a refrigerator. They have a spacious grounds facing the beach perfect for bonfires at night. The beachfront, though, wasn't very appealing as it was filled with driftwood washed ashore by the waves. The shoreline in this area didn't have white sand, instead it was a combination of pebbles, gray sand and some broken corals. However, once you got past the driftwood you will be greeted with a fairly clean water. It wasn't crystal clear but it wasn't entirely dirty as well.

The main highlight of this place was not what was on the surface but what was under the waters. The marine life in this side of Samal was surprisingly thriving despite it being mostly a residential area. There wasn't so many resorts in this side of Samal instead there were few beach houses being rented. That was why we were at awe when we saw the rich coral reefs not so far from the shore. It was such a pretty site and snorkeling was such an enjoyable activity.

Sadly, I had heard from my sister-in-law that the beach house we rented two years ago was one of the properties that was affected by the road widening project of the city. A huge part of their property was taken by the government for the said road widening project and almost half of the beach house had to be torn down. According to my sister-in-law, the owner had decided to let go of the beach house and instead build an inland pool in Davao City. It was such a sad news since the beach house had so much potential and considering it was an affordable option to enjoy the beach minus the crowd.

However, I'm still glad I was able to witness the rich marine life under the waters of Balet bay. I hope the people in that community would strive to maintain what was already in that area and that they would help in preserving the waters of Balet bay. I am also hopeful that one day soon, resorts would pop up in that area of Samal.