The documentary ‘Ondinesia’ has won the Independent Category at the North Sea Film Festival, which took place 6 – 8 Nov 09.

Starring SMY Ondina, ‘Ondinesia’ is a collaboration between Enrique Rubio of SMY Ondina, Bruno Vanherck and Tommy Vuylsteke from Aquacam

Enrique met Bruno in Antibes a few years ago and they became firm friends.

Their mutual passion for underwater photography, diving, marine life and the ocean motivated them to host joint underwater photoworkshops and special cruises.

This naturally lead to the idea of creating a top quality documentary. Their Goldwave award is not the first validation of their achievement: earlier this year ‘Ondinesia’ won Bronze at the World Festival of Underwater Pictures held in Marseille, France 31 Oct 09.

“This is only the beginning!” enthuses Enrique.

Excerpts of ‘Ondina’ will be added to SMY Ondina’s site soon, but in the meantime here is a clip for you of other footage filmed during their partnership.

Do you want to join Bruno Vanherck aboard SMY Ondina for 1 of her special photoworkshop cruises to Rajah Ampat? Call Dive The World now on +66 (0)83 505 7794 or email blog@dive-the-world.com.

Just as we think we know the oceans, something new crops up.

A recently discovered frogfish that bounces up and down on the ocean bed, it turns out, is in fact a new species.

Not unlike a funky rubber ball, the bouncing frogfish is covered in splattering of trippy patterns. Peach psychedelic stripes melts into a molten toffee coloured background and apparently aides the frogfish to blend in with the coral landscape.

The fish has been named psychedelica and is a member of the antennariid genus. It’s similar to other frogfish in that it has leg-like fins on both sides of its body. Unlike other frogfish though, it ‘bounces’ on the seabed by pushing off with these fins and propelling itself with water expelled by tiny gill openings.

The erratic movements, aided by an off-centre tail, serves to camouflage it against predators, but aids in its own predation of unsuspecting soon-to-be-meals swimming by.

Initially discovered by dive instructors working for a tour operator off Ambon island in eastern Indonesia, the unusual fish was classified as a new species by Ted Pietsch, a professor at the University of Washington.

Said Pietsch of his unusual find, “It also speaks to the tremendous diversity in this region and to fact that there are still a lot of unknowns here — in Indonesia and in the Coral Triangle in general.”

Email Dive The World to find out more about how a liveaboard diving safari is the perfect way to discover your own unknowns in Indonesia and the Coral Triangle.

The newly opened Misool Eco Resort promises to herald a new era in responsible dive tourism. The doors have just been opened a couple of weeks and, ever on-the-ball, Dive The World have already run the rule over the place just for you! This brand new Raja Ampat dive resort could be the next big thing….

When you set foot on the jetty and make your way to the central restaurant of the resort, the view tells a story. A small shallow bay where turquoise waters gently lap a fine sandy beach is the first to catch your eye. Then you see the two rocky arms of the bay stretching out with delightful chalets lining the shore. Beyond, you gaze out across the remote, rich waters of Raja Ampat to distant verdant islands on the horizon.

Knowing what we do about the quality of the diving around Raja Ampat generally and Misool particularly, could you imagine a better location? Up until now we have only recommended liveaboards for this incredible region but we have had a rethink…

In a time when the word ‘Eco’ appears everywhere, it is great to see a resort with credentials including:

• Every single piece of lumber used in building has been milled from salvaged driftwood and free-fallen timbers collected in Raja Ampat
• Collected rainwater is used for showering
• Grey water is processed with waste water gardens and then redirected to flush toilets
• The resort has implemented a community agreement for a 200 sq km Marine protected Area (no fishing zone)
• The Misool Conservation Centre is being registered as a UK-charity, and will provide a well-equipped, functional base for scientific research and conservation projects, both social and environmental
• There is an emphasis on employing and buying from local people as well as implementing social projects to provide alternative means of income to local people

Note that all this good work is in addition to providing you with some of the best diving you can imagine. Dive sites like the legendary Fiabacet come within the Marine Protected Area. The fabulous Farondi island and The Passage are both within easy reach, plus the house reef provides the type of night dive any other resort would kill for. There are so many excellent diving spots nearby that the list is practically inexhaustible.

In short, Misool Eco Resort will soon become a place that tops every serious diver’s ‘Must visit’ list. If you go now, you will have bragging rights forever more!

Due to the remote location, the resort is run a little like a liveaboard with set trips:

Misool Eco Resort offers 11 night holiday packages. Transfer to and from this private island is free for guests on scheduled departure dates. Departures are from Sorong on alternate Sundays, arriving early evening at Misool Eco Resort. Return to Sorong Thursday.

2008 15% OFF all trips completed before end Dec 2008. Contact us!
November 30…………………… December 11
December 14…………………… December 26 *12 nights*
December 28 ………………….. January 8

2009
January 11……………………… January 22
January 25……………………… February 5
February 8………………………. February 19
February 22…………………….. March 5
March 8 …………………………. March 19
March 22………………………… April 2
April 5…………………………….. April 16
April 19…………………………… April 30
May 3……………………………… May 14
May 17……………………………. May 28
May 31……………………………. June 11
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Misool Eco Resort is closed July, August, and September each year for maintenance.

2009 RATES
(NOTE there is 10% OFF if you pay in full before 31 Dec 2008 for all trips beginning 3 May 2009 an onwards)
11 nights, unlimited diving per person prices

LOW SEASON: Jan, Feb, March and June.

Reef View Cottage: Air € 2,340 / Nitrox € 2,570
Water Cottage: Air € 2,980 / Nitrox € 3,210
___________________________

HIGH SEASON: Oct, Nov, Dec, Apr and May

Reef View Cottage: Air € 2,676 / Nitrox € 2,830
Water Cottage: Air € 3,280 / Nitrox € 3,535

This is just a taste of the resort and the prices. If you are interested then let us know and we can give you more details. Just don’t tell too many people or the resort will be full all year round. OK? Our little secret.

For enquiries or bookings, please call Dive The World on +66 (0)83 505 7794, or email: blog@dive-the-world.com

Ah, Manado; deep water paradise, smack in the middle of the Coral Triangle, home to the highest levels of biodiversity in the world, oodles of fish varieties and top-shelf wall diving.

And, Lembeh; muck diving capital of the world where you can be sure of spotting a brain-scrambling number of mid-boggling creatures more alien than the best sci-fi writers could ever dream up.

If you’ve ever wanted to go on a diving trip to Manado and/or Lembeh, but thought flying to Manado airport was too much trouble, then Dive The World brings you good news: Manado is easy to get to.

That’s right, not only is Manado now more accessible than ever, it’s a good deal too. AirAsia, that low-cost carrier we all know so well, flies to Manado from Kuala Lumpur three times a week.

And if you don’t mind paying a little extra for your frills, then Silk Air flies to Manado from Singapore, four times a week too.

So, for dive enthusiasts transiting through Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, or who are based in the region, the wondrous diving of Bunaken, Lembeh and all the other magical dive sites of North Sulawesi, are now mere hours away on any given day.

Grab your passport and contact Dive The World, because you’re flying to Manado for an awesome diving holiday. Phone us on +66 (0)83 505 7794 or email at blog@dive-the-world.com.

Dive The World’s Sheldon Hey recently went to the far reaches of Komodo to sniff out the best marine life the Land of Dragons has to offer.

On his perilous journey he encountered fabled Komodo dragons, frolicsome dolphins and the fully-informed crew of the Ondina, a purpose-built teak-and-tropical wood Buginese diving schooner that specialises in trips around eastern Indonesia.

Through dive after dive and copious encounters with creatures playful and awesome, both underwater and on land, he finally tells us all about his Komodo liveaboard experience in this SMY Ondina Trip Report.

Read about Sheldon’s experience as he plies the Komodo waters with the fun and energetic staff of the SMY Ondina.

Visit the SMY Ondina at Dive The World for more information about this liveaboard, or contact us directly for more information or bookings by calling Dive The World on +66 (0)83 505 7794, or email: blog@dive-the-world.com.

The crew from Karura Dive Voyages, onboard the liveaboard Cheng Ho, recently treated their guests to a once-in-a-lifetime wake-up call.

In between Alor and Komodo the Cheng Ho had dropped anchor in the vicinity of an active volcano. The next morning guests literally started the day with a bang with a spectacular volcanic eruption.

After the initial eruption, it kept on going at regular 20 minute intervals that lasted the entire day and throughout the night. Guests zoomed in on the action with the Cheng Ho’s tender boats and the erupting volcano was captured on film.

The Cheng Ho plies the waters of Indonesia’s sought after dive destinations, including Komodo National Park, the Banda Sea and Raja Ampat / Irian Jaya.

Other than dormant, active and erupting volcanoes in the midst of virtually untouched nature, these Indonesia dive sites are also famous for unparalleled marine diversity and legendary dives.

Bali has been the Best Island in the World for at least the last 6 years running. But, says the world’s largest travel magazine, the number one has slipped to the second rung.

However, the new heir to the throne is the Galapagos Islands, which is costly to get to with limited accommodation options and as such, says Travel & Leisure, Bali is still the best island destination in terms of popularity, value and accessibility.

In the Best Island in Asia category Bali remained undisputed at number one and beat Phuket and Penang, sitting at number two and number three respectively.

Bali as a tourist island has come a long way since tourism was first established in the 1930’s when artists, musicians and anthropologists started to paint Bali as a paradise of peace. By the end of the 60’s growth in tourism started to raise the living standards of the Balinese, and Bali became a major foreign currency earner for Indonesia and its biggest tourist attraction.

Today the island of Bali is once again flourishing and with surfing, nature and culture exploration being as popular as ever, Bali once again draws a new generation of tourists. More and more, Bali is also gaining reputation as a diving destination of choice with unexpectedly pristine waters.

Diving in Bali offers something for everybody, from conditions ideal for beginner divers at Tulamben to dive sites for those with more experience, such as wrecks and excellent muck diving.

Highlights include the USS Liberty Wreck, which has a final resting place just 30m from the Tulamben shore. Covered in healthy coral, the WWII cargo ship is frequently visited by sunfish, great barracuda, Napoleon fish and scribbled filefish. It hosts particularly memorable night-dives too, being so close to shore, with the colourful underwater world coming to life.

The nearby Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Perdina is another must see with regular sighting of the large and curious mola-mola, or oceanic sunfish, especially during mola-mola season from July to September. Manta rays are also frequent visitors to cleaning stations in the area and is a sight to behold.

With dive sites like these, the friendliness of the Balinese people, fantastic weather and the beautiful white sandy beaches, it’s little wonder that more divers from across the world are looking to Bali as not just the best island destination in the world, but a top class dive destination too.

If you’re looking for more info on a diving holiday in Bali, contact Dive The World on +66 (0)83 505 7794, or email us at blog@dive-the-world.com.

External References:
Bali Dives Travel
Diving Philippines
PADI IDC Bali

Introducing the Banda

On drums…Not wanting to miss a beat we decided that it was not fair to only offer liveaboard trips in North Sulawesi, Komodo and Raja Ampat. As a result of our continuous fact-finding missions, we concluded that Banda was not just another place to dive but was a special place in its own right, with its own unique history and range of underwater sights.

On keyboards…Rivers of ink have been spilled enthusing about Raja Ampat as the centre of the world’s marine biodiversity and much of it is warranted. However If you have been to Banda before then you will know that there is enormous diversity here too, with everything from meaty pelagics, lots of big schools and every macro delight you can imagine. The richness of the dive sites is off the scale. Check out what the Banda dive sites hold in store for you.

On brass…..There are a number of liveaboards operating in Banda with various price ranges represented. We expect more boats to visit the region in the coming years but for now you can check out who boldly cruises around this amazing region by perusing our Banda Liveaboards.

On bass….Back in the day the Banda Sea was better known for its olden say spice trade, but now the main reason to go there is the awesome underwater life and scenery.

On vocals…So we have decided to shout it out loud and who better a frontman than our very own 80’s throwback Sheldon Hey? Read his Banda Liveaboard trip report on the Adventurer II.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please give a big Dive The World welcome to……The Banda Sea!

If you are interested in Banda Liveaboards call Dive The World – +66 (0)83 505 7794, or email: blog@dive-the-world.com.

We are delighted to report the easing of travel restrictions to Indonesia as published on www.telegraph.co.uk. Now there’s no reason why you should not fulfill your diving ambitions by visiting the world’s richest waters….

The United States Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia has announced the decision by the US Government to lift a travel warning for Indonesia which was issued in 2000 following a series of violent attacks in Bali, and Jakarta.

“The US Department of State has lifted its travel warning for Indonesia after determining the security climate in the country no longer warrants such a warning,” the embassy was quoted by AFP as saying, adding that the move went into effect on 23 May 2008. “The US has lifted the warning due to objective improvements made by Indonesia in its current security situation.”

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Read more about the diving that awaits you in Indonesia here:
Indonesia Diving Sites

For Bookings, please call Dive The World – +66 (0)83 505 7794, or email: blog@dive-the-world.com.

Check out some of these great images captures by RHK UW productions taken on a recent trip on boat the Archipelago Adventurer II.

These destinations are becoming more and more celebrated throughout the world as being among the world’s top destinations with a vastness and variety of marine life that nowhere else can boast.

Below is a photo of an unidentified frogfish which scientists believe is not simply a new species but a new genus!

According to professor Theodore Pietsch, of the College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences in Washington University, ‘I can say that in my 40 or so years studying frogfishes and anglerfishes in general, I have never seen one like this…unlike any antennarioid I’ve ever seen and most likely represents a genus new to science.’

Another interesting image is of ‘Eel Man’ in the village of Waii in Ambon who has adopted a resident fresh water eel that lives in a stream running through the village.

Sargassum frogfish are quite rare but the team came across several pairs during the dives they did around Raja Ampat. Sargassum frogfish live in free floating sargassum seaweed and below is a fine example

Read more about the amazing diving of the region Raja Ampat diving and The dive sites of Banda and Ambon

More on the Indonesia liveaboard: Archipelago Adventurer II

For bookings, please contact blog@dive-the-world.com or call our PADI 5 Star Dive Centre in Phuket – 66 (0)83 505 7794.