General Santos City is attractive in a rather unconventional way. An acutely urban destination, it's also nice for viewing some great early morning fishing activity and diving. There are beaches, glitzy shopping malls and golf clubs alongside elegant administrative buildings and stately homes. Here are the Top 5 Must Do’s when in this South Cotabato Province.

1. Watch Early Morning Fishing

One of the most arresting visuals to enjoy in the city is that of the fisherman carrying their humongous catches at the break of dawn at Fisherport Complex. The dock becomes a throbbing center, with fisherman seizing and flaunting their catches and parading them to the adjacent Market 3. If you are lucky, you can spot giant tunas weighing a staggering 80 kilos on the shoulders of the adept fisher folk. Visitors can get a firsthand account of how catches are classified, categorized and put up for sale by visiting the market. The place has now acquired an iconic status and images representing the city are often ones of the Fisherport Complex.

2. Go Scuba Diving

Visitors can indulge in enjoyable scuba diving sessions at a private dive resort in South Point. Lemlunay Dive Resort is one of the most well-maintained and comprehensively equipped dive resorts that hold regular instructional diving courses and guided sessions. All equipment and diving gear is available on hire. The food is delicious and the staff, very amiable. The unobtrusive and pristine natural surroundings add to a relaxing holiday.

3. Camp at the Kalaja Karst Area

The tourist hotpsot of Kalaja Karst, located 9 miles from the northeast of Barangay Conel, is a quintessential natural reserve featuring waterfalls, caves, a small water bed with wild flowers and camping grounds to house nature and adventure purists. Explore the underground caves with an expert guide and nail a tent on the sprawling grounds to enjoy sleeping under the ‘Santonian’ night sky.

4. Enjoy Authentic Filipino Cuisine at Nana Beth

Nana Beth Fast Food House, nestled on J Catolicao Street opposite the KCC Mall, is nothing short of an institution for tasty and wholesome local grub. The menu lists a variety of local dishes that are affordably priced. Make sure you try their seafood preparations, especially the mouth-watering fresh tuna salad.

5. Visit Absekong Waterfalls

Sitting between the border of General Santos City and Polomok, The Absekong Waterfalls cascade down the Camp Flores mountain river along several granite boulders and striking lime-stone rimmed cliffs. The small puddles and pools surrounding the waterfalls are a nice sight.

General Santos City features a decent bunch of natural attractions and activities to help tourists enjoy its rather unusual beauty.