International Cleanup Day is 25 September. This massive volunteer event is the largest of its kind, when underwater teams of volunteer divers in more than 100 countries tackle marine debris issues head on.

For info on how you can participate, go to Project Aware website here.

Included unlimited diving for only EUR 1,875/per diver (regular price @ EUR 2,675). You save EUR 800!

Non-divers can also join in and enjoy a discount of EUR 600. Regular price is @ EUR 2,080, now ONLY EUR 1,480/per non-diver

Book now, while spaces still available!

As I kayaked down the Mekong river, a couple of humps slunk out of the water about 10 metres ahead. Then a couple more to the left, and more to the right, before I finally realised that I was at the centre of a pod of Irrawaddy river dolphins, one of the rarest species on the planet.

Read Andrew Spooner’s full article on the Guardian website here

Ask Symbiosis to book your trip!

Dates: 27 Aug to 06 Sept 2010

Price: €1,920 (was €2,400)

You need to be quick! Book now. Contact Symbiosis here

ABOUT two weeks ago, a concerned Hong Kong citizen saw a Citibank (Hong Kong) promotion advertising discounted shark’s fins.

Read the full article in today’s Today Online.

We are pleased to include this trip amongst our special dive offers and are offering 20% off the price of 2,750 Euro making it now 2,200 Euro!!!

Gerald has conducted many regular photography workshops. He specialises in teaching the practical application of Lighting technology, super wide angle and also super macro photography techniques for beginners up to professional level. The course is conducted in a friendly and comfortable atmosphere and includes a high level of personal mentoring and support. During the cruise each participant will have the opportunity to dive with Gerald 1:1 thereby receiving tips and assistance during the dive. There are no longwinded theory lectures, instead you will receive one on one and personalised instruction dependant on your level and goals.

Check out the Philippine Siren cruise schedule here.

On board the stunning sailing pinisi, The SMY Ondina.

1.- 200 euros off/pax for all booking payments made before 31 August for the October departures, 31 October for the December and January departures, and 30 November for the February departures!

2.- 50% discount on Nitrox.

4.- 1 Free of Charge place for every 5 paying passengers. I.e. if you are 6 buddies, only 5 will pay!

Contact Symbiosis NOW for make your booking

Phu Quoc Beaches

Thirteen new tourism projects have been licensed on Phu Quoc Island, the largest island in Vietnam, located in the Gulf of Siam facing the Cambodian coast, with a combined investment totalling approximately USD 154 million.

The projects include a luxury retreat with leisure, entertainment and business facilities, a high-end hotel and recreation complex, a resort complex with conference facilities, plus many more exciting developments.

To date, eight projects have become operational covering an area of more than 17.2 hectares.

We, at Symbiosis, suggest that you get there quick before this stunningly beautiful island goes the way of many of Thailand’s once beautiful places!

There will soon be a direct boat connection to Phu Quoc from Cambodia’s so-called “riviera” town of Kep.  But even without it, it is a lovely trip to make - and a great cycle ride, if you are up to it – from Phnom Penh down into the verdant, watery world of the Mekong Delta to catch the local boat to Phu Quoc. You can fly from there to Saigon.

Contact Symbiosis to start planning!

• 27th Aug to 6th Sept 2010 – South Visayas – 2400 less 20% = 1920 Euro
• 7th to 17th Sept 2010 – Gerald Novak Photo Workshop – 2750 Euro less 20% = 2200 Euro

Check out the Philippine Siren here.

• 24 Jun to 05 Jul 2011, 11 nights – North Sulawesi – 2500 Euro less 20% = 2000 Euro
• 30 Jul to 10 Aug 2011, 11 nights – North Sulawesi – 2500 Euro less 20% = 2000 Euro

Check out the details here.

The Department of Marine Parks has been very clear about necessary actions to be taken in order to give the corals a chance to recover; twelve most frequented and most threatened sites around the islands of Tioman, Redang and Perhentian have been ‘closed’ until the end of October 2010. That way, no divers will come anywhere near them and the stress will be at least limited. Even though the increased temperature is the main cause of coral bleaching, divers often accidentally touch or brush over the corals, raise sand from the sea bed and generally damage the corals. One or two would not make a difference, however, half a million divers undoubtedly does.

The Department of Marine Parks as well as environmentalists hope that the corals will have time to regenerate naturally and with a bit of luck will survive. Fortunately, they are prepared to fight uncontrolled tourism and protect their marine world as fiercely as possible in order to preserve its fragile beauty.

Arenui Foredeck

12 day cruise aboard the delightful, boutique sailing ship, the Arenui, to the Komodo National Park. Discounted by $375 per person, sharing a cabin, plus includes 2 nights at the Santika Beach Resort in Bali pre- and/or post-cruise.

• Cruise Dates: 20 Sept to 01 Oct 2010
• Price: USD3925 per person, sharing

The Arenui is one of our latest additions and is one of the finest liveaboards operating in Indonesia, offering style and comfort on a par with a  boutique hotel.

Contact Symbiosis to book now

Max took me for a microlight flyover on the last day revealing a vast number of unspoiled islands, lagoons, sand banks, forests, etc. there are only a small number of tiny fishing villages sprinkled around the islands producing minimal impact. From the air we also saw several Dugongs – including one mother with her calf  -pods of dolphins, turtles and more. In some estuaries of Waigeo Island there are crocodiles too!

Islets off Pulau Gam, Raja Ampat, West Papua

]]> http://www.symbiosis-travel.com/blog/2010/07/05/raja-ampat-days-5-6-7/feed/ 0 http://www.symbiosis-travel.com/blog/2010/06/24/diving-raja-ampat-day-4/ http://www.symbiosis-travel.com/blog/2010/06/24/diving-raja-ampat-day-4/#comments Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:15:20 +0000 chris http://www.symbiosis-travel.com/blog/?p=1139 A mixed day today.  We headed out west to dive Melissas Garden and Anita’s garden, named after Max’s daughter and wife, respectively.  Melissa’s Garden was a blaze of colour with thousands of smaller, colourful reef fish and many coral species I have never seen before. I also had the thrill of having a wobbegong shark swim right at me, eventually passing just underneath me. This is the first time I have seen one swimming, rather than lying half hidden, and on its own volition, instead of poked by a diver to make it move!   Sadly the first part of the dive also revealed some dynamite fishing damage, despite it being a protected area.

Following the dive, we took the boat to a group of stunning karts limestone islands surrounding a lagoon. Awesome. then we moved towards dive no 2 at Anita’s Garden. However, en route, our dive guide, Luis, spotted a boat hidden on a small sandy beach. We pulled up and found on board the catch from dynamite fishing and some crude fertiliser bombs.  The owners had fled into the island. We confiscated the boat and catch and called up the police on the radio. Success – if only it had been before the catch. We decided not to dive Anita’s in case the rogue fishermen had another boat and more bombs!  We didn’t want to be the next casualties!

Instead we stopped and dived around a tiny stack island where the corals were splendid and the reef life vibrant…. despite more evidence on one side of dynamite fishing.