DIVErsion Dive (B)LOG » Papua New Guinea

At what age do whale sharks reach reproductive maturity

diversiondivetravel — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:38:41 +0000

: Truk Lagoon

We asked our newsletter readers this question recently. The right answer is 30 years. Many participants mad an extra effort and added comments, some where quite funny or even informative and we like to share them with you:

30 years. got my fingers, toes, legs and arms crossed, makes it really hard to dive like this though
Whale Sharks need to be about 30 years old to procreate. I am 54 years young today and have been procreating about 30 years.
They reach maturity at the age of 30 years. (Wish I was still 30!)

30. Please, please, please…..
30 !! P.S. does the fact that 30th Jan is my birthday help me win?
30 years. Do they serve eggs benedict at Blue Lagoon Hotel?
30 years of age (a bit like human maturity really!!!)
Please pick me haha
30. Happy New Year guys! Great newsletter!
30 years. I’ll be saying my prayers every night and crossing all my fingers and toes
Hi!! I saw this competition and couldn’t resist giving it a go!! I’ve been obsessed with sharks since I was a kid!
30 years!!! I want my prize!
The Newsletter says after they grow 9 metres and are about 30 years old. Other marine biologists with whom I have spoken believe it is possible from 25 years on, or even younger – providing still the 9 metre length requirement! And all this proves is how much we have to learn about these AMAZING creatures!

The answers didn’t influence the outcome, but they brought some smiles on our faces. Thank you everybody for participating in our competition to win a stay in Truk Lagoon in the beautiful Blue Lagoon Resort. The winner is…..Jodie Lee from Brisbane! Congratulations Jodie. Jodie won 6 nights twin share accommodation with airport transfer from/to Weno airport/Resort in

Truk Lagoon’s Blue Lagoon Resort

The Prize is for 2 divers and also includes 10 dives per person!

Flash – you are on camera!

diversiondivetravel — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 04:47:10 +0000

Since I received my first NAUI Open water certification in the early 90’s I was always drawn to capture the excitement I experienced and to share it with friends, family and later clients. My first attempts with a SONY video 8 camera in a housing that resembled more the shape and size of a vacuum cleaner made me and my immediate family proud (they wouldn’t have dared to tell the truth).

Next phase was the upgrade to Hi8, new housing, lights and all. I felt like a pro! Especially when it came to chat to the check in lady and trying to get 40KG of excess luggage checked. Those were the days.

Fast forward to 2011. I see even novice divers with a small camera in a sleek housing, taken pictures and video that sometimes rival my best efforts in the early nineties. Technology is so good these days that your potential results can easily qualify to become viral on Facebook or YouTube. Still it is not all technology – the “auto” settings return great average results. To take better then average pictures underwater you must not only get a feel for the light underwater – its opportunities and limitations, you need to learn a lot about the subjects you want to photograph.

You can do this like me and add experience with every dive – or you speed up the learing process and take advice from a pro. What better then combining your next dive holiday with an intensive coaching session. Many liveaboards have resident photopros on board who are more then willing to oblige. And then there are special courses scheduled, like the series next year at TUFI Dive Resort in Papua New Guinea.

Learn from a pro

In May 2012 Christopher Bartlett, an experienced photo-journalist who has published his pictures in many dive magazines and brochures, will teach three 5- day Compact Camera Workshops. In those courses he will cover equipment preparation and setup, underwater guidance and subject finding, composition, lighting, no flash photography, digital image processing. Classes will be limited to 6 participants only!

You get five nights twin share deluxe accommodation, all (yummy) meals, eight morning dives on the outer reefs, four afternoon critter dives, one night dive and the course for only AUD 1850.00/person. And you get to experience one of PNGs finest dive location!

Dates: 2-6 May 2012 – 9-13 May 2012 – 16-20 May 2012

Contact Diversion Dive Travel 1800 607 913 / info@diversiondivetravel.com.au for travel suggestions, flights and more info on Christopher’s’ courses.

Join Claudia and Dirk exploring uncharted waters in PNG

diversiondivetravel — Wed, 18 May 2011 07:45:47 +0000

Papuan Barrier Reef photo: Craig DeWitt

The Golden Dawn has been pioneering diving in PNG since 1990. Craig DeWitt, veteran diver and skipper of the MV Golden Dawn, offers now some awesome diving at the Papuan Barrier Reef, south of Port Moresby.
The Papuan Barrier Reef is a substantial rival to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia running 1000 km from Port Moresby to Rossel Island at the tip of the Louisiade Archipelago, and has the advantage for much of its length of being much closer to shore. Craig has recently been exploring the section between Port Moresby and slightly beyond Hood point 100km to the south-east. The Barrier reef shelters a lagoon with many small isolated coral reefs commonly called “Bommies” and has a multitude of passes cutting through the reef and allowing Coral Sea waters to flush the lagoon.

While there are some well known dive sites on the Papuan Barrier, which are close to Port Moresby such as Suzies Bommie the majority of the trip will be spent “finning the reef less travelled”…to coin a term by PNG Dive Pioneer Bob Halstead.

The passes are adorned with colorful sea fans, sea whips and barrel sponges. On the outer walls Silvertips, Grey Reef Sharks and White Tips are commonly sited with occasional sightings of Java Sharks (Pig Eyes) and Great Hammerheads. Inside the passages Eagle Rays, Mobula Rays, Blotched Sting rays (Cow Rays), Tasseled Wobbegongs, Leopard Sharks, Tawney Sharks are common.

Well, Dirk and Claudia from Diversion Dive Travel will be on the first excursion to this awesome destination. Would be great if you join us!

Join us exploring!

Date: 15-21 August 2011 from/to Port Moresby ,
Package: 6 nights Diving Papuan Barrier Reef, twin accommodation, all meals, tanks, weights. Up to 5 dives on dive days, return airfares on Airniugini from Cairns from AUD 2599.00
Other excursion dates are available for August/September. Please email us!
More information on our Golden Dawn Website

Are Fish Dumb?

diversiondivetravel — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:41:22 +0000

A study at Muluk in PNG reveals that fish may not be as dumb as most people think. Scientists have measured how close a diver can get before fish take flight in protected and non protected fishing areas. The research showed that “Inside protected areas, the fish tended to move off when the diver closed to within 2-3 metres of them. However those outside the protected zone, where hunting was common, mostly fled when the diver came within 4-5 metres of them.”

— http://www.labspaces.net/109701/Fish_know_to_avoid_the_spear

Muluk is on the eastern side of Karkar Island in Madang province,

(Latitude: 4 39′ 0 S, Longitude: 146 4′ 0 E)

Source: “PNG Gossip Newsletter”

The Australasia Challenge: u/w shootout

diversiondivetravel — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 06:04:48 +0000

Join the “Australasia Challenge” – at the 5th Underwater Festival 2011

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:

Where is Tingwon Island?

diversiondivetravel — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 04:16:00 +0000

You maybe excused if Tingwon is not part of your standard Geography.
You can find the real answer by joining this trip organised by Lissenung Island Resort in Papua New Guinea.
– or you can cheat and scroll to the bottom

9-day/8-night Exploratory Trip,
Tingwon Island, 21-29 May 2011

During this 9-day trip, we will visit areas rarely if ever dived. Accommodation will be at Lissenung Island Resort and at the guest house at Tingwon Island, west of New Hanover. We will take our dive boat to explore some new dive sites and visit some other sites that we know are very good, but rarely have the chance to dive. Weather depending these may include Chapman’s Reef with its resident Giant Groupers or a ship wreck and a Midget Submarine at New Hanover.

Sample 9-Day Itinerary:
Day 1: · Arrival at Kavieng and transfer to Lissenung Island · Overnight at Lissenung Island Resort
Day 2: · 2 boat dives on some of Lissenung’s famous dive sites such as Albatross Passage, Helmut’s    Reef as well as exploring some new sites · Night Dive at Lissenung Island · Overnight at Lissenung Island Resort
Day 3: · 2 boat dives on some of Lissenung’s famous dive sites such as Planet Channel, Byron Strait as    well as exploring some new sites · Night Dive at Lissenung Island · Overnight at Lissenung Island Resort
Day 4: · Depart for Tingwon Island. We will drive to the west coast of New Hanover and then make the    crossing to Tingwon. The boat ride over will take approx. 3.5 hours · 2 boat dives, one along New Hanover and one at Tingwon Island · Overnight at Tingwon Island Guest House
Day 5: · 2 boat dives around Tingwon Island where we will explore some new reefs · Overnight at Tingwon Island Guest House
Day 6: · Depart for Lissenung Island with 2 boat dives, one at Tingwon Island and another one    somewhere along New Hanover · In the afternoon, return to Lissenung Island Resort · Night Dive at Lissenung Island · Overnight at Lissenung Island Resort
Day 7: · 2 boat dives on some of Lissenung’s famous dive sites such as Albatross Passage, Helmut’s    Reef as well as exploring some new sites · Night Dive at Lissenung Island · Overnight at Lissenung Island Resort
Day 8: · Rest day · If you are flying at lunchtime tomorrow, possibility for 2 more boat dives · Overnight at Lissenung Island Resort
Day 9: · Depart Lissenung Island Resort or stay on for some more awesome diving! (Normal accommodation and diving rates apply!)

This is a sample itinerary only and it is subject to change without notice, depending on weather conditions. Satellite phone, Oxygen and First Aid equipment and spare parts kit are on board the dive boat. Please note that the guest house visited might be very basic. However, the experience you will gain during this trip will be very much worth the effort!

Cost: A$ 3,159.00 per person in twin/double accommodation

Inclusions:
Return flight from Cairns to Kavieng on Air Niugini · 6 nights accommodation in a double/twin room with private facilities at Lissenung Island Resort · 2 nights accommodation with share facilities at Tingwon Island guest house · Return airport transfer · All meals · 6 days with 2 boat dives per day · Tanks, weights, dive guide, snacks onboard dive boat · Complimentary shore diving on Lissenung House Reef · Complimentary night dives on Lissenung House Reef · Complimentary “sun-downer” wine · Complimentary image downloading and CD/DVD burning · Complimentary Lissenung Island and New Ireland DVD · Complimentary Lissenung Island Resort T-Shirt
Minimum 4 divers, maximum 6 divers Single rates and rates for non-divers on request

Please inquire with us for more information and package rates from other cities then Cairns

Tingwon Island is a small island of New Hanover in Northern Papua New Guinea. It is inhabited by local Island people and rarely get’s overseas visitors. Check it out on Google maps: http://goo.gl/maps/olK9

Support AMCS and win a trip to Lissenung Island Resort in PNG

Diversion Dive Travel — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 03:39:30 +0000

AMCS is thrilled to announce the chance to win the trip of a lifetime to a tropical island escape in Papua New Guinea, one of the world’s leading dive destinations. Simply join AMCS as a Sea Guardian to be automatically entered in the draw to win this incredible prize valued at over $9000! Already a Sea Guardian? Just upgrade your current support or introduce a friend to enter.
Wish you were here? Then click here to find out more!

The stunning Lissenung Island, PNG
If you’ve ever wanted to help protect our oceans, now is the time. The recent grounding of the coal carrier in the Great Barrier Reef reminds us that our precious oceans need our help more than ever. AMCS’s Sea Guardians – our wonderful regular supporters – are the life force for the seas as we fight to create a better future for our reefs, turtles, whales, sharks and seabirds. So join today and get in the running to win this incredible prize. The prize includes seven nights accommodation and meals at the stunning Lissenung Island Resort and return airfare to Papua New Guinea. You’ll spend five days diving and exploring the beautiful surrounding reefs. Don’t worry if you can’t dive yet because the prize includes a PADI beginners open water dive course if you can’t. Also included in this fabulous prize is over $5000 worth of dive gear from Scubapro.
So what are you waiting for? Find out more details and watch our video here.

Winner will be drawn on 8th July 2010. Full terms and conditions are available here.
Thank you to our wonderful prize sponsors

Cairns Underwater Film Festival and Photo Competition

Diversion Dive Travel — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 03:33:33 +0000

The Cairns Underwater Film Festival will delight those who love to explore remote and new Underwater Worlds. We are bringing 8 awarded films (detailed program later) from various nations and will also screen a selection of short movies from local talent.

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.

Beyond Remote Diving

Diversion Dive Travel — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 07:12:35 +0000

And you thought that hopping on a couple of planes for 48 hours to end up at a nice tropical island hideaway resort in Papua New Guinea for a weeks diving is the ultimate in going remote? Think again.
Lissenung Island Resort just completed a 9 day expedition starting from their Resort in Kavieng, Papua New Guinea. They visited some of the remote villages around New Hannover and had some absolutely spectacular dives on the way.
This is what Ange and Dietmar had to report:
http://tinyurl.com/njhzgo (opens PDF)

Updated Dive Packages for Papua New Guinea

Diversion Dive Travel — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 04:57:14 +0000

UPDATED TAXES FOR PNG PACKAGES 22JUL09

With lower fuel cost and increasing competition on international flights to Port Moresby, Air Niugini has substantially reduced it’s tour based airfares to PNG, home of the world’s best tropical dive locations.
This has allowed DIVERSION DIVE TRAVEL to substantially drop the cost of dive tour packages from Australia to PNG in April this year.

A revision in airline taxes has lead to slight changes in the total package costs:
Here is a price comparison for 8 top dive destinations in PNG:
We have chosen 7 night packages in twin accommodation with transfers, all meals included (unless stated otherwise), 10 boat dives, return airfares from Australia:

Madang Lodge: accommodation in Garden Terrace Rooms, (no meals)
ex Cairns AU$ 1954 , ex Brisbane AU$ 1984, ex Sydney: AU$ 2234
Kabaira, Rabaul: accommodation in Double Rooms,
ex Cairns AU$ 2249, ex Brisbane AU$ 2279, ex Sydney: AU$ 2529
Lissenung Island Resort, Kavieng: accommodation in Beach bungalow,
ex Cairns AU$ 2464, ex Brisbane AU$ 2494, ex Sydney: AU$ 2744
Loloata Island Resort, Port Moresby: accommodation in Beach bungalow,
ex Cairns AU$ 2529, ex Brisbane AU$ 2559, ex Sydney: AU$ 2799
Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe Bay: accommodation in Plantation room,
ex Cairns AU$ 2594, ex Brisbane AU$ 2634, ex Sydney: AU$ 2884
Rapopo Plantation Resort, Rabaul: accom in Double Rooms, all meals,
ex Cairns AU$ 3069, ex Brisbane AU$ 3099, ex Sydney: AU$ 3349
Tufi Resort: accommodation in Airconditioned Bungalow,
ex Cairns AU$ 2944*, ex Brisbane AU$ 2974*, ex Sydney: AU$ 3224*
*Additional overnights in Port Moresby required on way up/and or down – depending on travel date.
Tawali Resort, Milne Bay: accommodation in Airconditioned Bungalow, unlimited dives
ex Cairns AU$ 3220, ex Brisbane AU$ 3240, ex Sydney: AU$ 3500

Please contact DIVERSION DIVE TRAVEL on 1800 607 913 or info@diversionOZ.com to get your deal for PNG!