We wish you a successful New Year, from all the Alliance partners,
take care and happy diving.

Surviving in Palau Micronesia and the Philippines is easy when diving with the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance in 2008.

The Divers Choice.
scuba-uitrustings duik - plongée de scaphandre - Tauchen mit Unterwasseratemgerät - diving dello scuba - diving do scuba - salto de la escafandra autónom
Filippijnen - Philippines - Philippinen - Filippine - Filipinas - Philippines - Filipinas - Micronesië - La Micronésie - Mikronesien - La Micronesia
vreedzaam - Pacifique - pazifisches meer - pacifico

A very happy New Year - prost Neujahr - bonne année - onnellista uutta vuotta - gelukkig Nieuwjaar - ath bhliain faoi mhaise - selamat tahun baru - godt nytt år - szczliwego nowego roku - feliz ano novo - gott nytt år manigong bagong taon - sawatdii pimaï - kung hé fat tsoi - xin nian kuai le / xin nian hao - godt nytår - eutichismenos o kainourgios chronos - felice anno nuovo, buon anno - S novim godom - sreno novo leto - Cung Chúc Tân Xuân
yeni yiliniz kutlu olsun

___________________________________

DID YOU KNOW?

Introducing our partners in their different languages, today we introduce
our partner in Palau Micronesia, Sam's Tours in Spanish.
Our previous Blogs featured Asia Divers with El Galleon in Italian
and Calypso/Pinjalo in German.

Philippine-Micronesia Alliance ® 2008

Benvenuti nell’Alleanza Filippine – Micronesia, I vostri partners per vacanze di qualita’ nel campo delle immersioni!.

La vasta e remota regione delle Filippine e della Micronesia include le acque piu’ abbondanti e tropicali del Pacifico rinomate per i sommozzatori per le ricche bio diversita’ marine che includono pellicani, infinite varietà di soggetti per macro fotografia, più di 700 specie di coralli, più di 1300 specie di pesci ed una massiccia collezione di naufragi ancora intatti.

La nostra rete esclusiva di resorts di prima classe per subacquei in tutte le Filippine, la Repubblica di Palau e la Laguna di Truk negli stati Federati della Micronesia, in associazione con i nostri selezionati e professionali agenti di viaggio, trasforma i viaggi e le immersioni in questa regione sbalorditiva del Pacifico, più convenienti, più comodi e più divertenti che mai per i subacquei!

L'alleanza Filippine-Micronesia e’ formata dai piu’ importanti operatori per le immersioni subacquee, direttamente selezionati dall’Alleanza per garantire ai subacquei il meglio per vacanze di qualita’, il più alto livello di sicurezza, eccellenti servizi agli utenti e professionalita’ del settore industriale.

Per la convenienza del suo progetto di viaggio, i nostri esperti e selezionati agenti regionali pianificheranno le Vostre esplorazioni nel Pacifico, per una tranquillita’ garantita nell’appoggio dei livelli di servizio della nostra Alleanza, nel conforto e nella totale soddisfazione. Per cortesia, rilassatevi, divertitevi e lasciate il piano delle immersioni a noi!
I Vostri partners per vacanze di qualita’ nel campo delle immersioni, includono resorts Filippini e centri Asiatici per subacquei come il “Resort Galleon, a Puerto Galera; il “Club Paradise & Dugong Diving Center, a Palawan; il “Pinjalo Diver Resort”, a Borocay; il “Sam’s Tours” a Palau, in Micronesia e il “Truk Lagoon Dive Center, negli Stati federati della Micronesia.

© Gunther Deichmann - Spectacular Nautilus dives at
Sam's Tours Palau.
Click on the images for more photos from
all the Alliance destinations.

Il Sam’s tour, e’ il primario centro di addestramento e sviluppo subacqueo PADI a cinque stelle di Palau. Eccellenti servizi per gli utenti, attenzioni personalizzate e servizio professionale ha fatto si che il Sam’s Tours sia stato premiato dalla scelta dei lettori dello Scuba Diving Magazine, dal 1997 in poi come “Migliore centro di immersioni”, “Migliore personale di addestramento” e “Migliori costi”.

Il nostro centro per immersioni include un servizio fotografico subacqueo professionale e un negozio videofotografico, tecniche di immersione e trimix, autorizzate dal settore vendite e servizi di Scubapro e Aqualung, una lunga serie di esperienze subacquee, programmi preliminari attraverso certificazioni di istruttori, e un caffe' sul lungomare che guarda la bella isola andare verso la fine della giornata.


Situato a Koror, il Sam's Tours e' a meno di 40 minuti di battello dalle meravigliose scogliere esterne di Palau ed e' a 10 minuti da molte navi naufragate ed aerei affondati durante la Seconda guerra Mondiale (WWII). I nostri battelli forniscono viaggi veloci, sicuri e comodi ed includono una visita complimentare allo sbalorditivo Jellyfish Lake (Lago delle meduse) di Palau. Per maggiore sicurezza e comodita' offriamo Nitrox complimentari (con certificazione) e nel rispetto della sicurezza, permettiamo immersioni con un massimo di otto persone per ogni istruttore.

Sam’s Tours e’ un centro di immersioni indipendente che opera in combinazione con i migliori Hotels di Palau ed offre viaggi di andata e ritorno giornalieri, pacchetti che includono Hotel ed immersioni, e charter personalizzati per singole persone o gruppi. Un servizio shuttle complimentare garantisce viaggi di andata e ritorno da e per tutti gli Hotel di Koror.

In aggiunta alle immersioni, Sam’s Tours offre gite per lo snorkel, giri dell’isola, noleggi marittimi ed il piu’ quotato Planet Blue Kayak Tours. Sam’s Tours, e’ l’unico centro di immersioni di Palau che riceve il premio Palau Conservation Society (Societa’ di tutela di Palau) “Partner in Conservazion” (Partner in tutela) ed e’ lo sponsor sociale del Palau Shark Sanctuary Fund (Fondo del Palau Shark Sanctuary).

____________________________________

DID YOU KNOW?

Introducing our partners in their different languages, today we introduce
our partner in Boracay Calaypso/Pinjalo Dive Resort,
Boracay, Philippines in German.
Our previous Blog featured Asia Divers with El Galleon in Italian.


© Gunther Deichmann - click on the image for more photos
from our destinations.

Willkommen bei der Fillippinen-Mikronesien Allianz, ihr Partner für erstklassigen Tauchurlaub!

Das riesige Gebiet des Pazifiks zwischen den Philippinen und Mikronesien mit seinem warmen tropischen Wasser ist unter Tauchern weltberühmt für die enorme maritime Vielfalt an z.B. großen pelagischen Tieren, über 700 Arten von Korallen, mehr als 1.300 Fischarten. Sie finden hier aber auch endlose Themen für die Makrophotographie und eine imposante Sammlung von intakten WWII Schiffwracks.

Unser exklusives Netzwerk von erstklassigen Tauchressorts auf den Philippinen, in Palau und Truk Lagoon in Mikronesien sowie ausgewählten Reiseveranstaltern macht Reisen und Tauchen in diesem fantastischen Gebiet des Pazifiks bequemer und komfortabler als je zuvor. Und das Taucherlebnis wird unvergesslich sein!

Die Philippinen - Mikronesien Allianz besteht aus den besten Tauchressorts, die die Region zu bieten hat. Unsere Partner werden sorgfältig ausgesucht damit Sie einen erstklassigen Tauchurlaub genießen können, und wir Ihnen Sicherheit, Service und Professionalität auf höchstem Niveau bieten können.

Überlassen Sie Ihre Reiseplanung einfach unseren Zielgebietsexperten. Wir sorgen dafür, dass Ihr Pazifikabenteuer ein einmaliges Erlebnis wird. Lehnen Sie sich zurück, entspannen Sie sich und überlassen Sie uns die Planung Ihres Traumtauchurlaubes.

Ihr Partner für ein hochwertigen Tauchurlaubt sind: Auf den Philippinen: Asia Divers with El Galleon Resort, Puerto Galera - Club Paradise & Dugong Diving Center, Palawan – Pinjalo Diver Resort, Boracay
Auf Palau, Mikronesien: Sam´s Tours und auf Truk in den Föderierten Staaten von Mikronesien: Truk Lagoon Dive Center

Schriftsteller, und Touristen haben Schwierigkeiten Wörter in der Superlative zu finden, wenn sie diesen, wohl “schönsten Strand der Welt” beschreiben. Smaragd-grüne Vegetation, kobald-blaues Wasser und weißer, puderfeiner Sand sind ein Traum, der wahr wird. Boracay bietet für jeden etwas, von Abenteuerlustig bis hin zu Anspruchvoll.

Das Pinjalo Resort begrüßt seine Gäste mit philippinischer Gastfreundlichkeit und bietet Ihnen einen entspannenden und erholsamen Urlaub in anspruchsvoller und komfortablen Umgebung.


Wünschen Sie sich die Unterwasserwelt von Boracay zu erkunden, in der Sonne zu relaxen oder vielleicht ein paar Löcher auf dem nahe gelegenen Golfplatz zu spielen? Oder wollen Sie vielleicht den Tag mit einer luxeriösen Spa Behandlung beenden?

Für diejenigen welche nicht nur ein kurzes Eintauchen in das kobald-blaue Wasser machen wollen, ist das Calypso Tauchcenter die Antwort.

Calypso Diving ist ein 5 Star Padi Tauchcenter der extra klasse, welche Ihnen Tauchen auf höchsten Sicherheitsstandards mit modernem Equipment ermöglicht. Unser Team von freundlichen und zertifi zierten Padi Ausbildern,
bietet Ihnen egal ob sie Anfänger sind, oder als Fortgeschrittener weiterführende Kurse machen wollen, Ausbildungen für jede Art von Bedürfnisse an.

Auch für unsere erfahrenen Taucher gibst es unzählige Möglichkeiten beispielsweise bei Tieftauchen oder diverse Tauchsafaris die fantastische Unterwasserwelt mit den vielfältigen Korallenwände in Bildern festzuhalten.

Ob Sie nur einen Cocktail bei Sonnenuntergang oder die vorzügliche Küche genießen, Pinjalo Dive Resort bietet alles was Ihren Urlaub unvergesslich macht! Wer uns erst einmal besucht hat, wird gewiss wieder an diesen Platz zurückkehren!

______________________________________

DID YOU KNOW?

Introducing our partners in their different languages, the first in our new series is
Asia Divers with El Galleon Beach Resort in Puerto Galera, Philippines.

FILIPPINE-MICRONESIA ALLEANZA

Benvenuti nell’Alleanza Filippine – Micronesia, I vostri partners per vacanze di qualita’ nel campo delle immersioni!

La vasta e remota regione delle Filippine e della Micronesia include le acque piu’ abbondanti e tropicali del Pacifico rinomate per i sommozzatori per le ricche bio diversita’ marine che includono pellicani, infinite varietà di soggetti per macro fotografia, più di 700 specie di coralli, più di 1300 specie di pesci ed una massiccia collezione di naufragi ancora intatti.

La nostra rete esclusiva di resorts di prima classe per subacquei in tutte le Filippine, la Repubblica di Palau e la Laguna di Truk negli stati Federati della Micronesia, in associazione con i nostri selezionati e professionali agenti di viaggio, trasforma i viaggi e le immersioni in questa regione sbalorditiva del Pacifico, più convenienti, più comodi e più divertenti che mai per i subacquei!

L'alleanza Filippine-Micronesia e’ formata dai piu’ importanti operatori per le immersioni subacquee, direttamente selezionati dall’Alleanza per garantire ai subacquei il meglio per vacanze di qualita’, il più alto livello di sicurezza, eccellenti servizi agli utenti e professionalita’ del settore industriale.

Per la convenienza del suo progetto di viaggio, i nostri esperti e selezionati agenti regionali pianificheranno le Vostre esplorazioni nel Pacifico, per una tranquillita’ garantita nell’appoggio dei livelli di servizio della nostra Alleanza, nel conforto e nella totale soddisfazione. Per cortesia, rilassatevi, divertitevi e lasciate il piano delle immersioni a noi!
I Vostri partners per vacanze di qualita’ nel campo delle immersioni, includono resorts Filippini e centri Asiatici per subacquei come il “Resort Galleon, a Puerto Galera; il “Club Paradise & Dugong Diving Center, a Palawan; il “Pinjalo Diver Resort”, a Borocay; il “Sam’s Tours” a Palau, in Micronesia e il “Truk Lagoon Dive Center, negli Stati federati della Micronesia.

Nous pouvons vous cherchez avec notre propre véhicule où vous voulez dans Manille. Après un court trajet de deux heures, vos vacances commencent vraiment lors de la très jolie traversée qui vous emmène à la plage très typique de Small Lalaguna, de Puerto Galera.

L'hôtel El Galleon vous propose 30 chambres modernes et confortables, toutes avec salle de bains et vue sur la piscine ou sur la mer. Vous vous sentirez comme chez vous dans nos chambres.

Situé dans une des plus belles baies du monde, Puerto Galera , qui veut dire en espagnol, le port des galions, se compose de nombreuses plages et criques tranquilles, qui vous permettent soit de vous évader soit de vous rendre sur d'autres plages plus fréquentées pour plus de plaisir au soleil. Si vous aimez la randonnée, le canoë, ou le golf nous pouvons facilement vous arranger ça. Mais vous pouvez aussi paresser sur le bord de notre piscine.

N'oubliez pas de vous rendre au bar the Point, un endroit remarquable pour boire un verre au soleil couchant, cocktail, bière bien fraîche pour parler de vos activités et plongées de la journée en vous laissant glisser doucement au son de la meilleure musique de Puerto Galera, tout en rencontrant de nouveaux amis.

Nos propres experts de Asia Divers vous proposent ce qu'il y a de mieux en matière de plongée et d'apprentissage. Le centre de certification PADI vous propose toutes les formations depuis les plus petits, (pour faire des bulles), jusqu'à la formation de moniteurs de plongée, pour ceux qui veulent faire de la plongée leur carrière. Avec une trentaine de sites de plongée dans un rayon de 15 minutes en bateau depuis l'hôtel, vous avez le choix de faire soit une ou toutes les cinq plongées prévues quotidiennement. Vous lisez bien, oui, jusqu'à 5 plongées par jour. Chaque plongée est accompagnée par l'un de nos moniteurs expérimentés et revient à notre base toutes les heures et demie.

Vous pouvez choisir entre de nombreux types de plongées, depuis la découverte jusqu'aux plongées techniques, et nos experts de Asia Divers vous montreront comment faire, au cours de plongées parmi les plus belles au monde. Dans notre Centre Technique, le personnel de Tech Asia dans des installations de premier ordre forme les plongeurs à l'utilisation des respirateurs et des mélanges Nitrox et Trimix. Les eaux de Puerto Galera vous offre des occasions parmi les meilleures au monde pour faire de la macro, et sur notre site de plongée des Canyons, des bancs de carangues, empereurs, barracudas et autres bars très sympa sont là pour vous accueillir. Ce sont des vacances très complètes où vous êtes sûr de faire des plongées merveilleuses et de vous faire de nouveaux amis, et vous pouvez plonger toute l'année.

Plonger avec Asia Divers n'est jamais décevant, alors on vous attend

___________________________________________

I have just picked up this Blog from our friends and Alliance partner Sam's Tours in Palau, Micronesia, interesting reading and the perfect place for your next vacation, if you click on the image below you see all our partner destinations in the Philippines and Micronesia and for our special dive packages please click this link. Read the story and the encounter with the Whale shark below, Dermot Keane has mention in his blog that he has not seen a whale shark himself, poor Guy, I guess he spend all his time organizing trips and making sure everybody else has a great time at Sam's Tours. Dermot is the GM and if you have a special requests check with him, or why dont you invite him for a dive, you never know he might get to see his whale shark too.

Scuba diving with us in the Philippines, Micronesia and the Pacific in 2008.
The Divers Choice.
scuba-uitrustings duik - plongée de scaphandre - Tauchen mit Unterwasseratemgerät - diving dello scuba - diving do scuba - salto de la escafandra autónom
Filippijnen - Philippines - Philippinen - Filippine - Filipinas - Philippines - Filipinas - Micronesië - La Micronésie - Mikronesien - La Micronesia
vreedzaam - Pacifique - pazifisches meer - pacifico

H a p p y H o l i d a y s


© Gunther Deichmann - Palau, Micronesia
Quiet again in Palau after the Survivor show/filming is over.
Select a beach and have a romantic Vacation, like the couples
on the three Coconut Island.
Click the image for more photos of our destinations.


Blog post from Sam's Tours Palau
SURVIVOR MICRONESIA - Officially Announced!

Survivor 16 or Survivor Palau as it has been generally referred to up until now, is officially announced as Survivor Micronesia. Big Fish Inc., the production company who shot the show in Palau from September through December this year has already packed up and left town. The town is markedly quieter now that the production crews are gone and the beaches in the rock islands that have been off-limits during the shoot are once again open for access.

It was good to see some old friends that we met during the last Survivor Palau shoot a few years ago. Chances are that TV viewers here in Palau may not even get to see the show when it airs unless that local cable company can work out a deal.

With Survivor: China concluded, CBS announced the new season of Survivor will be called Survivor: Micronesia - Fans versus Favorites and will feature a tribe of long-time Survivor fans up against fan-favorites from previous seasons.

For more information check out:
http://coldleftovers.com/survivor-micronesia-cast-revealed
http://www.unofficialsurvivorguide.com/

While Survivor Micronesia is getting top billing on the Internet, it is Palau's awesome scubadiving that continues to wow our visitors. Just yesterday one of our guests Chris saw a Whaleshark while participating in an Intro Dive! I've been diving here for 10 years and haven't seen a Whaleshark yet! The mantas have been plentiful and very playfull in the late afternoons near German Channel and there have been a few tiger sharks seen in the area too. Visibility has been spectacular and all in all, the diving has been spectacular these past few months. How can you tell? Just take one look at the divers faces as they get off the boats or listen up at the bar as friends sit around and relive their dives. So, turn off the TV, pack your bags and come on down to Palau and see for yourself what all the fuss is about!

A very happy New Year - prost Neujahr - bonne année - onnellista uutta vuotta - gelukkig Nieuwjaar - ath bhliain faoi mhaise - selamat tahun baru - godt nytt år - szczliwego nowego roku - feliz ano novo - gott nytt år manigong bagong taon - sawatdii pimaï - kung hé fat tsoi - xin nian kuai le / xin nian hao - godt nytår - eutichismenos o kainourgios chronos - felice anno nuovo, buon anno - S novim godom - sreno novo leto - Cung Chúc Tân Xuân
yeni yiliniz kutlu olsun

___________________________________

Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year
from all the Alliance partners.
Diving with us in 2008

Happy holidays - Gelukkige vakantie - Bonnes fêtes - Frohe Feiertage - Feriados felizes - Felices fiestas



© Gunther Deichmann
If you click on the image above you can view the beautiful places of the
Philippine - Micronesia Alliance. The Divers Choice.

A very happy New Year - prost Neujahr - bonne année - onnellista uutta vuotta - gelukkig Nieuwjaar - ath bhliain faoi mhaise - selamat tahun baru - godt nytt år - szczliwego nowego roku - feliz ano novo - gott nytt år manigong bagong taon - sawatdii pimaï - kung hé fat tsoi - xin nian kuai le / xin nian hao - godt nytår - eutichismenos o kainourgios chronos - felice anno nuovo, buon anno - S novim godom - sreno novo leto - Cung Chúc Tân Xuân
yeni yiliniz kutlu olsun

Please remember to take care of
our environment in 2008


© Gunther Deichmann - Mangroves

Scuba diving with us in the Philippines, Micronesia and the Pacific in 2008.
The Divers Choice.
scuba-uitrustings duik - plongée de scaphandre - Tauchen mit Unterwasseratemgerät - diving dello scuba - diving do scuba - salto de la escafandra autónom
Filippijnen - Philippines - Philippinen - Filippine - Filipinas - Philippines - Filipinas - Micronesië - La Micronésie - Mikronesien - La Micronesia
vreedzaam - Pacifique - pazifisches meer - pacifico

Click here for our special packages.

If you had the chance recently to watch the Survivor Micronesia show then you know already one of our destinations Palau, now get to know the other ones: In the Philippines Puerto Galera, Boracay, Palawan and in Micronesia Truk Lagoon (Chuuk).

___________________________________________________

I just picked this up from our friends at Fins magazine, the most recent Blog post, now that is something you should have a good look at, real cool.
A personal small submarine or U-Boat. I wonder which Dive Center or Resort is first in the Philippines or Micronesia to offer this unique U-Boat for their non diving guest.
This could be real cool in Palau to explore the great walls or check out the Canyons in Puerto Galera, creeping up on Dugongs in Palawan or take it for a spin in Boracay and check out the Yapak dive site, but what about Truk Lagoon now that could be something else.Stay tuned or subscribe to "Our Blog" and I let you know when and where at the Philippine -Micronesia Alliance.
GD

HAPPY HOLIDAYS & TAKE CARE ON ALL YOUR DIVES,
YOUR SAFTEY COMES FIRST .

U-Boat 4U?
Tuesday, 18th December 2007, 1:21 am by FiNS Team

U-Boat If you’re one of those people who has every gadget known to modern diving, or if you’re looking for a really special present for someone who’s got everything, how about a personal UBoat?Say what?
U-Boat Worx, a company based in The Netherlands, has developed personal U-Boats (basically very comfortable submarines) that come in one- and two-seater models. Called C-Questers, these oh-so-cool looking submersibles can dive to 50 metres, hold a steady 1-atmosphere of pressure (meaning no decompression issues)
If you’re one of those people who has every gadget known to modern diving, or if you’re looking for a really special present for someone who’s got everything, how about a personal UBoat?Say what?
U-Boat Worx, a company based in The Netherlands, has developed personal U-Boats (basically very comfortable submarines) that come in one- and two-seater models. Called C-Questers, these oh-so-cool looking submersibles can dive to 50 metres, hold a steady 1-atmosphere of pressure (meaning no decompression issues) and come packed with safety features like redundant depth control (meaning you can’t sink past 50 metres) and advanced life-support systems (four redundant O2 sensors, redundant fans and CO2 scrubber to keep the air clean). .....see the photos and read more at fins blog....

Happy New Year - prost Neujahr - bonne année - onnellista uutta vuotta - gelukkig Nieuwjaar - ath bhliain faoi mhaise - selamat tahun baru
godt nytt år - szczliwego nowego roku - feliz ano novo - gott nytt år - manigong bagong taon - sawatdii pimaï
kung hé fat tsoi - xin nian kuai le / xin nian hao - godt nytår - eutichismenos o kainourgios chronos
felice anno nuovo, buon anno - S novim godom - sreno novo leto - Cung Chúc Tân Xuân - yeni yiliniz kutlu olsun

________________________________________

© Gunther Deichmann

I have just received word and given confirmation about the final dates on the Photo Workshop in Palau Micronesia with Sam's Tours.
The confirmed dates are: April 22nd to 27th 2008. Tony Wu one of Asia's best underwater photographers ( editor of Fins Magazine) and Gunther Deichmann well renown for his landscape and surface shots (also a certified Apple Pro trainer for Aperture) have organized this exciting event at Sam's Tours. More details will be announced shortly, for reservations and bookings please contact Dermot Keane from Sam's Tours at:www.samstours.com
For other workshop details go to: www.gdphotoworkshop.com, more details and info will be posted soon on this site.
For information on Tony Wu please go to:http://www.tonywublog.com/
Fins Magazine: http://www.finsonline.com/
Plan your trip now for an exciting Photo Workshop above and below in Palau Micronesia, shoot with Tony Wu at Blue Corner and other great dive sites, journey with Gunther Deichmann to some of the best locations above in Palau and learn the digital workflow after the shoot. For our Mac/Apple friends there is a big surprise waiting for you at Sam's very, very soon this will be announced on this Blog and at : http://www.deichmann-photo.com/blog.html


© Tony Wu - learn from the best

© Gunther Deichmann- even aerials can be arranged


© Tony Wu - a smile for you


© Gunther Deichmann, Sam's Tours Palau -
your base, the premier dive center

________________________________________________________

DID YOU KNOW? Is brought to you by the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance, the Divers Choice.
We care about our Environment!

A reminder for all of those who dont know we can communicate in many different languages, all of our partner resorts and dive centers have qualified multilingual speaking instructors and staff. OK., not all the languages listed below, but this is our way of saying Happy Holidays we are looking forward to see you in 2008 for some great diving in the Philippines, Micronesia and the Pacific. In the Philippines: Asia Divers with El Galleon, Puerto Galera, Calypso/Pinjalo Dive Resort, Boracay,
Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center, Palawan. In Micronesia: Sam's Tours Palau, Truk Stop Hotel and Dive Center in Chuuk, (Truk Lagoon) Travel Agent: Blue Horizons, Manila and Asian Spirit Airlines.

All our dive centers and resorts care about the environment and if you speak Italian, French, German, Russian, Korea, Japanese or Chinese, the Philippine -Micronesia Website is in these languages, all our partners have two pages in these languages, giving you at least some idea why you should dive, explore and discover paradise with us.

Plongée avec nous dans le Pacifique et la Micronésie en 2008

Tauchen mit uns im Pazifik und Mikronesien in 2008

Tuffandosi con noi nel Pacifico e la Micronesia in 2008

Mergulhar com nós no Pacífico e o Micronesia em 2008

El zambullirse con nosotros en el Pacífico y Micronesia en 2008

Dive with us the Pacific and Micronesia in 2008

Mag dive kasama namin sa Pacipiko at Micronesia sa 2008

Нырните с нами в pacific, philippines и Мичронезии, водолазах отборных в 2008

潜水与我们在太平洋、菲律宾和密克罗西亚岛, 2008 年潜水者挑选

Βουτήξτε με μας στον ειρηνικό, τις Φιλιππίνες και τη Μικρονησία, η διαφορετική επιλογή το 2008

太平洋、フィリピンおよびミクロネシアの2008 年に上等ダイバーの私達との飛び込み

태평양, 필리핀 및 미크로네시아 의2008년에 선택하는 잠수부안에 우리들과 급강하

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I have just received from our partner Allan Nash, Asia Divers with El Galleon Beach Resort in Puerto Galera, Philippines this disturbing info/news see below the link, it is really worthwhile reading.
All our partners from the Philippine –Micronesia Alliance care about these issues and our environment.
Thanks a million Allan for letting everybody know!

------ Forwarded Message
From: Michelle Masters
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:01:47 +1100
To:
Subject: Please take the time

Dear All,

I am sending you this link because the cause is very important and the man behind it just happens to be my step-father.  The information is real which makes it sickening.  If you feel strongly about animal rights and preventing such despicable cruelty to animals, then let others know. Please sign the petition.
The website is brand new http://animalsaviors.org/

Michelle

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The colors of the Alliance

Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year
from the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance.

Welcome to 2008

Wishing you all the best for the New Year… from the Philippines; Asia Divers with El Galleon Beach Resort, Puerto Galera – Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center, Palawan, Calypso/Pinjalo Dive Resort, Boracay – from Mirconesia; Sam’s Tours Palau – Truk Stop Hotel and Dive Center Chuuk (Truk Lagoon) from our travel expert Blue Horizons Travel, Manila and Asian Spirit Airlines.

Join us in the New Year for some exciting island hopping – inselhuepfen – discover and explore the Pacific Ocean and Micronesia and if you not a diver yet, dive education is our business, from PADI 5 star to PADI National Geographic Dive Centers, top Nitrox facilities and re-breathers including tech diving, we get you certified in no time.
Your passion is diving… ours is service. The Divers Choice.

Happy New Year - prost Neujahr - bonne année - onnellista uutta vuotta - gelukkig Nieuwjaar - ath bhliain faoi mhaise - selamat tahun baru
godt nytt år - szczliwego nowego roku - feliz ano novo - gott nytt år - manigong bagong taon - sawatdii pimaï
kung hé fat tsoi - xin nian kuai le / xin nian hao - godt nytår - eutichismenos o kainourgios chronos
felice anno nuovo, buon anno - S novim godom - sreno novo leto - Cung Chúc Tân Xuân - yeni yiliniz kutlu olsun

The Philippine-Micronesia Alliance

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A reminder that you can still join us for this little quest, see below.

Join us for a little Trivia! Send us an email (gunther@gdeichmann.com) or go to the feedback button on this Blog, upper right hand side, with what you think are the most endangered marine animals in the world today, the right answers will receive (we guarantee this) a Book on the Dive Sites and environs of Puerto Galera and Palau Micronesia (only 5 copies in total can be won) we also have 5 sets of Postcards to give away, they come in a sets of eight. Just name 5 of the most endangered marine animals.

This our way of saying Merry Christmas.

All partners, family members and staff of the Philippine -Micronesia Alliance are are not allowed to participate.
GD

“ PUERTO GALERA & VERDE ISLAND ”
Dive Sites of the Philippines (Revised 3rd Edition)

Photography by Gunther Deichmann
and Text by Frank Doyle

• 136 pages including cover
• Full colour throughout
• Laminated Soft cover for Durability
• Size: 15.3cm x 21.7cm (Folded)

“ PALAU ” Dive Sites, History & Culture
(Revised 2nd Edition)

By Photographer Gunther Deichmann, Kevin Davidson
& Ethan Daniels (Marine Biologist)

• Available in English
• 160 pages including cover
• Full colour throughout
• Laminated Soft cover for Durability
• Size: 15.3cm x 21.7cm (Folded)

Win these 2 great Guide books, and the cool looking postcards below,
just name the most endangered marine species in the world today.

A Christmas message from the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance.
WE Do CARE!

DID YOU KNOW? Is brought to you by the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance, the Divers Choice.
We care about our Environment!



The Christmas season is approaching, going out and buying gifts, well some of us.
Please don’t buy these, STOP – X raping our oceans!
If the buying stops, the killing will too.

Learn how to dive, snorkel and appreciate our underwater world, let’s leave the Shells where they came from, so our future generations can enjoy them in their natural environment.
If you see them washed a shore on the beach, yes, you can take them home, however check with the various countries first, some have very strict rules on the exportation of different items including artifacts. (Don’t remove artifact from wrecks)

An endangered animal or plant is a species that is considered in immediate danger of becoming extinct. Its population is very small and it needs active protection to survive. In many Countries, hunting of endangered animals is not allowed. Neither is importation of their meat, fur, tusks, blubber, or other products
Extinction has happened throughout history, but in modern times the rate has increased dramatically. There is a link between the increase in the extinction rate and the growth in human population. The worldwide human population was 1 billion in 1600, 1.5 billion 100 years ago, and is over 6 billion today. At the same time, the species extinction rate has increased to one species a day. If this continues, it will cause a dramatic drop in the diversity of life on our planet, which will most certainly have serious effects.

Now you can join us for a little Trivia! Send us an email (gunther@gdeichmann.com) or go to the feedback button on this Blog, upper right hand side, with what you think are the most endangered marine animals in the world today, the right answers will receive (we guarantee this) a Book on the Dive Sites and environs of Puerto Galera and Palau Micronesia (only 5 copies in total can be won) we also have 5 sets of Postcards to give away, they come in a sets of eight. Just name 5 of the most endangered marine animals.

This our way of saying Merry Christmas.

All partners, family members and staff of the Philippine -Micronesia Alliance are are not allowed to participate.
GD

“ PUERTO GALERA & VERDE ISLAND ”
Dive Sites of the Philippines (Revised 3rd Edition)

Photography by Gunther Deichmann
and Text by Frank Doyle

• 136 pages including cover
• Full colour throughout
• Laminated Soft cover for Durability
• Size: 15.3cm x 21.7cm (Folded)

“ PALAU ” Dive Sites, History & Culture
(Revised 2nd Edition)

By Photographer Gunther Deichmann, Kevin Davidson
& Ethan Daniels (Marine Biologist)

• Available in English
• 160 pages including cover
• Full colour throughout
• Laminated Soft cover for Durability
• Size: 15.3cm x 21.7cm (Folded)

Win these 2 great Guide books, and the cool looking postcards below,
just name the most endangered marine species in the world today.

A Christmas message from the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance.
WE Do CARE!

See below some more interesting reading about our environment and Ocean:

History of the Ocean
Starting when the Earth formed about 4.5 billion years ago....

Solar System Simulator by NASA/JPL/Caltech.The ocean is not just where the land happens to be covered by water. The sea floor is geologically distinct from the continents. It is locked in a perpetual cycle of birth and destruction that shapes the ocean and controls much of the geology and geological history of the continents. Geological processes that occur beneath the waters of the sea affect not only marine life, but dry land as well. The processes that mold ocean basins occur slowly, over tens and hundreds of millions of years. On this time-scale, where a human lifetime is but the blink of an eye, solid rocks flow like liquid, entire continents move across the face of the earth and mountains grow from flat plains. To understand the sea floor, we must learn to adopt the unfamiliar point of view of geological time. Geology is very important to marine biology. Habitats, or the places where organisms live, are directly shaped by geological processes. The form of coastlines; the depth of the water; whether the bottom is muddy, sandy, or rocky; and many other features of a marine habitat are determined by this geology. The geologic history of marine life is also called Paleontology.

The presence of large amounts of liquid water makes our planet unique. Most other planets have very little water, and on those that do the water exists only as perpetually frozen ice or as vapor in the atmosphere. The earth, on the other hand, is very much a water planet. The ocean covers most of the globe and plays a crucial role in regulating our climate and atmosphere. Without water, life itself would be impossible… read more at: http://marinebio.org/Oceans/History/

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DID YOU KNOW? Is brought to you by the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance, the Divers Choice.
We care about our Environment!

Amazing what you find on the Net these days...
Millions of articles on the best beaches in the world... but some how and rightly so, Boracay is always on the first page, read just some of the things I have picked up recently. Why not choose Boracay's Pinjalo/Calypso Dive Resort as your next stop for your hard earned vacation, a member of the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance located on one of the best beaches in the world. read on below articles from an Individual and the Citibank World Privileges/Travellers Guide.
GD

© Gunther Deichmann - the famous White Beach

© Gunther Deichmann - Pinjalo Resort, dont you wish you where here...

And back we went...
By A Yahoo! Contributor from Norway
02/14/05
Overall:
Atmosphere
Convenience
Safety
Value

I fell in love at the first time!!! Boracay is the best place me and my husband have ever been to!!! We have travelled a lot, but nothing can match this! We are coming back with some of our friends for two weeks in april 2005, so I see you there!!! ;O)

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Citibank World Privileges/Travellers Guide
White Beach on Boracay Island, off Panay, has been....

The best beaches in the world
With 7,107 islands strung like pearls across 1,840 kilometers of the Pacific Ocean and South China Sea, and a coastline longer than the USA, the Philippines is home to literally thousands of palm fringed beaches, with warm waters, thriving coral reefs and hundreds of idyllic resorts. In fact, the Philippines probably has more world-class beaches than any other country. Here we comb the coastline to pick out some of the best.

All Photos © Gunther Deichmann

White Beach, Boracay Island, Philippines
White Beach on Boracay Island, off Panay, has been called the best beach in the world. It has four kilometers of fine, bright, coral sand, which is always cool underfoot, shallow azure waters, and a beachfront boasting a huge variety of restaurants and bars offering cosmopolitan cuisine and good entertainment. There’s no coral along the beach, but several boat operators take snorkelers and divers to good spots nearby.
http://worldprivileges.citibank.com/worldprivileges/
travellerguide/en_tg_ph_content.html

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I just received a call from our friend and partner Dirk Fahrenbach, they have a Manta hanging around at the house reef at Club Paradise in Palawan, that is great, now these big guys show up in the shallow right in front of this great resort and dive center, I am waiting for Dirk to give me some more info and as soon it is available I let everybody know, no need to go to the Maldives, Mantas have been around for quiet some time in the waters of the Philippines and of course Micronesia.
But having them now at the Club Paradise house reef, well it doesn't get any better, check out the direct link to Club Paradise and the Dugong Dive Center in Palawan.
GD

Dirk Fahrenbach from Dugong Dive Center

Not only Dugongs, but now Mantas as well, right in front of the resort.

DID YOU KNOW? Is brought to you by the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance, the Divers Choice.
We care about our Environment!

Sci/Tech

Fast train to Polynesia...
A little lizard may have revealed one of the mysteries of how humans spread around the world. After studying its genetics, a scientist in Australia thinks he can now explain how people colonised the islands of the Pacific.
This has long been a hot subject for debate among researchers. Some have always thought that humans moved out rapidly from South East Asia, through Melanesia, with very little mixing between the different colonist groups. Others argue the movement was much more disjointed, occurring over an extended period from different Melanesian populations.

However fast they moved, it is likely they carried animals on board their canoes - either intentionally or as stowaways. To try to settle the argument, Christopher Austin, an evolutionary biologist, has studied the mitochondrial DNA of the Lipinia noctua lizard, which lives alongside humans on Pacific islands ranging from Hawaii in the northeast to Easter and Pitcairn island in the southeast.
Mitochondrial DNA is passed down virtually unchanged from mother to child. It mutates at a steady rate and therefore provides a useful evolutionary clock that allows scientists to track genetic lineage.

Genetic similarity
Austin, from the South Australian Museum in Adelaide, says his analysis supports the fast hypothesis - humans and lizards caught the "Polynesian express train".
"The extreme genetic similarity between the different colonies indicates rapid colonisation from a single source, which I take as support of the express-train hypothesis," Austin says in the science journal Nature. "Although they are geographically part of Micronesia, the people of Kapingamarangi Atoll are Polynesian in origin.
"The L. noctua from there are also of the central/eastern clade, which strengthens the association between L. noctua and human colonisation," he adds.
Archaelogical, linguistic and genetic data show humans migrated east from Taiwan between 3500 BC and 1600 BC.

In a separate study, Dr Lisa Matisoo-Smith, at the University of Auckland, used the mitochondrial-DNA technique on rats to show that the Southern Cook and Society Islands formed the focus from which migration to other islands began.
Courtesy of the BBC

The Boys are back in town...the boys are back in town... remember that song?

Welcome back to a warmer climate... now that is what I call a Climate change!
Alex and Jem are back from the cold European weather, London was the the place for their endurance and the climate change...
Alex and Jem from Blue Horizons attended the World Travel Market show this month, Jem send me yesterday a short report from the show, Alex and Jem are back in Manila, so if you need any travel arrangements just give them a call at Blue Horizons I am sure they are only to happy and work out some nice packages from the Alliance partners for your next island-hopping adventure or explore the deep, you never know what you might find, a sunken Galleon or even the lost city of Atlantis. Try and get that perfect shot? We have so many critters around who will model for you, just press the shutter on your camera, all of our partner resorts and dive centers are fully equipped for all your photography needs. GD

No matter where... we get you there.
The Divers Choice.

© Gunther Deichmann - This is what Alex and Jem dreamed about during their
sleepless nights in London, one of the Alliance destinations - a great beach in Palawan, Philippines

Now the first hand report by Jeremy Kemp:
The WTM in London was attended by over 30,000 global representatives (from over 200 countries) of the travel industry and the Philippines Dept of Toursism stand attracted a great deal of attention over the four days of the event. A large 160m area featuring a beach hut and dramatic colorful posters where hundreds of people came to discuss travel within the Philippines and the development of new destinations.
 
Alex Stutely and Jem Kemp from Blue Horizons our travel partners held many meetings greeting old friends and making new contacts. They report an impressive interest in diving opportunities and many visitors were particularly interested in the concept of two centre holidays combining Boracay, Busuanga or Club Paradise and Palau or Truk.
 
In fact many visitors were impressed to learn that Manila is one of the best routes through to Micronesia with regular direct and connecting flights to both Palau and Truk. The idea of combining great diving with excellent beach and adventure holidays in the Philippines and Micronesia is increasingly attractive. Additionally there is much interest in land based and water based activities whilst diving in this part of the world such as kayaking, biking and trekking.
 
As well as existing travel partners Alex and Jem report that there are exciting new possibilities with tour operators and agents from the UK in particular but also Spain, South Africa, Netherlands, France, Lithuania, Russia etc. The combination of tropical waters and weather, blue seas, sandy beaches and of course fantastic diving is proving irresistible.
 
Courtesy of our Alliance partners there were also some great raffle prizes on offer. Everyone that visited Blue Horizons on the stand was encouraged to leave extra business cards behind with the promise of great diving offers for the winners. The last day of the event saw the raffle and the first prize was a combined Boracay and Puerto Galera package with accommodation and diving for two people at Calypso Diving and Pinjalo Resort Villas (Boracay) and Asia Divers and El Galleon Beach Resort (Puerto Galera) with Manila Hotel accommodation included. The lucky winner of this great prize was Eric Prins of Namaste Reizen (Netherlands) who are looking to promote diving activities in the Philippines for the Dutch market.
 
Second prize of a diving and accommodation package at Sam's Tours and West Plaza Hotels was won by Kate Philipps of Regaldive (UK). Regaldive feature Boracay, Puerto Galera and Club Paradise on their website or in their brochure.
 
Lastly, Chris Hawkins of Blue Lizard Travel (UK) won a 10 dive package at Dugong Dive Centre, Club Paradise Resort, Busuanga. We wish all the winners a great holiday with their prizes.
 In addition, t-shirts and cuddly soft turtles and dugongs supplied by Club Paradise Resort were enormously popular and were presented to many of the visitors.
 
Overall a highly succesful event with the message on diving in the Philippines and Micronesia being spread to an ever wider audience.

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DID YOU KNOW? Is brought to you by the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance, the Divers Choice.
We care about our Environment!

Oh boy, more monsters from the past... but I have to admit this is very interesting stuff and I hope we are not boring you with all these amazing stories, it is nice to go back in time and besides, it shows us how our ocean have been occupied in the past. So when you go for your next dive and you spot a weird looking creature dont stop breathing... it is likely a relative from some of the bigger ones but I am sure they wont swallow you.
If you ever get the chance and dive ( actually it is a must) with our partner Asia Divers in Puerto Galera, Philippines, the chances are you see more unusual critters than anywhere else. International marine biologists have named Puerto Galera as one the top marine bio-diversities in the world.
Even more reasons to join Asia Divers, it is believed there are over 3,000 species of fish and marine animals - that's about 50% more than the Red Sea.
GD

Rock marks record water scorpion

Geological movement has lifted the rock up on to its side

More details
The tracks left by a giant water scorpion as it dragged its great bulk across a beach 330 million years ago have been discovered in Scottish rock. The six-legged beast, known as Hibbertopterus, would have been about 1.6m (5.2ft) long and 1m wide.
The markings, which have a central line made by a heavy, plated tail, represent one of the largest invertebrate trackways found in the fossil record. Dr Martin Whyte reports his discovery in central Scotland in Nature magazine. "I knew it was a trackway as soon as I saw it - my main work is on dinosaur footprints - but it wasn't immediately obvious to me what sort of trackway it was," the Sheffield University researcher said. "I could rule out reptiles and amphibians because I could see whatever it was, it had six legs," he told the BBC News Website.
"I've worked through the possibilities and I think it can only be Hibbertopterus."

Hibbertopterus may have been big but it was not a ferocious predator. The trackway is preserved in sandstone. What would once have been a beach surface has been tilted to about 45 degrees by geological movement.
The length of track preserved, 6m (20ft), is remarkable. The stride pattern, too, is huge - 27cm (11in).
Fragmentary fossils of Hibbertopterus are well known from Scottish Lower Carboniferous rocks and were first described from West Lothian in 1831.
The creature did not have the big pincers or carry its tail in the air like the land scorpions we know today, and it did not have a sting, either; but these animal groups are nonetheless distantly related, scientists believe.

What is interesting about this trackway is that is shows Hibbertopterus could move out of its usual water habitat. "There has been debate about whether it was restricted to water or could come out on land. I believe this trackway shows it could come out for short periods," explained Dr Whyte.

"It may have been taking a shortcut - from one body of water to another. People have asked about spawning but there's just no evidence to back that up."
Although the prospect of a man-sized scorpion might be scary to modern eyes, this particular beast was hardly a ferocious predator.

"It wouldn't have been chasing after an amphibian or reptile for a meal. It had comb structures on some of the anterior appendages, and it swept these through the water and caught small organisms, such as small worms and water bugs," Dr Whyte explained.
Article courtesy of the BBC

Hot News! This just came in from Palau... please read on below.

LIVE REEF FISHERIES: Who Will Outwit, Outplay, Outlast Whom?

AMAZING AND FRIGHTENING all at the same time! As you may know, Palau has been waging an ongoing war against illegal shark fishing and shark finning in its’ waters by foreign fishing fleets. And now I am just recently informed of yet another equally devastating threat to our marine environment, this time in the island atoll of Kayangel, Palau's most northerly island.Apparently, Kayangel State is engaged in a LIVE REEF FISH agreement with an offshore fishing company based in Hong Kong or Taiwan to supply fresh grouper for export. While it all sounds very innocent the highly destructive practice can wipe out targeted species in a matter of months. Nearby Indonesia is already suffering the devastating effects of this absolutely unsustainable practice which has apparently destroyed formerly healthy fish populations that for generations have sustained local populations.Amazingly, although this practice has reportedly been going on for approximately a year or so, I only found out most recently. I guess out of sight is out of mind, and the remote and sparsely populated atoll of Kayangel is a perfect place to engage in this type of behavior.read the whole story @
http://www.samstours.com/blog/

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DID YOU KNOW? Is brought to you by the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance, the Divers Choice.
We care about our Environment!

If you Irish, well you better watch out when you choose your next dive destination, this very interesting article was brought again to my attention by no other than Walter Ty, thanks for keeping us in the loop. Anyway it is not so bad, you can always choose one of the Alliance destination for your next dive. As a matter of fact you can swim (snorkeling only) with our more friendly Jellyfish in Palau, yes they are non stinging and a real experience cruising amongst these amazing creatures.

Plus another story about millions of sea creatures
wash up... another indication of Global warming?

Jellyfish attack destroys salmon

A jellyfish invasion has wiped out Northern Ireland's only salmon farm, killing more than 100,000 fish. A Northern Salmon spokesman said last week's attack could cost more than £1m. Billions of small jellyfish, known as Mauve Stingers, flooded into the cages about a mile into the Irish Sea, off Glenarm Bay and Cushendun.
The jellyfish covered an area of up to 10 square miles and a depth of 35 feet. Rescuers tried to reach the cages but the density of fish made it impossible.
Managing director John Russell said he had never seen anything like this in 30 years in the business.
It could take at least two years for the firm to recover "The sea was red with these jellyfish and there was nothing we could do about, it, absolutely nothing," he said. "It's a disaster for this company - you cannot legislate for something like this."
He says the firm could take at least two years to recover. The company has some high-profile clients, with Irish chef Richard Corrigan serving Glenarm salmon to the Queen on her 80th birthday last year as part of the BBC's Great British Menu programme.
The Department of Agriculture's fisheries division has carried out a full investigation, and talks with NI Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew have taken place to try to rescue the farm and save the jobs of 12 staff.
Read more and view the photos @
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7106631.stm


Millions of sea creatures wash up... another indication of Global warming?
By-the-Wind Sailors on a beach in Wales
The creatures are normally found in the Azores
Millions of small dead jellyfish-like creatures have been washed ashore on South West beaches.

The velella velella, commonly known as By-the-wind Sailors, have been spotted this month on Devon beaches from Bantham to Exmouth and in Bournemouth.
Plymouth's National Marine Aquarium said billions of the blue creatures may have been washed up this year. The creatures are native to the Azores and experts have asked if climate change is sending them further north.
The harmless 4in (10cm) creatures are also found in the western Atlantic and are relatives of the Portuguese Man-of-War.
Major invasion
They are washed ashore in groups most years particularly along the north Cornish coast. The large finds were first reported from St Martins in the Scilly Islands in October, followed by Guernsey, the Welsh coast and north Devon.
At the end of November millions were found at Portwrinkle beach in south east Cornwall and north Wales.
There was a major invasion in 1981 and in 2004 they turned up in Dorset, south Devon, and the south coast of Cornwall and right up to Islay in the west of Scotland. Their short tentacles catch very small fish and large plankton and they themselves are eaten by the Violet Sea Snails, which are seldom seen in Britain... read more and view the photos @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cornwall/6164389.stm

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DID YOU KNOW? Is brought to you by the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance, the Divers Choice.
We care about our Environment!

Can you imagine to scuba dive with some of these sea monsters, wow that be a real thrill or a real scare! You can relax, they not around anymore but they used to be, read this very interesting article which was brought to my attention by no other then our good old Walter Ty, thanks Walter.
Apologies from The Philippine-Micronesia Alliance for not been able to show you these guys, but we can show you just about everything else in the Pacific and Micronesia, try one of our specialties and come along for some great island hopping or as they say in German Inselhuepfen, remember our site is in nine languages, see you soon with your mask, fins and snorkel.

Man-sized sea scorpion claw found


Scale model of the scorpion with a human (Simon Powell)
How the creature compares for size with a human
Courtesy of the BBC

The immense fossilized claw of a 2.5m-long (8ft) sea scorpion has been described by European researchers. The 390-million-year-old specimen was found in a Germany quarry, the journal Biology Letters reports. The creature, which has been named Jaekelopterus rhenaniae, would have paddled in a river or swamp.
The size of the beast suggests that spiders, insects, crabs and similar creatures were much larger in the past than previously thought, the team says.
The claw itself measures 46cm - indicating its owner would have been longer even than the average-sized human. Overall, it exceeds the record for any other sea scorpion (eurypterid) find by nearly 50cm. The eurypterids are believed to be the extinct aquatic ancestors of modern land scorpions and possibly all arachnids (the class of animals that also includes spiders).
"The biggest scorpion today is nearly 30cm so that shows you how big this creature was," said Dr Simon Braddy from the University of Bristol, UK.
It was one of Dr Braddy's co-authors, Markus Poschmann, who made the discovery in the quarry near Prum in south-west Germany. "I was loosening pieces of rock with a hammer and chisel when I suddenly realised there was a dark patch of organic matter on a freshly removed slab," he recalled.

"After some cleaning I could identify this as a small part of a large claw. Although I did not know if it was more complete or not, I decided to try and get it out.
"The pieces had to be cleaned separately, dried, and then glued back together. It was then put into a white plaster jacket to stabilise it."
Super-sized meals. The species existed during a period in Earth history when oxygen levels in the atmosphere were much higher than today.
Claw fossil (Markus Poschmann)

The fossil was locked in a siltstone from the Carboniferous Period
And it was those elevated levels, some palaeo-scientists believe, that may have helped drive the super-sized bodies of many of the invertebrates that existed at that time - monster millipedes, huge cockroaches, and jumbo dragonflies. But Dr Braddy thinks the large scales may have had a lot to do with the absence early on of vertebrate predators. As they came on the scene, these animals would have eaten all the biggest prey specimens.

"The fact that you are big means you are more likely to be seen and to be taken for a tastier morsel," he told BBC News. "Evolution will not select for large size; you want to be small so you can hide away." The scorpions are thought to have made their first scuttles on to land about 450 million years ago. While some would have taken up a fully terrestrial existence, others like Jaekelopterus rhenaniae would have maintained an aquatic or semi-aquatic lifestyle.

For more information and photos, please go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/7104421.stm

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© Gunther Deichmann

The current issue of Fins Magazine is featuring a nice 12 page article on Micronesia, please see below some excerpts from this current issue, you can download the whole article direct from their website at: http://www.finsonline.com/magazine/vol_6_6/ or go to our site in a few days and you find the pdf file under Alliance& the Media at:
http://www.alliancediving.com/media.html

Fins Magazine is also available as a download in the iTunes Store,
just check it out.

Dive or plan your next vacation with the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance in Micronesia or the Pacific, we offer you the very best in marine bio-diversity, wreck diving, wall or real shark dives, explore and have your next adventure with us at any of our partner resorts or dive centers. We like to express our sincere thanks to Fins Magazine for this great and comprehensive article on Micronesia, our partners in Micronesia are Sam's Tours in Palau and Truk Stop Hotel and Dive Center in Chuuk or better known as Truk Lagoon.

The region known as Micronesia, meaning tiny islands, is in fact a vast area that includes over eight nation-statesand thousands of islands ranging from uninhabited atolls to overcrowded coral outcrops. Stretching from the Marshall Islands just west of Hawaii to theCaroline Islands east of the Philippines, and from the Marianas Islands to the north and Gilbert Islands to the south, Micronesia has less combined land area than the smallest state in the United States, yet more ocean area than the entire mainland USA. Located north of the equator, Micronesia sits on the fringes of the epicentre of marine biodiversity, making it a tropical diving paradise second to none. For scuba divers, the islands of Palau (or Belau), an independent republic since 1994, and the island states of Yap, Chuuk,Pohnpei and Kosrae, which make up the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) are of the greatest interest. From
the magnificent mantas of Yap, to the fascinating WWII wrecks of Truk Lagoon (Chuuk) to the schooling sharks of Palau’s renowned Blue Corner, Micronesia ranksamong the world’s top high-voltage dive destinations................ more

Pohnpei is perhaps best known as the site of the ancient ruins of Nan Madol, though in recent years it has also begun to develop a reputation as a great surf spot. Much is still to be learned about the mysterious Nan Madol ruins. Called the Venice of the Pacific, this man-made city with ocean-filled channels once housed a thriving, royal civilization.............

The sleepy islands of Yap (considered the most “traditional” of the territories in the FSM) have managed to let most of the modern world pass by, practicing Micronesia’s most reserved and traditional lifestyle. Many Yapese men still wear traditional bright loincloths and women grass skirts. The people of Yap marry according to custom and still practice traditional handicrafts.............

Although the island has now reverted to using its more traditional name of Chuuk, it’s known to many scuba divers as Truk, a destination world-renowned for its a vast collection of intact WWII Japanese shipwrecks, sunk during Operation Hailstone by aerial attacks launched from US Fast Carrier Attack Groups in 1944..............

Palau, of course needs very little introduction, but read more about Micronesia in the downloadable pdf file at:
http://www.finsonline.com/magazine/vol_6_6/

From the author
www.deichmann-photo.com
“The whole of Micronesia is still relatively unexplored and a sheer paradise, with all its remote atolls and small islands covered with bird rookeries, and islands inhabited by only a dozen or so people.”

GD

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© Gunther Deichmann
This image is taken only a few weeks ago at the Palau Pacific Resort the
very best spot for the most dramatic sunsets in Palau right at the sandy
beach and near the pool bar.

Congratulation to the Palau Pacific Resort
from all the Alliance partners.

Congratulations to the Palau Pacific Resort or better know as PPR on their recent selection as Asia's Leading Diving Resort in the World Travel Awards, when YOU as a guest travel with us or book with the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance the chances are you be staying at the PPR, you might wonder why, easy answer Sam's Tours is our partner in Palau Micronesia.
Again our Congratulations to all the management and staff at the Palau Pacific Resort, Palau is one of the Alliance premier dive destination and has now Asia's leading Dive Resort in cooperation with Sam's Tours.

Check out the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance website represented in 9 languages
English, German, French, Russian, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
www.alliancediving.com

GD
____________________________________

World Travel market is still on going with Jeremy and Alex from Blue Horizons Travel, poor guys freezing most likely in London, we have introduced some of our Partners the other day and bring you now some more Alliance partners from the Philippines and Micronesia, check with the boys at the WTM in London for all our packages and make sure you part of their Raffle, for more info check the previous blog.

The Philippine-Micronesia Alliance in London
at the World Travel Market Show.

Calypso/Pinjalo Dive Resort, Boracay, Philippines

Sam's Tours Palau, Micronesia

Truk Stop Hotel and Dive Center, Truk Lagoon, Chuuk, Micronesia

We have also made some more improvement to our web site, you find it easy now to go direct to certain articles and read all about Did You Know? (see the image on this blog)
If you have never tried or checked it before click on our build in Photo Gallery in our Blogs, marked with a red circle, once you click here you see the amazing Photos from all our partner destinations, images from above and below, Island hopping, Palau Micronesia, Marine Bio-diversity, the amazing wrecks from Truk Lagoon, or check the location of our beaches.
GD



left Image; find articles easy now. - right : check out our Photo Gallery
You find all of this on the right hand side of our blog!

____________________________________

Get to know the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance and their representatives at this years World Travel Market in London, meet Jeremy and Alex from Blue Horizons.
On todays blog we introduce to you Asia Divers with El Galleon from Puerto Galera which has one of the best Marine Bio-Diversity in the world, a sheer heaven for underwater photographers, and there is Club Paradise with Dugong Dive Center with a spectacular house reef and the only place in the Philippines where you can spot Dugongs, it is a real natures paradise. Tomorrow we bring you our other partners from Boracay in the Philippines and Palau Micronesia so please stay tuned, check with Alex and Jeremy for all you dive vacation and island hopping needs at the WTM.

Thanks to the generosity of the Alliance members, members who have pledged something for the raffle so far include:
Asia Divers, Puerto Galera Philippines, Calypso/Pinjalo Dive Resort, Boracay, Philippines, Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center in Palawan, Philippines, 
Blue Horizons Travel, Manila and Sams Tours our partner in Micronesia.  
There is also a grand price. is it real big? I guess you have to find out when visiting the WTM. Maybe a trip for a two week vacation? I keep it a bit of a secret now, you just visit Alex and Jeremy at the Show and find out, hope to see you all there.
Good Luck!

_______________________________________

As promised here it is: "The Philippine-Micronesia Alliance" at the World Travel Market with our representatives from Blue Horizons
Jeremy and Alex at the show.
We are happy to announce some very cool Raffles and a lot more...

We will be giving away several prizes during the WTM.... and all travel agents who visit us during the WTM and leave their calling card with us (Blue Horizons) will be included in the draw. So if you ready for your next dive vacation or holiday, or just go island hopping from one island to another, check out our great white sandy beaches after your dive... and there is so much more we can arrange for you, just talk to Alex and Jeremy for all the details at the WTM.
 
You can win minor prizes - such as stuffed toys - every day (Monday 12th November - Thursday 15th November), and we will be giving away one or two 'major' prizes on the afternoon of Wednesday 14th November. If the winners are not present during the draw, it does not matter because they will also be notified by email.

 

Thanks to the generosity of the Alliance members, members who have pledged something for the raffle so far include:
Asia Divers, Puerto Galera Philippines, Calypso/Pinjalo Dive Resort, Boracay, Philippines, Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center in Palawan, Philippines, 
Blue Horizons Travel, Manila and Sams Tours our partner in Micronesia.  
There is also a grand price. is it real big? I guess you have to find out when visiting the WTM. Maybe a trip for a two week vacation? I keep it a bit of a secret now, you just visit Alex and Jeremy at the Show and find out, hope to see you all there.
Good Luck!

DID YOU KNOW? Is brought to you by the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance, the Divers Choice.
We care about our Environment!

Thanks again to Walter Ty for bringing this story about the Parrotfish to my attention, within the next day or so we have a major announcement coming your way, real cool news, so please stay tuned or subscribe to our Alliance Blog.
A reminder for those folks who read our Blogs in Europe, if you travel to the World Travel Market Show in London, check out our Alliance Team from Blue Horizons, Jeremy and Alex will be around, real cool Guys who can answer all your questions regarding diving in the tropics in the Philippines and Micronesia, they understand island hopping and can help you to choose your ultimate dive vacation.

Parrotfish to aid reef repair
By Rebecca Morelle
Courtesy of BBC News

A vividly coloured fish could be the key to saving the Caribbean's coral reefs from plummeting into terminal decline, scientists claim.
Their research forecasts that reefs risk being damaged beyond repair by the influx of seaweed.
But urgent action such as protecting parrotfish, which graze upon the floral invaders, may prevent the ecosystems from reaching this tipping point.
The research is published in the journal Nature.
You can push a reef so far and then it becomes extremely difficult for a reef to recover Professor Peter Mumby, a marine ecologist from Exeter University
and lead author of the paper, said: "We are seeing more and more coral reefs becoming just overgrown with seaweed."
Reefs in the Caribbean are among some of the most heavily affected. They are rapidly transforming from coral-dominated domains into algal-flooded havens.
The seaweed growth is boosted by human activity, such as fertilizers washing off from agricultural land into the coastal waters, and over-fishing, Professor Mumby explained.
"Then to compound these problems you have the climate stresses that are more and more inevitable now, which cause major problems with warming waters and hurricanes," he added......
.....read the whole story with photos at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7069933.stm

__________________________________

DID YOU KNOW? Is brought to you by the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance, the Divers Choice.
We care about our Environment!



Your passion is diving... ours is service.

The Divers Choice.

Welcome to World Travel Market 2007
Register Now
World Travel Market (WTM) 2007

Staged annually in London under one roof, World Travel Market is a must attend, business to business exhibition. WTM provides a unique opportunity for the whole global travel trade industry to meet, network, negotiate, conduct business and stay abreast with the latest developments in the travel industry. Read more about WTM...

http://www.wtmlondon.com
/App/homepage.cfm?moduleid=4066&appname=100539

The Philippine -Micronesia Alliance is represented by:
Blue Horizons Travel and Tours, Inc.

Delegates: Alex Stutely and Jeremy Kemp
representing Blue Horizons and the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance
your experts in island hopping and dive travel. The Divers Choice.
Check with Jeremy and Alex about our special dive packages, our exotic destinations, island hopping, your next dive vacation in the Philippines, the Pacific, China Sea and Micronesia,
and remember the Alliance website is in 9 languages, English, German, Russian, French, Spanish, Italian, Korean, Chinese and Japanese.
You can find Jeremy and Alex at the Philippine Department of Tourism Booth (DOT), just ask for the Guys from Blue Horizons.
The Philippines will again be putting its best foot forward during this year’s World Travel Market, to be held at London’s ExCel exhibition center at the Docklands,
from 12 to 15 November.The WTM, staged yearly in London, is one of the world’s biggest and most important business events. It provides a unique opportunity for people and companies in the travel trade and tourism industry to meet, network, negotiate, conduct business and stay abreast with the latest developments in this global business.

Welcome to the The Philippine-Micronesia Alliance, your partners in quality diving holidays!,
Willkommen bei der Fillippinen-Mikronesien Allianz, ihr Partner für erstklassigen Tauchurlaub!
ДОБРО ПОЖАЛОВАТЬ К НАШЕМУ ФИЛИППИНЫ - МИКРОНЕЗИЯ АЛЬЯНСУ ЭТО ТВОЙ ЛУЧШИЙ ПАРТНЕР ДЛЯ ПЕРВОКЛАССНОГО ПОДВОДНОГО ОТПУСКА
Bienvenue à l'Alliance Philippine-Micronesia, vos partenaires pour des séjours plongée de choix.
Benvenuti nell’Alleanza Filippine – Micronesia, I vostri partners per vacanze di qualita’ nel campo delle immersioni!
Bienvenidos a la Alianza Filipinas-Micronesia , sus compañeros para esas vacaciones de buceo de calidad!
and of course Japanese, Korean, Chinese and very soon Polish.

See you there!

______________________________

DID YOU KNOW? Is brought to you by the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance, the Divers Choice.
We care about our Environment!

© Gunther Deichmann, Location of
Sam's Tours Palau, (red circle)

© Gunther Deichmann, Sam's Tours Palau

I just arrived back from Palau Micronesia, and so many things happen during my visit, Sam's Tours Grand Opening and 17th Anniversary, all new facilities are fully operational now, read the blog post from Dermot Keane the General Manager below for all the details.
The Survivor TV show shooting their latest episode as we speak, of course they are very secret about everything, then the Discovery Channel shooting at the same time a new story on the Bone Detectives and to top it all an international Canoe Race competition "The Micronesia Cup" was held at the same time, participants from Guam, Singapore, Palau, Australia, Patagonia and many others competing in this race, talking about a buzzing Palau.
Our Alliance partner Blue Horizons Travel and Tours is leaving soon for the World Travel Market Show held in London, England, I am sure I get the full report upon their return so please stay tuned.
Check out some of the images below from some of these events, thanks.
GD

Blue Horizons Travel and Tours, Inc.
Delegates: Alex Stutely and Jeremy Kemp
representing Blue Horizons and the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance
your experts in island hopping and dive travel. The Divers Choice.

The Philippines will again be putting its best foot forward during this year’s World Travel Market, to be held at London’s ExCel exhibition center at the Docklands,
from 12 to 15 November.The WTM, staged yearly in London, is one of the world’s biggest and most important business events. It provides a unique opportunity for people and companies in the travel trade and tourism industry to meet, network, negotiate, conduct business and stay abreast with the latest developments in this global business.

© Gunther Deichmann, New facilities at Sam's Tours
and new paved carpark

Sam Scott opening speech on the 26th of October

It's Done! The New Sam's Tours is officially launched!
(below the blog post from Dermot)

Well, it's been a long time in the making, but it's finally done! Sam's Tours remodel project has come to a close and the new "improved" Sam's Tours PADI 5-Star National Geographic Dive Center has been officially launched! As promised and previously posted, we've got complete new Guest Lockers, Rental Center and Compressor Room facilities, we've expanded our Guest Area, paved the parking lot, extended the roof, expanded and tidied up the bar, removed all the old shipping containers and given the whole place an overall facelift. We've already received very positive comments from the many repeat guests with us this week including Matt Zimmerman of ISLAND DIVERS in Honolulu who leads several trips a year to Palau and Wayne Daniels of Kauai, who extended his stay to join the party! Thanks Guys!

On Friday Night, October 26, on the Full Moon, we hosted a VIP Reception for staff, friends, family and business partners followed by an open house party with Live Music, snacks and lots of free Red Rooster Beer (the great local microbrewed beer). Over 400 people joined the party that went from 9pm to well after 3am, with music by the "no name band" made up of mostly non-resident workers from the Philippines. They did a fantastic job given that they were just a pick up band pulled together with little time to practice. They got the house rocking early on and kept the dance floor packed til the wee hours. Sam's wife Martul who manages Bottom Time Bar and Grill at Sam's and her great staff handled all the food and beverage service and kept the party "well lubricated".

In addition to celebrating the Grand Re-Opening of Sam's Tours, we also celebrated Sam's daughter Cyndis' 17th Birthday, Sam's Tours 17th Anniversary and the mid-season success of "Sam's Sharks" our staff basketball team who are now 7 and 1 and 3rd place in the league. Last night the Sharks crushed the team from Palasia Hotel in a 102 to 63 victory. GO SHARKS!

We had many great friends and business partners join us for the party including our very good friend and marketing partner Mr. Gunther Deichmann who traveled from Manila on Continental Airlines to join the party. Gunther produces all of Sam's Tours marketing materials, print ads, and built our new website. Gunther is a professional photographer with many books to his credit including the Palau Dives Sites book and his most recent work Journey Through Color and Time. Check out his website at www.deichmann-photo.com
Gunther will join us again in April when he'll run a Photo Workshop here at Sam's Tours featuring training on Apples image management software APERTURE! Stay tuned for more details.

While he was here in Palau, Gunther took the time to do a complete new photo shoot of our new facilities and even managed to jump in a helicopter with Matt from Palau Helicopters and shot the dive center every which way from the air. Palau Helicopters runs everyday (when they're not tied up with SURVIVOR Palau, who are here for the second time) and offers fantastic aerial tours of the Rock Islands. It's a must! Many thanks to Matt, the expert pilot from Palau Helicopters for some great flying!
Gunther is back in Manila tonight and very shortly I'll be posting his new images right here on our blog and on our website.
Sam is in Florida at the moment at the DEMA Trade Show, having left the next day after the big party. Ouch! Hope he's getting some sleep now because he was a man on a mission in the weeks leading up to the Launch Party keeping everyone on schedule and making sure we made our 10/26 deadline.
From all the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance partners, congrats Sam and well done!

"The Sharks" Sam's Tours Basketball Team

Canoe Race competition "The Micronesia Cup"

The team from Guam, "team spirit" red color hair

DID YOU KNOW? Is brought to you by the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance, the Divers Choice.
We care about our Environment!

I am leaving this evening for Palau to be part of the big celebration at Sam's Tours New Grand Opening, please see my previous Blog "Congratulations to Sam's Tours" I give you a full report upon my return next week, hopefully with some fun images from the event, so just stay tuned, please read on below our latest story on Did You know... about Galleons, shipwrecks....
GD

Big business of deep-sea treasure hunters
By Kathryn Westcott
BBC News

The interception of the treasure-hunt ship off the coast of Gibraltar is the latest broadside in a tense battle between a US-based salvage company and the Kingdom of Spain over an unidentified shipwreck and the ownership of its rich haul of gold and silver coins.

Odyssey Explorer. Copyright Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc.
Odyssey says Spain had blockaded its Explorer salvage vessel
On Tuesday, patrol boats from Spain's maritime police intercepted the 76m Odyssey Explorer, owned by underwater salvage firm Odyssey Marine International, three miles off the coast of Gibraltar. It was escorted to the Spanish port of Algeciras.

Spain's Civil Guard has been keeping a close eye on the company's vessel since a Spanish judge ordered that it be detained and searched if it left port in Gibraltar.
The company says its recovery vessel has been effectively blockaded since the ruling in June. Spain believes it could provide clues to the identity and location of the wreck that yielded half-a-million colonial era silver and gold coins.
It suspects that a Spanish galleon is being secretly plundered - or that the wreck lies in Spanish waters.
Odyssey Marine Explorations - which became the most famous deep water treasure hunting company when it announced the discovery last May - says it is keeping the location of the wreck secret, to protect the site from looters.
All it is saying is that the wreck - codenamed Black Swan - is somewhere in the Atlantic.

Photo: © Gunther Deichmann, not a Galleon, but a divers dream to discover and
explore the ships from our past, this image was taken deep inside a wreck in
Truk Lagoon, note the skull, dive with the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance and you
might discover your Galleon or just explore the past.
A reminder, please do not remove any parts or artifacts from any
wrecks in Truk or Palau, there are heavy fines for removing anything for
souvenirs, lets keep it there for other to enjoy too.
GD

Galleon graveyard

The haul, which has an estimated value of $500m, is now at a secret location in Florida, where Odyssey is based.

The 'Black Swan' haul: Copyright Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc
Greg Stemm with the Black Swan haul at a secret location in the US
A court in the state is currently considering motions filed by the company and by Spain concerning the ownership of the booty.
Treasure hunters have long dreamed of discovering hauls of gold and silver in the western Mediterranean. The area, is a graveyard of French, Spanish and British galleons and warships sunk by storms and pirates during Spain's long dominance of the sea.
Once the domain of schoolboy fantasies, the hunt for treasure on the deep ocean floor has become big business for companies like Odyssey. And the company's recent listing on the Nasdaq indicates that it is a business that investors are prepared to take seriously.
Odyssey has several shipwreck projects in various stages of development around the world, but its involvement with the Spanish goes back almost a decade.

RULES OF THE WAVES
Seas and oceans governed by UN Laws of the Sea
Ownership of sunken property in international waters governed by the law of salvage and the law of finds
Law of salvage: If property is owned, those finding it are entitled to compensation for their salvage efforts
Law of finds: Salvor is entitled to all reclaimed property if it is proved to be abandoned
Spain insists it retains rights to all its sunken treasure
Odyssey intends its haul to be dealt with under US federal law, where previous judgements have sometimes granted exclusive rights to salvors
"Odyssey has had an excellent working relationship with the Spanish Government for many years," Greg Stemm, co-founder of Odyssey Marine Exploration told the BBC News website.

"We have always respected Spain's interest in its maritime heritage and have therefore consistently communicated our activities to Spain."
The relationship has soured over the past few months. In July, another of Odyssey's vessels was stopped and forcibly boarded as it tried to leave Gibraltar. A computer was confiscated.
The company told the BBC News website that it intends to seek compensation from Spain for revenues lost because of the kingdom's intervention in its activities.

British warship

The battle over the Black Swan treasure is now jeopardising another more lucrative project: the salvage of a British warship that Odyssey believes it has discovered in the western Mediterranean.
The British Government is collaborating with Odyssey to recover the warship, thought to be the HMS Sussex, which went down in a storm off Gibraltar in the Mediterranean Sea in 1694.

According to the Council for British Archaeology, it was on its way to provide British financial support to the Duke of Savoy during the war against Louis XIV. The council says she was believed to have been carrying bullion, which is estimated by some experts to be worth some £2.5bn today.
The warship apparently lies in waters that Britain and Gibraltar claim are international but that Spain claims as its own.
Diplomatic talks resulted in an agreement being reached with Spain earlier this year but the project appears is on hold.
A spokeswoman from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office told the BBC News website that the "on-going court case between Spain and Odyssey should be resolved first."
It is anyone's guess how long this will take.
This will no doubt please archaeologists - including the Council for British Archaeology - who were enraged by the deal.
Experts describe such activities as commercial treasure hunting under the guise of archaeology, arguing that a dangerous precedent would be set allowing private firms to profit from historic wrecks.

Technology

And in Spain, Odyssey's activities have been painted as modern-day piracy.
The company acknowledges that its primary concerns are commercial but it also has a mission statement that sets out how it also wants to do good archaeology.
It maintains that it works to the highest of standards, employing experts and archaeologists.
Zeus Neil Dobson/Odyssey Marine Exploration
The eight-tonne robot Zeus can reach depths of up to 2,500 metres
"Our contract with the United Kingdom sets an excellent example of how such a collaboration between the public and private sector can produce excellent archaeological work," says Mr Stemm.
And he says that the model - the first of its kind with a government - could be extended to other countries, including Spain.
Odyssey undertakes multi-million-dollar operations, deploying sophisticated deep-sea technology and robotics to scour the ocean beds.
On board the Marine Explorer, for example, is a $4m underwater robot Zeus, which deploys an array of brilliant strobe lights and cameras as it carefully picks through debris at depths of up to 2,500m.
The company's first major salvage venture was in 2003 when it discovered the SS Republic, a Civil War side-wheel steamer that sank off the Florida coast in 1865 and some $75m (£37m) worth of coins.

Odyssey has now filed finders-keepers' claims with a court in Tampa, Florida US on the Black Swan and two other shipwrecks.
But Spain is challenging these arguing that the company is withholding crucial information. It is also claiming a right to share the treasure.

Jim Goold, a maritime lawyer in Washington representing the Spanish government, told the BBC News website that the implications of the case are huge in a era when cutting -edge technology is bringing new gravesites to light.
"Here you have a situation in which a US company is apparently systematically working in the Mediterranean, the English Channel and off the coast of Spain, taking cultural heritage without authorisation and then whisking it to the US and steadfastly refusing to reveal to the concerned governments what it has been doing," he said.

Odyssey says the Black Swan recovery was conducted in conformity with Salvage Law and the Law of the Sea Convention, beyond the territorial waters of legal jurisdiction of any country.
It expects to reap a substantial salvage award regardless of who claims the treasure.

RULES OF THE WAVES
Seas and oceans governed by UN Laws of the Sea
Ownership of sunken property in international waters governed by the law of salvage and the law of finds
Law of salvage: If property is owned, those finding it are entitled to compensation for their salvage efforts
Law of finds: Salvor is entitled to all reclaimed property if it is proved to be abandoned
Spain insists it retains rights to all its sunken treasure
Odyssey intends its haul to be dealt with under US federal law, where previous judgements have sometimes granted exclusive rights to salvors

Courtesy of the BBC for more information and images please go to:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7037192.stm

Congratulations to Sam’s Tours in Palau, Micronesia, they have finally completed their major renovation and the
Grand Opening is on the 26th of October 2007. http://www.samstours.com

Sam’s Tours a founding member of the Philippine Micronesia Alliance, your experts for island hopping, underwater photography, tech diving, wall diving, shark dives and wreck expedition. Explore and Dive with us the Pacific, the China Sea, the Philippine Sea and the amazing walls of Micronesia, plus a lot more, for direct bookings and all our special packages please go to:
http://www.alliancediving.com/packages.html

Your passion is diving… ours is service.
The Divers Choice.

Welcome to Sam’s Tours and the Alliance your partners in quality diving holidays!,

Willkommen bei Sam’s Tours und bei der Allianz ihr Partner für erstklassigen Tauchurlaub!

Bienvenue à Sam;s Tours, vos partenaires pour des séjours plongée de choix.

Benvenuti Sam’s Tours, I vostri partners per vacanze di qualita’ nel campo delle immersioni!

Bienvenidos a la Sam’s Tours,sus compañeros para esas vacaciones de buceo de calidad!

http://www.samstours.com
___________________________

Download the full article as pdf file: http://www.deichmann-photo.com/publications.html

New guidebooks on Palau Micronesia and Puerto Galera in the Philippines have been given some nice write ups in the i-mag Photography Magazine, a paradise pair, Palau and Puerto Galera two of the best dive destinations in the Asia pacific region. Thanks to i-mag Magazine for publishing this four page article in their current issue.
They have also published in the same issue a nice article on the recent GD PhotoWorkshop in Cambodia with the Philippine Center for Creative Imaging or PCCI.
You can download all of the articles as pdf files under Publications/Spread on this website at:
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/publications.html

For dates on photo workshops in Cambodia, Palau and Tibet please go the link provided below:
http://gdphotoworkshop.com/

Dive in paradise - yes, you can have the time of your life with the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance partner resorts and dive centers throughout the
Philippines and Micronesia.
Dive the famous wrecks of Truk Lagoon, experience high voltage shark dives in Palau, or explore the ultimate in marine bio- diversity in the Philippines from Palawan, Puerto Galera and to Boracay with its famous white sandy beach. All the Alliance partner resort and dive center offer you very special island hopping tours and safaris, join us to explore the sea and its marine life. As the saying goes in German, inselhuepfen und nach dem tauchen, einfach ausruhen am strand.

Remember the Philippine-Micronesia website is now in 9 languages and soon we add one more:

Welcome to the The Philippine-Micronesia Alliance, your partners in quality diving holidays!,
Willkommen bei der Fillippinen-Mikronesien Allianz, ihr Partner für erstklassigen Tauchurlaub!
ДОБРО ПОЖАЛОВАТЬ К НАШЕМУ ФИЛИППИНЫ - МИКРОНЕЗИЯ АЛЬЯНСУ ЭТО ТВОЙ ЛУЧШИЙ ПАРТНЕР ДЛЯ ПЕРВОКЛАССНОГО ПОДВОДНОГО ОТПУСКА
Bienvenue à l'Alliance Philippine-Micronesia, vos partenaires pour des séjours plongée de choix.
Benvenuti nell’Alleanza Filippine – Micronesia, I vostri partners per vacanze di qualita’ nel campo delle immersioni!
Bienvenidos a la Alianza Filipinas-Micronesia , sus compañeros para esas vacaciones de buceo de calidad!
and of course Japanese, Korean, Chinese and very soon Polish.

For all your diving needs and or next vacation please check out the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance. The Divers Choice.
It is here where you can order these latest books direct online at:
http://www.alliancediving.com/book-orders.html

_______________________________________

DID YOU KNOW? Is brought to you by the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance, the Divers Choice.
We care about our Environment!

Some real facts about Sharks. Do they have a chance at all? Maybe if we start doing something NOW and not tomorrow.
They have been around for million of years, but for how much longer, please read below some interesting facts about these amazing animals,
yet again another "Living fossil". Why are they on the extinction list? Please read on...You be really surprised to know...

© Gunther Deichmann, www.deichmann-photo.com
A fossilized shark tooth, from my old collection

Animals on the Edge - Sharks - Survivors of our Oceans?

By catch
Sharks are frequently caught in trawler nets or on longline hooks that are set for tuna or swordfish. Sharks are highly migratory and they often swim in groups that are the same size and age. This can mean that a key part of the population (mature females for example) can be wiped out in one fell swoop. Estimates vary, but bycatch (unwanted catch) accounts for a significant proportion of shark fatalities.
Shark fin soup
Around 100 shark species are deliberately targeted by the fishing industry. Shark fins are highly prized for use in shark fin soup, a high status dish that can sell for £65 a bowl, especially in Asian countries where growing wealth has increased demand. As demand is met, sharks become overfished, fins are harder to come by and the soup is therefore even more of a status symbol.

Conservationists estimate that about 100 million sharks are caught each year, many of them purely for use in shark fin soup. Hong Kong alone imported the fins of more than 28 million sharks in 1999. The sharks are caught, their fins are cut off and they are then thrown back into the sea where they either bleed to death or drown. Using DNA, it is now possible to identify shark species from their fins, a development which may be significant in monitoring the impact of this trade.
Shark meat
Demand for shark meat is booming. It is now possible to buy it in supermarkets in Europe, South America and the USA. The shortfin mako which is said to provide the best shark meat is classified as lower risk, but vulnerable species such as the porbeagle shark, are also taken. This trend may be indicative of the fact that so many other fish species are declining and that people have been encouraged to eat fish as a healthy alternative to meat. The Food Standards Agency, however, has advised against giving children shark meat to eat because of high levels of methylmercury that can damage the nervous system.
Shark skin and oil
Shark skins can be tanned and used as an alternative to leather (for belts, boots, bags, etc). In theory and on a small scale, this could be a useful by-product of a sustainable and managed fishery. In practice, the impact on shark populations has yet to be assessed or monitored.
Sharks have traditionally been fished for oil. Squalene is extracted from shark livers and used as a lubricant and in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. It can take up to 3,000 shark livers to produce one tonne of squalene.
Shark cartilage
Sharks are cartilaginous - they have cartilage instead of bone. The cartilage is used in traditional medicines and is sold in powder or capsule form as a cancer treatment. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that it is in any way effective against the disease and the 'medicine' can be very expensive. There may, however, be other benefits in maintaining shark bio-diversity, for example, shark cartilage has also been used in the development of a synthetic skin for burn victims.
Breeding age
Sharks have evolved over 450 million years to be among the ocean's top predators. They can take many years to reach sexual maturity, almost 30 years in the case of the sand bank shark. Larger sharks may only produce two young in a breeding cycle and only one of those is likely to survive. Shark species often only breed every other year and some have a long gestation period (up to two years). This low reproductive rate means that depleted shark populations can take a very long time to recover, if they recover at all.
Pollution
The health of the ocean environment is important for all marine species (see Eco Top Ten - Marine). Pollution from human activity often ends up in the sea. Sharks are at the top of the food chain so they are likely to have a higher concentration of the toxins that build up in the body fat of their prey. Because human development and subsequent pollution often occurs in coastal areas, important shark nursery areas are also at risk.
Hunting
Although most sharks are indifferent to humans and pose no threat, shark hunting is still a widespread trophy sport.

Courtesy of the BBC, for more information please go to:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/conservation/sharks/

DID YOU KNOW? Is brought to you by the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance, the Divers Choice.
We care about our Environment!


© Concept and Photo Gunther Deichmann

Ice melt raises passage tension
By David Shukman
BBC science and environment correspondent, Canadian Arctic

Less ice makes it easier to get at the Arctic's resources
In another sign of potential friction in the warming Arctic, Canada has warned that it will step up patrols of the Northwest Passage.
Record summer melting of sea-ice has made the passage fully navigable; and immediately escalated a dispute over who controls the route.
Canada maintains the waterway that connects the Atlantic with the Pacific lies within its territorial waters.
It has backed that up with plans for a new military base in the Arctic.
However, the United States, and other countries claim international rights to use the route for shipping.
Big melt
In an interview with BBC News, the head of the Canadian Coast Guard, George Da Pont, said: "Our view is that it's our territorial waters and that we govern it accordingly. Obviously the Americans and some European countries have different views.
"I assume at some point in time they'll get settled but we're pretty confident that they're Canadian territorial waters and that we should be regulating and asserting our control over them as we would over any other part of our territorial water.
"It's critical, it's part of our history; like any country it's important to assert your control over your country and your territorial waters."
His statement comes as polar experts are still reeling from the dramatic loss of Arctic ice this summer.
The Canadian Ice Service was among the organisations monitoring the retreat and its director, Doug Bancroft, told the BBC that he was "stunned" that this extent of melting had not been expected for decades.
"It just seemed as if it wasn't going to stop. Normally, towards the end of August, the beginning of September, the melting slows down and stops and we get ready for the coming fall and the refreezing during the winter. But it just kept on going and the concern was, 'Well when is it going to stop this year?' - and ultimately when it did stop, it shattered all previous records."
Research cruise
On Monday, the Canadian Coast Guard is preparing to send one its research vessels, the Amundsen, through the Northwest Passage with about 40 scientists on board.
Equipped with a remotely operated robot submarine and a sonar system, the ship will undertake a detailed survey of the sea-bed - essential if the waterway is to become more open to commercial shipping.

'Northwest Passage opens'
Sailing the passage
Researchers on board also hope to study the changing patterns of the ice - not only the ice that grows and retreats with the seasons but also the far thicker multi-year ice which drifts with the Arctic currents and poses the most serious threat to any vessels.

A British team on board will study the sediment on the sea-bed to hunt for a chemical record of changes in the ice stretching back for the past thousand years - a vital task to help understand the likely rate of change in the future.
BBC News will join the ship for its journey through the Northwest Passage. The route is at - or beyond - the limits of satellite coverage but the plan is to provide regular updates wherever possible. For more information please check out the link below:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7033498.stm
Courtesy BBC

My final note, congratulations to Al Gore for receiving the
Nobel Peace Prize, at least there is someone out there with
influence who cares and can make the difference.

GD

DID YOU KNOW? Is brought to you by the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance, the Divers Choice.
We care about our Environment!

Million of years later... 

Here is a very interesting article from our good friend and supporter Tony Wu (Fins Magazine), I guess you going to wonder what these fossils have to do with the digital age, actually NOTHING but this is the general idea, we like to bring you all sorts of different information now and then, of course some how marine related.
Today for our underwater photographers cool info from Tony, please read on below and check out the link for the whole story, for information on the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance please click here: http://www.alliancediving.com The Divers Choice


© Tony Wu

Going digital definitely has a lot of merits. Immediate feedback, being able to shoot more than 36 frames at a time, being able to make duplicate/ back-up copies immediately, and having the ability to edit work on-the-spot rank at the top of my list.
Nothing in life, however, comes for free.
If there’s been one major drawback of going digital for me, it has to be the fact that in addition to being a good photographer, you’ve got to become a software and image-processing expert too. Back in the film days, basically a slide was either good or bad. I kept the good ones, threw away the bad ones. End of story.
Over the past few years, with the switch to digital format, I’ve had to experiment with all sorts of software…some good, some bad…and I think I’ve finally begun to reach the point where I have a workflow that I’m comfortable with. Before I spell out the software I use, please read on at: http://www.tonywublog.com/20071009/digital-workflow.html

A Green Turtle resting on a beach in the Philippines,
Photo © Gunther Deichmann, for the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance

DID YOU KNOW? Is brought to you by the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance, the Divers Choice.
We care about our Environment!

We dont like to talk always how good our dive operation and resorts are, we try to keep you also up to date with some interesting stories and the latest news. Things which happen million of years ago and still effect us today, environment and conservation issues not only from our partner destinations but from around the world. Local and special events from the Pacific and Philippine region including the latest from Micronesia. We have started recently with stories about fossils - "living fossils" and we will continue with the sea's past, millions of years ago, please read on below and check out the links about this huge Turtle from our past.


Archelon

This giant turtle could live to 100 years old, possibly thanks to taking long sleeps on the seabed
For more on sea monsters and our living past please check out the link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/prehistoric_life/dinosaurs/seamonsters/

Type: Reptile
Size: 4.6m
Diet: Omnivorous
Predators: Mosasaurs and sharks
Lived: Late Cretaceous, 75-65 million years ago

Archelon was a slow mover and found most of its food drifting near the sea surface. It had little need to dive deep except when hibernating on the seabed. It was an omnivorous grazer, sweeping up drifting fish, jellyfish and dead carrion as well as plants. Its sharp, powerful beak could break open shelled animals such as ammonites.

Archelon's huge flippers suggest it was a long distance swimmer happiest in the open ocean. It would never be alone, as its huge size attracted a squadron of hangers-on such as juvenile fish as well as barnacles and parasites. Archelon couldn't withdraw its head or flippers inside its bony shell for protection so, despite its size, it was an easy target for large predators.

Like modern turtles, it laid eggs by burying them in sandy beaches under cover of darkness. Its nearest living relative is the world's largest turtle, the leatherback.

Courtesy of the BBC

I have just came across this incredible article from Wetpixels, you need to see the images to believe it, very cool, here is the direct link:
http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/albino-whale-shark-photographed-in-ecuador/

This information has been brought to you by the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance.
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Now in 9 languages: English, German, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Italian, French , Spanish and soon in Polish.
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Photo © Rene Buob, Calypso/Pinjalo Dive Resort Boracay
for more images by Rene please click this link.

I have just received this report from Allan Nash at Asia Divers Puerto Galera, Philippines a partner of the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance and guess who is also in one of the images below?
Yes you are right, René Buob from Calypso/Pinjalo Dive Resort in Boracay, another member from the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance, and if you dont speak English dont worry the Alliance website has
now 9 languages to choose from, and soon one more.
I guess we all like to check out these live aboard at one time, however if you don’t like to dive from boats then our partner in Palau Sam’s Tours can take care of all your requirements, take you to the same dive sites and show you other parts of Palau, take you to the local villages, the spectacular waterfall or visit the mysterious monolith early in the morning for sunrise.

But now read the report from Asia Divers with special guest René Buob just caught on camera, I have included some images from René from his trip, thanks Rene and see if you can spot him.

© Photos courtesy Asia Divers

It was over a year in the planning but finally Pete Eaton (me) and eight of Dubai’s finest departed Manila aboard an Asian Spirit another partner from the Philippine –Micronesia Alliance, flight bound for Cebu and finally on to Koror in Palau to begin five days of sensational diving aboard the Palau Aggressor.
We arrived at Koror around 18:30 and were greeted at the airport by Boyet, one of the Aggressor crew who took us shopping at one of the local supermarkets for a few essentials before we boarded the magnificent Palau Aggressor.
A typical day consisted of waking up as early as possible to take in the splendid sunrise with fine brewed coffee in hand. Followed by a great breakfast.
First dive was at 7:30 and always somewhere like Blue Corner or Peleliu Express. Both these sites where my favorite as they combine great wall diving where sharks are always on the viewing list, then somewhere towards the middle of the dive a chance to hook off on the edge of the wall and watch the wildlife bask in the current, Grey reef, Silver tips, Eagle Rays, Marble Rays, schooling Jacks, Barracudas and of course the obligatory White Tips and Turtles.
Back on board, delicious snacks and an opportunity to get stuck in to a good book or just simply lie in a hammock and chill.

Second dive would be the likes of New Drop off where towards the end of one dive we had a fantastic encounter with a solitary Eagle Ray that just glided around us for twenty minutes before we had to ascend.
Back for lunch, which always had a theme, Mexican, Italian and my favorite, American with hot dogs and burgers fortified with just about every topping and relish known to man.

Third dive, lets do the Blue Hole! What a feeling descending through one of three vertical shafts that come together in to a humongous cavern that bottoms out at around 30 meters
And that’s not all! As they say in the ads, it opens out as a cave on a fantastic wall. The lighting and ambience are just amazing!
Onboard, some home made muffins or fruit and we can’t wait to tuck in!
Fourth Dive could be the entrance to German Channel and a chance to see Mantas on their regular cleaning stations or if you’re in the vicinity, Peleliu Cut with more opportunities to hook off and catch some shark action.
After all this action it’s time for supper unless your heading out on the night dive, which I must admit, I didn’t do! The temptation of sitting in the Jacuzzi with a beer in my hand watching the sunset seemed like a better idea.
If I had to list all the good things, like the totally cool skiff that has its own hydraulic platform to lift it and its cargo of divers in and out of the water then I would have to write a book!
Many thanks to Our Dubai gang! Brian, Bob, Terry, Ernie, Maddy, Stevie, John and Steve for making it happen in the first place.
Speaking for all of us Many Thanks to the crew! Capt Ike, Hector, Boyet, Matt, Mayett and our fantastic cook Rose.

Photos © Rene Buob, Calypso/Pinjalo Dive Resort Boracay

This year Asia Divers has run trips to Cocos islands of Costa Rica, Maldives with Peter Huges, Palau with the Aggressor fleet, Tubataha reef in the Philippines, Ecuador two trips to Galapagos aboard the Galapagos Aggressor and much more. Next year Asia Divers has the Sardine Run with SEAL South Africa, two trips booked for the Maldives, two trips booked for Tubataha and Apo reef Philippines, and you can be sure there will be more. Should you like to join anyone of our up coming trips, or have some place in mind you would like to go, give us a bell. We love traveling to new and exciting places and we like to do it in style, with all our great friends from the Asia Divers family.

This report has been brought to you by:
The Philippine-Micronesia Alliance. The Divers Choice.
Dont forget to check out our cool dive packages at the direct link below:
http://www.alliancediving.com/packages.html