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

I am leaving this evening for Palau to be part of the big celebration at Sam's Tours New Grand Opening, please see my previous Blog "Congratulations to Sam's Tours" I give you a full report upon my return next week, hopefully with some fun images from the event, so just stay tuned, please read on below our latest story on Did You know... about Galleons, shipwrecks....
GD

Big business of deep-sea treasure hunters
By Kathryn Westcott
BBC News

The interception of the treasure-hunt ship off the coast of Gibraltar is the latest broadside in a tense battle between a US-based salvage company and the Kingdom of Spain over an unidentified shipwreck and the ownership of its rich haul of gold and silver coins.

Odyssey Explorer. Copyright Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc.
Odyssey says Spain had blockaded its Explorer salvage vessel
On Tuesday, patrol boats from Spain's maritime police intercepted the 76m Odyssey Explorer, owned by underwater salvage firm Odyssey Marine International, three miles off the coast of Gibraltar. It was escorted to the Spanish port of Algeciras.

Spain's Civil Guard has been keeping a close eye on the company's vessel since a Spanish judge ordered that it be detained and searched if it left port in Gibraltar.
The company says its recovery vessel has been effectively blockaded since the ruling in June. Spain believes it could provide clues to the identity and location of the wreck that yielded half-a-million colonial era silver and gold coins.
It suspects that a Spanish galleon is being secretly plundered - or that the wreck lies in Spanish waters.
Odyssey Marine Explorations - which became the most famous deep water treasure hunting company when it announced the discovery last May - says it is keeping the location of the wreck secret, to protect the site from looters.
All it is saying is that the wreck - codenamed Black Swan - is somewhere in the Atlantic.

Photo: © Gunther Deichmann, not a Galleon, but a divers dream to discover and
explore the ships from our past, this image was taken deep inside a wreck in
Truk Lagoon, note the skull, dive with the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance and you
might discover your Galleon or just explore the past.
A reminder, please do not remove any parts or artifacts from any
wrecks in Truk or Palau, there are heavy fines for removing anything for
souvenirs, lets keep it there for other to enjoy too.
GD

Galleon graveyard

The haul, which has an estimated value of $500m, is now at a secret location in Florida, where Odyssey is based.

The 'Black Swan' haul: Copyright Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc
Greg Stemm with the Black Swan haul at a secret location in the US
A court in the state is currently considering motions filed by the company and by Spain concerning the ownership of the booty.
Treasure hunters have long dreamed of discovering hauls of gold and silver in the western Mediterranean. The area, is a graveyard of French, Spanish and British galleons and warships sunk by storms and pirates during Spain's long dominance of the sea.
Once the domain of schoolboy fantasies, the hunt for treasure on the deep ocean floor has become big business for companies like Odyssey. And the company's recent listing on the Nasdaq indicates that it is a business that investors are prepared to take seriously.
Odyssey has several shipwreck projects in various stages of development around the world, but its involvement with the Spanish goes back almost a decade.

RULES OF THE WAVES
Seas and oceans governed by UN Laws of the Sea
Ownership of sunken property in international waters governed by the law of salvage and the law of finds
Law of salvage: If property is owned, those finding it are entitled to compensation for their salvage efforts
Law of finds: Salvor is entitled to all reclaimed property if it is proved to be abandoned
Spain insists it retains rights to all its sunken treasure
Odyssey intends its haul to be dealt with under US federal law, where previous judgements have sometimes granted exclusive rights to salvors
"Odyssey has had an excellent working relationship with the Spanish Government for many years," Greg Stemm, co-founder of Odyssey Marine Exploration told the BBC News website.

"We have always respected Spain's interest in its maritime heritage and have therefore consistently communicated our activities to Spain."
The relationship has soured over the past few months. In July, another of Odyssey's vessels was stopped and forcibly boarded as it tried to leave Gibraltar. A computer was confiscated.
The company told the BBC News website that it intends to seek compensation from Spain for revenues lost because of the kingdom's intervention in its activities.

British warship

The battle over the Black Swan treasure is now jeopardising another more lucrative project: the salvage of a British warship that Odyssey believes it has discovered in the western Mediterranean.
The British Government is collaborating with Odyssey to recover the warship, thought to be the HMS Sussex, which went down in a storm off Gibraltar in the Mediterranean Sea in 1694.

According to the Council for British Archaeology, it was on its way to provide British financial support to the Duke of Savoy during the war against Louis XIV. The council says she was believed to have been carrying bullion, which is estimated by some experts to be worth some £2.5bn today.
The warship apparently lies in waters that Britain and Gibraltar claim are international but that Spain claims as its own.
Diplomatic talks resulted in an agreement being reached with Spain earlier this year but the project appears is on hold.
A spokeswoman from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office told the BBC News website that the "on-going court case between Spain and Odyssey should be resolved first."
It is anyone's guess how long this will take.
This will no doubt please archaeologists - including the Council for British Archaeology - who were enraged by the deal.
Experts describe such activities as commercial treasure hunting under the guise of archaeology, arguing that a dangerous precedent would be set allowing private firms to profit from historic wrecks.

Technology

And in Spain, Odyssey's activities have been painted as modern-day piracy.
The company acknowledges that its primary concerns are commercial but it also has a mission statement that sets out how it also wants to do good archaeology.
It maintains that it works to the highest of standards, employing experts and archaeologists.
Zeus Neil Dobson/Odyssey Marine Exploration
The eight-tonne robot Zeus can reach depths of up to 2,500 metres
"Our contract with the United Kingdom sets an excellent example of how such a collaboration between the public and private sector can produce excellent archaeological work," says Mr Stemm.
And he says that the model - the first of its kind with a government - could be extended to other countries, including Spain.
Odyssey undertakes multi-million-dollar operations, deploying sophisticated deep-sea technology and robotics to scour the ocean beds.
On board the Marine Explorer, for example, is a $4m underwater robot Zeus, which deploys an array of brilliant strobe lights and cameras as it carefully picks through debris at depths of up to 2,500m.
The company's first major salvage venture was in 2003 when it discovered the SS Republic, a Civil War side-wheel steamer that sank off the Florida coast in 1865 and some $75m (£37m) worth of coins.

Odyssey has now filed finders-keepers' claims with a court in Tampa, Florida US on the Black Swan and two other shipwrecks.
But Spain is challenging these arguing that the company is withholding crucial information. It is also claiming a right to share the treasure.

Jim Goold, a maritime lawyer in Washington representing the Spanish government, told the BBC News website that the implications of the case are huge in a era when cutting -edge technology is bringing new gravesites to light.
"Here you have a situation in which a US company is apparently systematically working in the Mediterranean, the English Channel and off the coast of Spain, taking cultural heritage without authorisation and then whisking it to the US and steadfastly refusing to reveal to the concerned governments what it has been doing," he said.

Odyssey says the Black Swan recovery was conducted in conformity with Salvage Law and the Law of the Sea Convention, beyond the territorial waters of legal jurisdiction of any country.
It expects to reap a substantial salvage award regardless of who claims the treasure.

RULES OF THE WAVES
Seas and oceans governed by UN Laws of the Sea
Ownership of sunken property in international waters governed by the law of salvage and the law of finds
Law of salvage: If property is owned, those finding it are entitled to compensation for their salvage efforts
Law of finds: Salvor is entitled to all reclaimed property if it is proved to be abandoned
Spain insists it retains rights to all its sunken treasure
Odyssey intends its haul to be dealt with under US federal law, where previous judgements have sometimes granted exclusive rights to salvors

Courtesy of the BBC for more information and images please go to:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7037192.stm

Congratulations to Sam’s Tours in Palau, Micronesia, they have finally completed their major renovation and the
Grand Opening is on the 26th of October 2007. http://www.samstours.com

Sam’s Tours a founding member of the Philippine Micronesia Alliance, your experts for island hopping, underwater photography, tech diving, wall diving, shark dives and wreck expedition. Explore and Dive with us the Pacific, the China Sea, the Philippine Sea and the amazing walls of Micronesia, plus a lot more, for direct bookings and all our special packages please go to:
http://www.alliancediving.com/packages.html

Your passion is diving… ours is service.
The Divers Choice.

Welcome to Sam’s Tours and the Alliance your partners in quality diving holidays!,

Willkommen bei Sam’s Tours und bei der Allianz ihr Partner für erstklassigen Tauchurlaub!

Bienvenue à Sam;s Tours, vos partenaires pour des séjours plongée de choix.

Benvenuti Sam’s Tours, I vostri partners per vacanze di qualita’ nel campo delle immersioni!

Bienvenidos a la Sam’s Tours,sus compañeros para esas vacaciones de buceo de calidad!

http://www.samstours.com
___________________________

Download the full article as pdf file: http://www.deichmann-photo.com/publications.html

New guidebooks on Palau Micronesia and Puerto Galera in the Philippines have been given some nice write ups in the i-mag Photography Magazine, a paradise pair, Palau and Puerto Galera two of the best dive destinations in the Asia pacific region. Thanks to i-mag Magazine for publishing this four page article in their current issue.
They have also published in the same issue a nice article on the recent GD PhotoWorkshop in Cambodia with the Philippine Center for Creative Imaging or PCCI.
You can download all of the articles as pdf files under Publications/Spread on this website at:
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/publications.html

For dates on photo workshops in Cambodia, Palau and Tibet please go the link provided below:
http://gdphotoworkshop.com/

Dive in paradise - yes, you can have the time of your life with the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance partner resorts and dive centers throughout the
Philippines and Micronesia.
Dive the famous wrecks of Truk Lagoon, experience high voltage shark dives in Palau, or explore the ultimate in marine bio- diversity in the Philippines from Palawan, Puerto Galera and to Boracay with its famous white sandy beach. All the Alliance partner resort and dive center offer you very special island hopping tours and safaris, join us to explore the sea and its marine life. As the saying goes in German, inselhuepfen und nach dem tauchen, einfach ausruhen am strand.

Remember the Philippine-Micronesia website is now in 9 languages and soon we add one more:

Welcome to the The Philippine-Micronesia Alliance, your partners in quality diving holidays!,
Willkommen bei der Fillippinen-Mikronesien Allianz, ihr Partner für erstklassigen Tauchurlaub!
ДОБРО ПОЖАЛОВАТЬ К НАШЕМУ ФИЛИППИНЫ - МИКРОНЕЗИЯ АЛЬЯНСУ ЭТО ТВОЙ ЛУЧШИЙ ПАРТНЕР ДЛЯ ПЕРВОКЛАССНОГО ПОДВОДНОГО ОТПУСКА
Bienvenue à l'Alliance Philippine-Micronesia, vos partenaires pour des séjours plongée de choix.
Benvenuti nell’Alleanza Filippine – Micronesia, I vostri partners per vacanze di qualita’ nel campo delle immersioni!
Bienvenidos a la Alianza Filipinas-Micronesia , sus compañeros para esas vacaciones de buceo de calidad!
and of course Japanese, Korean, Chinese and very soon Polish.

For all your diving needs and or next vacation please check out the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance. The Divers Choice.
It is here where you can order these latest books direct online at:
http://www.alliancediving.com/book-orders.html

_______________________________________

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

Some real facts about Sharks. Do they have a chance at all? Maybe if we start doing something NOW and not tomorrow.
They have been around for million of years, but for how much longer, please read below some interesting facts about these amazing animals,
yet again another "Living fossil". Why are they on the extinction list? Please read on...You be really surprised to know...

© Gunther Deichmann, www.deichmann-photo.com
A fossilized shark tooth, from my old collection

Animals on the Edge - Sharks - Survivors of our Oceans?

By catch
Sharks are frequently caught in trawler nets or on longline hooks that are set for tuna or swordfish. Sharks are highly migratory and they often swim in groups that are the same size and age. This can mean that a key part of the population (mature females for example) can be wiped out in one fell swoop. Estimates vary, but bycatch (unwanted catch) accounts for a significant proportion of shark fatalities.
Shark fin soup
Around 100 shark species are deliberately targeted by the fishing industry. Shark fins are highly prized for use in shark fin soup, a high status dish that can sell for £65 a bowl, especially in Asian countries where growing wealth has increased demand. As demand is met, sharks become overfished, fins are harder to come by and the soup is therefore even more of a status symbol.

Conservationists estimate that about 100 million sharks are caught each year, many of them purely for use in shark fin soup. Hong Kong alone imported the fins of more than 28 million sharks in 1999. The sharks are caught, their fins are cut off and they are then thrown back into the sea where they either bleed to death or drown. Using DNA, it is now possible to identify shark species from their fins, a development which may be significant in monitoring the impact of this trade.
Shark meat
Demand for shark meat is booming. It is now possible to buy it in supermarkets in Europe, South America and the USA. The shortfin mako which is said to provide the best shark meat is classified as lower risk, but vulnerable species such as the porbeagle shark, are also taken. This trend may be indicative of the fact that so many other fish species are declining and that people have been encouraged to eat fish as a healthy alternative to meat. The Food Standards Agency, however, has advised against giving children shark meat to eat because of high levels of methylmercury that can damage the nervous system.
Shark skin and oil
Shark skins can be tanned and used as an alternative to leather (for belts, boots, bags, etc). In theory and on a small scale, this could be a useful by-product of a sustainable and managed fishery. In practice, the impact on shark populations has yet to be assessed or monitored.
Sharks have traditionally been fished for oil. Squalene is extracted from shark livers and used as a lubricant and in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. It can take up to 3,000 shark livers to produce one tonne of squalene.
Shark cartilage
Sharks are cartilaginous - they have cartilage instead of bone. The cartilage is used in traditional medicines and is sold in powder or capsule form as a cancer treatment. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that it is in any way effective against the disease and the 'medicine' can be very expensive. There may, however, be other benefits in maintaining shark bio-diversity, for example, shark cartilage has also been used in the development of a synthetic skin for burn victims.
Breeding age
Sharks have evolved over 450 million years to be among the ocean's top predators. They can take many years to reach sexual maturity, almost 30 years in the case of the sand bank shark. Larger sharks may only produce two young in a breeding cycle and only one of those is likely to survive. Shark species often only breed every other year and some have a long gestation period (up to two years). This low reproductive rate means that depleted shark populations can take a very long time to recover, if they recover at all.
Pollution
The health of the ocean environment is important for all marine species (see Eco Top Ten - Marine). Pollution from human activity often ends up in the sea. Sharks are at the top of the food chain so they are likely to have a higher concentration of the toxins that build up in the body fat of their prey. Because human development and subsequent pollution often occurs in coastal areas, important shark nursery areas are also at risk.
Hunting
Although most sharks are indifferent to humans and pose no threat, shark hunting is still a widespread trophy sport.

Courtesy of the BBC, for more information please go to:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/conservation/sharks/

© 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

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


© Concept and Photo Gunther Deichmann

Ice melt raises passage tension
By David Shukman
BBC science and environment correspondent, Canadian Arctic

Less ice makes it easier to get at the Arctic's resources
In another sign of potential friction in the warming Arctic, Canada has warned that it will step up patrols of the Northwest Passage.
Record summer melting of sea-ice has made the passage fully navigable; and immediately escalated a dispute over who controls the route.
Canada maintains the waterway that connects the Atlantic with the Pacific lies within its territorial waters.
It has backed that up with plans for a new military base in the Arctic.
However, the United States, and other countries claim international rights to use the route for shipping.
Big melt
In an interview with BBC News, the head of the Canadian Coast Guard, George Da Pont, said: "Our view is that it's our territorial waters and that we govern it accordingly. Obviously the Americans and some European countries have different views.
"I assume at some point in time they'll get settled but we're pretty confident that they're Canadian territorial waters and that we should be regulating and asserting our control over them as we would over any other part of our territorial water.
"It's critical, it's part of our history; like any country it's important to assert your control over your country and your territorial waters."
His statement comes as polar experts are still reeling from the dramatic loss of Arctic ice this summer.
The Canadian Ice Service was among the organisations monitoring the retreat and its director, Doug Bancroft, told the BBC that he was "stunned" that this extent of melting had not been expected for decades.
"It just seemed as if it wasn't going to stop. Normally, towards the end of August, the beginning of September, the melting slows down and stops and we get ready for the coming fall and the refreezing during the winter. But it just kept on going and the concern was, 'Well when is it going to stop this year?' - and ultimately when it did stop, it shattered all previous records."
Research cruise
On Monday, the Canadian Coast Guard is preparing to send one its research vessels, the Amundsen, through the Northwest Passage with about 40 scientists on board.
Equipped with a remotely operated robot submarine and a sonar system, the ship will undertake a detailed survey of the sea-bed - essential if the waterway is to become more open to commercial shipping.

'Northwest Passage opens'
Sailing the passage
Researchers on board also hope to study the changing patterns of the ice - not only the ice that grows and retreats with the seasons but also the far thicker multi-year ice which drifts with the Arctic currents and poses the most serious threat to any vessels.

A British team on board will study the sediment on the sea-bed to hunt for a chemical record of changes in the ice stretching back for the past thousand years - a vital task to help understand the likely rate of change in the future.
BBC News will join the ship for its journey through the Northwest Passage. The route is at - or beyond - the limits of satellite coverage but the plan is to provide regular updates wherever possible. For more information please check out the link below:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7033498.stm
Courtesy BBC

My final note, congratulations to Al Gore for receiving the
Nobel Peace Prize, at least there is someone out there with
influence who cares and can make the difference.

GD

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

Million of years later... 

Here is a very interesting article from our good friend and supporter Tony Wu (Fins Magazine), I guess you going to wonder what these fossils have to do with the digital age, actually NOTHING but this is the general idea, we like to bring you all sorts of different information now and then, of course some how marine related.
Today for our underwater photographers cool info from Tony, please read on below and check out the link for the whole story, for information on the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance please click here: http://www.alliancediving.com The Divers Choice


© Tony Wu

Going digital definitely has a lot of merits. Immediate feedback, being able to shoot more than 36 frames at a time, being able to make duplicate/ back-up copies immediately, and having the ability to edit work on-the-spot rank at the top of my list.
Nothing in life, however, comes for free.
If there’s been one major drawback of going digital for me, it has to be the fact that in addition to being a good photographer, you’ve got to become a software and image-processing expert too. Back in the film days, basically a slide was either good or bad. I kept the good ones, threw away the bad ones. End of story.
Over the past few years, with the switch to digital format, I’ve had to experiment with all sorts of software…some good, some bad…and I think I’ve finally begun to reach the point where I have a workflow that I’m comfortable with. Before I spell out the software I use, please read on at: http://www.tonywublog.com/20071009/digital-workflow.html

A Green Turtle resting on a beach in the Philippines,
Photo © Gunther Deichmann, for the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance

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

We dont like to talk always how good our dive operation and resorts are, we try to keep you also up to date with some interesting stories and the latest news. Things which happen million of years ago and still effect us today, environment and conservation issues not only from our partner destinations but from around the world. Local and special events from the Pacific and Philippine region including the latest from Micronesia. We have started recently with stories about fossils - "living fossils" and we will continue with the sea's past, millions of years ago, please read on below and check out the links about this huge Turtle from our past.


Archelon

This giant turtle could live to 100 years old, possibly thanks to taking long sleeps on the seabed
For more on sea monsters and our living past please check out the link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/prehistoric_life/dinosaurs/seamonsters/

Type: Reptile
Size: 4.6m
Diet: Omnivorous
Predators: Mosasaurs and sharks
Lived: Late Cretaceous, 75-65 million years ago

Archelon was a slow mover and found most of its food drifting near the sea surface. It had little need to dive deep except when hibernating on the seabed. It was an omnivorous grazer, sweeping up drifting fish, jellyfish and dead carrion as well as plants. Its sharp, powerful beak could break open shelled animals such as ammonites.

Archelon's huge flippers suggest it was a long distance swimmer happiest in the open ocean. It would never be alone, as its huge size attracted a squadron of hangers-on such as juvenile fish as well as barnacles and parasites. Archelon couldn't withdraw its head or flippers inside its bony shell for protection so, despite its size, it was an easy target for large predators.

Like modern turtles, it laid eggs by burying them in sandy beaches under cover of darkness. Its nearest living relative is the world's largest turtle, the leatherback.

Courtesy of the BBC

Your passion is diving, ours is service.

Photo © Rene Buob, Calypso/Pinjalo Dive Resort Boracay
for more images by Rene please click this link.

I have just received this report from Allan Nash at Asia Divers Puerto Galera, Philippines a partner of the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance and guess who is also in one of the images below?
Yes you are right, René Buob from Calypso/Pinjalo Dive Resort in Boracay, another member from the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance, and if you dont speak English dont worry the Alliance website has
now 9 languages to choose from, and soon one more.
I guess we all like to check out these live aboard at one time, however if you don’t like to dive from boats then our partner in Palau Sam’s Tours can take care of all your requirements, take you to the same dive sites and show you other parts of Palau, take you to the local villages, the spectacular waterfall or visit the mysterious monolith early in the morning for sunrise.

But now read the report from Asia Divers with special guest René Buob just caught on camera, I have included some images from René from his trip, thanks Rene and see if you can spot him.

© Photos courtesy Asia Divers

It was over a year in the planning but finally Pete Eaton (me) and eight of Dubai’s finest departed Manila aboard an Asian Spirit another partner from the Philippine –Micronesia Alliance, flight bound for Cebu and finally on to Koror in Palau to begin five days of sensational diving aboard the Palau Aggressor.

We arrived at Koror around 18:30 and were greeted at the airport by Boyet, one of the Aggressor crew who took us shopping at one of the local supermarkets for a few essentials before we boarded the magnificent Palau Aggressor.
A typical day consisted of waking up as early as possible to take in the splendid sunrise with fine brewed coffee in hand. Followed by a great breakfast.
First dive was at 7:30 and always somewhere like Blue Corner or Peleliu Express. Both these sites where my favorite as they combine great wall diving where sharks are always on the viewing list, then somewhere towards the middle of the dive a chance to hook off on the edge of the wall and watch the wildlife bask in the current, Grey reef, Silver tips, Eagle Rays, Marble Rays, schooling Jacks, Barracudas and of course the obligatory White Tips and Turtles.
Back on board, delicious snacks and an opportunity to get stuck in to a good book or just simply lie in a hammock and chill.

Second dive would be the likes of New Drop off where towards the end of one dive we had a fantastic encounter with a solitary Eagle Ray that just glided around us for twenty minutes before we had to ascend.
Back for lunch, which always had a theme, Mexican, Italian and my favorite, American with hot dogs and burgers fortified with just about every topping and relish known to man.

Third dive, lets do the Blue Hole! What a feeling descending through one of three vertical shafts that come together in to a humongous cavern that bottoms out at around 30 meters
And that’s not all! As they say in the ads, it opens out as a cave on a fantastic wall. The lighting and ambience are just amazing!
Onboard, some home made muffins or fruit and we can’t wait to tuck in!
Fourth Dive could be the entrance to German Channel and a chance to see Mantas on their regular cleaning stations or if you’re in the vicinity, Peleliu Cut with more opportunities to hook off and catch some shark action.
After all this action it’s time for supper unless your heading out on the night dive, which I must admit, I didn’t do! The temptation of sitting in the Jacuzzi with a beer in my hand watching the sunset seemed like a better idea.
If I had to list all the good things, like the totally cool skiff that has its own hydraulic platform to lift it and its cargo of divers in and out of the water then I would have to write a book!
Many thanks to Our Dubai gang! Brian, Bob, Terry, Ernie, Maddy, Stevie, John and Steve for making it happen in the first place.
Speaking for all of us Many Thanks to the crew! Capt Ike, Hector, Boyet, Matt, Mayett and our fantastic cook Rose.

Photos © Rene Buob, Calypso/Pinjalo Dive Resort Boracay

This year Asia Divers has run trips to Cocos islands of Costa Rica, Maldives with Peter Huges, Palau with the Aggressor fleet, Tubataha reef in the Philippines, Ecuador two trips to Galapagos aboard the Galapagos Aggressor and much more. Next year Asia Divers has the Sardine Run with SEAL South Africa, two trips booked for the Maldives, two trips booked for Tubataha and Apo reef Philippines, and you can be sure there will be more. Should you like to join anyone of our up coming trips, or have some place in mind you would like to go, give us a bell. We love traveling to new and exciting places and we like to do it in style, with all our great friends from the Asia Divers family.

This report has been brought to you by:
The Philippine-Micronesia Alliance. The Divers Choice.
Dont forget to check out our cool dive packages at the direct link below:
http://www.alliancediving.com/packages.html