MATI CITY, Davao Oriental — The Department of Tourism in Davao Region announced the kickoff of the four-day Bay Deep Mati Freediving Festival — regarded as the first-ever freediving event in the country.

Pujada Bay — one of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World in 2019 — is hosting the festival and on Saturday, 65 freedivers showed up opening day which also held a sunrise yoga, Pilates activities and underwater photography and videography workshop at Dahican Beach and Waniban Island.

Mati Mayor Michelle Rabat disclosed that the DoT-11 intends to put Mati on the tourism map with the event and at the same time, flaunt the beauty of Pujada Bay.

"We want to position Mati as a tourism hub to invite foreigners and other diving enthusiasts," said Rabat, who is also encouraging freediving enthusiast to likewise explore Mayo and Balete bays.

"I do expect more activities like this. It will be a yearly thing. To all the enthusiasts, you are very much welcome here in Mati," she added.

DoT-11 director Tanya Rabat Tan, on the other hand, said the event is a proof that tourism is bouncing back after the coronavirus pandemic.

"This is great news for us, now that we are starting to attract once again the attention of international tourists, most especially divers, as the world starts to move out and away from the pandemic," Tan said.

"We already know that our archipelago is full of underwater treasures, full of incredible marine life, making our islands attractive to international freedivers," she added.

The DoT has long recognized the potential of freediving, which also brings livelihood opportunities to communities and promotes caring for the environment.

"It is an activity balances and respects nature. The practice of freediving can also greatly help us in improving our health, both physically and mentally," Rabat said.