Please sign the Thank You Palau in appriciation for the Worlds first Shark Sanctuary, just click on the LINK below or the image.

THANK YOU from around the World!

Go raibh maith agat - Gracias - 谢谢您 - Bedankt - Salamat - merci - Σε ευχαριστώ - terima kasih - Danke -Cảm ơn bạn - ขอบคุณ - ありがとうございました - 謝謝您 - Dankie - شكرا لك - tänan teid - Благодаря - धन्यवाद - grazie - dziękuję - TACK SJÄLV - благодарю - tänan teid - 감사합니다 - obrigado - تشکر از شم - Teşekkürler - א דאנק - Дзякуй - Kiitos - תוֹדָה - köszönöm!


http://www.sharksavers.org/get-involved/sign-these-petitions/608-thank-you-palau.html

For more information visit: www.sharksanctuary.com   or  www.sharksanctuary.blogspot.com

For Immediate Release:
 
KOROR, PALAU, 9/28/2009, 7:45 p.m.
 

A Hero’s Welcome for Palau President Johnson Toribiong who
has just arrived back from the United Nations in New York where
he declared the Worlds fist Shark Sanctuary in Palau.

 
Welcome Home and thank you Mr. President!

Palau President H.E. Johnson Toribiong arrived home moments ago to a hero’s welcome at Koror International Airport, Palau. The founder of Palau Shark Sanctuary, Dermot Keane, Managing Director of Palau dive shop Sam’s Tours, was on hand to greet the President and thanked him for declaring Palau a Shark Sanctuary.
 
The large welcome committee included grateful members of the Palauan community who greeted President Toribiong with flower leis and loud applause upon his arrival. Palauans are understandably proud of their President who declared Palau as a Shark Sanctuary during his recent address to the United Nations, General Assembly, on Friday, September 25, 2009.
 

A warm welcome from Dermot Keane from the Palau Shark Sanctuary to President
Toribiong upon his arrival only a few hours ago at the Palau international Airport.

Despite his long journey from Washington D.C. to Palau, the President was clearly moved by the warm reception and graciously thanked everyone for showing up to welcome him. Palau Shark Sanctuary once again thanks and admires President Toribiong for his landmark declaration of Palau as a Shark Sanctuary.
 
Palau Shark Sanctuary was founded in 2001 with a goal of securing a declaration by Palau that the waters of their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are a Shark Sanctuary.
For more information visit: www.sharksanctuary.com   or  www.sharksanctuary.blogspot.com

http://www.sharksanctuary.com/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 25, 2009 
LATE BREAKING NEWS!

PALAU DECLARES EEZ A SHARK SANCTUARY! 

On Friday, September 25, 2009, H.E. Johnson Toribiong, President of the Republic of Palau, a tiny Pacific Island nation, declared the waters of Palau's Exclusive Economic Zone (230, 000 Sq. Miles / 620,000 Sq. Kms.), as the worlds first officially recognized SHARK SANCTUARY, during a meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations, in New York.
President Toribiong also called for a global ban on shark-finning and for other nations to follow suit. Through his actions, President Toribiong has placed Palau at the very forefront of worldwide efforts to protect sharks.  
This is a tremendous day for Palau and for worldwide efforts to protect sharks from absolute and unsustainable destruction!
 
Palau Shark Sanctuary deeply commends President Toribiong for his international leadership in world efforts to protect sharks.
 
We are very proud of President Toribiong and of Palau on this momentous occasion.
 
Well done Mr. President!
 
Thank You!
 
Dermot Keane
Palau Shark Sanctuary

We have picked up this story from the Palautours.com Blog post and since our Partner Sam’s Tours is located in Palau we thought we share this with you.

Exclusive Travel Report: Palau or better known as the Pearls of the Pacific. Natures Kaleidoscope below and above the waves.

01/09/09 18:15 Filed in: Palau Articles | International Articles | Environment
Natures Kaleidoscope below and above the waves. Photographs... The Pearls of the Pacific...

Read the complete story and check out the Photos from Palau in Micronesia...the place is awesome. CLICK THIS LINK


© Gunther Deichmann - the Magic of Palau

Finally...

Shark Weeks 2009 is a year long shark education and awareness program offered by Sam's Tours Palau, a PADI 5-Star National Geographic Dive Center and eco-tour operator, in conjunction with Palau Shark Sanctuary a shark conservation organization, in support of the International Year of the Shark 2009.
The Philippine-Micronesia Alliance is proud to have Sam’s Tours as their partner in Micronesia.

Shark Weeks is a One Year Programme initiated by Sam's Tours – where every week is a shark week.

© Gunther Deichmann - Dive with Sharks... NOT Kill the sharks!

Quote : “In the 21st century, shark-finning* is barbaric”
Dr. Sylvia Earle, Oceanographer
Explorer-in-Residence
National Geographic

More on Dr Sylvia Earle, Oceanographer who has just recently visited Sam’s Tours in Palau with Actress Daryl Hannah.

Photo © Dermot Keane - from left: Dr Sylvia Earle, Dermot Keane GM
of Sam’s Tours and Actress Daryl Hannah

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

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

In support of the Sharks, please take a few moments and THINK! I have been in touch with “The Sharkman” and like to introduce you today to The Year Of The Shark - 2009 which need help and all our support for 2009.
“Let Sharks Live”
The Philippine - Micronesia Alliance. The Divers Choice...because we care!
GD

THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE SHARK in 2009

… was inspired by the finding that at the current rate, common 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:
SAVE SHARKS FROM EXTINCTION
The LET SHARKS LIVE shark protection network & think tank:
http://groups.google.com.mt/group/let-sharks-live?hl=en

Sharkman's World Organization
(to save & protect sharks)
www.sharkmans-world.org
------------------------------------------
Sharkman's Blog
http://sharkmans-world.blogspot.com/
------------------------------------------
The Shark Group On line List Forum
http://groups.google.com/group/The_Shark_Group?hl=en
------------------------------------------
Let Sharks Live Network
http://groups.google.com.mt/group/let-sharks-live?hl=en
------------------------------------------
Year Of The Shark - 2009
http://www.year-of-the-shark-2009.org

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

BREAKING NEWS...

I am very proud to announce that the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance is NOW affiliated and in support of the Reef Check-Philippines the local chapter of Reef Check International, a non-profit organization. please read below our very first article from Lee Goldman, Marine Biologist and a member of the Alliance with S.E. Asia Kayak Tours. Very soon we fire up our complete and restructured Alliancediving.com website...amazing what is in store...you just have to stay tuned with The Divers Choice or subscribe to our Blog.
See below the screenshots of the Reef Check brochure soon available as a download on our updated site.
GD

Hi Gunther,
A while back I wrote about an upcoming project concerning the Philippines, the Philippine chapter of an international conservation NGO (Non-Government Organization), and two members of the Alliance.
Well, we’ve finished the details and are ready to announce our project. Reef Check-Philippines is the local chapter of Reef Check International, a non-profit organization that designs coral reef monitoring protocols and conservation action plans. Monitoring our reefs is essential to caring for them, and helps to make assessments on reef health and diversity. Ideally, the best people to monitor the reefs are the people in the community and active divers who not only have a vested interest in the health of world-wide reefs, but interact with them on a regular basis. Reef Check developed their monitoring protocols based on accepted scientific methods, yet made it easily understood by and effective for non-scientific based participants.
Our 10-day expedition will survey the reefs around Puerto Galera and the Verde Islands group. Puerto Galera is known the world over for its amazing diversity and the nearby Verde Islands group continually makes the biodiversity spotlight for its potential to be the center of the center of fish biodiversity within the famed ‘Coral Triangle’. For our base of operations, we chose Alliance partner, Asia Divers and El Galleon Resort in Puerto Galera. Of course, Asia Divers and El Galleon Resort are world class operations themselves offering top quality service, expertise, and professionalism as a PADI 5-star Resort. Pairing the location with an exceptional resort and diving service made for the perfect place to conduct our surveys to gather baseline data for continual monitoring.
This won’t be the first time I thank Allan Nash, Asia Divers, and El Galleon Resort for their interest and help in bringing this expedition together. We hope it is a huge success, as not only will the participants gain valuable skills, have fun, and dive in world-class sites, but the people of Puerto Galera and the Philippines will benefit from this on an exponential level.
The other member of the Alliance? Me, S.E.Asia Kayak Tours. My experience as a marine biologist and expedition leader was the perfect skill-set for the development of this expedition and I will continue to work with Reef Check Philippines on future expeditions around the islands of the Philippines.
For more information, please contact Lee Goldman at lee@asiakayaktours.com
Reef Check Philippines: http://www.reefcheckphilippines.org/

Tags: REEF CHECK INTERNATIONAL, MARINE RESEARCH, CORAL REEFS, Puerto Galera, REEF CHECK PHILIPPINES, WORLD WIDE REEFS

S.E.Asia Kayak Tours presents a unique view into the Philippines Nature and Biodiversity for more details go to the new website @

http://www.asiakayaktours.com/

Very soon we be featuring S.E.Asia Kayak Tours on the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance web site including our NEW Dive and Travel Packages... we are working very hard to get this completed. We have also updated our Photo Gallery on this blog, check out the destinations from all our Alliance Partners.

Plus another major announcement shortly... an Environmental Organisation is joining us ...stay tuned or subscribe for the latest NEWS
from the PMA.
GD

It is a great honor to be associated with the Philippine-Micronesian Alliance. We are a new business that offers Divers, Snorkelers, and Outdoor enthusiasts a unique opportunity to enjoy the majestic wonders of El Nido and the amazing reefs in the surrounding waters. The unbelievably bio-diverse region of northern Palawan is home to one of the most magnificent places on earth; El Nido. The scenery in El Nido and the surrounding waters of Bacuit Bay is among the most beautiful in the world. Towering limestone cliffs footed by white sand beaches that slip into turquoise waters abundant with colorful and diverse marine life. With over 800 species of fish and 400 species of coral, the shallow reefs are truly a snorkelers’ and divers’ paradise.

Our goal was to develop an expedition that integrates kayaking, snorkeling, beach-combing, hiking, and sight-seeing into an interpretive, interactive, exciting and comfortable tour that exposes guests to the best of the marine and terrestrial life in Bacuit Bay, El Nido. Our tours revolve around the kayaking experience, often paddling for 3 – 5 hours per day and make many stops to snorkel among colorful coral gardens, explore tropical jungles, and relax on un-inhabited white-sand beaches where you can enjoy a freshly prepared lunch.

© Photo Lee Goldman - exploring Palawan’s Eco system by Kayak

Further, we tie together our daily activities with luxury campsites on beautiful white-sand beaches. Imagine a picture-perfect sunset on a secluded, private beach where you can enjoy sit-down, full service meals prepared by an internationally trained chef, have a massage after a day of fun and exploration and sleep peacefully under a sky full of stars with the sounds of water gently lapping at the shore. Awaken to a tranquil morning with a pastel-colored sky and watch dozens of species of birds begin their day.

© Photo Lee Goldman - Palawan’s spectacular scenery

Well, not only have we succeeded in developing this type of tour, we can deliver it with the top quality service clients of PMA have come to expect! We look forward to our time with the Alliance and further look forward to guiding clients around the remarkable area of El Nido.

Tags: Eco Tourism, Paddle

S.E.Asia Kayak Tours our NEW partner in the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance has just announced their new website, soon also on the Philippine-Micronesia website stay tuned for all of this plus our exciting New Packages next week.

For all the details and some great photos go to:
http://www.asiakayaktours.com/

WELCOME to S.E.ASIA KAYAK TOURS

Kayaking, snorkeling and luxury-camping expeditions in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines lead by marine biologist and naturalist Lee Goldman.

The unbelievably bio-diverse region of northern Palawan is home to one of the most magnificent places on earth; El Nido. The scenery in El Nido and the surrounding waters of Bacuit Bay is among the most beautiful in the world. Towering limestone cliffs footed by white sand beaches that slip into turquoise waters abundant with colorful and diverse marine life. With over 800 species of fish and 400 species of coral, the shallow reefs are truly a snorkelers’ paradise.

Click on the Screenshot above and go direct to the new site.

What better way to become more intimately familiar with the majestic karst limestone islands, fantastic reefs, amazing biodiversity, and stunning beaches than to kayak , snorkel and camp amongst them?

Our world-class campsites are located on some of the most breath-taking beaches, where incredible sunsets, sunrises, wildlife, warm showers, large walk-in tents, private comfort rooms and 5-star, professionally-prepared meals await you. Luxury camping at it’s finest!

Tags: Kayaking, Adventure Travel