Banyan Tree Opens Conservation Lab September 26, 2007 -- Banyan Tree Bintan, together with Angsana Resort & Spa Bintan, marked the official opening of the Bintan Conservation Laboratory with a visually moving photo exhibition that draws attention to the richly diverse marine and terrestrial life in this part of the Southeast Asian region.
The Bintan Conservation Lab is the Group's first such research and development facility in Asia, and will be responsible for driving Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives in Banyan Tree's Bintan properties among the local communities, contributing to raising international awareness and increased preservation of our shared natural environment. The Group also operates two marine laboratories in the Maldives.
Its main focus is on research, education and outreach. This is achieved through joint collaborations with valued partners such as key scientists and researchers from various tertiary institutions and zoological parks.
The team at Bintan Conservation Lab is currently working with Dr. Graeme Gillespie, Director of Conservation of Victoria Zoo in Australia, who has served a period of residency surveying Bintan's flora and fauna. Among other collaborations, Professor Chou Loke Ming from the Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore (NUS), has conducted coral surveys around Bintan Island.
The Indonesian archipelago is known to be one of the most biologically diverse and intriguing areas in the world and Pulau Bintan is part of this unexplored ecosystem. The island is home to mangrove swamps and lush tropical rainforests where one can observe simmering underwater coral reef life alongside a vast menagerie of terrestrial wildlife.
However, according to environment naturalist Mr. Mirza Pedju, ìWe continue to find examples where the richness of Bintan's biodiversity has been significantly underappreciated. Banyan Tree Bintan Conservation Lab aims to protect this ecological enclave by raising awareness of how to protect such biodiversity while also raising the collective level of communal benefit in Bintan.î
More future collaborations include the Asian Box Turtle survey with Asian Turtle Conservation Network, a conservation organisation based in Vietnam. The Bintan Wildlife Conservation Lab will be directed by Mr. Mirza Pedju. Along with two local wildlife rangers, Mr. Pedju facilitates the development of conservation programmes as well as enhances community development and public health surrounding Banyan Tree Bintanís property. For more information on Banyan Treeís Corporate Social Responsibility efforts, please visit www.banyantree.com/greenimperative/index.htm
Gorgeous Earth September 26, 2007 -- Join photographers Glen Ravenscroft, Andrew
Olsen, and Robert Tarrant at the Captain Cook Hotel Gallery in Sydney, Australia, as they take you on a
visual journey from the depths of the ocean, to
the sandy beaches, and the surreal skies above.
Opening night is Friday, 28 September, and the show runs six weeks. For more information, telephone +(61 439) 647 747.
Sharing the Stage September 18, 2007 -- The rules for growing your business have changed, as have the rules for growing the industry, which is why PADI Worldwide President and Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Drew Richardson [left], and Scuba Schools International (SSI) Vice President and Executive Director of International Sales, Doug McNeese, are co-hosting an unprecedented seminar that delivers real-world answers to today’s changing dive business environment. All dive center and resort operators are invited to attend "Peak Performance Business Solutions" hosted at The Rosen Centre hotel in Orlando, Florida, USA, on 30 October 2007.
"At first it may seem odd for PADI to share the stage at a business development conference with one of its more visible competitors, but this conference is not about our differences, it’s about shared challenges,” says Richardson. “When it comes to bigger threats facing the dive industry – i.e. competing recreations, economic hardships, environmental damages and government regulations – we need to set internal conflicts aside and join forces and resources to combat them.”
“This is a great approach to focus on what’s truly important – the ongoing success of the diving industry," said McNeese. "As a stakeholder, I feel privileged to co-host such an event that offers retailers and resorts a chance to find new opportunities and address threats in today’s ever changing business climate."
"Peak Performance Business Solutions" emphasises reaching new markets while expanding current ones. This innovative programme draws on winning business strategies from cutting-edge industries that have successfully navigated changing consumer demands. Featured speakers include acclaimed trend analyst Magnus Lindkvist, CEO, Pattern Recognition, who will look at rising retail trends and how to apply them to your business; Andy Wirth, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Intrawest, who will talk about how to thrive and grow during market transitions; and Rob Campbell, Publisher, TransWorld Business, who will talk about increasing efficiency with Web-based business-to-business (B2B) transactions. Other keynote speakers include pro surf and Gen Y icons Alex Gray and Holly Beck, Kristin Valette, PADI Americas Director of Marketing and Communications, and David Freygang, Group Publisher, Bonnier Group.
“This isn’t a PADI branding seminar,” said Richardson. “This is information all serious retail and resort operators should know about today’s transitioning market, delivered by high powered business professionals from similar industries such as surfing, skiing and snowboarding, that have successfully turned market transition into opportunity and growth.”
McNeese adds, “Success in the retail world is not based on how many divers we train, but how many enjoy the total diving experience and in doing so keep diving and rewarding the industry for enrichment of their lives.”
Mission: Awareness September 16, 2007 -- Mission Beach in Tropical North Queensland is now home to a new reef awareness and conservation show. Presented every Friday evening by PADI Master Instructor and conservationist Pete Faulkner, Mission: Awareness aims to educate and entertain with the use of beautiful underwater images and Pete's passion for the coral reef ecosystem. With support from local 5 Star PADI Dive Centre Calypso Dive, the show has been attracting both divers and snorkellers, and even those who don't even get in the water!
Pete has been involved with reef conservation for over 15 years and is excited about the opportunity to bring the reef conservation message to locals and visitors alike. "We have thousands of visitors every year who visit Mission Beach to enjoy our amazing reef and rainforest World Heritage areas. This presentation is an attempt to ensure that they leave here with a real desire to help protect them," said Pete.
There are plans to adapt the show for use in the local schools and to make it available for corporate and conference users in the Tropical North Queensland area.
New Beuchat Dealer in Hong Kong September 10, 2007 -- On the heels of a new dealer in Malaysia, Diving Adventure Ltd has been appointed the dealer for Beuchat equipment in Hong Kong. The contact details are: 2/F Island Building, 439-445 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, Tel: +(852) 3526 1200 (Jasmine) or +(852) 2572 2138 (Stephen), beuchat@divinghk.com
Digital Workshops on the Bilikiki September 6, 2007 -- Bilikiki Cruises will once again host some of the world's most esteemed photo professionals on board MV Bilikiki and MV Spirit of Solomons in 2007 and 2008.
Nov 13-27, 2007 will be hosted by Fred Dion of Underwater Photo-Tech. Receive equipment and photo instruction on a one to one basis! It's a great way to improve your photography, and loads of fun. uwphoto.com/travel.html#6
Aug 12-26, 2008 will be hosted by the "Digital Duo" Sue and Jack Drafahl. Enjoy evening slide shows and instruction in digital photography and Photoshop for free. jackandsuedrafahl.com/tripssolomon1.html
Oct 14-28, 2008 will be hosted by Rod Klein. Take advantage of Rod's expertise in digital photography. rhkuw.com/workshops.html
Each trip is 14 nights with 13 days of diving on the world's most diverse dive sites – covering WWII wrecks, colourful macro critters, and schools of fish! Best of all, each of the workshops is being offered at no extra charge over the regular charter rates.
Demand will be high so book now to secure your space. Email Bilikiki Cruises at bilikiki@bilikiki.com with any questions or to book your trip. Visit bilikiki.com to learn more about the amazing live-aboards and diving in the Solomon Islands.
Young Diver with a Lifetime of Achievements September 5. 2007 -- What do you buy a young girl for her 12th birthday? It's a tricky question for anyone.
OK, then what do you buy a girl who, at 11 years old, has already achieved a PADI Junior Adventure Diver certification, five PADI specialty courses, and over 60 logged dives? The answer just became a whole lot easier: A PADI Junior Rescue Diver course, of course!
In April 2004, eight-year-old Lisa Paggeot first blew bubbles when she completed several PADI Seal Team dives in the Philippines. More Seal Team "Aqua Missions" soon followed in Shenzhen, China, while her father Bruce was stationed there for work.
In February 2005, Bruce contacted PADI Course Director Chris Owen of Sea Bees Palm Garden – a PADI Gold Palm Resort/National Geographic Dive Centre on Phuket Island – and they both travelled to Thailand. Bruce took his PADI Draeger Ray rebreather course and Lisa, nine years old, became a PADI Master Seal Team Member.
After relocating to Singapore, Lisa (then age 10) completed the PADI National Geographic Diver Specialty course on nearby Tioman Island, and later added the PADI Underwater Navigator Speciaity course to her list of diving achievements.
In February 2006, Bruce and Lisa visited Khao Lak in Thailand. Aboard Sea Bees day-trip catamaran The Stingray, they completed the AWARE-Fish Identification and Underwater Photographer Specialty courses in the beauty of the world famous Similan Islands. Now 11 years old, Lisa earned her PADI Junior Adventure Diver certification.
Later that year Bruce and Lisa revisited Sea Bees Palm Garden, where they enjoyed more diving and completed the PADI Underwater Naturalist Specialty course.
Having dived in Boracay (Philippines); Tioman Island and Pulau Aur (Malaysia); Manado, Bunaken, and Lembeh (Indonesia); the Similans and Phi Phi Island (Thailand), Lisa returned in June this year to Sea Bees and completed her PADI Junior Advanced Open Water Diver course with a deep dive to 21 metres. Under the professional eye of Dokmai “Born” Chada – Sea Bees' head Thai PADI Instructor – both Bruce and Lisa completed the PADI Rescue Diver course.
So, five days after Lisa’s 12th birthday, both Chris and Born had the great pleasure of signing two PADI Master Scuba Diver applications.
This is an incredible achievement for a young girl who’s not yet hit her teens. (Now Lisa’s going to need something to keep her busy for the next few years until she can start her PADI Divemaster Course.) For more information on this amazing feat and to learn more about the PADI Master Scuba Diver course, visit padi.com
Smaller Groups at Eco Divers September 3, 2007 -- Eco Divers at Tasik Ria Resort, Manado, has recently upgraded its service by reducing the size of its dive groups to just four or fewer guests to one guide. And that means a lot more personal attention and added safety from Eco’s friendly, fully trained divemasters.
“This new level of service really strengthen Eco Divers’ exclusive service, with our boats already being the most luxurious in Manado,” says owner, Jim Yanny.
Special trips by road can also be arranged to Lembeh Strait, where guests can now enjoy three dives on its famous muck' sites. Here, rare critters include mimic octopus, pygmy seahorses, Rhinopias scorpionfish plus a whole lot more.
Tasik Ria Resort is a great choice for diving the award-winning reefs of Bunaken National Park. A cosy, family-friendly resort, Eco Divers at Tasik Ria offers excellent value for money and yet has plenty of features including a relaxing spa, main pool, child pool, seafood grill, and the ever-popular Sunset Bar.
West Australia Cleanup
September 1, 2007 -- After three years and over seven tonnes and 100,000 individual pieces of rubbish removed from our
beaches, organisers are hoping for a huge turnout at this yeari's cleanup event over the mid-weekend in October.
Local community groups as well as schools, clubs and individuals are invited to pick a stretch of
coastline between Cape Leeuwin, Cape Naturaliste, and Busselton that they would like to clean
up during the weekend of October 13-14, 2007.
Groups are asked to register their stretch of coastline, clean it up, analyse and record what they find and return the data sheets. The data will be then be analysed and collated and a report produced which focuses on reducing the most commonly found items from becoming marine debris. Information from the last three years has been used within government and industry sectors to look at changes in designs to stop items ending up in the ocean!
Each group who registers will receive a pack with information sheets, liability releases, bags,
gloves, and a sharps container for the cleanup.
An after event workshop will also be held in November (date to be confirmed) inviting all
stakeholders to analyse the results and work on ways to reduce the most commonly found
marine debris items.
Since 2004, Tangaroa Blue Ocean Care Society volunteers have been successful in removing
tonnes of rubbish from Cape to Cape beaches and coastline helping to protect marine life and
seabirds that can be injured and killed by pieces of debris in our ocean. In every square
kilometre of ocean there is an estimated 18,000 pieces of plastic killing over one million seabirds
and marine mammals every year!
Help protect our oceans and sign up today! Email Heidi Taylor/Tangaroa Blue Ocean Care Society, heidi@tangaroablue.com
