Explore the sea and treasure hunters
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 Palau, Micronesia

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
___________________________
Books, Underwater photography and a lot more


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? Survivors in our Ocean?
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/
THE HEAT IS ON
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
Million of years later...
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
Did you know? Sea Monsters from the past...

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
Albino Whale Shark
http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/albino-whale-shark-photographed-in-ecuador/
This information has been brought to you by the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance.
The Divers Choice.
Island hopping at it's best.
Now in 9 languages: English, German, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Italian, French , Spanish and soon in Polish.
Covering the Pacific, China Sea, Philippine Sea and Micronesia.
Your passion is diving, ours
is service.
Palau, Asia Divers and Rene Buob

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

