We have just received this information from our alliance Partner Blue Horizons Travel...

A trip to Palau Micronesia...

Jem Kemp from Alliance partners Blue Horizons Travel and Tours visited Palau last week on a trip organised for Philippines based Travel Industry members. He writes about his experiences and these will appear here over the next few days. His journey started on the auspicious date of Friday 13th March!

© Gunther Deichmann - aerial over the 70 Islands Palau

Flight CO892 (Continental Airlines) departs from Manila to Koror on Wednesdays and Fridays every week at 22.10pm. Koror is the capital of Palau and the gateway to some of the most stunning above and underwater attractions in the Pacific.

Despite the worries of Friday evening rush hour traffic the road journey from Makati in the centre of Manila just took 30 minutes – aided by a taxi driver who seemed determined to replicate some of the best scenes from Bullitt and other movie car chase greats! Regular travellers will know that Manila International Airport (NAIA) can be a busy affair BUT the airport is quiet at this time as there are not so many evening flights and the check-in was covered in double quick time with no queuing. This left more than two hours to sample the delights of the airport…

Sitting in the (very chilly – bring a sweater) departure lounge gives you ample time to check out fellow passengers and it is an interesting cross selection of international travellers heading to Palau. There were of course the 15 of us on the Familiarization trip organised by Continental Airlines and the Palau Visitors Authority plus a good sprinkling of Western tourists who, judging by their dry cases and Suunto Stingers are heading for the great diving in Palau and perhaps onwards and elsewhere to Micronesia and the Pacific. Then there are lots of Filipinos heading off or returning to Palau for contract work. There are large numbers of people from the Philippines working on the islands in everything from Medicine to Hospitality and Construction. Sometimes it is easy to believe that much of Asia would collapse without the enormous work force of the Philippines deployed throughout the region. Then there are a number of Palauans who have presumably been in Manila for business, shopping or holiday time.

The flight time is just 2hrs and 15 minutes making it a very short hop from Manila out to these still relatively little known islands. The flight leaves on time which is a good thing for those travelling with us from Continental! The pleasant surprise during the flight was that we were served with a hot meal and drinks. By the time we had caught some of the in-flight movie, finished off the food and had a quick doze the flight was beginning its descent.

The flight lands at 01.50am in Koror which is admittedly an unfriendly hour but customs and immigration checks were speedily conducted (note that visas are made available upon arrival in Palau) and we were then met at the Arrivals Hall by representatives of the Palau Visitors Authority (PVA) who were to be our guides and hosts for the next five days. Actually, arrival in Koror is pretty much the same for everybody – it is very small airport and easy to access. Upon exiting customs passengers walk into a small arrivals hall and are greeted by representatives of the various Hotels, Dive Centres and Resorts. Our friends from Sam’s Tours were meeting six new European arrivals who had travelled on the same flight as us.

Once gathered together 15 fairly sleepy people jumped on to a bus and headed of to the Palasia Hotel in downtown Koror which was to be our base for the next two nights.
The airport is located on Babeldaob (Big Island) which is linked to Koror Island by a road bridge. The road journey from the airport takes no more than 15 – 20 minutes and would probably be very attractive during the day but the night time means that we only see brief flashes of lights from homes along the route until we reach Koror.

We walk into the hotel where PVA have kindly pre-arranged check in and wander off to our rooms. No real time to take stock of our surroundings and it is nearly 03.00am! Sleep is welcome but short – we are up again in four hours to start a busy day... more from Jem soon on this Blog.

Psychedelic fish 'is new species...
By Lucy Williamson
BBC News, Jakarta

The fish known as Psychedelica
Psychedelica was discovered off Indonesia's Ambon island

A brightly-coloured fish which bounces along the seabed has been hailed as a new species by scientists - who have dubbed it "psychedelica".
Research published in the US scientific journal Copeia says the fish was spotted by scuba divers off the island of Ambon in eastern Indonesia.

© Gunther Deichmann - A Painted and Giant Frog fish from Puerto
Galera, Philippnes, but check out the newly discovered
one from Indonesia, he looks so very cool.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7914121.stm

It belongs to the frogfish family, but its looks are unique even among its peers, the journal reported. The question with this new discovery is how it went unnoticed for so long.
The new psychedelica frogfish is completely covered in swirling concentric stripes - white and blue on a peach background - radiating out from its aqua-coloured eyes...read more and check out the cool Photo of this new species at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7914121.stm

I have received this info by our contributor Walter Ty, thanks Walter for pointing this interesting story out to us.

Did You Know?
Fish fossil clue to origin of sex
By Paul Rincon
Science reporter, BBC News

A fossil fish from Australia was one of the earliest known vertebrates to reproduce sexually, a study suggests. Nature journal says the ancient fish was carrying a 5cm-long embryo.
The fertilisation of eggs by sperm outside the mother's body - external fertilisation - is thought to have evolved before sex.
The fossil suggests sexual reproduction - the fertilisation of eggs inside the female's body - evolved sooner than previously thought.

"These (fish) show some of the earliest evidence for internal reproduction," Zerina Johanson, curator of fossil fish at London's Natural History Museum (NHM), told BBC News.
Evidence of reproductive biology is extremely rare in the fossil record
Zerina Johanson, Natural History Museum

"We expected that these early fishes would show a more primitive type of reproduction, where sperm and eggs combine in the water and embryos develop outside the fish."

According to Dr Johanson, the 365 million-year-old specimen shows that "the type of advanced fertilisation, taking place inside the mother, was more common among early fishes than previously thought.

"This discovery is incredibly important because evidence of reproductive biology is extremely rare in the fossil record," she said…read more, watch the Video and view the images: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7909984.stm

This info just came in from Dirk Fahrenbach in Palawan...

DUGONG DIVE CENTER NEWS...

The Dugong Dive Center just opened a new dive shop at the sister resort from Club Paradise!!
El RIO Y MAR ISLAND RESORT is located at the river exit from San Jose in a beautiful and tranquil Bay (Port Caltom), Palawan Philippines.
The Resort has only 18 rooms and a fantastic bar on the end of a peer, the Bar is a great place for sunsets and later at night for star gazing. The peer is also the starting point for a dive at the House Reef. A perfect location for night dives.

There is also brand new equipment at the new Dive Shop for our Divers like; Sherwood, Oceanic and Scuba Pro.

Only a 15 minutes Boat ride to the Japanese shipwreck “Kyokuzan Maru”
Our dive boats “TASHINA” and “KAREN CLAIR” take divers and skin diver to the famous dive sites of APO REEF NATURAL PARK, TARA ISLANDS, CORON BAY and CLUB PARADISE HOUSE REEF. We also offer DUGONG WATCHING in the general area.
www.dugongdivecenter.com

Wow more cool NEWS...

This has just arrived from our Alliance Partner Asia Diver in Puerto Galera thanks Tommy for passing this on, Dermot from Sam’s Tours should get in touch with you, maybe you have the right size for his new born son, see previous Blog.
What I find interesting is the name of these fins.. they called Palau what a cool combination for your next vacation, dive with Asia Divers in Puerto Galera and then with your new fins take a trip to Palau.

New concept of Snorkeling fin on the market, the Palau fin from Cressi, Italy.
Walked away from both the concept of a foot fin that fits direct on your feet or open heel fins that require booties, this new fins is an open heel fins that NOT require booties.
The foot pocket its very soft and with adjustable trap one size fits 3-4 regular foot sizes. This is great news for anyone that renting out fins for snorkeling, instead of 10 different sizes you have only 5 size that fit XXS-XXL. The result is that you need to invest less money to set up the snorkeling rental program as you need on half the number of fins.
This fins will be in the Philippines in mid March at Asia Divers stores and other Cressi dealers. Asia Divers is a member of the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance and the Distributor for Cressi in the Philippines.

Tommy Soderstrom
Director Sales & Travel
PADI Master Instructor & Ice Diver
 
CRESSI-SUB equipment - PADI educational material
BodyGloves - Waterproof - LW Compressors - Trident
Surface Markers - Luxfer cylinders

Baby boom? A New diver was born today...

Congratulations to Dermot Keane and his wife Kaud who gave birth today of a new healthy Baby Boy.
Sorry no Name yet, Dermot Keane the GM from Sam’s Tours is currently in Manila where he received this great news only minutes ago.
Dermot and all the other Alliance Partners attended a mid annual PMA meeting yesterday in Manila at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel...more on the meeting later, now we have to celebrate the good news and new addition to the Keane Family.

From all of us the very best wishes and Congratulations again.

Yesterday 19 02 09 Dirk Fahrenbach from Dugong Dive Center Palawan
and Dermot Keane GM of Sam’s Tours Palau on the way to
the PMA meeting in a Manila Taxi

The happy couple...did Dermot know already or what was he thinking about it.
19 02 09 waiting for Dinner after the PMA meeting


Exposed under the light! Dermot and Dirk, Dermot had of course no idea until today that he became a father again.
Just as well otherwise we would have celebrated until the early hours, it was already early enough.

The PMA Meeting at the Mandarin Oriental International Hotel, Manila

Dermot is leaving later tonight with Continental Airlines for Palau with great anticipation to meet and check out his Son,
he has just run out of the office for an hour or so to buy a wetsuit, snorkel and dive gear for his newborn.
Good Luck Dermot... I know your name is Keane but I am not sure if you find the right size for him, that is even difficult in Manila.
GD

Continental Airlines: Fly from only US$ 495.-to Palau Micronesia from Manila, Philippines until March 2009!
Hurry... & book your flights now for an unforgettable Vacation in Paradise.

Please call Continental Airlines at; 818-8701 or 032 -233-7533 in Cebu City. Or contact our Travel Agent.
For information on Sam’s Tours click this LINK or the Image above.

A Kaleidoscope of Colors and Success at the
TRAVEL TOUR EXPO Manila 2009...

It came as a big surprise... the ongoing Travel Tour Expo at the new SMX complex next to the Mall of Asia in Manila, Philippines.
Great attendance with local and international Tour Operators; Travel Agents, Airlines and so many others.
To name just a few: Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, India, Macau, Hong Kong, Singapore, Palau Micronesia (PVA) Tourism Authorities where present. Travel Agencies in all shape and sizes offered their deals and bargains, like Continental Airline with the super special to Palau for US$ 495.- for 3 nights including accommodation,(see our previous blog)
“Incredible India” India Tourism had the famous Taj Mahal in super size on display or Macau with a Grand setup.
Even Lufthansa had their own Booth, not to mention all the others like Singapore Air, Thai, Gulf and local airlines like Seair, Philippine Airlines only to mention a few.

Big Crowd at the TTE...

Friday and Saturday saw a record Crowd, and from the feedback and some interviews, I received word that major bookings and inquiries have been made. Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center for e.g., Dirk Fahrenbach confirmed many bookings for accommodation and Diving, at the Palau booth Sam’s Tours received a lot of interest and some early bookings too.
The Tour Operators where buzzing where ever I went...
But not only our participating Alliance Partners had been swamped with bookings, many other tour and resort operators done real well too.

Dirk Fahrenbach and Rolf Winkelhausen, Dugong Dive Center


The crew...Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center, Palawan


Can you spot Dirk and Rolf?
Great Coffee Shop area at the SMX complex


Jenny from Club Paradise with a customer

Continental Airlines Booth.


Sam’s Tours was represented by Adela M. Balangkig
(dark blue shirt) at the Palau Visitors Tour booth, PVA

In short... a fantastic and very successful Travel and Tour Expo, held in the ultra modern SMX Complex, great layout and facilities, super Coffee Shops, fantastic clean Toilets and believe it or not German Bratwurst, just like at the Duesseldorf Boot Show.
My only criticism...the show was not advertised enough, but gathering from the mammoth crowed the word did get out, I found out some 4 weeks ago.
One more Time.... a world Class by any international standard Trade Show, equal to Thailand or Singapore.
Congratulation to the Organizer for a job well done, lets do it again next year with a bit more advertising and the Philippines can be reckon with as a major event holder.
GD

Here is an interesting tip for all our Divers using iPhones or iPod Touch, a cool application for download see below some info from the article...sorry I cant provide you a screenshot due to copyright issues but check out the link below.

Review: Dive Planner for iPhone
Simple tool gives scuba enthusiasts electronic alternative to dive tables
by Rob Griffiths, Macworld.com
Both my wife and I are certified scuba divers... Dive Planner works well, and it’s a heck of lot easier to read and use than any dive table I’ve ever seen.
Sure, dive computers are more powerful, more popular, and used by nearly everyone now. While Dive Planner won’t replace dive computers for complex plans, it works quite well—much better than dive tables—for simple dive calculations, and at $3, it’s quite the bargain.
Dive Planner is compatible with any iPhone or iPod touch running the iPhone 2.0 software update and got a Mouse rating of 4.5

Getting together in Manila before leaving for the
Duesseldorf Boot Show 2009 in Germany


from left: Dirk, Dermot and GD

Manila is the hub for the Philippine Micronesia Alliance Partners, Sam Scott, Dermot Keane from Sam’s Tours “snowed” in and they will be once in Germany, ha, ha.
From the Tropics to the bitter cold, but let me assure you these Guys can handle it, veterans of the Duesseldorf Boot Show over many years and talking about Veterans, Dirk Fahrenbach from the Dugong Dive Center and Club Paradise joined Sam and Dermot for a few hours here at PMA virtual office.
They arrived late on Wednesday night, stopped by for a few Beers and the next day before taken the flight to Germany spend most of the morning fine tuning a big, big surprise to be announced tomorrow.

Sam making last minute calls to Palau from Manila via Skype

They got their Laptops out connected to or Wi-fi and organized what still had to be organized before leaving for Germany, Sam called Palau on Skype and we fixed a few things on his MacBook Pro including getting iTunes and his iPod ready for the long Journey. Dermot hammered away and did some fine tuning on our big surprise to be announced shortly...in a few hours. Dont you love suspense...
Dirk Fahrenbach after 23 years of attending the Boot Show cant make it this time around due to some other urgent matters but he will be represented by some staff at the Philippine Booth.

A nice reunion in Manila...plus a hint on our surprise tomorrow...
Dermot Keane is holding up the first T-Shirt from the
Palau Shark Sanctuary

I guess you have to stay tuned for our announcement tomorrow and I keep you posted whenever I can on the Boot Show 2009 reporting from our freezing partners. By the way Tommy from Asia Divers our other partner in Puerto Galera will be there too and I am sure they get together for some good German Beer with Bratwurst and Sauerkraut.
The Editor

Better late than never… considering that in some parts of the World it has just turned Midnight or 2009.
Happy New Year from Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center in Palawan Philippines,
I have only received these images. I guess being on this Paradise Island things take just a bit longer to reach us.
Party time on the Beach with a spectacular fireworks display is a long standing tradition at Club Paradise…NOW you might say…I wish I could have been there…well there is always next year but make sure you book early.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This Happy New Years event is brought to you direct from Manila with connection to all our partner destinations in the Philippines and Micronesia.

It is 2009 in Palau NOW… HAPPY NEW YEAR from Sam’s Tours!

I am still waiting for some info…from Palau but if something arrives later I share it with you no worries. I about and hour Asia Divers has hopefully something and for sure I share Manila with you…
Our first report was from Chuuk about an hour ago, they are ahead of us, Palau is next and of course the Philippines. The Alcohol has taken its toll… they all having a great and fantastic time at the Dive Centers and Resorts, but I try my very best to connect with them all. Please stay tuned and if you missed it tonight then check it tomorrow afternoon, I don’t think morning is a good Idea in particular for our divers, after all we should NOT go diving after a heavy night. So, sit back and have a relaxing day at the Beach, go snorkeling or sleep all day, it is after all your well deserved vacation.
Remember Safety First!
Happy New Year from the virtual office of the Philippine–Micronesia Alliance and all the partners. The Divers Choice.
GD

This Happy New Years event is brought to you direct from Manila with connection to all our partner destinations in the Philippines and Micronesia.

That is how they celebrate in Chuuk at the Truk Stop Hotel and Dive Center, it is 2009 in Chuuk NOW…
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Our first report is from Chuuk due to the time difference then Palau and of course the Philippines. If for some reason we don’t get anything live from some of our partners I have only one explanation…the Alcohol has taken its toll… they all having a great and fantastic time at the Dive Centers and Resorts, but I try my very best to connect with them all. Please stay tuned and if you missed it tonight then check it tomorrow afternoon, I don’t think morning is a good Idea in particular for our divers, after all we should NOT go diving after a heavy night. So, sit back and have a relaxing day at the Beach, go snorkeling or sleep all day, it is after all your well deserved vacation.
Remember Safety First!
Happy New Year from the virtual office of the Philippine–Micronesia Alliance and all the partners. The Divers Choice.
GD

Just arrived direct from Chuuk or better know as Truk Lagoon
the ultimate destination in Wreck Diving.

New Years Eve in Chuuk – Truk Lagoon

Here is a photo of our guests with some of our staff competing with the locals for loudest group in a flatbed truck.

Those who have spent New Year’s Eve in Chuuk, or Truk Lagoon, all say the same thing about the experience –
IT’S LOUD…
We don’t have fire crackers or fire works but what we have thousands of young men and women walking and riding around in trucks beating and banging on anything that will make noise. There is a beat, and sometimes chanting, that goes along with this activity but one thing is consistent – IT’S LOUD, IT’S VERY, VERY LOUD.

The Truk Stop Hotel & Dive Center has 10 divers in the hotel over the Christmas Season and they were guests at the hotel Christmas Party and now have experienced New Years Eve in Chuuk. Our Guests are:

From Germany: Werner and Carola Behrens

From Finland:Ismo Visa
Pekka Kemppairen
Jari Nurmi
Teppo Ilmanen
Sanna Elden-Pehrsson
Harri Pehrsson

From America:Mitchell Hall
Howard Gaiser

Truk Stop Hotel & Dive Center Wins Best Float in Christmas Parade
December 20 (Saturday), 2008

The Rotary Club of Chuuk organized a Christmas Parade with floats from various local businesses and organizations.

Besides the float from Truk Stop Hotel & Dive Center, the Rotary Club, Xavier High School Alumnae Association, Health Services, a local youth group, and a missionary radio station entered floats in this Christmas Parade held on Saturday, December 20, 2008.

All the floats meet at the Tunnuk Church and drove about 3 miles to Neauo Village in South Field. Along the way the occupants of each float waved and threw candies to those who lined the road to watch the parade.

There were three (3) judging stations along the parade route and when the event was over and the judges had conferred, the Truk Stop Hotel & Dive Center was chosen as the best float and awarded a $60.00 cash prize.

One of the hotel flat bed trucks was the base for the Truk Stop float and decorated with palm fronds, paper & ribbons, plus a small Santa on the roof. A boom box played Christmas music as the float moved slowly along.

Rowana, a massage therapist from the Philippines and employed at the Truk Stop dressed up as Santa and waved the whole 3 miles to Neauo Village. Melba Stinnett Aisek, hotel manager, and 2 of her children rode in the back with “Santa” and did all the candy throwing along the parade route. Will Stinnett, attending college in the Philippines and home for Christmas rode in the back with other staffs and assisted in the candy throwing.

The Truk Stop Hotel is well decorated for the holiday season and its Restaurant and Hard Wreck Café’ & Bar will be open New Years Eve to ring in the new year.

You can help save Philippine reefs!

A while ago Gunther and I hinted at an amazing collaboration between several Philippine-Micronesia Alliance partners and Reef Check Philippines. It took several months to finalize the details but we are now ready to announce a unique and fantastic expedition for those who are interested in not only working alongside scientists,but directly contributing to the pursuit of data which aid in developing community-wide conservation initiatives and programs.  
 
Reef Check Philippines, Asia Divers/El Galleon Resort, SEAsia Kayak Tours & the PMA are proud to announce a Reef Check expedition to survey the magnificent reefs around Puerto Galera and Verde Island Passage. Please check the link below for further information.
Lee Goldman, Marine Biologist
http://reefcheck.org/involved/puerto_galera.php

Our partner a from Dugong Dive Center has just updated their website...now with a new Gallery, Videos by Dirk Fahrenbach edited and sound mix by Gunther Deichmann.
Other updates include some real cool images in the Photo Gallery by Omar, Dive Master from Dugong Dive Center plus all the details on the NEW Dive Boat Tashina are now available.
The first videos have been uploaded but soon we show you more from Mexico, Galapagos,Micronesia and of course the Philippines check the site occasional or subscribe to our Blog for more announcements soon.
Have fun and enjoy these truly amazing underwater video footage’s by Dirk or book your next trip to Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center in Palawan, the Philippines last Frontier.
View the Videos NOW @ http://www.dugongdivecenter.com/index.html

The Philippine-Micronesia Alliance is proud to be a sponsor and part of the Year of the Shark 2009. Since we are a multi lingual website we like to bring you some information about this project in different languages starting with Italian and German.
Thank you for your support and if we all work together we achieve a common goal...Stop the killing of Sharks.
GD

THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE SHARK 2009!

… was inspired by the finding that at the current rate of decline, certain shark species will be extinct in 10 to 15 years. In large regions, species that were once numerous have fallen to 1% of their original numbers. Studies of open ocean sharks estimate 80 to 90% of heavily fished
species are gone. Yet these intelligent animals, also called the “Wolves of the Sea” are still fished intensively, and finned for “shark fin soup.” The oceans have evolved over hundreds of millions of years with sharks as apex predators, so their loss will destroy oceanic health.
HELP SPREAD THE WORD:

http://www.year-of-the-shark-2009.org/
SAVE SHARKS FROM
E XTINCTION
The LET SHARKS LIVE shark protection network & think tank: http://groups.google.com.mt/group/let-sharks-live?hl=en


© Gunther Deichmann - Save our Sharks!

The Philippine-Micronesia Alliance is proud to be a sponsor and part of the Year of the Shark 2009. Since we are a multi lingual website we bring you some basic information about this project in different languages starting with Italian and German.
Thank you for your support and if we all work together we achieve a common goal...Stop the killing of Sharks.
GD
For more info and how to become involved with the Year of the Shark go to:
http://year-of-the-shark-2009.org/home.htm

2009 L’ANNO DELLO SQUALO

L’ANNO INTERNAZIONALE DELLO SQUALO
… e’ stato ispirato dalla scoperta che al ritmo odierno, varie specie di squali saranno estinte in 10-15 anni. In alcune regioni, le specie che un tempo erano numerose sono diminuite all’1% del numero originario. Studi di squali in mare aperto hanno dimostrato che l’80-90% delle specie pescate sono scomparse. Eppure questi animali intelligenti, anche chiamati “lupi del mare”, sono ancora intesamente pescati a le loro pinne usate per il piatto asiatico “la zuppa di pinne di pescecane”. Dal momento che l’oceano si e’ evoluto con gli squali all’apice dei predatori, il loro continuo
sfruttamento e la loro scomparsa danneggeranno drasticamente l’ecologia degli oceani.
AIUTA A DIFFONDERE IL MESSAGGIO:

SALVA GLI SQUALI

D A L L ’ E S T I N Z I O N E

2009
DAS
JAHR DES HAI'S

DAS INTERNATIONALE JAHR DES HAI'S
... wurde angeregt als bekannt wurde, dass bei dem derzeitigen Tempo verschiedene Hai- Arten in den naechsten 10 bis 15 Jahren aussterben werden. In einigen Schluesselregionen sind Arten, die bisher zahlreich zu finden waren, auf bis zu 1% ihrer urspruenglichen Anzahl reduziert worden. Studien, die sich mit Hochseehaien befassen, schaetzen, dass 80 bis 90% der stark gefischten Arten bereits verschwunden sind. Dennoch werden diese hochintelligenten Tiere - die so genannten „Woelfe der Meere“ -weiterhin intensiv gejagt, speziell ihrer Flossen wegen. Die Flossen werden den Haien oft bei lebendigem Leibabgeschnitten und landen inder beruechtigten "Haiflossen-Suppe".
HELFT MIT DIE BOTSCHAFT ZU VERBREITEN:
RETTET DIE HAIE VOR DEM
AUSSTERBEN

I have received this report from Allan Nash at Asia Divers in Puerto Galera Philippines... Diving the Maldives and the Galapagos Islands...read on below all Photos Courtesy of Asia Divers. Asia Divers is a Member of the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance...The Divers Choice!

A Great Month Of Diving With Asia Divers Travel
Galapagos Oct. 2 to 9. Maldives Oct. 19 to 28.

With any trip Asia Divers organize, it’s almost always a year or two before you finally have the fun to excitement of the trip. This month was a special month for Asia Divers and a very special month for me, as I had the pleasure of participating in both trips.

We set off the end of September for that long hard flight from Manila-LA-Miami, then down to Quito, Ecuador. Arriving in Quito was a pleasure, not so much as the flight was finally over, but to see a new and improved airport from the one I remember some five/six years before. It was a brief visit to the immigration and to my surprise; AA had in deed managed to, not loose my bags!

After a pleasant day and two memorable nights in Quito, eating Tapas and drinking some great reds, it was off to the Galapagos Islands. We soon arrived in San Cristobal and was quickly picked up and sent aboard the Galapagos Aggressor 1. A truly great welcome and orientation was given before we set off for our first checkout dive.

The dive was excellent, with sea lions and many sea stars littering the sea floor. This was a great time to put on that 7ml semi dry, hooded vest, gloves and all that you don’t use here in the Philippines, and work with getting your buoyancy right for the great dives that were to follow.

The first day was spent diving around St Cristobal and Bultra, great action with schools of fish, sea lions, eagle rays and a large school of hammerheads. The trip then took us up to Wolf and Darwin (where the big stuff is) an overnight trip that put us on our first dive mid morning. The fun began when we dropped in and seen our schools of Hammerheads. The dives we did around Wolf all consisted of Hammerheads, Mantas, Galapagos sharks, and a school of Eagle rays that seem to be following us on every dive. On one dive we had the pleasure of dolphins. The
Dolphins spent a good 10min. with us, playing and showing off in front of us, quite a spectacle.

Darwin was of course our favorite with all the whale sharks we seen. They say whale sharks only grow to 15m; I’m sure whoever has said that, they have never been to Darwin! I still say this whale shark is at least 18m, it has to be! The most memorable dive at Darwin (this trip) for me was the first dive when this enormous whale shark came from behind us and hovered over us for a few minuets. This fellow was not concerned about us at all.

The Galapagos is well known for its wild life. The number of Hammerheads, Galapagos and black tip sharks, Eagle rays, whale sharks, Penguins and so much more is some times mind-boggling.
On land the sea lions, seals and marine and land iguanas are just going about their business as if you were not there. The land tours we did were excellent, with all kinds of wild life from Blue Footed Boobies, Frigate’s to sea lions backing in the sun to iguanas lounging around with some fighting and others who obviously just did not care.
The Landscape was something special and one or two places really got your attention with the harshness and barren volcanic planes.

The island landscape changed, with some islands covered with larva and others with cactus and colorful vegetation.
It was a sad moment climbing aboard the plain to take us back to Quito. Back in Quito was a quiet night of reflection, wine and good friends, and then there was that terribly long flight back home.

We had a great time in the Galapagos and I’m very lucky to have made my second trip but, I can assure you, it will not be my last. Special thanks to the Galapagos Aggressor 1 crew and to Alison Pocket, Kenneth Svennerlind, Johan and Maria Lyrevik, Bob Andrews, Kevin Ella, Kevin and Debbie Painter, Larry Bird, Kjell Soderstrom, Suzi Denton, Brian King and our trusty organizer Peter Eaton.

And then there was the Maldives!

It was March/April this year we did a trip to the Maldives. We had such a good time and were looked after so well we decided on another trip. Moosa our trusting guide and new friend suggested August to October as the Manta Aggregation happened during these months. After checking with Manthiri bookings office we only had one chance, October 19 to 28, we immediately said book it, were on!
After a week to the day I arrived back from the Galapagos, I was off to the Maldives aboard Singapore airlines best. It restored my faith and interest in flying again after my friends from over yonder. Arriving in Male we took a hotel for the night and headed to the boat at 8am.

We reuniting with Moosa and the crew of the Manthiri, a quick introduction to our new friends onboard and it was off for our first dive, Manta Point. We had a great introduction with eight Mantas, this is what we came for!

The first two to three days of our nine-day trip was spent in the South Male area. The first few dives we did were everything we could have expected. Good visibility, Whale sharks and lots of life. Mantas occasionally, but great colours and formations. By the third day however, the weather started to turn and rain was upon us. We had to take shelter from the weather on the eve of the third day before crossing from South to North Male.
On day four we arrived in North Male, a place where the Manta aggregation has been seen on regular occasions. Our first dive was with nine Mantas, not as many as we had hoped for but still an excellent dive. This dive was done in a maximum of 9 meters and we stayed for 76min. Everyone was excited about the dives we did that day, even if the numbers of Mantas did not reach more than 12 at any one time.
The following days we traveled further north and visited an island where Moosa our guide is now building a house. We were received warmly by the people and felt a real sense of being.
The diving kept on getting better (not the weather) with some very good pinnacle formations and of course more Mantas. There were a couple of sites where the Mantas literally came to you. They made it obvious they had no fear of you and in some incidences you felt they were playing with you. What a great trip, another great time and one I’d be happy to repeat over and over again. We had a few days and nights at different resorts for a break from the boat.
Back home and I have to say, I feel I’ve been a very lucky person to do so much in just one month. Two great trips, great friends on both trips, and so much looking forward to my next dive holiday, who wants to come?

I have picked up this Blog Post from SE Asia Kayak Tours and our friend Lee Goldman a member of the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance.
From all of us at the PMA... Congratulations to Lee a member of the PMA, for becoming the Executive Director of Reef Check Philippines.
The PMA is proud to be part of the Reef Check Philippines and happy that the first Reef Check will be held at one of our Partners Asia Divers with El Galleon in Puerto Galera.

SE Asia Kayak Tours and Reef Check Philippines
10/10/08 | by asiakayaktours [mail] | Categories: Announcements

Well, its official. I am now the Executive Director of Reef Check Philippines. I am very excited about it and I look forward to working with the staff and board of directors in continuing to monitor our reefs and educate about the importance of them to our daily lives. I plan several tings for 2009. First, a Reef Check expedition to thoroughly survey the reefs around Puerto Galera. I have asked Allan Nash at El Galleon Resorts and Asia Divers to help us and they really went out of their way. We got a great price for a 10-day expedition and we couldn’t ask for better accommodations and service.

Oh wait, I’m supposed to talk about El Nido. Well, of course we are going to do something out there as well. I will be in touch with El Nido resorts to see if they want to help with conducting surveys on the reefs. and, of course, I will be asking for as much community involvement as I possibly can get. I am really looking forward to bringing the program to El Nido…and the dive shops there. Well, looks like I have another blog page to work with. I’ll spend more time talking about Reef Check on our website and keep the El Nido stuff here. Right now, it is very slow in El Nido. Rain has been persistent around the Philippines and although Palawan usually sees less than the other areas, it has gotten its share. I will visit there next month and will probably have lots to talk about while getting caught up on the local gossip

Soon Marine Biology with Lee Goldman
from SE Asia Kayak Tours


© Gunther Deichmann

Soon we start a new series with our Marine Biologist Lee Goldman who is also a member of the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance with his Eco Tours, SE Asia Kayak Tours.
Lee will start the series from a Marine Biologist’s point of View on each and every destination with in the PMA.

© Gunther Deichmann

Conservation, Marine Bio-diversity and Reef Check, Lee is an expert on corals but has a fast knowledge about all these other critters and marine life from the Pacific, Micronesia and the Philippines.
So, please stay tuned for some REAL MARINE LIFE soon...
GD

© Gunther Deichmann

Dermot Keane the GM from Sam’s Tours had a stop over in Manila on his way back to Palau, he just attended the DEMA Show in Las Vegas in the US.
Thomas Schubert who I saw in Bali a week ago snowed in also on his way to Palau, his second home.
We had a great and for a change quiet evening the at the Café Adriatico in Malate talking about Bali and of course DEMA, more interesting NEWS soon from Sam’s Tours in Palau, I keep you posted in the next few weeks with the latest developments at Sam’s Tours in Palau Micronesia.
GD

Photo: Hermes Singson, good friends at the Cafe Adriatico in Malate, Manila
from left: Dermot Keane, Grace (my better half) GD and Thomas Schubert

Many thanks to our good friends at DivePhotoGuide for announcing our NEW updated website, thanks Guys.

We have just added some very intersting Videos to our collection, you find them in our Podcast and Movie section,or Click this Link
The file size can vary from 2.5MB to 21MB

All video clips are for DSL/Broadband and we reccomend a good connection, these new clip have been produced for Sam’s Tours and Truk Stop Hotel and Dive Center. View the World War II relics of Chuuk or also know as Truk Lagoon get inspirred by the History and dive the sunken Japanese fleet in the Pacific of Operation Hail Stone.
© Video’s by Gunther Deichmann & Dirk Fahrenbach, edited and soundtracks by Gunther Deichmann © 2008 all right reserved
GD

Tags: World War II, History War, Pacific War, Operation Hail Stone

You might have also noticed that we have made some change to our Blog Pages...full access to some videos from our destinations are now available on the right hand side: PODCAST AND MOVIES
There is now also a direct access to our Alliance Main Website via the New link top right hand side.
We are constantly updating our Blog and website, stay tuned or subscribe for the latest NEWS , Images and Videos.

Video © Dirk Fahrenbach edited and sound by © GD
Click on the images above and this will take you right to our NEW Podcast and Movie section.
Please have some patience some of the Clips could take several minutes to download, of course this depends on your connection.
The video has been compressed to fit within the web standards, but Broadband/DSL connection is recommended.

Tags: Video, NEW Video Gallery , Podcast, Dirk Fahrenbach, Underwater Video

Finally our NEW and improved website is up and running...more info, a cool Photo Gallery,easier direct bookings with all our Partners, easy to book and choose our dive,travel and adventure packages plus a lot more and all of this in nine languages. You might have to refresh your Browser and update your cache.
Please go ahead and check it out, our domain name is the same except for the facelift...www.alliancediving.com

You might have to refresh your Browser and update your cache.
Click on the screenshot and go direct to our updated website @
www.alliancediving.com

Stay tuned or subscribe for the LATEST NEWS and the long awaited upgrade on our MAIN WEBSITE...

The Philippine-Micronesia Alliance web site is undergoing some major changes...we are working in the background and advise you as soon it is up and running...
We made some fantastic improvements not only for all the Alliance partners but for YOU the Customer...
Easy to navigate, great Photo Gallery from all or destinations, easy direct and Package bookings with our partner Blue Horizons Travel plus our new partner S.E. Asia Kayak Tours with packages and information. Real time weather forecast from all our destinations in the Philippines and Micronesia plus a lot more & all of this in nine languages.
When can you see all of this? Well, in approximately 10 days...but dont worry YOU be the first to know.
From the virtual office of the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance
The Divers Choice!

We are very happy to announce our NEW DIVE and TRAVEL PACKAGES... starting from July 2008.

Tags: Website, Kayak Tours, The DIVERS CHOICE, Weather Forecast, PHOTO GALLERY, AIRLINES, TRAVEL AGENT

Real Time....
Fathers day…and as predicted Matt Weiss from DivePhotoGuide.com just strolled into my home.
Hi son… missing my Mac? He,he. Oh no… he is missing the Philippines already the great people and the fantastic diving, I am sure he be back, I can tell by the grin on his face…

Matt is back from Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center in Palawan where he spend some quality time with our good friend Dirk and the amazing Rolf.

Matt Weiss from DivePhotoGuide...
one of the very few people I allow to use my Mac...

Here is what he has to say…

Hello all, back at the Mac Lab that is Gunther’s office. Just had an extraordinary 5 days in Palawan at Club Paradise diving with the Dugong Dive Center. I knew the diving was amazing because I had witnessed the areas marine biodiversity in Puerto Galera and heard nothing but the highest compliments about Palawan’s oceans. However, neither me nor my memory card had any idea what to expect. In fact, in the house reef in less than 8 meters of water, I more than tripled my previous record by filling up my 4 gig memory card in 1 dive. The dive ended not because of air, temperature, or nitrogen issues, but because I had no room on my memory card and got the point where I refused to delete anything I had! I would not have been able to handle film days at Club Paradise. This is just the house reef, then there is also the wrecks and world class reefs and mangroves. The topside stuff also could not be beat-- thousands of bats flying into unbeatable sunsets, monitor lizards doing their mating dance in the mossy lagoons, rare owls above your beach front bungalows and well then you barely start to get the idea. That’s before even getting to the turtle releases and dugong watch. Interested in seeing photos of all this and hearing the full report? Stay tuned to DivePhotoGuide.com for the detailed, image rich article about Philippines and the rest of the coral triangle.

Matt Weiss

Tags: DIVEPHOTOGUIDE, Bats, Lizards, Eco Tourism, Underwater Photography

We are proud to announce our long awaited NEW Travel, Tour and Diving packages from all the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance destinations, available by the end of next week.
Stay tuned or subscribe to our blog for all the details and cool packages very,very soon.

I have also the pleasure in announcing our NEW partner Lee Goldman from S.E.Asia Kayak Tours...I have mention this in my earlier blogs but as of today it is official.

Welcome to Lee and Jasmine Goldman from S.E.Asia Kayak Tours with their new Eco and adventure travel tours, a great and exciting addition to the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance.

Next week we announce the S.E.Asia Kayak Tours new website (asiakayaktours.com) and of course within a week or so you can find it on our alliancediving.com site including their exciting Kayak and Wilderness travel tour packages.
Bill Stinnett our partner from Truk Lagoon has dropped by also this weekend to say hi, a hectic week indeed with Matt Weiss from DivePhotoGuide.com returning tomorrow from Club Paradise too.

Tags: Kayaking, Asia Kayak Tours.com, S.E.Asia, PADI, Breaking NEWS

9:30 PM Manila…the doorbell rang and Matt Weiss from DivePhotoGuide strolled into the office and my home.
Matt has just returned from Puerto Galera where he stayed with Asia Divers and El Galleon Beach Resort our partner in the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance.
Matt and myself chatted all night long and I thought at one point doing a Pod Cast but that would have been way to long… he walked out of here at around 3:30 AM just in time for his flight to Club Paradise in Palawan at 11:30 this morning. At least he got a few hours sleep before his next journey, he is very excited to dive with the Dugong Dive Center and hopefully get a chance to see some Dugongs. See below a few lines I have ask him to write about Puerto Galera…but don’t worry the real stories and a lot more on the DivePhotoGuide Web site soon. I also hope to catch up with Matt upon his return from Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center in about a week.
GD

Matt Weiss and Gunther Deichmann, two Mac addicts having fun, my son Mark-Lee took the opportunity and recorded the "event" on his cell phone.

Regards from Manila. I just spent a few fantastic days exploring the marine biodiversity in Puerto Galera at El Galleon resort. The critter life there was fantastic and the dive guides were able to show me a few animals I had never seen before. What really amazed me was how different the diving was from Indonesia, despite being in the same ocean. I was disappointed to leave, but I have an excellent journey ahead of me in Palawan diving with Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center. I am looking forward to what surprises lie ahead! Keep an eye out for a full comprehensive story on each area of the Philippines as well as the larger story covering the macro life of the entire coral triangle. The stories will be on DivePhotoGuide.com soon.

Matt Weiss
DivePhotoGuide

Click on the screenshots and visit Asia Divers with
El Galleon Beach Resort in the Philippines

Tags: DIVEPHOTOGUIDE

Asia Divers with El Galleon Beach Resort and Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center are now featured on DivePhotoGuide.com, Matt Weiss the representative from Dive PhotoGuide is currently in Puerto Galera and chasing some critters. He be traveling to Club Paradise in Palawan and dive with Dirk Fahrenbach at the Dugong Dive Center after his assignment is completed in Puerto Galera.

Click on the screenshots and visit these two great
dive destinations in the Philippines

Tags: NEWS Articles, Puerto Galera, PALAWAN

Click the banner and go direct to Dugong Dive Center and Club Paradise

Club Paradise Awards for the best Producers 2007

Last week Club Paradise hosted an interesting event at the German Club in Makati, Manila. Awards for the most productive travel agencies where given out including to one of our partners Blue Horizons Travel (image below)
Other winners where Island Marketing, Schoener Tauchen, Orca Reisen and many more, airline representatives from Asian Spirit and Seair were also part of the evening.
A relaxed evening with live music, buffet and drinks surrounded by a tropical ambience.

From left: Arnie Bayag from Blue Horizons Travel
receiving the Award from Carmela Geisert
& Juergen Warnke


Juergen Warnke in full swing...

A Power Point presentation and welcome words from Juergen Warnke thanking all the producers started the evening, a special mention was given to the new airport and growing tourism in the Calamanes.
A great evening and the Club Paradise Family Raffle towards the end made this a very memorable evening for all attending guests.

 Juergen Warnke and the Ladies of the evening....

 

Tags: Event, TRAVEL AGENCIES, REISE AGENTUREN, AIRLINES

DivePhotoGuide &
the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance

Your browser doesn't support JavaScript or you have disabled JavaScript.

A joined venture between DivePhotoGuide and Alliance Partner Resorts in the Philippines, Matt Weis from DivePhotoGuide is arriving shortly to explore the marine biodiversity of Puerto Galera and Palawan.
Of course Matt is staying with Asia Divers and El Galleon in Puerto Galera and in Palawan we put him up at Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center.
We all looking forward to Matt's visit and his report once his Journey is completed, the articles will be published in the DivePhotoGuide later this year.
Thanks to all the Alliance partners who have contributed and make Matt's visit a enjoyable one.
Above some of our new banner Ads in DivePhotoGuide click on the banners and go direct to our Partners and DivePhotoGuide.com
GD

Tags: DIVEPHOTOGUIDE, Exploring The Philippines

dive-truklagoon.com the new domain name and website is almost completed, a bit more make up, a few more photos and text and them we are running, it is actually out there now.
Stay tuned and please remember the NEW Domain Name
dive-truklagoon.com
In the meantime feel free and check it out, as mention a few little things need to be done still but a complete list of all the wreck site is now at your fingertips not to mention the best equipped Tec diving center on the Island of Chuuk, Nitrox, Oxygen and Helium is readily available for all your technical diving…we are also very Re-breather friendly.

© Gunther Deichmann - the wrecks of Truk Lagoon

Truk Lagoon is recognized as the world’s greatest wreck diving destination and for good reason. More than 60 World War II Japanese war ships and aircraft were sunk during Operation Hailstone in February of 1944 and now rest peacefully on the floor of Truk Lagoon. All of these sunken monuments are accessible to the scuba diver – most at a depth suitable for the novice or sport diver.

© Gunther Deichmann - the wrecks of Truk lagoon

The Truk Lagoon is roughly 40 miles in diameter and encircles 14 major, populated islands. Weno Island is the Capitol Island of Chuuk State and home to the Truk Lagoon Dive Center. Our Dive Map will show that the majority of these wrecks are highly concentrated in just 3 areas – all within a few miles of each other. Travel time from the Truk Stop Hotel’s private dock to most of these wrecks is less than 20 minutes.

The Truk Lagoon Dive Center offers a two tank am or morning dive then additional one or two tank dives in the afternoon. The most commonly visited or favorite wrecks chosen by divers are:

http://www.dive-truklagoon.com/main.php

Tags: WWII WRECKS,, Lagoon DiVING, TECH DIVING,, REBREATHER,, HELIUM,, Micronesia, Dive Center, Pacific

We been notified today that the fish which has been a little mystery is now Identified by our Marine Biologist Lee Goldman, this and other interesting articles are brought to you by the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance. The Divers Choice.

The FISH Mystery is solved...


© Photo Lee Goldman - Carpet Eel Blenny Dottyback!

Hi Gunther,
the mystery is solved! I have identified the fish I photographed at Donsol. A very reclusive, cryptic fish that is not seen very often. It looks like an ell, but it's not. It looks like a blenny, but it's not. What is it? Of course, it's the Carpet Eel Blenny Dottyback! Dottyback? Aren't they the small cryptic reef fish that often have amazingly brilliant colors? Yes, that's them and this guy is the 'blacksheep' of the family. Not only is he very cryptic in their morphology, but at up to 45cm long, they are easily the largest. Well, another new one for me and happy to say that after almost 20 years of exploring the world's oceans, I can still be so easily entertained :)! ...and YOU are so right Lee

Tags: Science, Fish species, Discovery, Oceans, Environment, Rare MARINE Life, DIVING, Snorkeling, PHILIPPINES

This report has just reached me this morning from our Alliance Partner Juergen Warnke at Club Paradise in Palawan, Philippines.

NATURE is a lot closer now....
BUSUANGA AIRPORT Palawan Philippines...

 

CLUB PARADISE, EL RIO Y MAR and the DUGONG DIVE CENTER

Busuanga Airport, landing point for CLUB PARADISE, EL RIO Y MAR and the DUGONG DIVE CENTER now has a 1500 meter concrete runway plus a 400 meter gravel extension.
 
This gives a new dimension to tourism in the islands of the Calamianes. Whereas before only 19 seater planes were able to land, Busuanga airport is now being served by the super fast 32-seater Do 28 (needs only 35 minutes to get there from Manila) and the 50 seater Dash-7.
 
Starting next week, May 17, 2008 the service of a 72 seater plane from Phil Airlines will begin daily flights. This will bring the total seat capacity per year to about 100.000 seats yearly. New hotels, lodging houses and resorts are under construction and on the planning board. Present room capacity of 400 rooms will be double within an year.                                                                   

© Gunther Deichmann - the spectacular marine life in Palawan

The Government has decided to pave the road from Coron to Busuanga Airport to modernize the road system and create more comfort for all travelers. Guests of the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance and CLUB PARADISE, EL RIO Y MAR and DUGONG DIVE CENTER will get to their destination a lot faster and more comfortably now.
This will increase their time to enjoy all the exciting dive sites to see the Turtles, Dugongs, WWII Wrecks, a whole fleet was sunk in this area and of course beautiful reefs in this area.

Another great NEWS is, several Whale-sharks have been in sighted in the Coron, Palawan area, a good reason for planning your next trip to PALAWAN...the Philippines best kept secret...NATURE at its best.
 

© Gunther Deichmann - the WWII Wrecks of Palawan


© Gunther Deichmann - the WWII Wrecks of Palawan

Tags: DUGONGS,, Dive Center, WWII WRECKS,, Conservation, Wreck Diving,, PALAWAN, PHILIPPINES, NATURE, Inselhuepfen,, Island hopping,

Just arrived on my desk posted by palautours.com blog

Late breaking NEWS from PALAU Micronesia!
...brought to you by palautours.com

Ban on live fish export becomes law in Palau Micronesia a step in the right direction to preserve Palau's natural environment and unique Bio-diversity.

See below excerps from a News Paper article by the
Horizon News Staff

With a stroke of his pen, president Tommy Remengesau, Jr. has put a stop to the export of live reef fish yesterday in Bai Mengeliakl,
Ngarchelong. Remengesau signed into law the Senate Bill.
President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. makes it clear, the significance of stopping the exportation of live reef fish yesterday.

Tags: Conservation, PALAU, NATURE, Protect, Environment

This blog was posted on the Palautours.com site, we like to share this with you since we are so close to each other... The Philippines & Micronesia.
Before you make all our travel arrangements check it out...why not stop over in the Philippines for a few extra days and Dive some of the best Bio diversity in
the world. Plan your trip as a combination Philippines - Micronesia then you have the very best of both worlds.
Think about it.

PalauTours.com Now... Welcome to Micronesia!
The colors of the Pacific...
(FSM - The Federated States of Micronesia)


Chuuk (Truk Lagoon) - Yap - Kosrae & Pohnpei
Click the image or the link below
http://www.palautours.com/micronesia.html

As promised... we have just updated the
palautours.com site changes and NEW additions are as follow;
Micronesia section is updated see the screenshot on this blog - a Palau and Regional map has been added -
in the Photo Gallery we have now provided caption on all the images for easy identification - Getting here is
been updated - some pages have additional text - plus we have changed some photos in various categories.
More to come by this weekend and an incredible update is in progress for the Dive sites of Palau, we will feature
most of the dive sites and not only the popular ones, a big undertaking but I am sure you enjoy it once that is done.
We try very hard to have our first listings up also by Sunday, please stay tuned or start subscribing.
Your Palau Tours Team

Tags: The DIVERS CHOICE, Tauch REISEN, TRAVEL NEWS, DIVING, PHILIPPINES, Dive MANTAS, Micronesia, PALAU, REISEN, URLAUB, Inselhuepfen,, Island hopping,

The NEW TRUK STOP HOTEL & TRUK LAGGON DIVE CENTER'S WEB site is almost completed, soon you can explore the wreck sites and facilities on the Net at the fullest. Discover the amazing Wrecks with our partner Truk Lagoon Dive Center... Your expert on wrecks and all technical diving in Chuuk Micronesia the only place on the island with a permanent supply of HELIUM...you just have to bring your Re-Breather we take care of the rest.
See below some excerpts from their new HOME PAGE...
GD

Part of the NEW HOME page...click on the image and go direct to Truk Lagoon Dive Center
http://www.dive-truklagoon.com/main.php

The Truk Stop Hotel & Dive Center is a PADI Resort Facility offering great accommodations plus an excellent, full service dive center for both the recreational and technical diver.
Truk Stop Hotel inventory of rooms include 2 apartments, 4 suites, 6 deluxe ocean view rooms, and 10 standard rooms. The apartments are air conditioned and fully furnished with kitchenette. All suites and rooms are air conditioned, have a balcony, private bath and furnished with a refrigerator plus TV/DVD player.

LOCAL TIME: 03:20:58 pm | May. 05, 2008

The Truk Lagoon Dive Center offers up to 4 dives a day (wreck, reef, shark, night), and our private dock, dive lockers, rinse tanks and shower make diving with us easy and convenient. We have Bauer Compressors and use a Haskel Pump for blending Nitrox and Trimix, and our expatriate PADI certified professional dive staffs take care of the technical and recreational diver with equal care and consideration.

Our Hotel Restaurant serves international, western style and local food daily from 6:00am till 10:00pm and offers inside dining in air conditioned, smoke free comfort or outside on our patio right next to the world famous Truk Lagoon. Enjoy our Wi-Fi broadband internet connection in the restaurant or on the patio – for FREE!

© Gunther Deichmann - the view from your room Balcony at night.
http://www.dive-truklagoon.com/main.php

The Hard Wreck Café & Bar is the favorite hangout for resident expatriates, the traveling businessman, island visitors and local residents and is the place to enjoy a friendly game of pool, your favorite beverage, karaoke with friends, or just rest up for your next dive or business meeting.
Other services available through the hotel include a relaxing, stress busting massage at The Body Shop, fresh breads, cakes and desserts from our Bakery, handicrafts & souvenirs from our Gift Shop, u-drives from our Car Rental fleet, and business services at our well equipped Conference Facilities.

Tags: TRUK LAGOON,, WWII WRECKS,, CHUUK MICRONESIA,, NITROX, OXYGEN, TRIMIX, Tauchen,, Lungenautomat,, TECH DIVING,, Wreck Diving,, HELIUM,, REBREATHER,, TEC DIVING,

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



To go to the Center click on the image
The Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art: ACCEA
" NPAK" in Armenian acronymis an alternative center for avant-garde
and modern art in Yerevan, Armenia

We have to take care of our PLANET and the ENVIRONMENT otherwise there be nothing left for our Children…
we all need to contribute & STOP Global Warming.

Some of Gunther Deichmann's images have been recently part of an international Exhibition in Armenia...for more detailed information some links below… many other international Photographers have contributed images for the Exhibition and environmental awareness, for a complete list of all the participants and sponsors including the WWF World Wildlife Fund in Armenia go to the provided links below…
I am happy and proud to have been part of this Exhibition in providing images creating awareness for our fragile environment.

Click on the image above and view the Exhibition
with images and slide shows from all
the international participants.

The image above was taken in Palau Micronesia it was used as the Cover
for the official Exhibition Booklet, for other environmental related images
by Gunther Deichmann click the link below:
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/environment.html



WHY BURNING MY HOME...THINK!
Slide show of the images from the Exhibition by Gunther Deichmann
click on the link or image above.
http://www.davosstudio.com/Exhibition/Participants/Gunther%20Deichmann/

Tags: MARINE, WILDERNESS, DIVING

A real NATURE ADVENTURE through PALAWAN in the PHILIPPINES & beyond...
from the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance.

PHOTO: © Lee Goldman - Palawan at its very best...the camp site.
I wish I could be there...

Today another lad strolled into the office & not just anybody…my good friend and soon a new Alliance Partner Lee Goldman Marine Biologist and Expedition Leader of a great new Tour in Palawan Philippines.
Supported by Wilderness Travel and our partner in Manila Blue Horizons, Dugong Dive Center and Club Paradise in Palawan…the last frontier in the Philippines with spectacular limestone cliffs equal to Palau and Thailand.

Lee’s Expedition was also named as one of the
Best Adventure Trips 2008

A Masked Ball in the Philippines
http://www.concierge.com/ideas/

There be a lot more in the near future, you just have to stay tuned or subscribe to our blog…
A lot of exciting things are on the way…see below some of Lee’s Photos and text from his recent trip in April 2008, just completed…very cool and amazing…YOU should join him on his next trip and experience the Philippines like no other has done before…sounds familiar yes… STARTREK…but hurry bookings have to be made well in advance.
Gunther Deichmann

PHOTO: © Lee Goldman - "Alien Lights?" No Palawan!
Exploring Palawan by Kayak & in the evening
there is fine dining... under the stars.

Hi Gunther,

The first PHILIPPINES Expedition for WILDERNESS TRAVEL is in the books and as I have done in previous blogs I want to thank some of the Philippine-Micronesian Alliance partners, Dirk Fahrenbach at Dugong Dive Center at Club Paradise and Blue Horizon Travel for their help in making it a successful tour. The highlights? How about Whale sharks, fantastic snorkeling among fields of colorful corals and abundant fish, Apo Reef National Park, and great weather! The super-highlight? KAYAKING and LUXURY CAMPING in the middle of some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet; the limestone cliffs of El Nido, Palawan. Of course, our 5-star chef at camp helped in areas all marine enthusiasts are familiar with: growling stomachs at the end of a full day of fun…& there be a lot more very soon… this is only an appetizer.
Lee Goldman

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

Like an ALIEN from a different WORLD...very cool…the image below is nothing in comparison from what this article has in store for you… Thanks to Walter Ty again.

Monster warning to protect oceans... about twice the size of a London Bus...& be careful when diving in NEW ZEALAND...YOU never know.

The landing of a colossal squid by New Zealand fishermen earlier this year offered a rare glimpse into the mysterious world deep beneath the waves. Scientist Mark Norman uses this week's Green Room to argue that it also shows how marine life is being destroyed before it is understood.

You be amazed to see this one…WOW!

© Gunther Deichmann - just like Aliens...
Squid under a Boat in Micronesia,
for more images from the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance
destinations click on the Image above or this link.
http://www.alliancediving.com/blog/page2/page2.html

Colossal squid comes out of ice…
By Richard Black
Environment correspondent
Courtesy of the BBC

Colossal squid. Image: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
( go to the link below and view the image)
Dr Kubodera examines the eye of the smaller, partial colossal squid specimen
Technicians in New Zealand have begun to thaw a rare colossal squid specimen.

The operation to defrost the 10-metre (34 feet) long, half-tonne squid began on Monday afternoon in Wellington following a postponement of 24 hours.
The animal is now sitting in a bath of salt water. Once it is thawed, scientists will begin to dissect it.

Very little is known about colossal squid, which appear to live largely in the cold Antarctic waters and can grow up to 15 metres (50 feet) long.
"They're incredibly rare - this is probably one of maybe six specimens ever brought up," said Carol Diebel, director of natural environment at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa centre.

"It's certainly the one that we're being really careful about, completely intact and in really fantastic condition."
The Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni specimen was caught in February 2007 in the Ross Sea.

Big unknown

The colossal squid is remarkable for its size, but also for how rarely it has been sighted.
It was identified first in 1925 from two tentacles found in a sperm whale's stomach…
You have to read on...more images and text @
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7367774.stm

Welcome back Dirk Fahrenbach… the lad just strolled into the office 5 minutes ago with some photos and information from the ADEX Dive Show in Singapore.
Great to see Dirk again even I am fighting a hangover from my Birthday Party at the German Club last night. Some of Dirk’s photos below…Oh boy… Dirk, you missed a great evening…
with the great and ever so cool Jazz Band "Johnny Alegre - AFFINITY"

Photo: © Hermes Singson - Juergen Warnke
from Club Paradise and the President of the German Club
introduces Johnny Alegre and band.

Now back to ADEX and Dirk; Allan Nash and Tommy from Asia Divers with El Galleon attended the show at the Philippine Department of Tourism Booth…Wow Philippines. According to Dirk the ADEX show was the very best he had attended compared to previous years, getting many requests for diving with Dugongs and on the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance.
Jason Heller from Dive Photo Guide strolled around and Michael AW made his presents felt with a presentation for the up coming Celebrate the Sea Festival.

Our Philippine-Micronesia Alliance partners Dirk Fahrenbach from Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center
in Palawan with Allan Nash from Asia Divers with El Galleon Beach Resort in Puerto Galera Philippines...
posing with the Alliance brochure at the WOW Philippines Booth in Singapore 2008.



The WOW Philippine Booth at
ADEX DIVE SHOW Singapore 2008




Presentation on the Celebrate the Seas Festival
soon to be held in Manila at ADEX Singapore 2008

You have to forgive me today for not writing to much, I am still suffering a bit, but don’t worry more to come in the next few days including an article of some exciting new developments in Palawan…I guess you just have to stay tuned or subscribe to our Blog.
GD

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

My very special thanks go to Walter Ty for bringing this to my attention…
Sorry no Photos today but if you go to:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/
edinburgh_and_east/7360770.stm
There you find a cool Pod cast and a photo of this amazing little fish from the Amazon, discovery been made everyday and we are learning so much about our environment except how to take care of it…lets start now.
GD


No sex for all-girl fish species
Amazon Molly (Credit: Dunja K Lamatsch)
Courtesy of BBC

A fish species, which is all female, has survived for 70,000 years without reproducing sexually, experts believe.
Scientists from the University of Edinburgh think the Amazon Molly may be employing special genetic survival "tricks" to avoid becoming extinct.

The species, found in Texas and Mexico, interacts with males of other species to trigger its reproduction process.
The offspring are clones of their mother and do not inherit any of the male's DNA.

Typically, when creatures reproduce asexually, harmful changes creep into their genes over many generations.
The species will eventually have problems reproducing and can often fall victim to extinction.

Scientists at Edinburgh University have been studying complex mathematical models on a highly powerful computing system to look at the case of the Amazon Molly.
Researchers calculated the time to extinction for the fish based on modelling genetic changes over many thousands of generations.

They are now able to say conclusively, for the first time, the fish ought to have become extinct within the past 70,000 years, based on the current simple models.
Scientists believe the fish, which are still thriving in rivers in south-east Texas and north-east Mexico, are using special genetic survival "tricks" to help them stay alive.

One theory is that the fish may occasionally be taking some of the DNA from the males that trigger reproduction, in order to refresh their gene pool.

Species tricks

Dr Laurence Loewe, of the university's School of Biological Sciences, said: "What we have shown now is that this fish really has something special going on and that some special tricks exist to help this fish survive.
"Maybe there is still occasional sex with strangers that keeps the species alive. Future research may give us some answers."
He added that their findings could also help them understand more about how other creatures operate.
"I think one of the interesting things is that we are learning more about how other species might use these tricks as well," he said.

"It might have a more general importance."
The Edinburgh-led study was carried out in collaboration with Dr Dunja Lamatsch at the University of Wuerzburg, now at the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
The research is published in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology.
More info and Photos @
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/
edinburgh_and_east/7360770.stm



Species loss 'bad for our health'
The physiology of bears could lead to a better understanding of some diseases

A new generation of medical treatments could be lost forever unless the current rate of biodiversity loss is reversed, conservationists have warned.
They say species are being lost before researchers have had the chance to examine and understand their potential health benefits.
The findings appear in Sustaining Life, a book involving more than 100 experts.

It is being published ahead of a global summit in May that will look at ways to stem biodiversity loss by 2010.
"While extinction is alarming in its own right, the book demonstrates that many species can help human lives," said co-author Jeffrey McNeely, chief scientist at IUCN (formerly known as the World Conservation Union).


Societies depend on nature for treating diseases
Achim Steiner,
Unep executive director

"If we needed more justification for action to conserve species, it offers dozens of dramatic examples of both why and how citizens can act in ways that will conserve, rather than destroy, the species that enrich our lives."

Killing the cure
One creature whose potential benefits have been lost to science is the southern gastric brooding frog (Rheobatrachus silus), say the authors…more info and Photos at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7361539.stm

Walter Ty has done it again...thanks so much...from what I have heard the spawning is over...you lucky divers who had been in Palau during this time. Maybe the visibility was not so great to see all the other marine life...but then the coral spawning is something not to be missed...natures gift to man and a reminder that we have to take care of our environment...ironically the month of April is suppose to be the green month...I guess Palau has both, above it is green and below during the spawning it is all pink.
What a contrast!
GD

© Gunther Deichmann - Is this what it looked like in Palau???
For some real images go to the link provided below...
this is only an artist impression.

The annual mass spawning of corals on the Palau archipelago in the western Pacific has occurred right on cue. With Sunday night's full moon, coral polyps let forth a huge swathe of sperm and egg, to seed the next generation.

The event was short-lived - only about 30 minutes - but so vast in its scale that it turned the sea water pink. Scientists from Palau, Australia and the UK are studying the practicality of collecting coral larvae to help restore damaged reefs elsewhere.

See what a mass spawning at Palau looks like (Reefvid.org)
As we got into the boat for our trip to Luke's reef, I admit I was not really expecting to see the mass spawning on the exact night of the full Moon. All the visiting scientists here thought it was more likely the reproductive extravaganza would happen the next evening or the following one - based on what had happened the last two years. The only person who seemed sure it would happen on cue was Steven Victor, the Palauan director of the Palau International Coral Reef Center. Local knowledge was spot on, as it turned out.
Almost as soon as the boat engine switched off, we got a sense that something might be brewing... you have to see and read the whole story...and images
@ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7358423.stm

Late News... just received this press release from Dermot Keane Sam's Tours Palau Micronesia...please read below
the article in the online Scuba Diving Magazine...Bottom Time.

GD

Click on the image and go direct to
the Digital Photo Center

ALL - NEW DIGITAL PHOTO CENTER AT SAM'S TOURS IN PALAU

Sam's Tours' all new Digital Photo Center is fully equipped to cater to digital photographers of all interest levels, from those with handy point-and-shoot cameras to the most demanding digital photographers shooting in RAW format. Their six top-of-the-line Apple iMac workstations are loaded with terabytes and terabytes of storage, archiving and secure data backup systems, lots of RAM, and completely optimized for digital imaging with Apple Aperture 2 image management software, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Bridge, Toast, and topped off with DSL Wi-Fi internet access. No other photo center in Palau comes near!

Plus, you can rent new Canon SD850 Digital Cameras and Canon ZR830 Digital Minicams with underwater housings. Other camera-friendly improvements include an expanded "dry zone" for Camera Preparation and Charging and a new Camera Drying Station complete with towels and compressed air for post-rinsing camera care.

Have a moment please...think and pay tribute to John Bennett a legend in the Dive industry, a moment of silence and our thought to his family...we all miss you very much, from the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance. See the letter and images below I just received from his good friend Mark Cox in Australia. Thank you so much Mark in sharing the photos and memories of this truly great man, we all appreciate this very much.
GD

"He was the the greatest diver that ever lived... a memorial yesterday for John Bennett who died 4 years ago 15th of March. A very sad day not just for the dive community but his closest friends & loving family ! Gabby, Josh & Katie. We gathered yesterday for a remembrance of this great man that lead the way for divers & pioneers of today, he was a LEGEND, we love him & miss him. The deepest diver in the world John Bennett, we will never forget you,
from Mark Cox, a good friend."

© Photo: Mark Cox, Australia


© Photo: Mark Cox, Australia

Just received this letter (see below) from Lee Goldman, Marine Biologist who leading a Wilderness Travel Expedition to the Philippine Islands, find out more about his Wilderness Travel Expedition, go to our previous Blog and click the link below.
http://www.alliancediving.com/blog/files/jan-2008.html

In his letter Lee expressed his sincere thanks to Jem from Blue Horizons Travel I like also to take this opportunity and thank Jem personally for his hard work and effort in helping to put together the super package and Prize for the Layang Layang Photo Contest a lot more details on this later, thanks Jem.

© Gunther Deichmann

Soon a new member of the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance, Lee will be joining us with his extraordinary and very exiting Kayak tours in Palawan and beyond, subscribe and stay tuned for the official announcement.
GD

His tour has just been in the top listing of the Concierge,
Best Adventure Trips 2008!
http://www.concierge.com/ideas/skiadventure/tour/detail?id=1729&page=11


Hi Gunther,

A while back you blogged about my excitement and appreciation for the significant inclusion of Club Paradise onto our new Wilderness Travel Expedition to the Philippine Islands.

I should also mention that another one of your Micronesian-Philippine Alliance partners has made important contributions as well. Jem Kemp from Blue Horizon Travel has been extremely helpful in arranging our flights to and from Legaspi, where we will continue on to Donsol for a couple of days snorkeling with Whale Sharks, and for all of the transfers for our guests when they arrive in Manila.

While it may sound easy, from my point of view, it helped to keep me from pulling even more of my hair out of my head while trying to coordinate all of the other activities for our 12 day tour. So, when coordinating 5 days of luxury kayak camping (that’s tents, supplies, equipment, personnel and their travel arrangement, the outfitting of our new boat, coordination of the daily excursions, food procurement, and contingency plans) became almost as much as I can handle, Jem came through by taking care of the guests in Manila, thus alleviating some of the weight from my shoulders.
Thanks Jem!
Lee Goldman, Marine Biologist and Tour leader

Photos: © Gunther Deichmann – Images from Palawan…the last frontier in the Philippines and a heaven for nature lovers, pristine beaches, crystal clear water surrounded by majestic limestone cliffs and spectacular diving… explore and discover this incredible part of the Philippines with Lee Goldman and our other Alliance partners. A pure natures paradise.

Click on the images above and see more photos from all our partner destinations.

Asia Divers our partner in Puerto Galera visits Palawan frequently for the wrecks in Coron Bay, Asia Divers with El Galleon Beach Resort is also a major sponsor of the Layang Layang Photo Contest,
for more info on Wreck diving with Asia Divers check out our previous blog from David Ross at:
http://www.alliancediving.com/blog/files/category-asia-divers-articles.html

More and more elections this time of the year, we have had Putin and Russia, then in the US Obama v Hillary plus all the others, I think in Iran soon, it is all over the place not to mention the Shark vote from the other day on our blog and now Tubbataha Reef has been nominated as one of the seven new Wonders of the World.

Cast YOUR vote below!

The Philippine-Micronesia Alliance is supporting the conservation and protection
of this unique reef in the Philippines.

The 96,000- hectare Tubbataha Reef, Asia's best marine park, has been nominated as one of the seven new Wonders of the World.



© Gunther Deichmann - sharks are a common sight at the Tubbataha Reef

Tubbataha Reef is an atoll coral reef in the Sulu Sea that belongs to the Philippines. It is a marine sanctuary protected as Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park. The reef is composed of two atolls, North and South Reefs. Each reef has a single small islet that protrudes from the water. The atolls are separated by a deep channel 8 kilometers wide. Over one thousand species, including many that are endangered, can be found at on the reef. These include manta rays, lionfish, tortoises, clownfish and sharks. You can vote for Tubbataha Reef by going to this site: http://www.new7wonders.com/nature Search for the nominees and you will be asked to vote for 7 sites. The trick is, choose Tubbataha Reef as your first choice and for the other six, select the most unknown nominees. This gives more chances for Tubbataha to make it to the top 21 finalists. Presently, it's ranked top 29, up from top 35 last week.

Late breaking NEWS...

The Philippine - Micronesia Alliance proudly announces to be part of this years Layang Layang Photo Contest in Malaysia as one of the sponsors, we announce the operators and destinations very shorly on our Blog, incredible prizes for the winners of this years contest, stay tuned for more details in the coming days.
GD

Late breaking news from Dugong Dive Center in Palawan...the Divers Choice.
Ghost pipefish in masses at Club Paradise House reef and newly discovered Mandarin fish close by.

Ghost pipefish at the moment in masses at the
Club Paradise House reef

What else do you need! I guess a tank full of air and camera will do just fine…Dirk is back on the island... happy to point you in the right direction, even without Dirk or his dive guides you cant get lost…you just get up in the morning and after a good breakfast at Club Paradise stroll down the beach…enter the water and you right at the house reef…the action and critters only a few feet below.

Photos: © Gunther Deichmann

But if you get real lucky... you might meet the sexy Tashina and join her for an unforgeteable trip to Apo reef, dive the spectacular walls and catch a glimpse of Mantas and Sharks not to mention the big schools of jacks on this reef. Soon island hopping with Tashina...yes very sexy indeed...to find out more who she is go to: http://www.alliancediving.com/blog/
It comes as no surprise that VOX television from Germany had choosen Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center for one of their location.

Mandarin fish used to be know only from Yap and Palau... but now they have arrived in Palawan too, watch their courtship at sunset right in front of the beach resort, our other partner destination in the Philppines, Puerto Galera has got them too, just check with Asia Divers, another member of the Philippine -Micronesia Alliance.


Mandarin fish now in Palawan
Photo: © Gunther Deichmann

So what are you waiting for, get your gear ready and plan your next weekend or dive vacation with Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center, a member of the
Philippine – Micronesia Alliance.

Click on the images and go direct to our partner destination
Photo Gallery, amazing dive destinations from the
Philippines, Micronesia and the Pacific.

But here is another tip... check out some of the amazing videos from Dirk Fahrenbach at YOU TUBE, go to YOU TUBE and type his name or click the link below for one of his film clips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVstA2zcxXQ

GD

___________________________________________

The latest news from one of our partners in the
Philippine-Micronesia Alliance...The Divers choice
in the Philippines, Micronesia and the Pacific.


Dirk, friends and dive guides in the Maldives...Feb.2008

He is back…who? Dirk Fahrenbach from Dugong Dive Center and Club Paradise walked into the virtual office yesterday returning from Germany and the Maldives.
Dirk attended the Düsseldorf Boat show in January in Germany, after the show he took a few days off and then went straight to the Maldives for some diving looking after a group of divers.
According to Dirk, the Boat Show was a great event and he was part of the DOT Booth, Wow Philippines; see below some photos he provided me yesterday.

Dirk and friend at the Wow Philippine Booth at the
Duesseldorf Boat Show Jan. 2008

Welcome back Dirk, we did miss you, Dirk also showed me some photos of his new Boat soon at Dugong Dive Center a new and very big Tri-Maran …luxury at it’s best diving at it’s ultimate… as mention in my earlier blogs diving with the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance is getting better and better.

Some of Dirk's guest's in the Maldives

See below some photos from Dirk’s new Boat called …
...Tashina… very sexy and bold.


Ready very soon...the very sexy Tashina…


So much more space...the Tashina

Diving with her is never going to be boring… over night Safaris with all your electrical requirements on board, including a 24hours compressor… now that is what we call island hopping, Apo reef is going to be fun from now on, the Tashina is very soon in Palawan, one of the Philippines top dive destinations. The other images are from the Maldives, Dirk, dive guides and some of his guest’s.
A lot more very soon from Dirk…Dugong Dive Center and Club Paradise…and of course the sexy Tashina.
GD

________________________________________

Today we like to introduce our Alliance Partners in Spanish...click on the flags or links and you can read all about the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance and partner destinations in spanish, pages and pages on our destination and dive vacation. Join us for some exciting island hopping, insel huepfen, shark dives, spectacular wall dives or just relax on one our unspoiled tropical beaches, the Divers Choice in the Philippines and Micronesia, the experts in the Pacific.

Our partners in the Philippines: Calypso/Pinjalo Dive Resort, Boracay, Asia Divers with El Galleon beach Resort Puerto Galera, Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center in Palawan the last frontier in the Philippines. In Micronesia you dive with Sam's Tours in Palau who has the most sophisticated Digital Photo Service nowhere else to be found a underwater photographers paradise, if you like Wrecks then our Partner in Truk Lagoon the Truk Stop Hotel and Dive Center is your best choice with free Wi-Fi connection for all their guests, you connected even in the most remote part of the pacific with the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance.

For all our other languages please click this link we speak...


Alianza Filipinas-Micronesia ® 2008



Bienvenidos a la Alianza Filipinas-Micronesia , sus compañeros para esas vacaciones de buceo de calidad!

La vasta y remota región comprendida entre las Filipinas y Micronesia, abarca las aguas tropicales más abundantes del Pacífico, y de gran renombre entre los buceadores por su rica bio-diversidad marina que incluye grandes peces pelágicos, infinitas variedades de temas para macrofotografías, más de 700 especies de corales, más de 1,300 especies de peces, y una gran colección de restos intactos de naufragios marinos.

¡ Nuestra exclusiva red de balnearios para buceo de primera clase a lo largo de las Filipinas, República de Palau y la Laguna de Truk en los Estados Federados de Micronesia, en asociación con nuestros selectos profesionales en turismo hacen que los buceadores tengan un viaje y buceo más convenientes, más cómodos y más amenos que nunca!

La Alianza Filipinas-Micronesia está integrada por los mejores agentes turísticos regionales especializados en buceo cuidadosamente escogidos por la Alianza para garantizar que los buceadores tengan lo más fino en vacaciones de gran calidad y con los más altos niveles de seguridad, servicio al cliente, y trato comercial profesional en la industria.

Para mayor comodidad en la planificación de su viaje, nuestros expertos turísticos regionales planificarán sus exploraciones por el Pacífico para un relajo mental garantizado por nuestros niveles de servicio, comodidad y satisfacción ofrecidos por la Alianza. ¡ Tome asiento, relájese y deje la planificación de sus vacaciones a nosotros!
Sus compañeros para vacaciones de buceo de calidad incluyen balnearios para buceo en las Filipinas y centros para buceo Asia Divers. Entre estos están El Galleon Resort (Balneario El Galeón), en Puerto Galera; Club Paradise & Dugong Diving Center (Club Paraíso y Centro para Buceo Dugong), en Palawan; Pinjalo Diver Resort (Balneario para Buceo Pinjalo), en Boracay; y Sam's Tours (Paseos Turísticos de Sam), en Palau, Micronesia, y el Truk Lagoon Dive Center (Centro para Buceo de la Laguna Truk), en los Estados Federados de Micronesia.
_____________________________________

Just saw this on Fins Blog... absolutely fantastic...no more words needed...you have to check this out.
Check out this video of a very large, rare, six-gill shark (most sharks have five gills) taken by researchers in a submarine 1000 meters down in Hawaiian waters.
Almost as interesting as the shark is the excited chatter of the researchers.

Click the link below:

http://www.finsonline.com/blog/fins/20080217/rare-large-6-gill-shark.html

You bet this is very cool I just watched it...
GD

____________________________________

Introducing the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance in Russian - Your partner in island hopping, inselhuepfen plus a lot more. We have the best dive locations in the Philippines and Micronesia with some of the best unspoiled beaches in the world.
THE DIVERS CHOICE.



Click the flag and go direct to all our destinations and partners in Russian.

ФИЛИППИНЫ - МИКРОНЕЗИЯ АЛЬЯНСУ ® 2008

ДОБРО ПОЖАЛОВАТЬ К НАШЕМУ ФИЛИППИНЫ - МИКРОНЕЗИЯ АЛЬЯНСУ ЭТО ТВОЙ ЛУЧШИЙ ПАРТНЕР ДЛЯ ПЕРВОКЛАССНОГО ПОДВОДНОГО ОТПУСКА

Огромная площадь теплых тропических вод Тихого океана между Филиппинами и Микронезией известна среди дайверов всего мира еще и своим богатым многообразием подводного мира. Более 1300 наименований рыб, более 700 видов кораллов... Здесь вы найдете бесконечное множество тем для подводных съемок, включая и удивительную коллекцию ...затонувших кораблей.

Наш ислючительный индивидуальный сервиc от первоклассных отелей для подводников на Филиппинах, Палау и рэк-лагун в Микронезии, а также разнообразие туристических маршрутов делает путешествия и подводное плавание в этом фантастическом месте Тихого океана еще интересней и удобней, чем прежде. Пережитые подводные впечатления останутся в вашей памяти навсегда.

Филиппины-Микронезия Альянс обладает лучшими отелями, которые могут быть предложены в этих местах. Наши партнеры подобраны нами так тщательно, чтобы помочь каждому подводнику провести первоклассный отпуск на самом высоком уровне профессионализма, безопасности и наслаждений.

Итак, передайте планирование Вашего отпуска нашим целевым экспертам. Мы озаботимся о том, чтобы Ваши тихоокеанские приключения стали единственными в своем роде впечатлениями. Сядьте поудобнее, расслабтесь и предоставьте нам спланировать отпуск вашей мечты, мечты каждого подводника.

Вашими партнерами в высоклассном подводном отпуске являются:

На Филлипинах - Asia Divers with El Galleon Resort, Puerto Galera, Club Paradise & Dugong Diving Center, Palawan Pinjalo Diver Resort, Boracay

В Паллау, Микронезии - Sam’s Tours, Palau Truk Lagoon Dive Center, Chuuk

Received the info below from our good friend Tommy at Asia Divers and El Galleon Beach Resort in Puerto Galera, Philippines
Thanks Tommy. You can also click on the flags for the Alliance in German and French, plus there are six more languages to choose from.



In the last three weeks some Alliance members have been to France and then Germany for dive shows.
At the Dive show in Paris January 11-14, both Asia Divers/El Galleon Dive Resort and Calypso/Pinjalo Resort participated in DOT's very nice stand. The show had many visitors and with the Philippines being the featuring country all went very well with a lot of interest.



The following weekend the 9-day long BOOT show started in Düsseldorf, Germany and we were joined by Dugong Dive Center/Club Paradise so now we had 3 Alliance members at the show. Again the Philippine DOT had the most impressive destination stands of them all, with a lot of activities around the stand, the booth created a lot of interest for the Philippines and to all the other Alliance members including our partners from Micronesia, Sam’s Tours in Palau and Truk Stop Dive Center in Chuuk, or better know as Truk Lagoon.
Tommy

I have picked up this very interesting info from Concierge, Conde Nast Traveler about our friend and Marine Biologist Lee Goldman a strong supporter of the Philippine -Micronesia Alliance and hopefully a new member soon of the Alliance, we keep you posted.
Lee is conducting some very interesting adventure and Kayak Tours now in Palawan, Philippines, I guess he might even paddle past Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center.
His tour has just been in the top listing of the Concierge,
Best Adventure Trips 2008, read on below:
GD



http://www.concierge.com/ideas/

Best Adventure Trips 2008

A Masked Ball in the Philippines

This is the stuff of cubicle fantasies. Pristine coral reefs where parrot fish and angelfish swim. Tiffany blue snorkeling waters. Palm trees, brown-sugar beaches, and you, kicking back with a fruity cocktail to the ting of tropical music. Welcome to Palawan, a spray of 1,760 islands in the Pacific, most often overlooked by the Fiji- and Tahiti-bound. This April, you can spend 13 days snorkeling, paddling, and simply floating around Palawan's remote regions courtesy of Wilderness Travel. Mingle among the world's greatest concentration of whale sharks at the Bay of Donsol before kayaking into caves. Should a tiny bit of discomfort creep in, a masseuse will provide seaside therapy. Trip leader and marine biologist Lee Goldman sparks regular discussions on sea life and guides expeditions to the Apo Reef National Park, which brims with 500 types of coral and 500 marine-life species. You'll divide your time between camping at secret lagoons (with air mattresses, nightlights, fans, and screened ceilings for stargazing) and wallowing at beachfront resorts with four-poster beds in Fijian cottages. Your office mates really will hate you.

Departure: April 14–26

http://www.concierge.com/ideas/

_________________________________

I have just picked up this Blog post from our partner and friend Sam's Tours in Palau Micronesia, thanks for sharing this with us.
GD

Sam's Tours Blog now in German too!

Sam's Tours recently appointed TOURISM UNLIMITED as our official Media and PR Agency in Europe. I met Judith and Christoph Hoppe, two of the co-founders of Tourism Unlimited, during their first visit to Palau a few years ago. We have fostered a good friendship over the years and come to know one another better during their subsequent visits to Palau and or my visits the Germany. So it was with great pleasure that Sam's Tours appointed Tourism Unlimited to assist with our marketing efforts throughout Europe.
The Tourism Unlimited Team.

I will be working closely with Christoph and Judith in the months ahead and look forward to the many exciting plans we have to improve Sam's Tours support and services to our professional travel partners, diving customers and others in Europe interested in visiting us in Palau, Micronesia. For more information please visit:

http://www.tourism-unlimited.com/de

http://www.tourism-unlimited.com/de/pressebereich/SamsTours/

Für Fan's der Unterwasserfotografie und solche, die es noch werden wollen, gibt es grosse Neuigkeiten: Sam's Tours hat einen Photoshop auf der Tauchbasis eingerichtet, der vom allerfeinsten ausgestattet ist: 7 iMacs mit WLAN/Internetzugang stehen den Tauchern zur Verfügung. 3 der digitalen Arbeitsplätze sind mit Apple Aperture und Adobe Photoshop ausgestattet (Software für Bildbearbeitung), 1 Arbeitsplatz bietet zusätzlich noch Videoschnittsoftware.

Wer noch keine eigene Unterwasser-Fotoausrüstung besitzt, muss trotzdem nicht auf die Mitnahme der schönsten Unterwassererlebnisse verzichten: das Angebot wird ergänzt um verschiedene Kameras und Unterwassergehäuse, die gemietet werden können. Wer seine fotografischen Fähigkeiten unter Wasser wie am Bildschirm perfektionieren möchte, sollte sich schnell für den Fotoworkshop vom 22.-27. April 2008 in Palau bei Sam's Tours anmelden. Weitere Infos zum Workshop findet Ihr hier.
PermalinkPermalink
01/16/08
Permalink 06:15:55 am, by samstour Email , 593 words, 29 views English (US)
Categories: Announcements
Sam's Tours Bites the Apple!

For those of you who’ve been to Sam’s Tours Dive Center in Palau, Micronesia before or have been keeping up with our blogs you know that our facilities underwent a huge renovation and improvement ending in an October 2007 Grand Re-Opening. Included in those improvements were new Guest Lockers, expansion of Bottom Time Bar & Grill, paving our formerly muddy and messy Parking Lot, and lots of other odds and ends to better serve our Guests!

Like many projects, there were a few things that didn’t quite make the deadline and or still remain to be done. Today, I’m happy to report that one of those major “To Do Items” has finally come to fruition (no pun intended!) providing our guests with the very latest in digital photography and imaging services!

I’m pleased to announce the launch of SAM'S TOURS DIGITAL PHOTO CENTER!
Sam's Tours, Palau, Micronesia, Apple iMacs
Gunther and Sam celebrate the opening of Sam's new Digital Photo Center

And I don’t mean just any old workstation where you can download your images and burn a CD or DVD. I'm talking about six top of the line Apple iMac workstations loaded with RAM and optimized for digital imaging, complete with Apple Aperture image management software, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Bridge, DSL Wi-Fi internet access, terabytes and terabytes of storage, archiving and secure data back up, and a camera rental department stocked with the latest Canon Powershot SD850 digital cameras and Canon ZR830 mini digital video cameras complete with underwater housings, big storage media and plenty of additional batteries. And all the post-shooting support and services you need to go with it!
Sam Scott, Sam's Tours, Palau, Micronesia, Apple iMacs
Happy Sam with his new Apple iMacs.

Our good friend, professional photographer and Apple Certified Trainer, Mr. Gunther Deichmann who was instrumental in launching this project has been here all week with his team members Arnold and Hermes to set up and test everything and get us all up to speed on Apple OS, Aperture, Photoshop and of course the very important task of secure storage and back up of our guests digital images. You shoot. We save! Check out Gunther’s website at: http://www.deichmann-photo.com for more information on his amazing photography. Check out also his interesting blogs at:http://www.deichmann-photo.com/blog\

And even bigger still, Gunther will be back at Sam’s Tours from April 22 – 27, 2008 along with internationally acclaimed MARINE PHOTOGRAPHER and environmentalist TONY WU, conducting a week long DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP targeted at all advanced photographers whether shooting above and below the water. Check out www.gdphotoworkshop.com for more workshop information.

For more information on Tony Wu and to view his stunning underwater photography work check out his website at: www.tony-wu.com

Workshop space is very limited and the last three workshops were sell outs so book now if you want to join us in April. E-mail: reservations@samstours.com for more information and

No other dive center in Palau or Micronesia comes close to the top-of-the-line equipment, service and support that Sam’s Tours provides to digital photographers! If you’re a digital photographer in Palau Sam’s Tours has you covered!
Sam's Tours, Palau, Micronesia, Apple iMacs
New iMacs at Sam's Tours Digital Photo Center

Stay tuned for more exciting updates including the upcoming addition of our new underwater photographer and film-maker who joins us later this month.

Special thanks to Gunther and his team for all their hard work. Well done and many thanks yet again! (Gunther built our website at: www.samstours.com)
Sam's Tours, Palau, Micronesia, Apple iMacs
Gunther during an Apple Aperture course with Sam's Tours staff

Sam's Tours is a founding member of the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance: http://www.alliancediving.com/blog

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Everything is high-tech at some of our partners in the Philippines and Micronesia, at Sam's Tours Palau (check out the previous Blog) the state of the art Digital Photo Center incorporating a high speed wi-fi connection for the internet and at Truk Stop Hotel and Dive Center in Chuuk (Truk Lagoon) Wi-Fi connection is now available for all their guests free of charge. Diving with the Alliance has just gotten a lot better!


© Gunther Deichmann - View from your Balcony at the
Truk Stop Hotel and Dive Center, Chuuk Micronesia

A lot is happening at the Truk Stop Hotel and Dive Center, Chuuk Micronesia, Chuuk or also known as Truk Lagoon is about an hour and 45 min. flying time from Guam, via Continental Airlines. The world famous place for wreck diving. Our partner Truk Stop Dive Center can take care of all your diving requirements including your tech diving needs, yes they have helium and nitrox too. We have just came back from there and can proudly announce that Truk Stop Hotel and Dive Center is now connected free of charge for all their guests via Wi-Fi in the restaurant and on the Patio area, have a real divers breakfast or dinner and check your email.

© Gunther Deichmann - a great breakfast and
Wi-Fi connected at the Hotel

Very soon we announcing the long overdue new website, incorporating all the wreck dive sites with a full description of the wrecks plus a lot more.
But that is not all, if you getting tiered of all these great wrecks take a afternoon dive at Shark Island only a 15min boat-ride from the Dive Center, watch the reef-sharks at the cleaning station in their natural environment at about 18-meters with superb visibility.
Check out the Truk Stop Hotel and Dive Center section on the Philippine -Micronesia Alliance Website at: www.alliancediving.com
Your partner in island-hopping, tech diving, wrecks and shark-dives in the Philippines and Micronesia, you can also book direct via our exciting packages or with our expert travel agent Blue Horizons at: http://www.alliancediving.com/horizons.html
GD

Now I am waiting for some reports from our partners who visited the German boat Show in Duesseldorf, let's wait for their feedback when they all return.

Diving, Tauchen und inselhuepfen auf der Duesseldorf
Boot Messe Germany, mit der Allianz in 2008, 19.-27.1. 2008
Wir sprechen auch deutsch, click here

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We all know the slogan from Sam's Tours...
A reflection of Excellence... now it is...
a Reflection of Excellence continues. (Part 1)
15/01/2008 Sam’s Tours Palau, Micronesia



Photo: Hermes Singson -
Finally... it is done! Gunther Deichmann and Sam Scott,
we did have a few glasses of wine afterwards, celebrating another
mile stone at Sam's Tours.

I know I kept everybody in suspense for about a week, as of tonight it is no longer a secret. It is late, I am very tired but it is done and official, a first for Palau, Micronesia and probably in the Pacific and I guess in the diving industry. Sam’s Tours is open for business, a complete Photography-Internet-Digital workstation entirely run on the latest iMac’s loaded with RAM for our photographers and Aperture users.
It doesn't matter if you an amateur or professional Sam’s Tours is catering for all your needs, like to rent a camera for underwater or above, or a small video cam is not a problem.
Our trained staff can assist you after the ‘dive workflow’, show your images to your friends while still on location with a impressive slide show, burn you images on CD/DVD for you to take home. We offer you all the options, do it yourself or let our staff take care of all your images while you wait and enjoy a cold beer at our Bottom Time Bar.

Photo: Hermes Singson-
A very happy Sam Scott from Sam's Tours
with the newly arrived iMac's

All of this is now possible at Sam’s Tours Digital Photoshop, DSL wi-fi internet connection using Airport Extreme, but most impressive is the photo workstations, not only one but six high end iMac computers with all the software you ever going to need.

We have also installed high-end backups so we can always guarantee that your images will be safe and secure with us after each dive or adventure trip in Palau.
In case you loose your CD/DVD, we backup your images for up to 60 days just send us an email and we will burn another copy of your CD/DVD and post it to you.

Photo: Hermes Singson - Gunther Deichmann training Sam's Tours
staff on Aperture and the digital workflow after the shoot.

For our professional photographers Aperture is installed and if you not familiar with Aperture, you can always use Bridge or Photoshop Elements.

That’s about it for now, I am very tired and need to get some rest, we follow up with part two in a couple of days, and explain in more details of this unique setup in Palau.
Congratulation to Sam’s Tours!
Please stay tuned for more in depths details in my next blog, by the way our commercial shoot at the Palau Pacific Resort is also completed, some more training in the next few days for the staff at Sam’s Tours on the Leopard operating system and of course Aperture, we should be all sweet by the weekend before we proceed to Chuuk (Truk Lagoon)

Photo: Hermes Singson
Five of the six workstations at Sam's Tours Palau

Special thanks to Apple Singapore and the Power Mac Center Manila, for the support in this project, thanks to my staff Hermes and Arnold for the very long working hours in completing this job. Thanks to Dermot Keane the GM from Sam's Tours for all his help and assistance.
Gunther Deichmann is an Apple Certified Pro Trainer and has been on site with his Manila staff in Palau as a consultant, training the staff on the operating system including Aperture, Dermot Keane the GM of Sam's Tours and Gunther have been responsible for the concept and initial set up of the Digital Photoshop Center a first in Micronesia, even Photographers have a better survival rate in Micronesia now, thanks to Sam's Tours.
GD

Stay tuned for part two. (2) or subscribe to our Blog at: http://www.alliancediving.com/blog/
Sam's Tours is a founding member of the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance: http://www.alliancediving.com/

For Photography and Photo Worshop related matters please visit Gunther's website at: www.deichmann-photo.com
The very first Photo Workshop utilizing Sam's Tours new facilities will be held together with Tony Wu and Gunther Deichmann in April 2008, for inquiries please contact Sam's Tours
at: info@samstours.com

Photo: Hermes Singson - From left:
Dermot Keane, Gunther Deichmann,
Rhea Richardson and Sam Scott in the new
total Mac/Aperture Photography-Digital- Internet Center

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Direct from Palau Micronesia… more great News!
No it is not the Survivor show, but never less very cool news from Sam's Tours.
A major event is just about to go down at Sam's Tours Palau... great News for... find out on the 15th of January.

If you can guess what is going to happen on the 15th of January at Sam's Tours... the first email with the right answer can win...
...3 days of free diving at Sam’s Tours, Palau.

© Gunther Deichmann - for more images from the
Philippine-Micronesia Alliance destinations please
click the image above.

Clue: It's Simply Digital!

You have 3 days to figure this one out, please send your email to: info@samstours.com

Note:
Sam’s Tours staff, Gunther Deichmann and Team, family members and close associates are not allowed to participate. Sorry guys.

Next week starting on the 13th I be reporting direct from Sam’s Tours from where we will fire up our big surprise. At the moment we are still tied up at the Palau Pacific Resort. After the 15th things will be very different at Sam’s concerning … opps… I almost slipped and let the cat out of the bag, and after Palau around the 18th of this month I am leaving with my web master for Truk Lagoon to prepare for some major work for our Alliance Partner Truk Stop Hotel and Dive Center. January 2008 is a real Micronesia month for us.

Our next blog with the announcement re. Palau will be in the evening on the 15th. 01. 2008
GD

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Diving, Tauchen und inselhuepfen auf der Duesseldorf
Boot Messe Germany, mit der Allianz in 2008, 19.-27.1. 2008
Wir sprechen auch deutsch, click here

I am leaving for Palau Micronesia and Chuuk tomorrow until the 24th of January, my blogs going to be a bit light during this time.
However a major announcement will be made direct from Palau from our Alliance partner Sam's Tours, a very first in Palau and Micronesia.
Announcement date is around the 14/15th of Jan. direct from Palau.
Surviving in Palau Micronesia is going to be easy, with good friends, like Sam Scott, Dermot Keane and many others.

Stay tuned and Subscribe to our blog and be one of the first to know.

Please see below in German excerpts from a new PADI magazine in German language soon available...

A new PADI magazine is soon available in German, please see below some excepts from the very first edition, reproduced with permission from Dirk Fahrenbach from Dugong Dive Center and Club Paradise in Palawan, Philippines.

Dirk Fahrenbach fand auf der philippinischen Insel Dimakya eine neue Heimat. Der Tauch- lehrer und Dokumentarfilmer führt Urlauber durch eine Unterwasserlandschaft, die alseine der artenreichsten welt-weit beschrieben wird. Die Riffregionen sind gefährdet. Jahrzehnte sprengten die Fischer ihre Lebensgrundlage mit Dynamit kaputt. Die Seekühe, die Dugongs, wurden Fast ausgerottet.

Von Lutz Peter Kaubisch

Die Rückkehr der Dugongs

Jahrmillionen zerrten tektonische Kräfte an den Kontinenten. Geologische Gewalt formte sie mit baumeisterlicher Beharrlichkeit. Vulkane, Meeresströme und atmosphärische Umwälzungen schufen das Klima und änderten es - immer wieder. Im mittleren Pleistozän, vor 175000 Jahren, fiel der Meeresspiegel. Es dauerte eine Weile; dann ragte dort, wo die eurasische Kontinentalplatte Asien trägt, eine Landbrücke aus dem Wasser. Sie führte im Bogen nach Südosten, zu einer Inselgruppe aus Magmagestein. Die Öfen unter der Erdkruste hatten sie nach oben gefeuert und Sonne und Ozean überlassen.
Die Naturkräfte inszenierten ein mächtiges Schauspiel. Die Erdzeitalter hatten die Kulisse geschaffen: einen der größten Archipele auf dem Planeten, die Philippinen. Reiseveranstalter schwärmen heute von „smaragdgrünen bis türkisfarbenen Lagunen“, in denen „eine faszinierende Welt exotischer Fische und Korallen“ ihre „unerschöpfliche Farbenpracht“ entfaltet. Werbetexte, die die exotischen Refugien auf der Erde beschreiben, sind oft beliebig und austauschbar. Sie versprechen den „einzigartigen Urlaub“ an „feinsandigen Palmenstränden“. Sie bieten touristische Schnellkost.
Wenn Dirk Fahrenbach den Außenborder aufdreht, schafft das kleine Boot die Strecke zwischen Busuanga- und Dimakya-Island vielleicht rechtzeitig. Der Mann ist ein Hüne:.........

...viel mehr in der neuen PADI Zeitschrift in Deutschland fragen Sie auf der Messe Boot 2008 in Duesseldorf nach Dirk Fahrenbach.
Sie finden Ihn beim DOT WOW Philippines stand...

Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center are member of the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance.
The Divers Choice.

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Did You Know?
It is 2008 and our very first Blog for the New Year, it is now 3:32 Am Manila time. Do I ever sleep? Well sometimes.
A very Happy New Year to all! Cheers...

Diving with Philippine-Micronesia Alliance in 2008!

Our good old friend behind the scene Walter Ty pointed this out to me a few days ago, thanks Walter. Surviving Malaria…well soon… hopefully. If you read this article then you might understand why we DO have to take care of our ocean and environment, which we know so little about it.
OK now read on…real cool.
GD

Sea cucumber 'new malaria weapon'

Sea cucumbers live on the ocean floor, Sea cucumbers could provide a potential new weapon to block transmission of the malaria parasite, a study suggests.

The slug-like creature produces a protein, lectin, which impairs development of the parasites. An international team genetically engineered mosquitoes - which carry the malaria parasite - to produce the same protein in their gut when feeding.

The PLoS Pathogens study found the protein disrupted development of the parasites inside the insects' stomach.
Ultimately, one aim of our field is to find a way of genetically engineering mosquitoes so that the malaria parasite cannot develop inside them Professor Bob Sinden Imperial College London
Malaria causes severe illness in 500 million people worldwide each year, and kills more than one million. It is estimated that 40% of the world's population are at risk of the disease.
To stimulate the mosquitoes to produce lectin, the researchers fused part of the gene from the sea cucumber which produces the protein with a gene from the insect.

The results showed that the technique was effective against several of the parasites which cause malaria. Lectin is poisonous to the parasites when they are still in an early stage of development called an ookinete.
Usually, the ookinetes migrate through the mosquito's stomach wall, and produce thousands of daughter cells which invade the salivary glands, and infect a human when the mosquito takes a blood meal.

But when exposed to lectin the ookinetes are killed before they can start their deadly journey. Researcher Professor Bob Sinden, from Imperial College London, said: "These results are very promising and show that genetically engineering mosquitoes in this way has a clear impact on the parasites' ability to multiply inside the mosquito host."
You would have to get the modified version to become the predominant species, and that has never been done in any setting before
Dr Ron Behren London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
However, he said much more work still had to be done before the technique could be used to curb the spread of malaria. "Although the sea cucumber protein significantly reduced the number of parasites in mosquitoes, it did not totally remove them from all insects.
"At the current stage of development, the genetically modified mosquitoes would remain dangerous to humans. "Ultimately, one aim of our field is to find a way of genetically engineering mosquitoes so that the malaria parasite cannot develop inside them."

Professor Sanjeev Krishna, an expert in malaria at St George's Hospital Medical School, London, said new treatments for malaria were vital, as there was some sign that the parasites which cause the disease were developing resistance to the current artemisinin drugs.

He said: "This is a very important first step in developing a potential new way to control this infection." Dr Ron Behrens, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the technique showed promise in theory - but he warned that introducing genetically modified mosquitoes could be fraught with practical difficulties.

"You would have to get the modified version to become the predominant species, and that has never been done in any setting before," he said.
Images and more info at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7155398.stm

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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

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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).

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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

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© 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

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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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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.

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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© 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
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