STOP PRESS!!   2012 Dates are still available – Check online or  FREECALL in Australia 1800 607 913 or email Info@diversiondivetravel.com.au for details

We have berths available on Mike Balls super livebaoard vessel, Spoilsport! This is a rare chance for an adventure of a life time in Australia. June and July each year is the season to encounter the Minke Whales. These excursions are for snorkelers and divers!

There are not many people in the world lucky enough to experience this but now this week you can be one of them!

The species that we will be observing is the Dwarf Minke Whale, which grows to a maximum length of about 8 metres. As soon as the whales get close to the boat, the skipper will disengage the engine and the boat will silently along with the current. Two ropes will be hanging from the back deck and you will be gliding in the water, wearing your mask fins and snorkel and a wetsuit. You just hang on to that rope, wait and see. The scene is set: Showtime!

Click to watch video

The whales  are very curious by nature and will continue to come closer to have a look at you.

For unknown reasons, they are interested in contact with people! They like to show of acrobatics like the belly loop for example, right in front of snorkelers!  If previous people’s whale encounter experience is any indication, there are no words for it. You’re going to be profoundly glad for the experience. Be quick, we have only a few berths to sell!

This is THE ultimate thrill for everyone who admires whales. The success rate of whale encounters is very high. Contact us: info@diversiondivetravel.com.au

FREECALL in Australia 1800 607 913

or email Info@diversiondivetravel.com.au for reservations

Which fish to eat? Make the right choice!

16^th March 2012 is Sustainable Seafood Day. To celebrate and raise awareness we give you a chance to  WIN a TRAVELVOUCHER worth AUD 100 towards your next dive trip you book with us!  All you need to is share your story, or thoughts or a photo about what you do on Sustainable Seafood Day this weekend on our facebook wall.  The winner will be drawn randomly. We at DIVERSION DIVE TRAVEL support the event to motivate divers everywhere to be conscious about what seafood they eat! Like us on our facebook and get active

The driving force for all this is “the market”. This is where you come in when shopping for fish at your local supermarket or restaurant. We don’t want to discourage anyone from enjoying fish, but as with all things today, there are choices to be made – both good and bad when you consider purchasing fish. Furthermore, with all the interesting names for fish popping up on supermarket shelves it’s near to impossible to know what to do.
With this situation in mind, different organisations around the world have published fish guides to help you, the consumer, make the right choices. The information varies in each publication due to the different local fish names and availability.
Here is a random selection of fish eating guides worth checking out:

Australia/Oceania
The AMCS has been the driving force behind and Australian Guide. Australia’s Sustainable Seafood Online Guide is an independent tool to choosing seafood wisely. It is Australia’s first online resource for consumers seeking to make sustainable seafood choices. It was developed in response to growing public concern about overfishing and its impact on our oceans and their wildlife.
AMCS sustainable seafood guide

You can even down laod a free IPhone App so you always have the information at your fingertips

Similar information with regional adaptation can be found for other parts of the world:

 USA /Canada      Seafood choices (Online directory)

UK/ Europe         Marine Conservation Society (pocket guide) 

It sounds a bit like a fairytale, but this one is true:

Susan Sobtzick from Berlin, a former client of Diversion Dive Travel, now lives in Townsville, where she has finished her PhD about Minke Whales. Here in Australia many people call her “Susan, the Minke Girl”.   

It was the dream of Susan’s dad, to dive on the Great Barrier Reef. In 2000 the whole family wanted to travel together and Susan was the one who started to organise the trip. She found or website on the Internet and contacted us. We recommended her and excursions with the Undersea Explorer because we love their approach to combine tourism with research. At the time we did not know, that Susan had an interested in marine biology and that this trip would be very important for her future career.

In 2004 Dirk and I did our first Minke Whale trip with the Undersea Explorer (UE) and Susan was on board! She then worked at her thesis. Susan was always the first one in and last one out of the water. With her video camera, she spend hours in the water, when everybody else on board warmed up already with cup of tea, she was still in there. She did all this work to document the exact size of Minke Whales for her theses.

In 2006 when Dirk and I did our second Minke Whale trip, she was on board again. This time we met her together with her supervisor and team leader of the Minke Whale Research Project, Dr Alastair Birtles, who supported her in the water and together they worked till ‘late night at the Computer enter to enter and sort the data, which they collected during the day.
Seeing Susan in action, I got the idea to capture the story of her career and do an interview with her, which she agreed to.

C (Claudia): When you booked your first trip on Undersea Explorer with us, we did not know, that you where tossing the idea to specialise your studies in marine biology. Was that planned all along or did you get the idea during the excursion?

S (Susan): At the time I was still undecided between microbiology and marine biology. I studied at the university of Rostock/Germany because they offered marine biology as a major field of study. However I enjoyed both micro and marine biology and was undecided. I thought to do a trip with the UE is a good idea, as I can see in “real life”, how marine biologists work.

C: Susan, do you remember the research themes of the first trips you and your family did with UE, in 2000?

S: Yes, the first trip was an Osprey Reef Shark Research excursion. The second one was, “Cephalopod research”, with Mark Norman on board. It was very exciting, as he discovered a new species of octopus on this trip!

C: What fascinated you so much, that you decided to study marine biology at the end?

S: I was never in contact with marine biologist before and suddenly I saw all those exciting things happening while I was there, which I only knew from TV.
The researchers where very charismatic people, these 2 excursions with the UE showed me that marine biology is not only about counting herring and measuring nutrient gradients in the Baltic Sea, but really exciting stuff!

C: How did you go on from there?

S: I finished my basic studies and took a year time out to go to Australia. I travelled and worked for a few companies, amongst the Undersea Explorer. They offered me a job as videographer to film the Minke Whales. I enjoyed this job big time! In the following years I went regularly back for the season and worked on UE. In 2004/5 I worked on my thesis, which had the title:’ Underwater Videogrammetry and its Application to Estimate Body Lengths of Dwarf Minke Whales in Great Barrier Reef Waters’

C: Have you been interested in whales before you had seen them, or did this interest awaken during your trips as videographer?

S:I never wanted to major in marine mammals, I wanted to follow my fathers’ interests, which are sharks and rays. However, when I saw my first whale under water, it blew me away! It was love at first sight.

C: How did you get to stay in the project?

 S: I was very keen to continue to work in the project, so I applied for a scholarship and got it. I now live in Townsville and work at my PhD, which is about ‘Dwarf Minke Whale Biology and Implications for Tourism Management.” My supervisors are Dr Alastair Birtles and Prof Helene Marsh. It is amazing, what started as a holiday gave me undreamed-of possibilities changed my live completely!

C: Thank you very much, Susan! We are happy to be part of your story. We wish you and the Minke Whales a good future!

We just checked into our room. It’s 4 pm (2nd April ’11) and we rush back out again to the beach. Finally we have arrived. We dip our feet in the balmy turquoise waters surrounding Heron Island. Before we can get our bearings, 5 tiny little creatures hobble through the sand towards me. Their little flippers plough the ground like freestyle swimmers. Seagulls, turns and shearwaters watch the race with interest. Only minutes ago these green turtle hatchlings picked through the soft shell of their egg casings, dug through layers of sand to the surface, and now follow an ancient instinct to reach the sea. Looking at their tiny shapes one must wonder where they get the energy from for such a strenuous task. As soon as the turtles reach the water for the first time in their life they dive beneath the light surf and swim into the great ocean.
 
What an amazing event to start our visit. We continue our stroll along the beach watching the sky change between black storm clouds and blue sky as the sun slowly sets in the east. Our shadows grow longer. Only two, three meters from the shore in shallow waters another migration is happening. Cowtail stingrays, blue spotted stingrays and giant shovel-nose rays travel in large groups and sift the sands for shells and mollusks. Observing the water closer we now see a magnificent triangle cutting the surface.  A resident lemon shark is patrolling the beach. Together with blacktip sharks and leopard sharks they come close to the beach this time of year to get their share of he turtle hatching season. Dinner time for them! We are only 60 minutes on the island, haven’t even unpacked our masks and snorkel and already have seen more rare marine creatures then on some dives.
 
Heron Bommie, just outside the harbour is one of the islands signature dives. The consistent currents around the 5-10 m coral heads attract thousands of fish from small to very big. Diving here is never boring.  We saw schools of jacks, circling rainbow runners, a large green turtle and countless colourful reef fish. There is hardly a dive without turtles on Heron Island.  At Coral Grotto we were greeted by a Manta Ray gently “flying” past. The coral life is varied and healthy. Some dive sites still recover from storm damage sustained 5 years ago when cyclone Larry left its mark. Still, the marine life is thriving! The channel between Heron Island and Wistari reef compresses the tides into constant currents which provide plenty of nutrients to all marine life around. The deeper parts of the channel are hunting grounds for the big stuff: sharks, rays, barracudas can be watched here.
The dive boats easily cater for up to 20-24 divers each. All dives are guided, experienced divers and snorkelers are well catered for. Together with the Coral Sea and the Ribbon Reefs, Heron Island is a must see experience for any diver visiting Australia.

On the island thousands of seabirds can’t be overheard. Their distinct calls tell of their daily life on the island. Protecting chicks, nesting places, relationships… all is accompanied by their decisive songs and screeches. The turns, rails, mutton birds and seagulls create a soothing background score of Heron Island. The birds for sure use certain aspects of the resort to their advantage.
 
Heron Island Eco Resort is located right in midst this display of nature. It features various grades of comfortable accommodation, an excellent restaurant, the Aqusoul spa, an activity center and a big marine center. In the restaurant 90% of only seafood served is sustainably caught according to the sustainable seafood guide by AMCS (Australian Marine Conservation Society).
Families, honeymooners as well as nature lovers and hardcore divers all find their favourite niche on Heron Island. Center stage is the unparalleled nature experience.
 
Guided bird walks or reef walks on the outgoing tides are a must for all visitors. Scuba divers can choose from three scheduled boat dives daily. Up to 30 dive sites are within 10 minutes reach of the jetty. Or just grab a mask and snorkel and discover the beautiful inhabitants of the tropical coral reefs. Snorkeling off Heron Island is so easy and really outstanding, it is one of the unique places where snorkeling is as good as diving.
 
One definite highlight for all visitors is to just watch the sharks and rays patrolling the shallow waters of the sea from your room, the pool or the jetty.
 
Would we go back? In an instant! Not only for the diving, but also for the great resort, the friendly staff and the topside nature experience which make Heron Island a unique gem on the Great Barrier Reef.
 
Heron Island Dive Festival 5-11 September
Heron Island is celebrating its status as one of Australia’s top dive destinations with the launch of the Dive Festival. A perfect time to visit and explore the fantastic diving available:

+ photo shoot out as part of the ODEX underwater festival
+ prizes to a total value of $ 100.000 to be won.
+ Presentation by diving legends
+ great food, service and diving.

 3 night package from AUD 908/person (triple share)
5 night package from AUD 1464/person (triple share)
7 night package from AUD 1979/person (triple share)

Includes: Turtle Room triple share, 2 Dives Daily (per diver booked), 3 meals daily, return launch transfers from Gladstone, tanks and weights.
Check our Heron website for details

Over 100.000,00 AUD worth of prizes to be won!

What: Go diving and take pictures
When: 2-11 Sep 2011
Where: Anywhere in over 20 Australasian countries or at one of the designated “fringe” events

The Underwater Festival 2011 will be the biggest one yet. It will be lots of fun and activities. Many dive operators are offering special “Underwater Festival Fringe Events” anything from photography workshops with Photo & Video Pros to photo shootout competitions, is available!

Entrants do not have to participate in Fringe Events, they simply can go diving and shoot with a buddy, the dives can be anywhere in over 20 countries as long as they are diving during the designated shootout days 2 to 11 September 2011. Your favourite backyard dive, a fancy trip to a dive resort you always wanted to go, one of the many Festival Fringe Events that will be offered, the choice is yours. The aim is to make it possible for anybody with any budget to participate.

The organisers want people to feel that they are part of creating a snapshot of the underwater beauty but also the issues of our amazing region have lots of fun. The social aspect of the Underwater Festival has always been an important element of the event and by spreading the shootout part of the festival over a larger region, much of the socializing on the large scale will take place during the associated dive & travel trade show ODEX in Brisbane (7-9 October 2011). Here it is where the whole festival will come together to showcase and celebrate its achievements.

Fringe events are happening all over Australasia as part of the Underwater Festival 2011
To name a few of the Fringe Events which we feature in our program:
Australia: Heron Island, Spoilsport, Cocos Keeling and Christmas Islands.
Fiji: Matava Resort
Indonesia: Gangga Island Resort
Yap: Manta Ray Bay Resort
Palau: Fish’n Fins
Philippines: ABWonderdive
PNG: Tawali Resort

These 25 countries are part of Australasia for this competition:
Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Cook Islands, East Timor, Fiji, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Federated States of Micronesia, Myanmar, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam.

For more information, check out:

DiVo identify marine conservation groups whose activities are suited to the . Divo identfies conservation programmes where recreational dive tourist can participate. This way, more recreational divers get introduced to marine conservation and research.

The “dive voluntourist” will have a dive with a difference to make a difference.

DATES:
25^th September – 1st October     
3rd – 9^th October  
12^th – 19^th October 
22^nd – 29^th October 
1^st -8^th November 
11^th -18^th November 
21^st – 28^th November      

Expeditions leave from Broome an cost AUD 3300 per person for a deluxe cabin and AUD 3100 per person for a standard cabin.

 The Rowley Shoals is an opportunity to experience a diverse array of diving environments including lagoons, canyons, sheer vertical walls, high speed drifts, night dives and snorkelling.  You can experience pool like swimming conditions 300 km’s from the nearest land, and an uninterrupted night sky filled with an unimaginable amount of glittering stars.

About the Boat:
The Odyssey is a custom built 24m expedition vessel launched in early 2006.  The advanced catamaran design ensures very quiet operation, spacious interior with phenomenal stability.   Perfect for sneaking into secluded shallow bays she draws only 1.8 meters and is powered by two of the most advanced Mercedes diesel engines. The engines exceed all future emission standards and are considerably quieter than anything comparable on the market.  Twin engines also offer improved flexibility on long range voyages.

 It allows for 20 guests in 6 deluxe double cabins and 4 twin share single cabins. All are well equipped and private with 240v power, personalised air-conditioning, storage units and bar fridges.  The deluxe double cabins also feature built in desks, a vanity and a basin.  Four spacious toilet and shower facilities are located very close to all cabins. You have available for your use a washing machine, dryer, iron and hairdryers.  This should make your baggage considerably lighter! 

The dining area can seat all passengers comfortably for meals or presentations.   Outside on the upper deck all guests can be seated under shade for alfresco meals; there are 3 other comfortable outdoor viewing decks.

The Odyssey carries a compliment of the latest navigational equipment, radios, satellite communications, data facilities and a full DVD entertainment system. Facilities are provided for burning photos to CD’s or DVDs, full digital and audio visual presentation equipment for corporate functions and a library of informative and fictional books. 

If you require more information or wish to make a reservation please contact us at info@diversionOZ.com

Over 2 hours of entertainment at the Cairns Civic Theatre, Saturday 7^th of August.

 The Cairns Underwater Film Festival is now in its 4^th year and is growing in popularity.

This year, a new and exciting addition to the successful Festival will be the Cairns Underwater Photo Competition which will be launched this month on the Mike Ball Dive Expeditions website and is being advertised Australia wide.

 There are 4 categories to enter: Macro / Fauna & Flora / Man & the Sea / Young photographer.

In addition there will also be a Jury’s award for Best in Show. A major prize will be awarded to the winner of each category. Prizes include:

• 2 x 7 night Coral Sea Safaris with Mike Ball Dive Expeditions
• 7 night package at Walindi Dive Resort Papua New Guinea, flights donated by Air Niugini
• 7 night package at Loloata Island Resort Papua New Guinea, flights donated by Air Niugini  
• Haba Dive reef and dive package to the Great Barrier Reef
• Camera, housing and equipment donated by Innovations Australia and Tabata/Tusa.

Deadline for Entry is 30th June 2010.

Fortunately for the reef, its inhabitants and of course scuba divers the site of the incident is about 1000 to 1200 km away from our top dive sites in the Ribbon Reefs and the Coral Sea. As you know the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef is about 2000 km. We therefore expect no direct effect on the reef, however, there are a lot of wquestions to be asked. I hope this review can provide clarity there.

As of now (April 7, 12.00 midday, Australian time) it looks like the weather conditions are good, and a breakup of the freighter is no longer feared. Currently, the remaining oil is being pumped to another vessel, and it is hoped that the freighter be pulled from the reef. This outcome would mean that the reef escaped a major drama. The dive manager of Heron Island, a popular diving island is just 70km from the site of the incident told me that there were no effects on the diving operation (either the short or long term) as result.

The Director of the Australian Marine Conservation Society http://www.amcs.org.au agrees that the incident will hopefully lead to an increased supervision of the shipping route in the southern part of the Barrier Reef Marine Park.

What actually happened: Reports have it that a maximum of 2 to 4 tons of oil have escaped and dispersed with aerial spraying. Even small amounts of oil in the wrong place can be very destructive. In proportion to the total size the Barrier Reef is a very limited problem, as long as this remains an isolated case and this section of the reef is not further damaged. What was visible on television screens is not oil, but stirred up sand mixed with crushed coral.

It is election year in Australia and both political parties have written the protection of the Barrier Reef on their banners. The massive international attention that has been caused by this incident lets us hope as a first measure the movements of ships in this part of the Barrier Reef Marine Park will be better controlled.

What is often neglected in such accidents are the constant threats to the Great Barrier Reef which are present every day. There is the “normal” pollution by sewage from the villages on the Queensland coast and the sugar cane industry which is the source for large amounts of pesticides and fertilizers being washed to sea. We in Queensland work systematically to combat these negative influences. New sewage treatment plants are set up everywhere, and improved agricultural practices help farmers to not only save money for fertilizer, but to lessen the pressure on the reef.

Completely unpredictable, unfortunately, are the effects of global warming and global overfishing of the seas. This is where we are all asked to be part of a global solution.

One of the most important global initiatives to stabilize the Great Barrier Reef is the declaration of a Marine Sanctuary which extends beyond the reach of the Barrier Reef and is intended to protect fish stocks. http://www.protectourcoralsea.org.au/
This proposal is currently under discussion and it’s approval would be a great step forward not just for the Great Barrier Reef, but for the entire South Pacific.

I hope that this incident will help, to further improve the already strong protection of the Great Barrier Reef. For you scuba divers out there, I’m confident that we’ll have first class reefs to be dived for years to come.

Keep blowing bubbles!

Dirk Werner-Lutrop