This colourful ship in the photo behind the two happy snorkelling kids is the Kalabia. She cruises around Raja Ampat in West Papau engaging the natural curiosity of children in order to teach them about conservation, which in turn helps build community knowledge and awareness, pride, love, and a sense of ownership and responsibility for local marine resources.

By changing attitudes and behaviour, Kalabia inspires conservation of globally-important ecosystems in the  heart  of the coral triangle, and ensures food security and increased well-being for local residents for generations to come. If you would like to make a small contribution to her continued success, please visit the website here.

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The 15m x 3m blue whale, which looked to be in the late stages of decomposition, captured the attention of nearby communities and beachgoers.

As groups gathered to haul off the dead whale, they noticed that its entire body was made of plastic waste found in the ocean

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ALSO

Book a stay between 50 August and 30 September and enjoy 10% off.

CURRENT AVAILABILITY (subject to change):

April 2017
01 to 08 Apr 2017, 7 nights – 10 spaces
15% LAST MINUTE DISCOUNT on the pre-booked package accommodation/diving

08to 15 Apr 2017, 7 nights – 12 spaces
15% LAST MINUTE DISCOUNT on the pre-booked package accommodation/diving

15 to 22 Apr 2017, 7 nights – 14 spaces
15% LAST MINUTE DISCOUNT on the pre-booked package accommodation/diving

22 to 29 Apr 2017, 7 nights – 8 spaces
15% LAST MINUTE DISCOUNT on the pre-booked package accommodation/diving

29 Apr to 06 May 2017, 7 nights – 12 spaces
15% LAST MINUTE DISCOUNT on the pre-booked package accommodation/diving

May 2017
06 to 13 May 2017, 7 nights – 12 spaces
15% LAST MINUTE DISCOUNT on the pre-booked package accommodation/diving

13 to 20 May 2017, 7 nights – 16 spaces
15% LAST MINUTE DISCOUNT on the pre-booked package accommodation/diving

20 to 27 May 2017, 7 nights – 12 spaces
15% LAST MINUTE DISCOUNT on the pre-booked package accommodation/diving

27 May to 03 Jun 2017, 7 nights – 14 spaces
15% LAST MINUTE DISCOUNT on the pre-booked package accommodation/diving

June 2017
17 Jun to 01 Jul 2017, 14 nights – 16 spaces
U30 SPECIAL 2017
Only Euro 2555 for 2 weeks for all divers under the age of 30!
Includes accommodation, full board, unlimited diving, rental gear etc.

July 2017
01 to 08 Jul 2017, 7 nights – 12 spaces
Stay with Raja4Divers on the beautiful private island Pulau Pef and dive the north-west of Raja Ampat

08 to 15 Jul 2017, 7 nights – 2 spaces
These 2 spaces on request only

15 to 22 Jul 2017, 7 nights – 8 spaces
Stay with Raja4Divers on the beautiful private island Pulau Pef and dive the north-west of Raja Ampat

August 2017
05 to 12 Aug 2017, 7 nights – 14 spaces
10% RAJA4DIVERS SPECIAL on the pre-booked package accommodation/diving

12 to 19 Aug 2017, 7 nights – 16 spaces
10% RAJA4DIVERS SPECIAL on the pre-booked package accommodation/diving

19 to 26 Aug 2017, 7 nights – 16 spaces
10% RAJA4DIVERS SPECIAL on the pre-booked package accommodation/diving

26 Aug to 02 Sep 2017, 7 nights – 16 spaces
10% RAJA4DIVERS SPECIAL on the pre-booked package accommodation/diving

September 2017
02 to 09 Sep 2017, 7 nights – 16 spaces
10% RAJA4DIVERS SPECIAL on the pre-booked package accommodation/diving

09 to 16 Sep 2017, 7 nights – 18 spaces
10% RAJA4DIVERS SPECIAL on the pre-booked package accommodation/diving

16 to 23 Sep 2017, 7 nights – 16 spaces
10% RAJA4DIVERS SPECIAL on the pre-booked package accommodation/diving

23 to 30 Sep 2017, 7 nights – 16 spaces
10% RAJA4DIVERS SPECIAL on the pre-booked package accommodation/diving

30 Sep to 07 Oct 2017, 7 nights – 16 spaces
Stay with Raja4Divers on the beautiful private island Pulau Pef and dive the north-west of Raja Ampat

Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel today to reserve your space.

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Full story on Mangobay

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Next: An 8-day Round Busuanga and Round Coron kayak expedition Dec 31 – Jan 08. 4 participants already booked. Room for 3 more.

Contact Symbiosis now if you would like to join. We can also help with travel arrangements, hotel bookings and anything else you would like to do while in the Philippines. One not to miss!

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St Paul's Underground River, Palawan

Claimed to be the longest underground river in the world (although I hear rumours that a much longer one has been found in South America somewhere) is located in the St Paul’s National Park in Palawan, Philippines.

Emptying directly into the South China Sea through a cave at the bottom of karst limestone cliffs, topped in rich rainforest, the river flows underground for about 8 km, and it is possible to row small boats through the cave system for at lest half of that distance.  By kayak, much further… although I am told it is not possible to actually emerge the other side.

To get to the entrance of St Paul’s National Park and to the underground river, you have to take a banca (Philippine version of an outrigger boat) along the Palawan coast from the small seaside town and beach of Sabang. 

Monitor Lizard

This is a popular day out for local Filipinos and there can be quite a long wait to get a boat, so get there early or plan to spend some time bird watching and wildlife spotting along some of the other trails in the park. In the short time that I was there I saw various monkeys and several large monitor lizards – very close up – in addition to plenty of our feathered friends.  Reinforcing the reputation of the park, there was also a posse from the Philippines Birding Society there laden with expensive-looking optical gear.

Daluyon

Most visitors come to visit the underground river from the main town of Puerto Princes, a 2-3 hour drive away (parts of the road are still under construction and parts are very poor).  To be there early, I would recommend staying overnight or longer in Sabang where there is one delightful little resort right on the beach called the Daluyon.  Swimming pool, nicely appointed rooms in 2 storey villas and excellent food!  There are backpacker places at the other end of the beach in Sabang town itself.

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One individual was arrested in Bandar Lampung, the capital of Lampung Province located 90 km from Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, critical habitat for the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae). He allegedly sold tiger parts via social media networks, advertising their mystical and healing properties. The other was detained at the port of Merak on the western tip of Java, a critical shipping link between the two islands and a popular exit point for smuggled wildlife. His online offerings reportedly included a variety of ‘home decorations,’ including tiger skins as well as stuffed tigers, bears, and lions. The stuffed tigers listed for $5,000-7,000.

Read the full story by Loren Bell, Mongabay-Indonesia correspondent, November 04, 2014

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About an hour and a half plane ride from the Philippine capital Manila is a long, narrow island home to about a quarter of all the animal species found in the country. So unique is this island called Palawan that it hosts two World Heritage sites, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River in the provincial capital, and the Tubbataha Reef in Cagayancillo.

Data from Global Forest Watch (GFW) reveal more than 6 percent of Palawan’s forest cover has been lost since 2001. But as humans raze the island’s extensive forests for development, many animals – including 27 endemic species of birds, 19 varieties of land mammals, and 24 kinds of reptiles – are facing huge population declines.

Read the Full story by Shaira Panela, mongabay.com correspondent, October 31, 2014

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Contact Symbiosis to start planning your visit to Laos.

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The centre prides itself on their natural and ecologically aware approach to working with these animals. The elephants inhabit a 106 hectare protected forest set by the Nam Tien Lake where there is sufficient natural food and visitors can watch them in their natural habitat without causing a disturbance to their daily activities.

Facilities at the Elephant Conservation Centre are also ecologically friendly, utilising solar power and water from the lake for filtration. To reduce the use of new building materials, ECC’s infrastructure uses traditional Lao houses that have been relocated to the centre.

A trip to the Elephant Conservation Centre will compliment any visit to Laos, providing the opportunity to see up close and gain a greater understanding of these endangered animals.

Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel to start planning your visit to Laos.

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Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel to see how a stay at one or more of these wonderful mountain lodges can be included in your visit to Thailand.

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