Cool Change

CEBU, Philippines - While zipline facilities in Balamban have gotten everyone enthralled primarily because of the majestic panorama of the mountain range along with the comforting cool weather, a new installation, this time in Mactan, is set to give you a refreshing zipline rush different from your usual upland adventure.

Portofino Beach Resort’s newest offering is a cool change – a zipline over the sea. Called Skyfish, the 150-meter one-way “slanting” tandem cable is strategically installed, spanning horizontally from the back of the resort canteen to the tip of the Portofino wharf. The seaview is nothing short of romantic at sun-down and idyllic, tranquil on midday. The ride is definitely a breeze…not too short, not too quick.

Go on a solo flight or opt for a tandem ride. Kids may try this out as long as they’re accompanied by an adult. Their harnesses are expandable so anyone at any size can surely be accommodated.

To ensure safety, OnSite Outward Expedition managed by Raquel A. Dungog, the zipline operator, acquired top quality equipment including cables, karabiners, harness, ropes, etc., and hired an experienced instructor to train the workforce in-charge of Skyfish.

Plus

Since the semester is about to close next month, why not head on to Portofino to try these out:

Aquanaut is increasingly popular in this slice of Mactan since it was formally introduced to the locals last year. This is a 15-minute stroll on the seabed at five meters deep, communing with schools of fish while feeding them. In the famed Boracay, this is called sea walking – underwaterworld up-close. Sea walking shoes and sea walking helmet are provided, of course. The latter, that is extremely heavy, is a pressurized helmet with an air hose connected to an air provider installed in the guide boat. So, you can freely breathe underwater. Reliable underwater cams are definitely the best companions!

Water walking via a Waterball. This activity is relatively new in this resort. OnSite recently acquired clear, transparent 8ft.-in-diameter waterballs from China that allows a beachbum to walk on water, run, and roll with it.

More activities include pedalboating, slacklining (Wikipedia: a balance sport that uses nylon webbing tensioned between two anchor points) and snorkeling.

Portofino Beach Resort is in Bo. Angasil, Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City.