Jonnah Marie M. Dagaas | Archaeo 297 [Special Topics in Archaeology: Introduction to Diving and Underwater Archaeology]
Posted on May 21, 2025
Last November, when the second trimester started at the UP School of Archaeology, I was ready and enrolled in a Special Topics course entitled “Introduction to Diving and Underwater Archaeology” by Dr. Ligaya Lacsina, our department’s maritime archaeology professor and a scuba diving instructor.
When my Form 5 didn’t include fees that suggested the class may go on a scuba diving trip soon, I had still hoped for it to happen, but classes started and it seemed unlikely. We were, however, promised snorkeling-in-pool exercises that simulated the recording and excavating of an underwater archaeological site—that was just as exciting too.
January came, and we were asked if we’d be interested in an intro to scuba diving instead. It was a no-brainer; I immediately prepared what was required of us for the out-of-school activity.
Two days before our dive, our professor gave us a second orientation on the equipment we’d be using, the do’s and don’ts, and the reminder to be healthy and well-rested. I was, of course, tossing and turning later that evening, excited that I’d be checking off a box on my bucket list very soon.
January 24th came, and we arrived at the Plunge Dive Club by The Upper Deck in Pasig City. There were only two of us in Dr. Lacsina’s class, which meant we had more diving time with close supervision, which also meant we got to enjoy way more than our payment’s worth.
The dive club’s fee for a 4-hour activity and use of its diving equipment was 1,500 PHP. The pool started on a shallow level that had a steep descent reaching 3.5 meters deep—an area where we would explore and experience a brief insight into the world of Underwater Archaeology.
As soon as we were given our personal equipment for the
dive, Dr. Lacsina showed us the ropes, connecting one piece of the dive gear after another and donning them one by one, all the while discussing the significance of every step she took and emphasizing those that are of the utmost importance.
It didn’t take long before we were all geared up and started our return demonstration of safe diving practices and water entries, but it didn’t stop there. When we back-rolled into the water, we had to demonstrate more skills (i.e., emergency protocols, mask/regulator clearing and retrieval, equalization, buoyancy control, and hand signals.)
Once we had the all-clear from Dr. Lacsina, all three of us started our descent with instructions to acclimate ourselves and play around.
One important aspect of diving in archaeology that has been mentioned weeks before in class is that “You have to be comfortable in the water first to enjoy diving before you decide to be an underwater archaeologist.”
This activity was, in a way, a deciding moment for me. As someone who enjoys adrenaline-filled adventures and exploring the vastness of nature but is frightened at the thought of being in the middle of the ocean, scuba diving is a personal dilemma.
It wasn’t a piece of cake. Sure, we had air tanks, but the amount of mental energy put into reminding yourself of the rules, the physical measures you have to perform to carry out your goals for the dive, and the constant mindfulness of your physical needs, the unpredictable environment you’re immersed in, the capacity of your equipment, and the well-being of your dive buddy—these are just parts of the basics of diving.
As first-timers, our main goal at the Dive Club was to get ourselves acclimated and comfortable underwater and to enjoy diving as soon as we were well-familiar with the rules and necessities. We were given ample time by our professor to explore 3.5 meters underwater, play around with our buoyancy, and enjoy the calmness that is provided underwater.
Halfway through our air tanks, we were tasked with an archaeological activity. My dive buddy and I were instructed to record the dimensions of the pool and the features found in it. With
With measuring tapes, a drawing slate, a compass, and a dive plan in mind, we each took turns recording and taking measurements, drawing up a plan view of the pool. This same plan view would be drawn up on graphing paper that may later be digitized for publication or reporting purposes.
The activity didn’t take us long, but only because we were in a more controlled underwater environment. Had this been an actual archaeological site, it would’ve taken us days or weeks to record and excavate, and it would have taken months for the preparation of the project alone.
Our brief encounter with the underwater world of archaeology was a chance for us to experience what it’s like to be an underwater archaeologist and a chance to decide whether this path may be a feasible option for us.
I still get goosebumps when I think about being submerged underwater where I cannot see how far down it goes, but I have now learned some ways I can overcome this through our diving experience at the Plunge.
Jonnah Marie M. Dagaas is a registered nurse currently pursuing her childhood dream to be an archaeologist. She is now in her Masters degree program at the UP School of Archaeology.