Inside the Mysterious Miracle Pool Cave of Dinagat Islands

 

Have you ever seen a natural pool inside a cave?

Or better yet—have you ever seen a miraculous natural pool inside a cave?

In the Dinagat Islands, there’s a place in Plaridel, Libjo, that the locals call Miracle Pool Cave.

I don’t know about you, but when I first heard the name, I wondered if it was some kind of healing pool or a site with religious significance.

But no, it’s not really religious at all—well, maybe just a little. They call it Miracle Pool Cave because it’s a naturally formed pool inside a cave. The “miracle” part of the name refers to the figures that appear on the cave walls. Inside, there’s an area where, when a flashlight is projected at a certain angle, an image resembling Jesus appears. When I visited, someone demonstrated it for me. I honestly didn’t see anything that looked like Jesus’ face, but I just nodded and moved on—whatever it was.

But you know what the real miracle is? It’s the sheer beauty of the place. I must say, the cave pool is incredibly beautiful and astonishing. The water is clear and blue, and you’re free to swim if you’d like. The cave is well-preserved, and visitors are constantly reminded not to touch the stalagmites and stalactites—which, to be honest, is a bit hard to avoid. Still, I can see that the place is well taken care of. It’s clean, peaceful, and so calm that you’d just want to stay there for a long time, reflecting on life and the beauty of nature. Now that, for me, is the true miracle of the place.

However, before you can enter the cave, you’ll need to wait your turn. Yes, especially during peak season, there’s a long line. Only a limited number of people are allowed inside at a time because the cave is quite small. So, everyone must wait for their chance to go in. And naturally, because of the line, your time inside is limited. In our case, we were only allowed to stay for 15 minutes. The pathway leading to the cave isn’t difficult, but it’s so narrow that only one person can pass through at a time.

In the waiting area, there are makeshift chairs where you can sit while waiting. Or, if you’d rather not sit around, you can snorkel or swim in the surrounding area while waiting for your turn. Since the area is quite small, it can get crowded.

Overall, the experience at Miracle Pool Cave was spectacular, and I would definitely recommend adding it to your itinerary when visiting the Dinagat Islands.