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Dive Safari Asia: Philippines Safari Trip Report

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We have just returned after a fabulous small group trip to the Philippines. The trip began in Manila, with a group transfer to Puerto Galera where we stayed at a fantastic owner-run resort, Fisherman’s Cove. Set in a private bay this dive resort combines excellent diving with friendly knowledgeable staff and delicious Italian-inspired food.  The sites in the area boast some incredible macro diving, beautiful walls and coral gardens, over a variety of terrain and topography.  One of the highlights for us was diving Canyons in strong current enjoying views of large groups of schooling trevally and snappers. We did a day trip to Verde Island, a well-known pinnacle site, covered with coral and teaming with fish; truly magnificent.

img_0201The muck diving revealed some fabulous and rare critters including pygmy and thorny sea horses, frogfish, ornate and robust ghost pipfish, too many crabs and shrimp to name (including zebra, spider, soft coral, xeno crabs; emperor, skeleton and harlequin shrimp) and so many nudibranchs of all colours and sizes.

After a fantastic week, enjoying three dives a day, we made our way to Sangat Island off Busuanga to dive the famous WWII wrecks in Coron Bay.  This private island is truly a slice of paradise with beachfront bungalows, a sunset bar on the rocks and easy access to the wrecks that brought us there. The wrecks were all sank in September 1944 when the Americans bombed a fleet of Japanese ships, including seaplane tenders, cargo carriers and gunboats. Many of these wrecks have ammunition, guns, and building materials (bulldozers, cement, jeeps etc) still onboard. They are mostly within recreational dive depths and offer fantastic opportunities for wreck penetration with knowledgeable experienced guides.

Exploring the cargo holds, engine rooms, heads and crane mechanisms were some highlights. We had 25m+ visibility with almost no current; and the wrecks boast fabulous marine life, including soft coral and sea fans, schools of snapper, barracuda and batfish, sea snakes and cuttlefish as well as nudibranchs and crabs. Two group members took the opportunity to complete their deep diver specialty so they could confidently explore the engine room of the Irako Maru.

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Our last night as a group was spent in Manila, enjoying the atmosphere of the Mall of Asia sea front promenade. It was then time to go our separate ways, after an absolutely fabulous tour.

Bernita is the Operations Manager and Tour Leader for UK-based tour operator Dive Safari Asia. to find out more, visit www.divesafariasia.com.

Born and bred in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa. Traveled and instructed in South East Asia for the approx 10 years. Now living the dream working as Operations Manager and Tour Leader for UK-based tour operator Dive Safari Asia. Believes in mermaids.

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Euro-Divers to close dive centre at NH Collection Maldives Havodda

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Havodda

Euro-Divers have announced that as of 15 April 2024, they will no longer be operating the dive centre at NH Collection Maldives Havodda (formerly known as Amari Havodda).

The popular dive centre chain released this statement regarding the closure:

Dear valid customers, business partners and friends,

We are leaving NH Collection Maldives Havodda – former Amari Havodda as of 15th of April 2024.

Unfortunately, the information reached us on short notice that we are no longer operating the dive centre at the resort.

It was a great pleasure to work with the Amari Hotel group and continue to work with the NH Hotel group.

We wish our partners great success with all their new changes.

Thanks a lot for cooperating during our time at the resort. We wish everyone with whom we have worked a good and hopefully successful future.

Euro-Divers continue to operate in several other dive resorts throughout the Maldives in addition to other locations.

To finds out more about Euro-Divers, visit www.euro-divers.com.

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Marine Life & Conservation Blogs

Creature Feature: Undulate Ray

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In this series, the Shark Trust will be sharing amazing facts about different species of sharks and what you can do to help protect them.

This month we’re looking at the Undulate Ray. Easily identified by its beautiful, ornate pattern, the Undulate Ray gets its name from the undulating patterns of lines and spots on its dorsal side.

This skate is usually found on sandy or muddy sea floors, down to about 200 m deep, although it is more commonly found shallower. They can grow up to 90 cm total length. Depending on the size of the individual, their diet can range from shrimps to crabs.

Although sometimes called the Undulate Ray, this is actually a species of skate, meaning that, as all true skates do, they lay eggs. The eggs are contained in keratin eggcases – the same material that our hair and nails are made up of! These eggcases are also commonly called mermaid’s purses and can be found washed up on beaches all around the UK. If you find one, be sure to take a picture and upload your find to the Great Eggcase Hunt – the Shark Trust’s flagship citizen science project.

It is worth noting that on the south coasts, these eggcases can be confused with those of the Spotted Ray, especially as they look very similar and the ranges overlap, so we sometimes informally refer to them as ‘Spundulates’.

Scientific Name: Raja undulata

Family: Rajidae

Maximum Size: 90cm (total length)

Diet: shrimps and crabs

Distribution: found around the eastern Atlantic and in the Mediterranean Sea.

Habitat: shelf waters down to 200m deep.

Conservation Status : As a commercially exploited species, the Undulate Ray is a recovering species in some areas. The good thing is that they have some of the most comprehensive management measures of almost any elasmobranch species, with both minimum and maximum landing sizes as well as a closed season. Additionally, targeting is entirely prohibited in some areas. They are also often caught as bycatch in various fisheries – in some areas they can be landed whilst in others they must be discarded.

IUCN Red List Status: Endangered

For more great shark information and conservation visit the Shark Trust Website


Image Credits: Banner – Sheila Openshaw; Illustration – Marc Dando

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