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

More late breaking NEWS from the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance…election time above and below the waves…

I guess it is election time all over the world, Hillary-Obama-plus all the others in the US, Aperture software vs. Lightroom some voting going on in the Photography world and in Russia we have the Putin era at the poll. "Polling stations are open at Blue corner, just check with Sam's Tours in Palau."
…from politics to photograpy and now to marine life…such a democratic world these days...
Check out the link below…no it is not Hillary vs Obama it is a polling station for our declining shark population.
Come on and cast your Vote at:
http://www.livescience.com/bestimg/?cat=sharkweek
Vote for your favorite Shark
Rate them: Cast your vote here
Share this story

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

Lucky or unlucky for us divers and underwater photographers...can you imagine this Monster been around today...you been diving at 30 meters and all of sudden out of the blue you had to face this "Guy"...wow. Real wet-wet-suits and finning like a duck been chased by a crocodile...but what a photo opportunity, but only if you had a super wide angle lens on your camera...but then I am not sure on that either...read about this amazing find, close your eyes and start dreaming.
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Sea reptile is biggest on record
Courtesy BBC

A fossilized "sea monster" unearthed on an Arctic island is the largest marine reptile known to science, Norwegian scientists have announced.
The 150 million-year-old specimen was found on Spitsbergen, in the Arctic island chain of Svalbard, in 2006.
The Jurassic-era leviathan is one of 40 sea reptiles from a fossil "treasure trove" uncovered on the island.

Nicknamed "The Monster", the immense creature would have measured 15m (50ft) from nose to tail.

A large pliosaur was big enough to pick up a small car in its jaws and bite it in half
Richard Forrest, plesiosaur palaeontologist
And during the last field expedition, scientists discovered the remains of another pliosaur which is thought to belong to the same species as The Monster - and may have been just as colossal...
Read the complete story here…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7264856.stm

This one is so very cool and interesting, you have to check it out.
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Correction and up date from the previous Blog regarding the
Maldives with Asia Divers.

I have just received this information from Asia Divers, please refer to my previous Blog, there is a change of Boats... it is now on the M/V Manthiri not the Aggressor, for more info please contact Allan Nash from Asia Divers @ mailto: allan@asiadivers.com or visit Asia Divers Website @ http://www.asiadivers.com/

This information is brought to you by the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance...The Divers Choice.

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Asia Divers and the Maldives...? Yes... check out the info below...plus "Did You Know"?

© Gunther Deichmann - Aerial, no this is not the Maldives...
but the location of Asia Divers with El Galleon in Puerto Galera Philippines.

This information just came in from Asia Divers with El Galleon Beach Resort, thanks Allan for sharing this with us. Please read on below the info on Asia Divers travel to the Maldives, yes Asia Diver does go beyond Puerto Galera, travel and dive with one of the leading experts in Puerto Galera or choose some of their other exotic dive destinations like...Sardine Run, South. Africa...Maldives Aggressor...Galapagos Aggressor...Palau and many others, see the dates below.
Asia Divers is a member of the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance.
The Divers Choice.
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Asia Divers Dive travel...we go beyond your normal diving adventure.
Maldives – March 30 – April 5th, Spaces still available

Maldives is a garland- shaped chain of 26 atolls stretching 750 kilometers across the equator, in the Indian Ocean, southwest of India. The atolls girdle over 1190 emerald islands, most of them uninhabited, and countless reefs and shallows to form a complete echo system that acts as a magnet for a cornucopia of colorful marine life ranging from blooming corals to big pelagic…. you could be a part of this!

UP COMING DIVE TRIPS
Sardine Run, South. Africa June 21-30 2008
Maldives Aggressor, March 30 to April 5, 2008
Galapagos Aggressor, Oct. 2-9, 2008

Contact: allan@asiadivers.com  for more information

DID YOU KNOW?

Skip the Sunscreen While Diving
It can damage and even kill coral reefs, says a study in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Italian marine biologists have linked four UV-blocking chemicals in sunscreens to coral bleaching because they cause viral infections in the symbiotic algae that live inside reef-building coral. The viruses replicate until their algae hosts explode, infecting neighboring coral. The researchers estimate that 5,000 tons of sunscreen wash off people in oceans annually, and that up to 10 percent of coral reefs are threatened by sunscreen-induced bleaching.

(The full article is available here: http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2008/10966/abstract.html

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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

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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.
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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.
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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...
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Photos courtesy of Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center,
nature at its best in Palawan, Philippines

I have just received this info from Carsten Warncke from Club Paradise and of course Dugong Dive Center in Palawan our partner in the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance. VOX TV visits Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center last month. The only place in the Philippines for Dugongs, or dive the wrecks of Coron Bay surrounded by spectacular limestone cliffs, nature at it's very best and if you feel tired after diving or exploring the whole day book yourself into our Spa and rejuvenate. All of this, plus a lot more at Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center, please join us on our little tropical island paradise in Palawan, island hopping with the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance is getting better and better, even international film crews choose to visit us, so why dont YOU.
The Nature Lovers and Divers Choice.

I get more of the whole story with photos on the VOX TV (Germany) visit to Palawan and the Philippines soon, once I have more information I let you know also the screening time in Germany, just stay tuned or subscribe to our Blog.
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DID YOU KNOW? Is brought to you by the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance, the Divers Choice.
We care about our Environment!

'Frog from hell' fossil unearthed

A 70-million-year-old fossil of a giant frog has been unearthed in Madagascar by a team of UK and US scientists.
The creature would have been the size of a "squashed beach ball" and weighed about 4kg (9lb), the researchers said.

They added that the fossil, nicknamed Beelzebufo or "frog from hell", was "strikingly different" from present-day frogs found on the island nation.
Details of the discovery are reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)....
for more on this story and artist impression please go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7251666.stm

Hammerhead in need of protection
Courtesy by Helen Briggs
Science reporter, BBC News, Boston

Hammerheads are among the most commonly caught sharks for finning
Over-fishing and demand for shark fins, an expensive delicacy, have pushed one of the world's iconic animals towards the brink of extinction, say experts.
The scalloped hammerhead shark is to be added to the official endangered species list this year, under the heading "globally endangered". Their plight has been discussed at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting. It was told that enforcement of marine reserves would aid shark protection.

The observation takes account of new research that shows hammerhead and great white sharks patrol fixed routes in the ocean, gathering at hotspots to mate or feed. Dr Julia Baum, a marine ecologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, US, and a member of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), said excessive fishing was putting many of the ocean's "most majestic predators" at risk of extinction.

Speaking at the Boston meeting, she said: "Sharks evolved 400 million years ago, and we could now lose some species in the next few decades - so that would be just a blink of an eye in evolutionary time." She said conservation concern for sharks had been mounting for several years, and it was now critical that there was effective management action in order to restore and conserve their numbers.

Fishing for sharks in international waters is unrestricted, but conservation groups are calling for urgent measures to set limits on shark catch and fishing quotas. They say demand for shark fins as an expensive delicacy is greatly increasing the pressure on shark populations.
They want a meaningful ban on the practice of shark finning, which involves a shark's fins being removed before the rest of the animal is thrown back into the ocean to die.
Hammerheads are among the most commonly caught sharks for finning. A large shark fin can fetch over £50 a kilo.
Research presented at the AAAS in Boston is starting to unravel the mysteries of shark behaviour, and how they might best be protected......
for more info and Photos please go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7251651.stm

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"Hi Mom, hi darling dont worry I am fine, the diving has been great lot's of sharks and awesome schools of fish and guess what I am sending you some photos with my next email...your..."

Click on the images and find out more about Sam's Tours Digital Photo Center - DPC
The Digital Photo Center is getting more and more popular and not only for Photographers, the iMac's are a perfect choice with their build in Camera.
Say hi and see your loved ones on Valentines day on a nice
20 inch iMac screen.

The Digital Photo Center at Sam's Tours Palau, Micronesia, is getting more and more popular not only with photographers but with customers who just like to say hi to their loved ones...great timing for Valentines day.
From the rental of Video Cams and small digital Canon Cameras...to the more pro, the ability to use Photoshop Elements or Aperture...Yes, you can do all your own editing or let Sam's Tours staff help you with the safe keeping and storage of your images...and now also available headphones for your connection and chatting away to your loved ones via Skype...
I guess iChat is only around the corner.
You are in the middle of the Pacific and can communicate with the rest of the world after your diving with Sam's Tours, now that is real cool.
The Survivor Micronesia series on TV may have shown you how fantastic Palau really is, and if you have missed Survivor Micronesia you can always check out some of my images on Palau and go to Gunther Deichmann's PhotoShelter Archive or to the PhotoShelter Collection for all other special selected stock images including Micronesia and the Philippines, just click on the links... Sam's Tours is also a founding member of the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance... very simply The Divers Choice. Top dive site and destinations, modern facilities and very, very connected with Wi-Fi and pro photography setups in the Philippines and Micronesia. We keep you in touch no matter how remote the destinations are...

Your passion is diving... ours is service... and the ultimate in island hopping.

Check out the images from our other destinations just click here.
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I have received today these images from Dermot Keane the GM at Sam's Tours, Alex one of the Girls and a new DPC staff prepared them for us, thanks Alex.

For our non professionals, Camera rentals with and without underwater housing,
if you like to explore Palau above and below the waves, Sam's Tours got you covered.
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Very soon up and running.... the New website


The Truk Stop Hotel is a PADI Resort Facility and a member of the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance

offering 4 suites, 6 deluxe ocean view rooms, and 10 standard rooms. All rooms are air conditioned with private balcony, refrigerator, TV/DVD Player and private bath. Guests are invited to use our free wireless broadband internet connection available in the restaurant and on the patio.

Whether you are an Open Water or Tec Diver, the Truk Lagoon Dive Center is equipped and staffed to take care of all your diving needs.

LOCAL TIME: 11:45:20 | Feb. 07, 2008

We offer Nitrox and Trimix, up to 4 dives a day (wreck, reef, shark, night), and our private dock, dive lockers, rinse tanks and shower make diving easy and convenient.

Our 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.

The Hard Wreck Cafe & Bar is the favorite hangout for resident expatriates, visitors, as well as local residents and is the place to enjoy a friendly game of pool, your favorite beverage or karaoke with friends while resting up foryour next dive.

Other services available at the hotel include The Body Shop, offering massage plus facial, manicure and pedicure, our Bakery which provides fresh breads and desserts to our restaurant daily, handicrafts and souvenirs from our Gift Shop, plus Car Rentals and Conference Facilities for the business traveler.

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© Gunther Deichmann - a secluded beach in Palawan near Coron Island,
for more Alliance destination photos
click the image above.

Best Adventure Trips 2008
A Masked Ball in the Philippines
http://www.concierge.com/ideas/

m:  "Lee Goldman" <</span>coralfarmguam@yahoo.com>
Date: 4 February 2008 5:12:50 PM GMT+08:00
To:  "Gunther Deichmann" <</span>gunther@gdeichmann.com>

Dear Gunther,
 
In your recent blog, you did me the honor of mentioning my upcoming expedition to Palawan, Philippines with Wilderness Travel. I greatly appreciate this, but I have “a correction” to make.
 
We are doing more than just paddling by Club Paradise in Northern Palawan; we are stopping there for 4 days to take advantage of their amazing resort and local abundance of rare and beautiful marine life. Dirk Fahrenbach from the Dugong Dive Center has offered to arrange trips to visit one of the largest continuous reef systems in the world, Apo Reef National Park. There we will snorkel among thousands of reef fish and hundreds of coral species. Truly one of the most diverse regions on the planet! We will also spend a day snorkeling with Dugongs. These rare marine mammals are residents in the local waters and, with the help of Club Paradise and local awareness, remain as one of the most protected marine mammal in the Philippines. This protection is why they are so readily observed in the area and often remain in the company of awe-inspired snorkelers. Few other places on the planet can offer such a treat for the marine naturalist.
 

Photo courtesy of Club Paradise, for more Alliance destination photos
click the image above.

When I designed this trip, Club Paradise was an easy addition and we are glad that they have been so accommodating. We are looking forward to paddling in the local waters and landing on the beach for overnights at their award winning facility!
 
This is what luxury expedition kayaking is all about!
http://www.concierge.com/ideas/skiadventure/tour

Lee Goldman, Marine Biologist and tour leader

We have received this interesting article on Wreck and tech diving from Dave Ross, Dave is from Tech Asia/Asia Divers with El Galleon Beach Resort located in Puerto Galera, Philippines and members of the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance.

Coron with Tech Asia…. by Dave Ross Tech Asia

The year 2007 saw the closure of the last of the Coron Bay shipwreck identity mysteries. Tech Asia and its divers are happy to have played a small part in this final chapter.

Coron bay, in the western Philippines, has been a known diving locale since the 1980’s. Having been the scene of a September 1944 air strike by the USS Lexington lead Task Force 38, at the time, the longest range carrier based air strike in history. As diving opened up in the Philippines, the area necessarily attracted those with a nose for history and wreck diving. Of the principal wrecks, some were identified accurately and immediately. The IJN seaplane tender Akitsushima for example, reported sunk in the US After Action reports, is an unmistakable vessel. For the oilers and merchant ships present at the time of the raid, identifications were shakier. Partly this is the product of researchers trusting in the reporting of the post war authorities, charged with putting a positive ID on such a vast number of maritime casualties. Often the ship that best fit the action reports went down in the annals as the victim, and nobody involved at the time had any real reason to question any grey areas or anomalies. Reports from bodies such as JANAC were often taken as unquestionably accurate.

One of the men who took the keenest interest in the Coron story and her losses was Capt. Peter Heimstaedt, who in the early 90’s, dived, and exhaustively documented what he saw. He became a friend of ours through communications on other ships sunk in the Philippines, and kindly came to Puerto Galera in his free time to give a presentation on Coron in July of 2007. During the evening he showed us clear photographic evidence that the oiler thought to be Taiei Maru, was in fact the Okikawa Maru, and the ship once known as “Hector”, or the Tangat Wreck is the Olympia Maru.

The last vessel to have bred confusion, having been thought to be another of the many Taiei Maru’s, or another Olympia, was confirmed by Capt Heimstaedt in 2006 to be a vessel whose original name was Morazan, turned Ekkai Maru when she fell into Japanese hands in 1941. A source which convinced him of this was the excellent reference N582 Japanese Merchant Ship Recognition Manual of 1944, issued by the US Navy Dept – Division of Intelligence. He was sure his identification was solid, and passed this on to us, though had not yet returned to Coron to verify this with a dive.

How Tech Asia came to be involved in this story was through slightly unforeseen circumstances. Following Capt Peter’s talk we had two week of liveaboards on the M/B Rags II. The first week, in October 2007 had perfect weather, and the divers and the divers spent a lot of their time on the deeper and more exposed wrecks such as Irako and Akitsushima. However the November week was more influenced by the bizarre behaviour of Tropical Storm Lando, which crossed Mindoro, went all the way to Vietnam, then turned around and came straight back. The couple of days of unsettled seas it created caused the divers to divert away from Irako to more sheltered sites, the Morazan amongst them.

Always a man to seize an opportunity to bring a dive to life, our guide, Technical Wreck Instructor Sam Collett, seized the Peter Heimstaedt information and ran with it. Armed with all the commonly found Coron literature, plus` some 30’s photos of Morazan, he tasked the eight divers in his care with examining ten photographically observable features and comparing them to the ship itself. These ranged from the numbers, position, and spacing of portholes, to positions and style of air vents, railings, doorways and davits. Also some distinctive fittings on both masts, and bolt holes on the funnel where a letter “V” had existed. Morazan had operated under Vaccaro Brothers in the Honduras, and their logo appears in old photos. Everything observed by Sam and his divers matched Morazan to the last detail. Though merely confirming another mans research, the clear verification brought tremendous satisfaction to the day for the divers.

Following the trip, some internet browsing threw up an interesting history, starting life as the S.S. Manco, sold and renamed Morazan and working the Amazon for years before moving to Hong Kong, eventual capture by the Japanese in Shanghai, and a watery grave in the Philippines in 1944. From this history arose one more interesting observation. The hull of the ship still bears the letters “CEI……SH” , which for years has puzzled everyone. Whilst serving in Honduras and the Amazon, the ships home port was La Ceiba – just maybe these letters reflect the name of her former home port?

The Morazan/Ekkai Maru story is just a single chapter in two weeks of excellent, shallow ( it doesn’t always have to be deep and helium) technical diving that we managed to run. Great fun – I guess that means we’ll have to go back!
Dave Ross - Tech Asia

Celebrate the Sea Festival: 13-15 June in Manila

PRESS RELEASE

Following the success of the 2007 festival which received participation from a global audience of novice and professional competitors, children and even President Gloria Arroyo of the Republic of the Philippines, OceanNEnvironment Australia is pleased to announce in collaboration with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Philippines Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD), to present the 7th ‘Celebrate the Sea Marine Imagery Festival Philippines 2008’.
Celebrate the Sea has seen the greatest increase in competitors since inception in 2002 with over 5500 entries from 38 countries. The 2008 festival is destined to be bigger and much bolder than ever before – the main venue for the 3 days festival from 13 to 15 June is confirmed to be stage at the brand new Manila Ocean Park, the Philippines’ first state-of-the-art Oceanarium comprising of open water marine habitat, boutique mall, and restaurants.

The primary objective of the CTS festival remains; to have the world dedicates a day to remember and celebrate the sea, like a Christmas or a New Years day. If and when it is achieved, then most certainly the current dreadful state of the sea will have hope redeemed for the coming generations of humanity. For now, Celebrate the Sea is the biggest underwater pictures festival outside of Europe where the ‘World Festival of Underwater Pictures’ (Festival Mondial de l'Image Sous Marine) is staged annually in Antibes, France, now in its 35th year. Celebrate the Sea festival is seen as the dominant platform to promote conservation providing education and entertainment to create greater awareness of our ocean environment. The world’s best marine images and films have a powerful effect on both the diving and non-diving community.

The 2008 festival will comprise of imagery presentations and seminars by a panel of world renowned image makers and marine scientists such Peter Scoone, cinematographer of the BBC Blue Planet series, Dr Phil Nyutten, David Doubilet, Jennifer Hayes and Emory Kristof of National Geographic, Dr Carden Wallace, coral scientist, Fred Buyle – four times world free diving champion, Scott Tuason, author and underwater photographer and Daniel Mercier – founder World Underwater Picture Festival will be on site to officiate the festival.

One of the principal highlights is the International Underwater film festival; 15 recent award winning features from the World Festival of Underwater Pictures, Antibes will be presented at Celebrate the Sea. There will also be a photo exhibition of benchmarked underwater images by some of the world's best underwater photographers plus all the prints in the competition.
Photographers and films makers, send in your entries now to compete in Asia Pacific's most prestigious international underwater imagery competition where the premier prize is the conferred title of ‘President, Grand Award of Highest Achievement 2008’ with US$2000 as prize money. (www.CelebratetheSea.com)

It gets even better if you are visiting the Philippines any time from 1 March to 30 May; stay and dive with one of the participating resorts / operators and you will be eligible to enter your video or pictures in the WOW Philippines Imagery competition. Held in conjunction with Celebrate the Sea Festival 2007, Philippines, you will be diving in some of the most beautiful and enchanting reefs in the world.

You will be competing for one of these prestigious titles:

The WOW Award – for the most outstanding image or video story

The Hi Five Award – for the highest scoring or the most well balanced portfolio

The Quick Draw Award – for the best action shot or video story

Yes, there will be medals, cash, equipment and holiday package prizes for all categories and as well as for the WOW imagery competitors. The cash and holiday prizes for the WOW Imagery competition is sponsored the Manila Ocean Park and supporting sponsors.

All winners, qualifies as a contender for the ‘President Grand Award of Highest Achievement 2008 with cash prize of USD2000*

ROLEX is the main sponsor, supporting the hosting of Rolex’s ambassador. Philippines Airlines, the official airline for festival. For more info: email cts@oneocean.com; www.celebratethesea.com

About Celebrate the Sea

Statistically, Celebrate the Sea’s Marine Imagery Festival is the biggest imaging event of the sea staged in the Asia Pacific. Since 2002 the annual festival previously held in Singapore and Malaysia has attracted entries from over 38 countries. The 2008 festival is scheduled from 13 to June in Manila

Held in association with the World Festival of Underwater Pictures, Antibes – also known as the ‘Cannes of Underwater Films festival’, the presenters proposed to retain Celebrate the Sea to Manila in 2008 with the intention of making the city the permanent home of the festival for three years. This will invariably position Manila as the capital of underwater imagery in the Asia Pacific.

Now in its seventh year, Celebrate the Sea Festival promotes the beauty of our oceans to entertain and inspire, and more importantly, to motivate and inspire people to take action in preserving our natural environment. The ‘Oscars’ of underwater imagery is the highlight of the Celebrate the Sea Festival where the winners of the CTS International Underwater Imagery Competition and the Philippines Shoot Out competition will be revealed at a gala award ceremony on 14 June 2008. Along with medals, cash and holiday package prizes, the most coveted title for 2008 will be the ‘President Grand Award of Highest Achievement 2007’ which includes the US$2000 cash prize.

About the Principal Highlights

International Underwater Imagery Competitions

The centrepiece of the Celebrate the Sea Festival has always been its international imagery competitions and with $35,000 worth of prizes up for grabs it is the most prestigious underwater imaging competition in the Asia Pacific. Open to anyone in the world, the macro, wide angle and black and white photographs, digital images, short video and feature documentary films, and books, lend truly international flair to this festival. In 2007, the 5500 entries were received from 38 countries.

WOW Philippines Imagery competition

All that is required to enter this prestigious competition, competitors is required to stay/dive with one of the participating resorts/dive operators in the Philippines anytime from 1 February to 10 May 2008. Competitors must submit their entries by 15 May. The results will be announced during the awards ceremony along with the results of the international competition.

International Underwater Film Festival

15 award winning documentary features from the World Underwater Pictures Festival Antibes will be specially brought in for screening through the 3-day weekend festival. Selected entries from the films in competition will also be shown.

Seminars and Preserving Our Seas Forum

The Celebrate the Sea Festival also includes a 'seminars' component. Past presenters include international underwater luminaries Dr Sylvia Earle, Stan Waterman, David Doubilet, Dr Phil Nyutten, Neville Coleman, Ron & Valerie Taylor, Emory Kristoff and also principal scientists like Dr Mark Erhmann, Dr Carden Wallace etc. David Doubilet from the National Geographic is confirmed for Philippines while the organiser is actively drawing some of the most celebrated underwater image makers and marine scientists as panellists for the event. The conference runs concurrently with the film festival and the local school and university students will be invited to attend this conference at no charge.

Photographic Galleries:

The finalists for the underwater photography and children's painting competition will be prominently displayed during the three-day event.


For more information contact: cts@oneocean.com

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DID YOU KNOW?

Late breaking News!
NZ fishermen land colossal squid

New Zealand fishermen have caught what is expected to be a world-record-breaking colossal squid.
Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said the squid, weighing an estimated 450kg (990lb),took two hours to land in Antarctic waters.
Local news said the Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni was about 10m (33ft) long, and was the first adult colossal squid landed intact.
One expert said calamari rings made from it would be like tractor tyres.
"I can assure you that this is going to draw phenomenal interest. It is truly amazing," Steve O'Shea from Auckland's University of Technology told local media.

Colossal squid, which are found deep in Antarctic waters, are thought to be about the same length as giant squid (Architeutis dux) but are much heavier.
The species was first identified in 1925, but very few specimens have been found.
The first specimen recovered intact, a 150kg (330lb) immature female, was caught on the surface in the Ross Sea near the Antarctic coast in April 2003.
For more on this truly amazing story and the images go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6385071.stm

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