If you’ve ever dived with Evolution or anywhere in The Philippines then you’ve experienced the magic of a Filipino Bangka or Pump Boat. Yes they are noisy. Yes they are wet. Yes we love them!
As a dive boat they have exceptional maneuverability. A large Pump Boat like our own Beagle can do a 360 degree turn in a small area and with a great Captain like Roger at the helm can scoop up a surfaced diver with great precision.
The boats are open decked so if its windy there can be some ‘moisture’ but The Philippines is sunshine for most of the year so who cares?
What’s magical about these boats is their memetic legacy back to very ancient times and as a craft they have evolved so perfectly, constantly adapting to the local environment and conditions. Its true boatbuilding Natural Selection at work with different variations found on every island of The Philippines.
When Homo sapien emigrated from Africa towards Asia and especially the Austronesian migration around 12,000 years ago guess how these early sailors navigated the massive archipelagos of South East Asia? Yes indeed, outrigger canoes, the ancient precursor to today’s Filipino Pump Boat.
The logic is simple. The Philippines and large parts of SE Asia consists of islands. These island often only have shallow water approaches – just like Malapascua. In order to dock the boat close to or on shore you need to raise the keel. The only way to do this is by using bamboo outriggers. And that ancient logic is applied every time we dive at Evolution today.
With so little displacement there is very little of the boat underwater. This can make for a jerky ride but this motion results in hardly any seasickness in passengers compared to traditional boats.
The Bangkas are made locally – The Beagle and The Haldane made right here on Evolution’s beach – by local craftsmen working with no blue prints, no formal training, just experience passed down generation to generation.
So next time you’re coming to Evolution and you walk the plank onto the protruding deck of one of your Pump Boats, take a moment to appreciate the history and the simplicity of this special craft.
