Wonderful to have John Lippmann, DAN Asia-Pacific’s Founder, Chairman, Director of Research with us for a few days. John was in town to attend a dive show in Manila and popped down here prior to the show. He gave a very interesting presentation to the local diving community on dangerous marine animals, emergency evacuations: case examples and challenges posed by remote locations and oxygen first aid.

While Sabine, Mal, and Ferde were submerged with Alli, John enjoyed a nice time snorkeling around Dungon and seeing all the beautiful corals and fishes.  You don’t need to go deep to see lots here!

Asia Divers just got a new compressor and as you can see it takes a lot of manpower just to get it to our place. Once it arrived in Sabang it took all afternoon just to get it to our place…inch by inch….

Our new baby came from the distributors of LW Germany. It’s the Model LW 570ES with the upgraded filtration system  and holds the same technical specifications with an air output of 570 Ltr/min. That means if  both compressors are running they give a combined output of 1,140 Ltr / mins which equals to filling 10 tanks from 50 bar in 15 mins…WOW!! The unit is fitted with VFD so able to adjust rotation speed output to match the nitrox machine and at same time able to save on electrical power.

Asia Divers is thrilled to have received an award from PADI for “Recognition of Outstanding Contribution to the Dive Industry.”  It was presented to Tommy from Jimmy Christrup, PADI Regional Manager, Philippines.

From its rocky shallows to deep ‘twilight zone’ reefs, the Philippines is the ‘center of the center’ of marine biodiversity. CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

SCIENTISTS SAY THIS IS A NEW HEART URCHIN DISCOVERED NEAR PUERTO GALERA

“SAN FRANCISCO (June 8, 2015) — Scientists from the California Academy of Sciences are celebrating World Ocean’s Day with a slew of brand new marine discoveries–more than 100 species that are likely new to science. The Philippines is home to the most biologically diverse waters on Earth, and remains the centerpiece of the Academy’s multi-year exploration of the Coral Triangle’s biological treasures. Over the course of this seven-week undertaking, funded by the National Science Foundation, scientists collected countless marine specimens, including rare and new species of colorful sea slugs, barnacles, and delicate heart urchins–among several others–to be studied in the coming months. Mysterious live animals from dimly-lit, deep-water reefs were also collected for a new exhibit at the Academy’s Steinhart Aquarium, expected to open in the summer of 2016.”

This is wonderful news about Puerto Galera. You can read more about this on the links below:

http://news.sciencemag.org/plants-animals/2015/06/marine-scientists-discover-100-new-species-filipino-easter-egg-hunt

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-06/caos-cao060715.php#

http://www.rappler.com/science-nature/environment/95782-verde-island-passage-yields-new-marine-species

On the 18th of April the HUGYCUP competition ended.  8 weeks of shoot-out competition in which only photographers and videographers diving with Asia Divers could participate and take their chance to, maybe win, one of the big prizes. The total value of all prizes to be won is over 30000 Euros.  All participants have now the time to work on their pictures, adjust and select the very best ones ! The videographers can start to edit. Everyone has time until the 31st of July to send in their final selection of pictures. Judging will take place in august by an international jury of well-known underwater photographers and videographers. Award and prize giving will take place in Belgium on Saturday the 26th of September in presence of Mr. Allan Nash, managing director of El Galleon dive resort and Asia Divers. As organizer I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff at El Galleon and Asia Divers for a perfect service and good organization. It was a pleasure to see at all times everything going smooth and easy. Great diving, great food, great atmosphere and nice weather. Thanks and hope to see you all back again !!

To keep up with the weekly tradition of a Hugycup picture. This week’s highlight a 1 cm juvenile oriental sweetlip. When you find one, it looks like a fast fluttering little butterfly hiding in between the coral. A challenge for a picture.

Danny Van Belle, Organizer HUGYCUP

It’s been great to have a team from the Dive-Market Development Group of the Philippine Department of Tourism here with us. They we’re here conduct a Product Audit of Puerto Galera dive establishments and dive sites. This is part of the Dive-MDG’s initiative to know, further develop and do product matching of Philippine dive destinations. We hosted the team for three nights and got them out on some beautiful dives to show them how wonderful the diving is in Puerto Galera. Thank you to Mr. Domenic Contreras, from the Regional Office, Ms. Rita Doctor and Ms. Celstine Sy, from Dive-MDG for joining us at El Galleon and Asia Divers.

The past week has been a macro photography week. Visibility wasn’t so good and so everybody was more concentrating on the small stuff. One of the key points to get some good pictures is a very good buoyancy control! Avoiding a lot of backscatter in the background can be achieved by hovering and not putting yourself down on the sand bottom. When in complete control of a good neutral buoyancy underwater you will be amazed how close you can get to some shy animals. It’s sometimes forgotten but before becoming a keen photographer you have to be …… a good diver.

   In the picture this week a garden eel from ‘Giant clams’ at less than 10 cm distance from the lens. Camera Canon 7D / Camera settings – F 11 – 1/60 sec – ISO 200 – Inon Z240 Flashes
Picture by Danny Van Belle

Also from the HUGYCUP. Congratulations to Françoise Jadoul for getting her 1000 dive Club T-shirt. It’s been a very well earned shirt as this has taken 40 years of diving to get it!

Alli has been spending some time with Filip Staes learning all the ins and outs of being an underwater model recently.  Here is a nice shot he took over at Verde Island. Maybe Alli will need a nice yellow dry suit soon…

It was a wonderful time at the Barrel Bar to celebrate the birthday of Jim Morten. Jim put on a roasted pig with all the trimmings and of course quite a few bevies for the night. We’re glad that we were here to celebrate with you!