News from El Galleon Dive Resort & Asia Divers, Puerto Galera

Diving, News and Events

Thresher Shark Diving in Puerto Galera

Posted on by blogeditor
28
Mar

Did you know that we see thresher sharks in Puerto Galera? How much do you know about threshers sharks and do you know why a sighting of a thresher shark is so special?

Of course, diving with thresher sharks is on most divers’ bucket lists but we guarantee you’ll have an even better underwater experience if you know a little bit about these amazing sharks before you dive with them – read on to find out more!

 

Thresher shark
Thresher shark: free swimming

 

How to Identify a Thresher Shark?

Thresher sharks are also known as fox sharks and they are easily recognizable by their long and highly distinctive thresher-like tails which can be just as long as the shark’s body. Thresher sharks also have unusually large eyes in order to help them to see in deep water where less light is available. When in shallow water however, their eyes become sensitive from too much light which is why they usually remain deep and are rarely seen by divers on a regular basis. The sightings we have of thresher sharks, at recreational diving depths, at Puerto Galera’s dive sites are very unusual and this is why a sighting is very special!

Thresher sharks can grow up to 6 meters long, including their tails and they feed on a diet of schooling fish and squid. Their long tails are not just for decoration – the sharks use them to stun their prey. Thresher sharks circle smaller fish and ‘herd’ them with their tails into a tight, ball formation, which they will then attack with a powerful swipe of their tail – stunning some of the fish which the shark will then feed on.

 

Thresher shark
Dive with thresher sharks in Puerto Galera

 

Thresher Sharks and Depth

Thresher sharks are generally a deeper dwelling species of shark that spend most of their time below 40 meters. So why then, do they come to the shallower water and dive sites around Puerto Galera? Because of the fish – and not to eat them! Thresher sharks carry parasites on their skin and around their eyes and gills. These parasites do not harm the thresher shark if they are kept in check, however, if they are not regularly cleaned away, the number of parasites will increase and the shark will become unhealthy. Thresher sharks rely on the small reef fish to help them out by ‘cleaning’ them. When the threshers come to the shallow water, the reef fish will feed on the parasites – a free meal for the reef fish in return for some personal grooming for the shark! Because the cleaning process is vital to the health of the sharks it is extremely important that divers do not interrupt this process (see below).

Diving with Thresher Sharks

We hope that we will be seeing thresher sharks in the waters around Puerto Galera for many years to come so it important that they are not scared away by divers. If you see a thresher shark during your dive, please observe the following guidelines!

  • Stay calm and control your buoyancy. Try to avoid sudden movements.
  • Please do not ‘chase’ the sharks.
  • Please do not try to touch the sharks.
  • Please do not direct camera flashes or strobes into the thresher sharks eyes – they are extremely sensitive!
  • Please always respect our reefs and do not touch, kick or break and corals.
  • Leave the dive site as you found it. Please leave behind only bubbles and take away only photos.
  • For your own safety, always be aware of your no-decompression time and do not exceed the planned depth or time of your dive.

 

Thresher shark
A small thresher shark swimming in Puerto Galera

 

Diving in Puerto Galera

While thresher sharks are a definite highlight of diving in Puerto Galera they are not our only highlight! Our reefs are packed with some of the rarest and most unusual critters in the Coral Triangle – if you are a macro underwater photographer, then diving Puerto Galera is for you!

For those who want to learn to dive in Puerto Galera or take an advanced, tech diving or professional level course, we offer the full range of PADI scuba diving courses from beginner to Instructor!

Are you excited to come and join us for scuba diving in the Philippines? Our friendly team are as passionate about diving as you are and there’s nothing we love more than sharing our reefs and marine life with like-minded divers from around the world!

For more information or to make a reservation, fill in our online contact form or email us at: admin@asiadivers.com and we’ll get right back to you.

We look forward to scuba diving in the Philippines with you soon!

News and Events

Resort Notice Covid-19

Posted on by Asia Divers
off season special offer asia divers el galleon resort puerto galera philippines
27
Mar

Dear Friends,

We like many of you are trying to navigate through these unprecedented times. First and foremost we all want everyone to be healthy and to take care of yourselves and your families.

As you most likely heard the Philippine government closed the Philippines several days ago and introduced a myriad of internal travel restrictions. Over the past few days we have been assisting our guests to get them to the airport for their international flights. As of today, El Galleon Resort and Asia Divers have shut down except for a skeleton staff to keep the restaurant open for take-away and to secure the resort. We will reopen as soon as allowed which hopefully will be on April 14th but we really don’t know yet if the one-month quarantine will be enough. As of today there are no confirmed cases of COVID_19 here in Oriental Mindoro, let’s pray it stays that way.

We will do what we can to assist our employees in the meantime, thirteen month pay paid in advance, holiday pay and sick leave pay paid in advance.

If you have questions on how this affects your future reservation please contact your travel professional if you have made a reservation through them. If you have booked directly with us please email us at admin@asiadivers.com

I know a lot of you will have your own staff/friends and family to take care of and this is totally understandable. However, in these trying times, it is becoming apparent that many not so fortunate Filipinos will be struggling to put food on the table and to afford medical supplies that are already at short supply. Should you be able to afford just the smallest amount we will be working with several groups that will be coordinating medical supplies and food for the not so fortunate… with thanks.

Thank you for all of your support over the years we look forward to seeing back here soon.

Keep healthy, stay safe and positive,

Allan Nash

Beach Resort, News and Events

Family Activities at Puerto Galera Beach Resorts

Posted on by Asia Divers
Beach Party BBQ Asia Divers
27
Mar

Puerto Galera was once an exclusive playground for adventure divers and advanced deep-water adventurers. Today, it is much more. The whole family can be included in fun activities, that is if you pick the right beach resort in Puerto Galera!

At El Galleon Dive Resort and Hotel, our tour organizers can’t wait to show you around the northeast of the Oriental Mindoro. It has so much to offer, and it’s a pleasant feeling knowing that our guests are having fun while exploring our home island.

From a river trekking and jungle ziplining to visiting a protected indigenous village, you would need more than a day to experience it all. Let’s check it out!

Tukuran River Trekking

Your destination is a quaint spot with plenty of trees for shade, a cool friendly pool to dip in, and a relaxing view over the Tukuran River. The river is calm and wide, with several mini-waterfalls that cut through a small gorge surrounded by white rocks which you will pass on your way to the spot.

As it’s located an hour from the coastal town of Puerto Galera, you’ll be taking a jeepney ride to your starting point of the trek. You’ll also stop at a few interesting spots along the way – Tamaraw Falls at San Teodoro and the Hanging Bridge giving you a better view of the river.

You can choose to continue the trek on foot for half an hour, or to ride in a cart pulled by a carabao!

Mangyan Village Tour

The Mangyan people are the indigenous people of Mindoro Island, and the particular village that you’ll visit is a preserved village. You can tell by the sign at the thatched wooden gate – “Vehicles are not allowed inside” – that the village is serious about conserving the way of life and its inherited natural appearances.

This village was founded by philanthropist Jaime Zobel de Ayala and his wife Donya Bea in the 90s, and today it provides shelter and sustenance to many Iraya-Mangyan families who have been resettled here.

Although they strictly follow their traditional way of life in many aspects, from constructing houses to finding food, the Mangyan people also generate additional income from selling authentic handwoven and wooden crafts to tourists. You will also find a small museum in the village that displays traditional clothing and kitchenware.

Are you a family of divers? Check out our recreational diving offers for the whole family!

Jungle Zipline

As you swoop down the 610-meter zipline above the jungle canopy, you’re not only exposed to the wind and the sun, but also the wide panorama of the Puerto Galera peninsula.

You’ll instantly feel small as you look at the tall hills and mountains to your left and right, and a rush of adrenaline as you look forward to the tiny marker at the end of the speeding zipline.

A truly breathtaking experience you should definitely try before going back to El Galleon.

Private Beach BBQ

The ideal family picnic takes place on a secluded beach where you receive full privacy to spend the absolute best quality time with your family. Luckily, we know a few places, and everything will be waiting for you there.

Your food will be brought with a barbeque hamper, so choose what you want to grill – beef, chicken, pork, prawns or fish, all available in various forms. And if that’s simply too much to think about, ask our kitchen to put a selection together for you, you won’t be disappointed.

Check out today’s rate for our recreational diving offers.

Of course, it’s impossible to mention all the fun family activities hosted by El Galleon. Why don’t you check them out for yourself? Click here for all recreational activities at Puerto Galera.

Diving, News and Events

Why Stay at a Scuba Diving Resort in Mindoro, Philippines?

Posted on by Asia Divers

On the northern coast of Mindoro Island lies a piece of divers’ heaven called Puerto Galera. The midday sun shines at a gentle 31 degrees Celsius, the water is abundant in sea life, and the beach is spectacular with easy access to exciting historic rainforests.

Puerto Galera diving Philippines

Photo by Beth Watson

 

Staying at a diving resort in Mindoro’s Puerto Galera will be one of the best ideas you’ll ever have. At El Galleon Dive Resort, you are invited to enjoy your share of this beautiful tropical paradise.

Whether you are just out to try diving for the first time, a seasoned scuba diver, or even somebody who prefers to stay on land, El Galleon has activities for everyone.

 

The Convenient One-Stop Destination For Divers

Upon reaching Puerto Galera you will be struck with an incredible realization – you are standing at one of the most diverse marine ecosystems. Which means you get to see it all in one place – dolphins, sharks, sea turtles, lionfish, octopuses, manta rays, and macro life that you never even knew existed, all before your eyes. Check out more dive sites!

scuba diving philippines Asia Divers

Photo by Beth Watson

 

Visit the Boatyard

Love to discover bizarre-looking coastal species that are too shy to swim at the coral reef? Muck diving is available for you to enjoy at the Boatyard. Spot a few of our favorites: velvet ghost pipefish, seahorses, frogfish, and other creepy crawlers.

Jump in the Coral Cove

For divers of all levels, Coral Cove is the perfect ground to do multi-level diving. Here are the locals that you shouldn’t miss: pygmy seahorses, blue-spotted rays, cuttlefish, and the occasional thresher sharks for the lucky few!

Check out today’s scuba diving rates

These are just two out of a dozen sites that are right in front of the diving resort. More adventures await between Medio Island and Paniquian Island on the west-facing side of Puerto Galera’s peninsula.

Secret Reef

It may not be a secret anymore, but it holds a fair share of secrets. The underwater cliff and overhang open up into the open sea, but crawling and swimming closely by the sea wall are schools of batfish, emperors, snappers, and jacks. You may encounter a large lionfish and caves in which barramundi cod live.

Odies Ding Ding

Not to be missed for short-time diving, this shallow but gorgeous high sea wall is perfect for Nitrox diving. Eels and blue triggerfish reside in the holes within the wall, stingrays, tuna, and frogfish can be spotted if you stay long enough.

 

Enjoy a Meaningful and Educational Summer Vacation!

Our PADI Certified Dive Instructors who guide you through all the different dive sites at Puerto Galera are happy to share their knowledge with you. As long as you are eligible to take the PADI Dive Courses, we will teach you everything we know about diving and the brilliant sites around Mindoro.

Diving is one of the world’s most useful skills that can lead anyone to a decent career. Why not start young and train your child with the diving basics? Our PADI Bubblemaker is a perfect beginner course for children aged 8 years and above, at our resort’s training pool.

For serious adults, you could open up to more diving possibilities with the PADI Open Water Course. Or take diving education even further with the PADI Advanced Open Water courses which come in various branches of specialty scuba diving, including Wreck Diving, Nitrox Diving, Night Diving and more.

Dive deeper in more challenging environments through the PADI Technical Diver Training, and return to the surface like a champion.

Luxury and Adventure, All In One Place

Luxurious rooms, complete facilities and island experiences for those who prefer to stay on land. Don’t miss a chance to visit one of Puerto Galera’s top diving resorts on your next vacation to The Philippines!

Uncategorized

看了这么久长尾鲨，你真的懂它吗？

Posted on by Asia Divers

作者：潜水教练 师远

关注微信公众号：Asia_Divers，了解更多潜水资讯

咨询潜水课程可加微信：shiyuan90

或许是去年PG的潜水员们忙活着为长尾鲨剪鱼线、清渔网、禁海钓给它们留下了深刻的印象，今年水温刚一转凉，长尾鲨们就又开始活跃在PG的Kilima潜点。目前全世界发现的长尾鲨共有三种：细尾长尾鲨 (学名A. vulpinus)、大眼长尾鲨 (学名A. superciliosus) 和浅海长尾鲨 (学名A. pelagicus)。细尾长尾鲨分布在北太平洋，沿北美洲及亚洲大陆架。大眼长尾鲨和浅海长尾鲨则分布在较暖的中西太平洋。常在PG溜达的就是其中的浅海长尾鲨。

名字的由来

有关浅海长尾鲨的描述最早见于日本鱼类学家中村拓志在1935年发表的题为《来自中国台湾水域的两种长尾鲨》的论文中，其有效学名为Alopias pelagicus Nakamura, 1935。属名Alopias源自希腊语alopex，意为“狐”；种名Pelagicus源自希腊语pelagios，意为“海洋”。如果你翻查文献，还会发现另外两个学名：Alopias vulpinus Bonnaterre, 1788和Alopias superciliosusus Lowe, 1841，不过这些都是对浅海长尾鲨的误认。

如何分辨浅海长尾鲨?

浅海长尾鲨是长尾鲨中最小的品种，平均长3米，重69.5公斤。有记载的最大身长可达5米，但这个数字还有待考证，不排除是与其他品种混淆的结果。相比于其他长尾鲨，浅海长尾鲨的颜色更浅一些，周身呈明亮的蓝灰色（死后会迅速变为灰白色），腮和侧腹部有明显的银色金属光泽。

长尾鲨的尾巴有什么特殊用途？

长尾鲨最突出的标志就是它细长的上半叶尾鳍，长度超过身体总长的一半。捕猎时它们会绕着鱼群游动，不断缩小鱼群半径使猎物更为紧凑，一招“神龙摆尾”可以迅速将几条猎物同时击晕，效率可比紧追一条小鱼要高得多。浅海长尾鲨与所有长尾鲨一样，主要以小型远洋鱼类为食，特别是鲱鱼、飞鱼和鲭鱼，也包括浮游鱿鱼。

世界各地幸运的潜水员们抓拍到的长尾鲨捕食瞬间

 

怎么游得那么快？

它们还有一个套先进的保热循环系统，可以将他们的体温维持在水温以上，这样就算在冷水中它们的肌肉也不受影响，仍可以加速游动，这种循环系统被称为细脉网。经过腮部的动脉血会流失一部分热量，失温后的血液流入一个由小动脉组成的网络，这个网络紧贴静脉分布，而静脉中则是刚从器官和组织中排出的温暖的血液，于是热量便从静脉扩散到动脉，再循环回器官和组织。这种热交流作用的效果惊人，可以回收肌肉中97%的热量。

竟然是同类相食？

很多人以为浅海长尾鲨和沙虎鲨等鲨鱼一样，胚胎会在子宫内同类相食。浅海长尾鲨是卵胎生，胚胎早期从卵黄囊中摄取营养，长到12厘米后开始食用子宫内其他未受精的卵子（而不是兄弟姐妹）。这时它们会长出专门用来打开卵子外层卵鞘的牙齿，等到可以吞食卵子的时候牙齿又会再藏起来，直到出生后才会再次使用。

雌性浅海长尾鲨有左右两个子宫，每个子宫只产一只鲨鱼宝宝，因此每次生产通常只有两胎（也会有一胎的情况，但较为罕见）。刚出生的长尾鲨身长已有一米多，几乎占母亲身长的一半，这样的好处是不易被其他大型鱼类捕食。

栖息地在哪?

浅海长尾鲨生活在远洋带从水面到水下150米深的范围内，有时也会出现在水温较凉的近海。目前还不知道它们是否和大眼长尾鲨一样有夜间上升到较浅处的行为，对于它们的栖息地我们目前仍知之甚少。

会攻击人类吗？

浅海长尾鲨的颌骨和牙齿都比较小，加上生性胆怯，常常刚看到潜水员吐出的气泡就立刻遁逃。所以我们在水下看长尾鲨时最好跪在水底尽量保持不动，不要追逐、不要开手电或闪光灯、不要制造声响，尽量为它们提供一个有安全感的环境，好奇心会促使它们靠地更近。

长尾鲨的现状

长尾鲨可以说是鲨鱼界对人类最没有威胁的品种了，相比而言人类对它们的威胁要可怕得多。浅海长尾鲨是许多商业性渔业的目标，有时也会在延绳或流刺网捕捞金枪鱼、剑鱼时被意外打捞。由于捕捞不受管制，加上监控不力，物种数量急剧减少。一项2013年台湾的研究发现，在之前的20年里当地浅海长尾鲨数量减少超过三分之一。而在全球范围内长尾鲨数量减少的速度则更令人心惊，这主要归咎于人类的过度消费，包括对鲨鱼皮和鱼翅的消费，以及一些化妆品、保健品等对鲨鱼肝油的需求。

浅海长尾鲨还受到钓鱼运动者的青睐。虽然相对不易捕获，而且很多人会践行捕捞-放生的方式，但由于浅海长尾鲨需要通过持续向前游动才能让含氧的海水通过腮部，因此只要被抓住，就很容易死亡，哪怕捕获后很快就将它们放生。

过度捕捞，加上低繁殖率使得这一物种非常脆弱。没有买卖就没有杀害。如果我们还想在海里看到这种可爱的小家伙，感受到它小心翼翼靠近你时的好奇和友善，请务必拒绝食用或使用任何鲨鱼制品。

PG长尾鲨呆萌表情系列

Reference：

Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagic_thresher

百度百科https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E6%B5%85%E6%B5%B7%E9%95%BF%E5%B0%BE%E9%B2%A8

Florida Museum https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/alopias-pelagicus/

National Geographic https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/phenomena/2013/07/10/thresher-sharks-hunt-with-huge-weaponised-tails/

Oceana https://oceana.org/marine-life/sharks-rays/pelagic-thresher-shark

CITES https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/cop/17/prop/060216/E-CoP17-Prop-43.pdf

Romero-Caicedo, A., Galvan-Magana, F. and Martinez-Ortiz, J. (2014). Reproduction of the pelagic thresher shark Alopias pelagicus in the equatorial Pacific.

Liu, S.YV., Chan, C.LC,, Lin, O., Hu, C.S., Chen C.A. (2013). DNA Barcoding of Shark Meats Identify Species Composition and CITES-Listed Species from the Markets in Taiwan.

Diving, News and Events

Our PADI Diving Courses in Puerto Galera

Posted on by Asia Divers
Asia Divers Puerto Galera
13
Mar

The founders of Asia Divers had been one of the first to operate in Puerto Galera since the golden age of scuba diving in Mindoro – this was 30 years ago when the cove was exclusively an advanced divers’ playground.

Today, Asia Divers’ PADI diving courses welcome everyone from all backgrounds, skills, and ages to come and enjoy a piece of Puerto Galera’s incredible marine biodiversity and beautiful coastlines. We have prepared dozens of courses that will fit your needs – from absolute beginner to pro-diver looking to develop your career in the diving industry.

This article will cover the majority of diving courses that we offer, in which students are all under the supervision and training of Certified PADI Instructors.

Beginner Courses – Getting In The Water

A great part of scuba diving is trust. You must trust your instructors and follow their leadership; you must trust your equipment after you’ve checked it, but most importantly, you must trust yourself that you can operate the equipment properly and make low-risk decisions throughout the session.

Valuable lessons can be learned even as a beginner in the PADI Recreational Courses.

PADI courses for beginner diving in philippines

PADI Skin Diver

For children 8 years and above, the Skin Diver course is valuable to build trust and comfort with the underwater environment – think about the time when you first became confident enough to free dive in the deeper part of the swimming pool.

PADI Bubble Maker

Bubble Maker is the course where your child can become accustomed to the diving gear and breathing underwater. This early training is excellent to develop interest in scuba diving later on.

Book PADI Skin Diver and PADI Bubble Maker here.

PADI Discover Scuba Diving

Discover Scuba Diving is for those who have always wanted to try scuba diving at least once in their lives, but aren’t sure about making a commitment to the full PADI Open Water course with a globally-recognized certificate.

PADI Scuba Diver

Another option is to take the PADI Scuba Diver course, which is part of the full PADI Open Water training. If you do well in this 2-day course, at the dive instructor’s discretion, you may credit (upgrade) this towards full certification later on.

Book PADI Discover Scuba Diving and PADI Scuba Diver here.

PADI Open Water Diver

Get your scuba diving certification with the PADI Open Water Diver course – the world’s most popular and widely recognized scuba course. Millions of people have learned to scuba dive and gone on to discover the wonders of the aquatic world through this course.

Book PADI Open Water Diver here.

 

Advanced Courses – For Serious Diving Business

The college equivalent to the PADI Open Water Diver course is the PADI Adventure Diver course. Learn skills in greater depth. You can opt for several course variations in this particular certification – from Rescue Diver and Emergency Transponders to becoming a Divemaster (minimum age of 18 years).

Book PADI Adventure Diver here.

PADI Specialty courses Philippines

When your roots are solid, and you want to train for specialized styles of diving, you can do so with the PADI Specialty Courses as listed below:

  1. Intro to Nitrox
  2. Enriched Air Nitrox
  3. Peak Performance Buoyancy Diver
  4. Surface Marker Buoy Diver
  5. Drift Diver
  6. Deep Diver
  7. Naturalist Diver
  8. Dive Against Debris
  9. Equipment Specialist
  10. Multilevel Diver
  11. PADI Digital Underwater Photography
  12. PADI Night Diving
  13. PADI Navigation Diver

 

Why Us?

PADI training Puerto galera diving

Our principle is to provide comfortable and quality training. Our on-land training facility is spacious and modern. We have a private pier to allow safe passage between boat and land. We own a dedicated photography room and rinse tank for photographers.

In addition, our training is rigorous and complete, with no shortcuts. Our small-group classes ensure that proper attention is given to each student. A language barrier will not be a problem as we have instructors who speak English, Tagalog, German, Swedish, Mandarin, and Cantonese.

Completeness of training is the key to success, and we want to ensure that our students receive the best diving education to further their careers, in addition to the fun experience of exploring the underwater world.

News and Events

Summer has arrived!

Posted on by Asia Divers
11
Mar

March views from El Galleon aren’t too hard take! Looking for somewhere to spend your Easter holiday?? Contact us for your escape to paradise at admin@asiadivers.com

Our beachfront resort in Puerto Galera offers convenient valet diving with dives sites only minutes away from the resort.  We have everything you need to get a good rest, relieve all of your stress and spend time with family and friends.  El Galleon resort has a seafront restaurant with an international menu that will keep you wanting to come back for more. You might even want to indulge in our soothing outdoor spa which offers massages and other spa services. Whether you want to relax all day by the pool, scuba dive or do some sightseeing El Galleon and Asia Divers in the Philippines can satisfy your holiday cravings.

On and Off the road again…

Here are a few photos from Allan and Tommy’s recent trip to Australia. Things didn’t quite turn out as planned and Allan is a bit delayed to come home due to a slight encounter with a tree. Some the photos here might look quite concerning, but don’t worry, he is doing very well now and should be back home very soon…..so he can get ready for his next adventure!!

The rescue team got together with him recently to give him a nice little reminder of their special time together. Notice how the motorcycle is sitting in the box and notice in the above photo of the way it’s positioned on the tree in the earlier photo.

Beach Resort, News and Events

Asia Divers & El Galleon: Your One Stop Dive Resort in Puerto Galera

Posted on by Asia Divers
Asia Divers Puerto Galera El Galleon Philippines
06
Mar

Are you planning your summer vacation in The Philippines? If you ask us, we recommend Mindoro Island, specifically the seaside town of Puerto Galera. Have a quick Google Image search and look at the first images – the beauty of the region is not exaggerated!

Of course, the next question would be, “Where should I stay?”

If you believe that luxury and diving adventure can be fused into a one of a kind summer vacation for you and your family, then you should check out El Galleon Dive Resort, the resort for Asia Divers.

 

What Exactly Can I Do at Asia Divers & El Galleon Dive Resort?

Convenient diving, getting a good rest and meeting all your holiday needs at once…

Diving can be miserable sometimes. We’ve had our fair share of bad weather, waiting in long queues for annual equipment maintenance, and getting hungry between dives.

Before El Galleon Dive Resort, our team of PADI Instructors and dive guides had to endure these bad days. But when the dive resort was completed, there was no reason to go on a sea adventure without a little bit of luxury and convenience.

 

How El Galleon Dive Resort Makes Diving More Enjoyable

PADI courses Asia Divers Philippines

What was missing back in the day was a modern dive facility close to the dive sites. Everything used to be delivered from Batangas, the closest big city, an hour away by boat.

Now that the dive facility is located near all the beautiful natural underwater features, it takes no time at all to set up, travels to the site, dive, comes back to rest, and repeat this cycle.

 

Unthinkable Inconveniences Now Eliminated

The world’s best divers don’t care about inconveniences. But most of us are not like them, and it helps to increase the enjoyment of diving when some pain points are eliminated.

  • Camera room for underwater photographers

A dedicated camera room is available at our facility. We understand that underwater photography requires practice and prompt feedback. Once your photos have been processed, you can quickly learn what to do differently on your next dive the following day.

  • Private dock

Getting on and off the boat is easy with a dock. No more carrying your equipment high above your waist as you tread the rocky shallows.

  • Brand new equipment

We have experienced the anxiety of using second-hand equipment at local dive shops. Fortunately, all the equipment at Asia Divers is new. How is that possible? Asia Divers is also a distributor, so you can dive in peace knowing that the equipment is still high quality.

  • And much more!

Learn more about what you will find in El Galleon by going to the dedicated webpage.

We can’t wait to show you around Puerto Galera, both on land and in the sea. It’s a wonderful holiday destination worthy of consideration. Check out all the cool sights to see and things to do by going to our recreations page.

News and Events

Look who’s back

Posted on by Asia Divers
02
Mar

Andy Xie got a very nice video of our elusive friend the Paddleflap Rhinopia which we hope will be sticking around for a while. Check it out on our Facebook page. We haven’t seen it in a long time, but now we know where to find him….ish!

The Rhinopia is apparently is quite site specific, remaining in the same area, or even spot, for long periods of time (e.g., weeks or even months). These fish rarely swim, but move about by crutching along the bottom on their pectoral and pelvic fins. When hunting they remain motionless and wait for their prey to approach within striking distance or they slowly stalk their quarry. When they get close enough to their prey the Rhinopias will lunge forward and suck in its victim. Although the mouth does not look very capacious, they can ingest relatively large prey items. Rhinopias will also rock forward and backward in order to mimic a piece of debris sitting on the bottom. This species is known to shed its cuticle, or the outer epidermal layer (skin). This is a normal process that helps rid the animal’s body of algae, parasites or encrusting organisms.

 Travel

YAP WITH YAP DIVERS, MICRONESIA

We have space booked for 6 divers at Manta Ray Bay Resort in Yap for a week of some big stuff diving including Sharks and of course the Mantas rays. Manta Ray Bay Resort is a very comfortable and relaxed place at the waterfront of the wonderful island of Yap. With the dive centre located in the resort diving is as easy as the diving at El Galleon and Asia Divers. The dates are July 18-24 and we will arrive Saturday night on the United flights from Guam and returning Friday night back home. Sunday to Thursday we will do the best dive sites of Yap.

Yap are of course famous for the Manta Ray dives but have also have some spectacular Shark dives, Schools of Barracudas, Eagle Rays, Humphead Parrot fish just to mention some. The price for the week will be $1728.00 per person. Included in the price is transfer from Yap airport return, share accommodation with breakfast in Manta Ray Bay Resort, we have 3 dives a day in Yap with pack lunch for 5 days. Flight to Yap is not included but we can give assistance with this.

Please contact Tommy at tommy@asiadivers.com if you are interested to join the trip.

 

Maldives on Ocean Divine

Tommy has been with a group to the Maldives, again on the very nice live-aboard yacht Ocean Divine and here is his report. This is the third time Asia Divers have a week trip on Ocean Divine around the Ari atoll. The idea with the trip was the celebrate Kenneth Svennerlind’s upcoming 50th birthday like with did with his 40th 10 years back in Fiji.

Gorgeous mantas by Emma Mconnell

As usual Maldives kept up to the expectation with great diving from the start of the check-up dive until the last dive on the famous Fish Head site. Xanath and Pablo, our guides took well care of Kenneth Svennerlind & Ali Pockett, Johan & Maria Lyrevik, Suzi Denton, Emma McConnell, BJ Schaap, Micke Andersson, Jan-Ove Svennerlind, Chris Stephenson and Kevin Wills.

 

Lots of good diving with a few really great highlights, the Nurse shark dive at Alinatha Jetty, the two shark dives at Delana and Miyaru with lots of Grey Reef sharks up close in the strong current. The Manta dives at Moofushi where the Manta’s was swimming around the cleaning station for two entire dives. The first Manta dive started with a Great Hammerhead hunting a Whitetip shark but aborted when it almost swam into Emma who never saw the shark. It passed by close to me with quite some speed it still had from the hunt. Nothing else than impressive. None of the many Whitetip sharks went back to rest on the bottom, all stayed closed to us at the cleaning station, guess we were considered less treat than the 3 meter Hammerhead. Finished the trip at Fish Head site where you can see everything all in one dive site, brilliant.

Diving, News and Events, Travel

Types of Scuba Diving Certifications and What You Can Do with Them

Posted on by Asia Divers
Scuba Diving Certifications
28
Feb

You’ve probably heard of scuba diving certifications before, whether or not you’re aware of their purpose or not. Those certifications aren’t just for show. They’re used as a way to measure the capacity of an individual, and whether or not they can safely control themselves to certain depths as dictated on the certification.

With that said, there are many scuba diving certifications out there, each one serving a different purpose and measuring different water skills for the divers who take them. In this article, we’ll briefly cover what those scuba diving certifications entail and what you can do with them.

Open Water Diver

The Open Water Diver certification by PADI is one of the most common and popular scuba diving certifications for recreational purposes. It is an essential course that opens the path to other more advanced courses for divers. The Open Water Diver course teaches the fundamentals of how to safely manage yourself, as well as your equipment underwater. With this certification, you will be allowed to dive in open waters up to a depth of 18 meters.

Advanced Open Water Diver

Advanced Open Water Diver is a course that takes the previous certification to the next level. Participants will need to have taken the Open Water Diver first as a prerequisite to taking this course. Once completed, divers will have their depth limit increased from 18 meters as certified by the Open Water Diver to a deeper 30 meters. This course will again include theory learning as well as practical training, that will both be subject to assessment by the dive instructor.

Rescue Diver

The Rescue Diver course educates divers about essential emergency rescue protocols, safety skills and how to manage a crisis situation underwater. This is another essential certification that many divers opt to take due to the valuable, lifelong skills that are offered in this course.

Divemaster

Divemaster is the course where divers refine and hone in their water skills to a professional standard. In fact, for many diving associations such as PADI and SSI, the Divemaster is considered to be the first professional rating. This course also puts an emphasis on building the necessary skills, knowledge, and expertise to lead and supervise a diving team. Participants of Divemaster courses often intend to become professional divers or are on the way to become dive instructors.

These are just some of the most common scuba diving certifications out there. Some of these serve as the foundation of all scuba divers such as the Open Water Diver and are mandatory to take before advancing into more technical water skills.

Do these scuba diving certifications sound familiar to you? If you’re a frequent diver, it would be wise to invest in yourself and learn the water skills and knowledge offered in these courses. Not only will they increase your confidence as a diver, you’ll also have more opportunities to access dive sites that are deeper and more exotic in the future!

Learn more about scuba diving courses with us at Asia Divers.