Thanks to everyone that has supported Asia Divers & all the Puerto Galera Dive Centers with the relief effort for Malapascua Island. The donations from PG divers alone are fast approaching one million pesos. Well done!
John and his father live close to one of the few freshwater wells on the island. Like most people they now live in a shack built from the ruins of their home. But, they can’t continue to live in a shack. They need a new house and this is what we are helping to do on Malapascua.
Halloween is coming soon, so grab your mask or your broom. Asia Divers will be your host,come dressed as yourself, a witch or a ghost! There will face painting, costume prizes and witch’s brew, Now all we need is you! Join us for our Annual Halloween Spooktacular Party on October 31st.
Older but wiser?! It’s been an exciting time over the past week with most of the animals prowling about. There have been several birthdays and some random boisterous nights, but all in all the animals were quite docile this year. Great to see you guys again!
Getting together for the whole gang’s last night here were Chris Taylor, Eric Masters, Bob Robb, David de Wolf, Magnus Sandstrom, John Tucker, Allan Nash, Mark Bluestone, Terry Llewelyen, Wayne Davis and Peter Bordeaux
Glad that John Tucker could be here to ring in another birthday with us!
Our manta ray on the Sports bar has been a wonderful piece of art and a superb conversation piece for several years now. It fit right it perfectly…but everything has its price so it’s time to bid fare-well and hope that it gets packed up good and cushy for the journey to the U.S. Many people over the years have wanted to take it home with them but it’s always been the problem of how to get it somewhere. It’s super heavy and very fragile. It was love at first sight for Carolyn Macola, and with Tom Artz having a shipping company packing him up for a move back to the U.S. the pieces fell into place and the manta was sold. The manta got it’s U.S visa!!
Here is a photo of Tommy from Steve Ford that was taken a few years back. You’ll see more of Steve’s “oldie” photos from the early 90’s on our Facebook Page. Check it out…there are some real good ones there!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.158818000907642.30740.157591907696918&type=3
Tommy, Allan, and Andy with Kate and Jeroen in New Zealand, 2005.
Early 2005 Allan, Andy and Tommy decided they should go on a dive holiday together. Only one rule, no white beach and palm trees, try something different. As Allan and Tommy had met a nice guy called Jeroen from Dive Tutukaka in New Zealand at several dive shows they decided maybe this would be a perfect spot to go for a different dive experience. Tommy came up with the idea of going there in September for two reasons, first he had read it was more Bronze Whaler sharks when it was cooler (New Zealand winter) and of course the resort and shop back home would not be overly busy. This proved to be a slight mistake as the boys quickly learned from the first day of diving in 14-15 degree water and with the weather conditions anything else then favorable.
The boys enjoying the balmy diving conditions…
Next two days the diving was cancelled due to bad weather so the boys took off and checked out the northern part of North Island to return on Monday morning for more diving. Jeroen and Kate who own Dive Tutukaka made sure more neoprene was added to the boys and the sun was out to add some warmth after the dives. The Asia Divers team was treated like kings during the entire stay in Tutukaka and had a great time diving the Poor Knights Island. Finally after 8 years we have had the pleasure of having Kate and Jeroen with us in Puerto Galera. It’s been wonderful to see them again and for them to get to know us more on our turf. We hope that they can come back soon and perhaps bring along some of their divers from New Zealand.
Kate and Jeroen got in some great diving in our nice warm water and also did a nitrox course with Alli to take advantage of the wonderful diving conditions in Puerto Galera.
Was a nice thought of Sandi O’Donnell taking 6 weeks holiday from her home town of Southampton in England to pay a visit to Andy Norman who was school classmate at Manor Court School in Drayton, Portsmouth from 1965 -1972. Having been in same class in certain subjects from age of 11 and travelling with Sandi and friends throughout Europe this was her first time to travel to Asia and the cultural way of life that was very different from the average English high street.
While in UK, during those slightly younger years Sandi always enjoyed sports with the youth club we were both at so only natural that she’s do the PADI Open Water course with us. Must admit, Sandi done very well, something she can add towards the memories of the Philippines when returning to England.
Actually, reminiscent of Fell (hill) walking in England in the 1970’s, we took on a little bit of fell walking in the mountains north Philippines in the rice terraces, however, importance was not of speed or who could climb the highest as we did at the age of 18, but of the slower country walking pace geared towards a slightly older generation.
Sandi is a professional artist and during her travels throughout the country, she was able to take on some very nice sketch drawings that hopefully will go on show in UK.
From all the staff…. and especially from your old classmate from Portsmouth, thanks Sandi for being with us at Asia Divers.
Carmen Eaton has just left us after being here for the past few months. She has enjoyed time with Dad, getting her OW and AOW, doing some fun diving, meeting lots of new friends and working on her tan! Hope to see you back here soon…
Marc Van Der Poel was back on the beach after being away from here for quite a few year. He was here to do an I.E. for PADI and to catch up with old mates in the Point.
Chuck Dreyfus earned himself a very special T-shirt while he was here…#1400! Now that he’s back Stateside he’ll be kept very busy with about 7000 pics to go thru from 3 different cameras. His Canon S95 was flooded in the rinse tank 5 days into the trip in Anilao. Luckily he was able to use an Olympus pen 1 for 5 days and Sealife DC1200 for 10 days thanks to some kind people who made this possible!