Category Archives: Diving

Two new Divemasters at Asia Divers

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I guess none of us have been feeling too sorry for Troy over the last few weeks as he has been conducting the Dive master course for the lovely Mary Vergara and Wenjing Fan (Fun).  Unfortunately all good things must come to an end. That happened on Friday night when Mary and Fun had their combined DM party and initiation. There was plenty of beer and pizza and both lasses did a super job at their DM snorkel test which all DM candidates must perform to gain their Fins. They have both been a great help around Asia divers over the last few weeks and we just want to say well done!

Look who’s back

It’s always nice to see friends come back to visit us for many years. Bill Twin, Klaus and Gabi Eschelbach and Sabine Henkel have all been coming here a very long time and we’re always happy to see them having fun here.

It was wonderful to have Ike Subardiaga and the whole family here for the weekend. Agnes and Sabrina made sure that their dad was well looked after underwater.

Asia Divers/El Galleon welcomes two groups from Australia this week

Welcome back to Peter Webster from Vision Divers in Melbourne, Australia. Peter has been bringing groups here for a long time and we surely appreciate it. It’s been fun week of enjoying the superb diving conditions, and good critters. Of course hanging out with this lot has been the added bonus!  Looking forward to seeing you all back again next year! Continue reading

Photo Corner- Tommi Kokkola

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Tommi came here ealier this year to do his PADI Dive Master course with us.  He also managed to have some time to take some really nice photos during his stay.  Tommi has enjoyed taking photos for a long time, but since they moved to Asia 2007 he’s put more effort into photography. Underwater photography has been the main reason to dive for his diving since 2011. He’s been traveling extensively in Southeast Asia, resulting in over 500 dives, including some technical diving. Originally from Finland, but as of now, Tommi is living in Taiwan, thus having good opportunities also for nature and travel photography.

Check out his website: http://tommikokkolaphotography.com

You can contact him at: info(at)tommikokkolaphotography.com

May Live-aboard trip

Rags II has only two open slots on a trip left for this season! May 10-17, 2014 (All around Mindoro incl. Tablas Strait, Boracay and Apo Reef).  This trip has it all! Wrecks, sea caves and big fish! 1550 US $ for six full days of diving and everything included except equipment (nitrox, food, beer, soft drinks, fuel surcharge and all marine sanctuary fees).

Contact instructors@asiadivers.com for details please!

Photo Corner – Geert van Haegendoren

Geert started making pictures underwater in 2008 (Red Sea, Egypt) and from then on he always had his camera with him: Lembeh, Maldives, Bali, Sipadan, MoalBoal, Puerto Galera (on his flickr site you can also find his PG albums from 2013, 2012 and 2011 and see his progress!) It’s in PG that Ralph Ramirez urged him to switch from the “underwater” to the manual function and to making pictures in RAW format, then followed one external flash, next trip two external flashes, the following trip a macro lens and so on… he has been diving with Asia Divers for five years in a row now, for the “quality and good humor of all the people working in El Galleon and at the dive centre, for the fine operation with four regular dives a day and for the variety of macro life.”

Check out his PG pictures from last February on Flickr:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/59735737@N04/sets/72157644060479093/

The Barkers are back!

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It was wonderful to see the Jeff, Julie and Anna Barker back with us again and to meet Rezananta Pietruschka for the first time. Rez enjoyed doing the Discover Scuba program with Troy and follow-up dives… I suspect that we’ll see more of him here in the future. A big congratulations to Anna who did her 150th dive on this trip. Most of these dives have been with Asia Divers and in fact most have been with Alli. Hope that Talia can come over next time though; we missed her this time…

Fun in the sea and the sun

The “Holy Week”, Easter holiday is still in full swing around here. With the excellent weather and many familiar faces around it’s been a great time for everyone to enjoy their diving vacation on the beach. The water temperature is just starting to warm up and this is the time of the year that the critters are really starting to come out and play.

Sabrina Peaker and Sabrina Parker loved the chance to try out scuba diving the first time with Troy and even more excited about seeing three turtles in the sea grass on their second dive!