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

What has a Whale in common with India & Boracay..?
Well,,I have been to both places recently!

As you know I have just returned from Mumbai in India & Boracay
in the Philippines... and today I came across this very interesting article.

If you book a Safari trip with Calypso Diving in Boracay then you have a good chance to see them in Panagatan and if you go to Kashmir in India you might find some of their relative in sedimentary rocks as fossils.

Strange… I only returned from India and Boracay, and now this article rolled over my table… Coincident? Who knows…?
But did you know that Whales “lived on land” according to some new discoveries... check out this amazing article below...
GD

Photo Courtesy by © Rene Buob - a Whale shark near the surface
on a perfect day in Panagatan.

Whale 'missing link' discovered
Courtesy of:
By Helen Briggs
Science reporter, BBC News

Indohyus. The animal was small, stocky and about the size of a raccoon
The whale is descended from a deer-like animal that lived 48 million years ago, according to fossil evidence.

Remains found in the Kashmir region of India suggest the fox-sized mammal is the long-sought land-based ancestor of whales, dolphins and porpoises.

Research in Nature indicates the animal lived mainly on land but dived into water to escape predators.
Whales are known to be descended from land-dwellers but the "missing link" has been a mystery until now…for more interesting reading and photos click the link below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7150627.stm

DID YOU KNOW?

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

______________________________________

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

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

© Gunther Deichmann - the famous White Beach

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

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

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

------------------

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

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

All Photos © Gunther Deichmann

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

__________________________________________________________

© Gunther Deichmann

I have just received this information from our Alliance Partner
in Boracay, Philippines
PADI e-learners at Calypso Diving on Boracay, Philippines

Calypso Divers Boracay would like to congratulate Joseph and his daughter Megan Amidei on their recent certification as Calypso Diving’s very first PADI Open Water e-learning students with their Instructor Rainier Aniscal. PADI recently launched their e-learning programme where the student completes all of the theory on line at their convenience and pace with access to the all of the usuall PADI learning resources.The students then comes to their chosen location to complete their pool and Open Water dives such as Joseph and Megan recently did.
Lee Blundell, PADI Master Instructor
and Manager at Calypso/Pinjalo Dive Resort

SEPTEMBER PROMOTION AT BORACAY

The stunning island of Boracay continues to be a magnet for International and domestic toursists and the arrival of new hotels and resorts shows that it’s popularity is increasing.

The beautiful beaches, blue seas, clean air and of course vibrant nightlife all combine to provide a great holiday experience. On Boracay you can do as much or as little as you please each day. For sun worshippers the soft sands of White Beach, and the near deserted coves around the rest of the island are the principle destination. There are also a number of Spas on the island, where you can revive your mind and body after long weeks at work.

For the more active you can play golf at the 18 hole Championship Course set in the middle of the island with stunning views across to Panay, Carabao and other Visayan Islands. Windsurfers and Kite-boarders take advantage of the winds to fly over the blue seas at Bulabog beach on the East side of the island and you can also take in horse-riding, snorkelling, and jet-skiing during the daytime.

At night the island switches to party mode and the dozens of restaurants and bars open their doors until late for eating, drinking and dancing under the stars.

Photo: © Gunther Deichmann, www.deichmann-photo.com

It’s sometimes easy to forget as you watch the parade of beautiful fun loving people that one of the original attractions of Boracay just a few years ago was the quality of the scuba diving. Regular visitors to the island will know that all along the White Beach path are dotted a number of dive shops and centres offering a huge range of diving opportunities. Our partner’s, Calypso Diving, are one of the most established Dive Centre’s on the island and their PADI 5 Star IDC facility is recognised as one of the best in the Philippines

In fact the diving around Boracay is very under-rated and there is some superb diving just a few minutes away by boat. In front of the beach there are several dive sites which are perfect for novice divers here the chance to see perfect corals and amazingly coloured reef fish is a wonderful experience. Crocodile Island (there are no crocodiles – it’s named after the shape of the rock) at the south end of the island is popular with snorkelers but deeper down the divers have some of the best corals in the Visayas to themselves. The corals around Laurel are just as impressive.

At Fridays Rock you watch huge amounts of reef life move around you in the gentle currents and at Balinghai look for rays and frog fish.

Boracay has two world class dive sites for experienced divers called Yapak 1 and Yapak 2. Actually these are two deep walls on the north side of the island facing Yapak beach. Here the deep waters and sometimes strong currents bring in the bigger fish and sightings of sharks, rays and tuna are common.

Slightly further afield there are a great dives along the walls on the coast of Panay just 30 minutes to 1 hour from White Beach and the waters of adjacent Carabao have some spectacular underwater caves and coral gardens. Calypso Diving also organise overnight trips to Panagatan and Maniguin where the reefs are in pristine condition.

If you or members of your family have not dived before then consider taking a Discover Scuba Diving course with Calypso Diving. This is an introduction to the undersea world, usually takes about half a day and gives you a taste of how easy and enjoyable diving really is. The first thing you will do during the course is to spend time watching a video which gives an overview of what you will be doing in the water. Aferwards you change into a wetsuit and make your way to the swimming pool . Here a trained Instructor will help you on with your equipment and explain how everything works. You will also practise breathing underwater and a few basic skills to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable time. Once both you and the Instructor are happy and confident that you are comfortable you will take the next step in the course – a real dive in the open water!

You will jump on to a dive boat at White Beach and under the close supervision and support of your Instructor prepare for the dive. The Instructor, with the help of support staff, will assist you into the water and then accompany you on the experience of a lifetime. The course is not a training and certification course so that means you will not have to perform any exercises under the water – simply stay with your Instructor, they will look after you all the time, and watch the exotic underwater life. At first it seems very strange to actually breathe underwater and it takes a few minutes to get used to it. Within a short time though it will seem like the most natural thing and you will want to go diving again and again.

For many people the Discover Scuba Diving course leads straight on to the Open Water Course and here you really begin to understand diving and develop your skills. The blue waters and sandy beaches of Boracay are the perfect place to learn to dive.

Next time you go to Boracay don’t miss the opportunity to appreciate some of the natural beauty of the underwater world – in it’s own natural way it easily matches that above the surface.

Calypso Diving, situated in the heart of White Beach provide the full range of courses is available and teaching is in 0over 10 languages including Filipino, English, German, French and Japanese.

Calypso Diving and their resort, Pinjalo Villas Resort has a special September promotion: Stay for a minimum of 5 nights and receive one free Discover Scuba Diving course or two free fun dives. Full details are available from our travel partners www.bluehorizons.com.ph

Just received this story from Lee Blundell GM at Calypso Dive Resort, member of the
Philippine - Micronesia Alliance, please read the whole story below,
a happy ending thanks to a quick response.

Emergency Responders spring into action when a typhoon hits Boracay Island in the Philippines On the 9th of December 2006, Boracay Island was affected badly by a typhoon – it swept through the island causing a great deal of damage. The morning after, we - Rae Collins, Jade Dalis, Christian Iseli and Richard Lane - all found ourselves at the dive centre busy clearing up – the sea was still rough from the high winds of the previous night and we all commented on the fact that people should not be in the water swimming. 
Soon after we heard screaming from the beach, catching a glimpse of a body laying face down in the water, two of us ran down to the beach whilst one my colleagues went to get a floatation device and some fins and a mask. We passed through the surf where we shouted to people to clear the area, we turned the patient over. I checked for breathing, she had circulation but breathing was weak and strained. I provided her with some rescue breaths and we began the exhausting tow to shore. The waves were high and the current strong – the guys managed to egress with the victim where we then tended to her needs on the beach. She was foaming at the mouth and nose and turning a shade of blue. Oxygen was collected and I continued to provide periodic rescue breaths until the coast guards arrived and we transferred her to the ambulance. I traveled with them to the hospital and monitored her condition. Thankfully when she was admitted to hospital and the doctors took over she made a steady recovery. 
I am pleased to say that because of the quick action of my friends and me the woman survived. Upon complete recovery she came to the dive centre to thank us, a very emotional time. Recently we also received a letter of thanks and now I am sharing our story with you. 
You can never anticipate on what it will be like to perform a rescue – the conditions will always be far from perfect, your fitness and skills challenged. Even though all of us are dive instructors and I am an EFR Instructor Trainer, we all realized just how difficult it was. Thankfully this story had a happy ending.

Wow!
Conservation and some simple rules seem to work now wonders in Boracay,
I am refering to my last article from Boracay, no more boats allowed at
the white beach and since then the critters have returned.
I have just received these images from Rene Buob from Calypso/Pinjalo Dive Resort,
the boats are gone and the critters are back in full force. Great shot Rene,
The Marine life has returned, fantastic.

According to Yahoo! Travel

BORACAY makes it again to the TOP 10 World's Best Beaches
dated June 5,2007 ( source: http://travel.yahoo.com/beaches )

YAHOO! Travel's 2007 World's Best Beaches


One more reason to book your next vacation with our Alliance Partner
Calypso and Pinjalo Dive Resort in Boracay.
Check out our latest blog on the fantastic diving right in front of Calypso Dive resort, dont feel like diving, that's OK too, have a cool drink at the Sports bar instead and watch the great sunsets. You are diving in paradise........
Philippine-Micronesia Alliance. The Divers choice.

All Photos by © Gunther Deichmann
Island hopping and inselhuepfen with Calypso Diving or just relax at the Pinjalo Resort.
Calypso Diving has a state of the art Nitrox facility and they are the experts on all your Re-breather requirements.

Good News for our Divers who like to spend their dive vacation at our Alliance partner Calypso and Pinjalo Dive resort in Boracay.
When you dive with Calypso YOU dive at the best equipped Dive Center on the island, specializing in Re-breathers and with a state of the art Nitrox facility.
If you like a relaxing dive at sunset, then check out the Beach front,
please read below the information I have just received:

Received this message two hours ago from Lee Blundell at Calypso Diving, Boarcay, Philippines.

The beach night dives on Boracey’s famous White Beach have always been a fantastic dive for macro photographers
but now it is even more so.
 After a Government Ordinance that was started at the end of 2006 all motorized sea craft have been diverted away from the beach into allotted zones for water sports users and another separate zone for passenger craft.
This has resulted in the white beach night dive blooming to the tune of no less than five Seahorses Ghost pipefish Octopus Squid Cuttlefish Spanish Dancers Stingrays and Lion fish all on one dive in water no deeper than five meters.
The pictures that are shown here are all taken recently using Calypso Diving rental cameras.

Still not satisfied after your night dive? Then make some new friends with some cool drinks at Calypso’s Sports Bar, right at the beach and talk about your dive at the Beach front and I am sure they will join you the next day.

G.D.




The critters are back!
Conservation/preservation does work.

Just received the good News about a proposal in Paradise, Boracay Philippines, please read on, and good luck to you both from all of us at the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance. The Divers Choice.
At Calypso on Boracay we witnessed the happy event of an underwater marriage proposal of Linus to Tammy both from Singapore.
Unbeknown to Tammy, Linus her husband to be carried the enagement ring in his bcd pocket for the entire dive much to the nervous concern of their dive guide Hitomi.
Nearing the end of the dive at Crocodile Island Linus presented Tammy with an underwater slate that stated his intentions to which Tammy responded(thankfully)”yes”. The ring was then presented with much "applause" from those in attendance.
All at Calypso Diving wish Linus and Tammy a happy and prosperous future in their diving and non-diving lives.
By the way our partner Calypso Diving is one of the most modern and best equipped Dive Centers in Asia, with a state of the art Nitrox membrane system and experts on Re-breather diving, located right on the beach.


Photos: © Gunther Deichmann

Article in Sea-Star magazine Germany, a nice write up on
Calypso and Pinjalo Dive Resort, one of the Philippine-Micronesia
Alliance partners, Calypso Diving on Boracay is the best equipped
and largest Nitrox facility in Asia.
Specializing in Dive education and Re-breather training, check also
with Calypso for some great island hopping dive adventure.
Pinjalo is the perfect Resort for your next dive vacation on Boracay,
Philippines, for the whole family. Your Dive Center in Boracay,
and Boracay has one of the best beaches in the world; just sun and fun.

Open Now!
Spectacular and unique the only words to describe the newly open Sports Bar
at Calypso Dive Resort.
Check it out if you in Boracay for a fun filled evening,
cool music and great food.

Photo by Rene Buob


Pelagics are plenty at Panagatan.
 
Located 70 kms North West of beautiful Boracay is Panagatan that can be reached on our Live A Board The Isla.
Throughout the months of March April and May you can see Whale Sharks Manta’s Whitetip’s and Hammerheads.
The trips to Panagatan can be arranged as long as we can get at least four people together.
The Isla is equipped with Bunks although many prefer to sleep on the deck and roof deck flushing toilet kitchen(food prepared by the dive staff)plenty of cool boxes and on board compressor to ensure a plentiful supply of Enriched Air. THE DIVERS CHOICE
 Calypso/Pinjalo Dive Resort
This can be one o fthe most rewarding dive experiences in the Philipines, and we usually do it as an overnight trip although we can also combine it with other longer trips by request.
The Philippines - Micronesia Alliance

 

Calypso-Pinjalo Dive Resort Boracay Philippines


Have a look at the latest story on Calypso-Pinjalo Dive Resort
in Fins Magazine, the pdf file can be found under the
Philippine- Micronesia Alliance Website, Media section.
The Colours of Boracay and Island hopping at its best.

Calypso is also proud to announce a new addition to their already
very impressive facilities a new Bar right at the Beach.
Calypso Diving the ultimate in re-breathers with state of the art
Nitrox facility.

Still under construction but soon open for you to enjoy some real
cool-sports events and drinks at sunset
More information with Photos soon!
We keep you a bit in suspense.

Photo Copyright 2006 Gunther Deichmann


The virtual office of The Philippine-Micronesia Alliance
is proud to announce that the next issue of Fins Magazine,
Singapore will feature a great article on Boracay and of-course
including one of our Partners, Calypso/Pinjalo Dive Resort.

Enjoy: Island hopping, dive Yapak, relax on one of the worlds
greatest beaches, Calypso Dive Center has the most modern
state of the art Re-breather and Nitrox facilities in Asia.
Dive Safaris to Maniguin Island, Carabao Island and many
others, you'll be diving and real Island hopping with the experts.

Boracay is one of the top destination for you family dive vacation.

Check out the links below:

http://www.divingresorts.net
http://www.dive-adventure.net
http://www.inselhuepfen-philippinen.com