Tim Aukshun, age 57
American Scuba Instructor Trainer

1. Why did you choose to retire in the philippines?
I have been here, a retired USAF since 1983. But I was in the PI on and off at Clark since 67.I chose to retire here, because I was a scuba instructor and the diving here was excellent in 1985.

2. Do you have any favourite place? My favorite diving place is Panglao Island in Bohol. It still has pristine water, no dynamite fishing, inexpensive, and friendly people.

3. Why did you choose to retire in La Union? I learned to scuba dive here in La Union and love the area. There are many retired Americans and Australians here and also, there are many things to do.

4. Did you join the Philippine Retirement program? I did not join the PI program but one friend did and got SSS no from PI Government.

5. How much do you think it would take financially (in dollars) for a person to have a comfortable lifestyle in the philippines?
In my opinion, it would take about $1500.00 to live comfortable and be able to party a little bit.

6. How about medical issues in the philippines? Retired military has a program here for free. Medical and everything.

7. How did you come up with your dive business? I took up scuba in the Philippines in 1974 and fell in love with it. I could see diving was only in the infant stages then and realize there was a career in it.

8. Was it easy to establish a business in the PI? It was not easy establishing a business here. It took me about 8 trips to Manila from La Union. 36 photos in DOT and PCSSD (Phil. Commision on sport scuba diving). TOO much paperwork.

9. Any interesting diving experiences?What is the best dive spot for you in the Philippines and why? There are too many dive experiences to list but best dive site so far is Panglao Island in Bohol. The second is Southern Lyete near Padre Burgos.

10. Do you think you will or can come home and live in the US again? I do miss my home in Montana as the seasons are much different as well as the hunting and fishing. But I do not miss the snow and cold weather. No reason to return unless my mother gets sick and needs help taking care of her.

11. Was it easy for you to retire here? Retiring in the PI was easy as a US military stationed here got one item of each category tax free. (i.e. one car, one motorcycle, one TV) The problem of course, is the banking. To send money the bank keeps it for many days..Even getting a check from a person in Manila and cashing it in the province on the same bank takes 7 working days to clear.

12. What can you advise fellow americans who want to retire here? Get a good bank account with ATM, plenty of checks and bring lot and lots of patience.

13. Do you care to share any memorable/unforgettable experiences in my country? Memorable although maybe not good, are the typhoons and the earthquakes and Pinatubo. But I never forget how everyone helped everyone else get through them.

14. What has my country taught you? I learned to speak more slowly, be more patient, accept love from all ages without expecting a lot in return, and to stay young and enjoy life.

15. What are your future goals? Open a scuba diving center in Camotes Island and assist those less fortunate than me.

16. Any regrets? Only that my first wife became too Americanized to realize you can stay young even though you grow old. That age is mainly in the brain if you stay active. That I did not invest in Boracay in 1985 when I taught the first scuba instructor from there.

 

Tim Aukshun
PADI CD 6129
www.oceandeep.biz
www.techmarine.biz


We did an underwater marathon for charity and got $949, which we spent on local barangay for first aid kits, for day care, and rice for the poor especially the boatmen when the weather was bad and they can not go fishing.