Nadine Book to Launch at DEEP Show March 27, 2008 – DEEP Indonesia opens tomorrow, and what an exciting show it’s gearing up to be. Dozens of new exhibitors, a number of great presentations lined up, and for fans of Scuba Diver AustralAsia there are some wonderful surprises in store.
Photographer Windiarto Tjandra, featured in the Issue 1/2008 story on underwater fashion (“Fashion H2O”), will be launching his new book, Nadine, at the show. What’s more, he will be at the Scuba Diver AustralAsia booth, A38, to sign autographs along with his model and inspiration for Nadine, Miss Universe Indonesia Nadine Chandrawinata.
Stop by the show, 28–30 March, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. for a chance to meet this engaging photographer and buy his book at a discounted price before it even hits the shelves at your local bookstore. Current or newly joining PADI Diving Society members will enjoy 50% off the newsstand price of Nadine (US$50) only at the DEEP show, a remarkable savings for what will become a treasured piece in your underwater coffee table book collection.
Are You a Witness to Climate Change? March 26, 2008 – Climate change will have a significant impact on the marine environment including increased coral bleaching and changes in distribution and quantity of marine species. If you’re already seeing these or other impacts, then the WWF Climate Witness Programme would like to hear your story. WWF, with the support of over 100 scientists, is working with people around the world to promote their stories of climate change impacts to highlight the need for urgent action before treasured environments are lost forever. Submit a story online and make a difference. (Photo by Cat Holloway for WWF-Canon.)
New Luxury at Kima Bajo Resort March 21, 2008 – From May 2008, Eco Divers will be offering diving and snorkelling services at the attractive upscale boutique Kima Bajo Resort, Manado. The resort beautifully compliments Eco Divers’ Kungkungan Bay Resort (KBR) in Lembeh, being of the same high standards.
This exciting development sees Kima Bajo and Eco Divers offering highly competitive new dive package prices.
With its own private beach this phenomenal, unspoilt location is ideal for diving and relaxation, located just a short boat ride away from world-renowned dive sites of the Bunaken National Park. This means Eco Divers will offer two dives in the morning and one dive in the afternoon with a leisurely lunch back at the resort.
Kima Bajo is the ideal place for divers and nondivers alike with its bar, restaurant, Mayana Spa, private beach, and excursions to nearby places of interest. Accommodation includes 19 luxurious villas with a sunken outdoor bathtub and shower, an exclusive two-villa suite with its own private swimming pool, and 12 spacious longhouse suites. The design is constructed from the finest natural materials available locally to create a style that is contemporary and yet very much in keeping with the North Sulawesi image.
Eco Divers will be offering its usual high calibre of customer service to the diving guests, and will be operating new purpose-built boats designed by Eco Divers with the diver in mind. Spacious and comfortable, these new boats are built in traditional design but with contemporary interior facilities such as sundecks, rinse tanks, bathroom, shaded salon and powerful, energy efficient double outboard engines.
The result is that guests travel to the dive sites with speed and in extreme comfort. As with all Eco Divers’ diving, the guest-to-guide ratio is kept small at four to one and with a maximum of just eight guests per boat. Snorkellers and nondivers are welcome to join any of the trips.
“We are delighted to be involved with Kima Bajo – our experience at Kungkungan Bay and Tasik Ria puts us in good stead and the team is looking forward to welcoming our first guests,” explained Eco Divers’ owner, Jim Yanny. For more information, email Kima Bajo or visit the Eco Divers Web site.
Reduced Prices at Tasik Ria Resort March 18, 2008 – Eco Divers at Tasik Ria Resort is offering a fantastic new all-inclusive dive package price for 2008. A four-night package starts at just US$525 per person, including three days of diving, meals, accommodation, taxes and service – a savings of over US$100. Bookings are now being taken. For information on accommodation and diving, check out the Eco Divers Web site or drop them an email. (Photo by Rod Klein)
Go Pro Challenge Winners Announced March 17, 2008 – In early 2007 PADI launched the Go PRO Challenge Professional Rating contest, offering a US$10,000 cash prize to winners in five regions around the world.
Being recognised by PADI for his accomplishments, Master Scuba Diver Trainer Joo Hee Han achieved the most professional level ratings in the Asia Pacific region during 2007 and will collect the US$10,000 Go Pro Challenge cash prize as his reward.
A 38-year-old university graduate, Joo Hee resides in Seoul, South Korea with his wife, Hae-Young Shin, seven-year-old daughter, Yoon Jin, and five-year-old son, Yoon Sung, and currently works as a consultant in the IT industry.
Joo Hee’s professional diving career began in May 2007 when he became a PADI divemaster. Within six months he’d achieved Master Scuba Diver Trainer status and now holds 18 PADI Professional level ratings.
His inspiration to dive began in the Korean Army (Marine corps) with an opportunity to take military scuba diving training. Not designed for pleasure, Joo Hee found the going tough but also found his passion. “It was an amazing experience to breathe underwater like a fish and all the equipment looked so cool,” he said.
Once discharged from service, he continued diving with friends. “I took various diver programmes but when I decided to become a diving professional I researched the major agency’s curricula; business structures, market share, recognition etc. and found that PADI is beyond comparison, the best of the best in the diving industry.”
Joo Hee attributes his achievements to PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, Mr. Young Sik Son, and PADI Course Director Hoi Seung Jung from whom he learnt a great deal during his Instructor Development Course (IDC).
“The Go PRO Challenge was a significant goal for me. I kept in mind what I should do to be competitive as a PADI Professional and I applied the PADI Continuing Education system to my students as well as myself.”
Joo Hee’s goals for the future include further professional level training and ultimately to become a PADI Course Director. He plans to share the US$10,000 prize with his family on further diving experiences. “We plan to take an overseas diving trip and I’ll encourage my wife to take the PADI Advanced course and introduce PADI Bubblemaker to my daughter when she reaches eight.”
Four additional PADI Professionals have been recognised as Go PRO Challenge winners in PADI territories worldwide:
Andrew Statler, PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer from Liberty, Missouri, USA (PADI Americas and Canada)
Pierre Gobinet, PADI Master Scuba Diver Training from Creuzier le Neuf, France (PADI Europe)
Doug Barr, PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer from Aberdeen, Scotland (PADI International Limited)
Nobuyuki Higashiura, PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer from Aichi, Japan (PADI Japan)
The Go PRO Challenge contest continues in 2008 with two contests to enter:
The Go PRO Challenge Professional Ratings Contest, where PADI pros can win a DOXA dive watch and other great prizes for achieving professional level ratings and teaching others; and the Go PRO Challenge Testimonial Contest, which will reward US$10,000 to the PADI Professional who submits the most compelling story via video or captioned photo as to why he or she became a PADI Pro.
Cocotinos Resort Breaks New Ground March 15, 2008 – For fans of Cocotinos Resort in Manado, Indonesia, here’s a bit of good news: By the end of 2009 there will be a new resort, this one located off the southwest coast of Lombok, the sister island of Bali, Indonesia.
Cocotinos Lombok will be situated on a secluded white sand beach (at left) facing three exotic and relatively undeveloped islands. Expect the same Cocotinos experience but this time on an exclusive white sand beach an hour’s drive away from Mataram airport. This new resort is expected to be completed by the end of 2009 and open soon after.
PADI Launches the 2008 Go Pro Challenge March 15, 2008 – PADI is once again inviting dive professionals to share their most compelling reasons for becoming a PADI Pro, challenging them to expand and share their dive knowledge through the launch of the 2008 Go PRO Challenge. PADI’s Go PRO Challenge is one of several innovative marketing campaigns designed to increase business for PADI Dive Centers and Resorts.
Similar to last year, the PADI Go PRO Challenge consists of two contests: the Go PRO Challenge Testimonial Contest and the Go PRO Challenge Professional Ratings Contest.
The Go PRO Challenge Testimonial Contest is simply last year’s video and photo contest by another name. The entries will be judged on the most passionate, heartfelt testimonials from PADI Professionals about why they chose diving as a way of life – no high-tech videography or professional photo prowess is required. This is a global contest open to PADI Professionals worldwide.
To enter the 2008 Go PRO Challenge Testimonial Contest, simply complete a professional-level PADI Certification (divemaster or above) before 15 September 2008. Then submit a video (or captioned photo) showing, “Why I Became a PADI Pro.” Submit the winning video or photo and you'll win the US$10,000 prize. Current PADI Pros can also participate by earning professional-level PADI rating before 15 September 2008 and submitting a video or captioned photograph.
Mauricio Handler On Assignment "Under Japan"
March 14, 2008 – Join Mauricio Handler and National Geographic magazine photographer Brian Skerry as they spend a month on the Hokkaido Peninsula, Japan, diving under the icy waters of this rich environment.
Many wonder what National Geographic contributors do in the field on long assignments; now’s your chance to get direct insight and even ask questions. Simply visit the National Geographic “On Assignment” site, log on, and read the posts.
A precautionary note: Wear something warm and have a hot drink next to you, this could get chilly!
New Frogfish Species in Ambon? March 12, 2008 – I've just returned from Indonesia. During our cruise with Kararu Dive Voyages aboard Cheng Ho, we were able to see and photograph this unusual frogfish.
Maluku Divers first posted some photos of this fish with the face only a mother could love on wetpixel.com, with a request for help with the identification. According to the folks at Maluku Divers, this fish was first seen a couple of years ago but not photographed. Their dive guides saw it again on January 29 at the dive site named Laha Harbour, on Ambon. We began our Kararu cruise there during the first week in February. The boat's dive guides also spotted it, and we photographed it. It was right in the harbour, near the dock for the fishing boats in about 10 metres of water.
It's somewhat like the cryptic frogfish in general body shape, but the colour pattern and face are different. This one has a unique colouration comprised of many thin stripes radiating out from the eye and swirling across the body. The leonine appearance of the bony ridge around the face is very different too. To quote directly from the Maluku Divers Web site:
“As we continue our search for a positive identification, we've been talking to some of the most knowledgeable frogfish experts in the world. One such gentleman, Professor Theodore Pietsch of the College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences in Washington University, Washington state, USA, had the following to say:
‘…in my 40 or so years studying frogfishes and anglerfishes in general, I have never seen one like this. Very striking is the highly unusual, flat face that allows the eyes to be directed forward, perhaps providing for binocular vision. The dorsal, anal, and caudal fins appear to be highly fleshy, covered by loose skin. Also, looking closely at the forehead I can't see any trace of a luring apparatus. If I had to say what its closest living relative might be, I'd suggest the genus Histiophryne, but this taxon differs in a host of other ways. In summary, it’s quite unlike any antennarioid I've ever seen and most likely represents a genus new to science.’”
Laha is now added to my personal list of favourite dive sites. Besides this frogfish we also had mandarinfish crawling around on the rocks in the open and feeding at midday. You could get extreme close-ups. I happened to be in the right place at the right time when two males started fighting. One gripped the other by the throat, trying to drive the other away. They wrestled for about half an hour, and I got some great shots of the two in combat. We also had a wonderpus, a long-armed mimic octopus, seahorses, juvenile batfish, pegasus sea moths, short-fin lionfish, large flamboyant cuttlefish, nudibranchs, many types of eels, warty frogfish, at least four giant frogfish, estuarine stonefish (on top of the sand), spiny devilfish, and leaf scorpionfish. – By Christopher Crowley
Scubacam's Sensational pre-ADEX Sale March 7, 2008 – ADEX is back in Singapore this year. And to celebrate Asia's largest diving consumer and retail show, Scubacam is offering massive discounts on underwater photography equipment from brands like Ikelite, Inon, and Light & Motion during the three-day event (April 18–20). But you don't have to wait until April to enjoy these fabulous offers.
Scubacam is offering these discounts for the full month before ADEX even touches down, allowing customers to pre-order at discounted prices and just collect at the show. To learn more about the products and discounts on offer, email Scubacam or call +(65) 6336 6186.
Manta Fest Back for Seconds March 6, 2008 – The second edition of Manta Ray Bay Hotel and Yap Divers' Manta Fest series will be held in two sessions beginning 3 September and ending 2 October 2008.
The first session will feature photographers Eric Cheng and Scuba Diver AustralAsia Field Editor Mike Veitch (left); the second session, which begins Wednesday, 17 September and runs through Thursday, 2 October, features Eric Hanauer and Marty Snyderman. Each session has a professional digital still photographer and a professional videographer to help guests with any of their photographic needs. There will be nightly presentations on the big outdoor screen as well as individual classroom seminars in the afternoons.
The pros will also compile a slide show and video presentation from guests’ efforts for presentation on the last day of each session, with awards given to those participating.
Ocean Rover Press Trips March 4, 2008 – You may recall that famed live-aboard Ocean Rover will relocate to Indonesia in June this year, and operate under new management in North Sulawesi (Manado) and Raja Ampat.
Ocean Rover's new owners would like members of the media to experience firsthand how the boat operates under new management and, of course, would like them to sample the underwater delights of these exquisite diving destinations.
For media members only, Ocean Rover invites you for a free-of-charge cruise on any of the following dates:
Cruise NS2-08 July 9–19
Cruise NS4-08 August 4–13
Cruise NS5-08 August 16–25
Cruise NS10-08 October 17–27
If you or any of your staff wish to join any of these cruises, please contact Managing Director Jeroen Deknatel or the Ocean RoverReservations Department.
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