Tubbataha Reef liveaboard, Philippines

Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park lies 181km southeast of Puerto Princesa the capital of Palawan province in Philippines in the middle of Sulu Sea. Place has been also UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.
Because of the remote location all the dive trips are liveaboards. Usually trip starts from Puerto Princesa. I was diving in Tubbataha Reef in March 2009 with Expedition Fleet. We had four diving days (5-5-5-3) and five nights on the boat. Our boat was 36m long Stella Maris Explorer.
Tubbataha Reefs has two atolls - South atoll and north atoll - and atolls are separated by 7km wide very deep channel. South atoll has also lighthouse.
North atoll is bigger and there are small bird islet and ranger station.
Hawksbill and green turtles are common in Tubbataha.
Atolls have deep walls. Most of the dives starts on the walls.
Tubbataha Reefs are in the middle of the Sulu Sea and there is possible to see everything. About 600 species of fish, 360 spices of corals, 12 species of sharks, many different species of rays. Also manta rays.
School of barracudas.
Some kind of nudibranch.
Lobsters in the hole.
I have never seen more than two Napoleon wrasse swimming together. In Tubbataha I saw seven together.
Sharks are always guaranteed in Tubbaha. Some dives it's possible the see big groups of sharks.
One little bit closer.
Crocodile fish.
My german dive buddy with jacks.
Jacks in tornado.
Tubbataha Reefs is amazing diving destination. It's not the best place for beginners because dives are many times quite deep and there can be also some current. For everybody else it's Must place to visit!
That's me and really enjoyed the dives in Tubbataha!!

Cheers,

Mika

Bunaken Island in North Sulawesi, Indonesia

North Sulawesi in Indonesia has amazing coral reefs and deep walls for all level of divers. Bunaken National Marine Park is great place for diving, but the area itself is also very beautiful. There are five volcanoes, beautiful islands and of course Manado City. From Bunaken Island you can find also Living Colours Diving Resort. Resort has own peaceful place with sandy beach near the mangrove. I was there in September 2007 and I will never forget it.
Easiest way to go to Bunaken is first to fly from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur to Manado and then take a boat to Bunaken Island. Boat trip from Manado to island takes about 45min. If you go to Living Colours Diving Resort they come to pick up you already from Manado airport.
Dive Resort is very relax place and owned by Finnish couple. Resort has nice villas on the top of the hill and there is also very good restaurant.
One thing which I especially remember from Bunaken dives are huge turtles. Many times turtles are sleeping on the wall. Blacktip reefshark are also common near the walls.
Banded seasnake.
School of fishes.
North Sulawesi is also well-known of muck diving. Different kind of nudibranches are very common.
Even nudibraches are smiling in Bunaken.
Near Manado City lies old Manado Wreck.
After dives in the evening Safety Stop Bar is THE center point in Living Colours.

People who has visited in Living Colours remember for sure the evenings. The master of ceremonies himself is bartender Freddy who is funny guy and good singer. Dive masters play guitars on the beach and Freddy sings and serves the cold drinks and everybody has good time.
I fully recommend to trip to Bunaken and Living Colour Dive Resort. It's not only diving, but the whole atmosphere and feeling. Great place indeed!!

Similan diving safaris, Thailand

Best diving place in Thailand - that's how people usually describe Similan Islands. Similan National Marine Park was established in 1982. Similan Islands have nine islands and it's 100km from Phuket to northwest in Andaman Sea. Diving season is from October to May. Best time for diving is from January to March.
I have been diving on Similan three times. Twice on Similan diving safaris and ones on day trip. Best way to dive there is to go safaris. I was on diving safaris on Feb 2006 and Feb 2007 by Chalong Sea Sport. Diving safaris are very relax way to dive on Similans. Just dive, eat, sleep and relax on the boat. Usually the safaris have four diving days four dives a day and five nights on the boat.

The beauty of Similan is not only crystal clear and rich marine life. There are also beautiful islands and beaches. One of the Similan landmark is Donald Duck Bay. Name of the place comes from this stone.
Up from the hill opens great view to Donald Duck Bay. I'm on the top on Feb 2006.
Diving safaris on Similan are very famous and if you have been there one you know why. Visibility can be more than 30 meters. Lots of different place to dive and rich marine life. Turtles are common especially on the Donald Duck Bay area.
Huge rocks and boulders with swim through.
Lots of different kind of reef fishes.
Moray eels are common. Also giant morays.
There are also few wrecks. This is Atlantis X.
Chinese wreck.
Some places is possible to see also something bigger like whale sharks and manta rays. I haven't seen whale sharks on Similan, but mantas many places. Best place to see mantas is Koh Bon area like I say this one in Feb 2007. Manta was playing with us about 10min before it disappeared to deep blue.
So all in all. Similan is best place for diving in Thailand and it's really worth to visit!!

Deepest diving pool in the world - Nemo33, Brussels

Date: 5.4.2008
Place: Belgium, Brussels, Nemo33, Plongée Rue de Stalle 333
Depth: 34,4m
Dive time: 35min
Visibility: pool
Water Temperature: +33C

Equipment
Bottle: 10L/180bar (air) Wetsuit: No wetsuit Weight: No weight belt

Have you ever dived in Brussels? Yes, I really mean the capital of Belgium. It's possible. There is one very special place called Nemo33. It's deepest diving pool in the world. It was opened in 1st of May, 2004.

I had a business trip to Brussels in April 2008. One of my diving friend lives in Brussels and he said take your mask and diving computer with and let's go diving in the weekend. Sure, why not.

When you come to Nemo33 you have to show your valid diving licence card and sign the paper. Same procedure like usually when diving somewhere with some dive operator. There are one hour time slot for the divers. When there is enough people in the group and previous group is in the end of the session it's time to go to dressing room to change swimming suit.

You don't need any of your own diving gears. Nemo33 has everything. Of course your personal diving computer is good to have and maybe your own mask, but that's all. Select fins, PCD, regulator, etc. Nemo33 has fresh water, so weight belt is not needed. Water temperature is like in tropic. It's +33C.

Gears up and to dive. There are different depths in the pool like 5m, 10m and deep tube which goes all the way to 33m. In 10m there is also tunnel with air pockets. Tunnel itself is quite shallow. About 1,5m. In the airpocket it's possible to stand, take regulator off from the mouth and breath normally.

Nemo33 has also restaurant and between the restaurant and pool is window. It's possible to see from under the water to restaurant and from the restaurant to the pool under water. I took this photo during the dive to restaurant.

Here my friend Antti is on the bottom of the deep tube in 33m.

I'm somewhere in the deep tube.

Nemo33 is interesting place and very good for training. It's definitely worth of visit at least ones. Here some great photos from Nemo33 in Scuba Diver Life.

Official web page of Nemo33.

Regards,
Mika

Putul and Crossing, Puerto Princesa

Today I had a two dives in Puerto Princesa area. First was on Putul which is known also as a Broken River. Second dive was on Crossing.

Dive #: 216
Date: 29.4.2011
Place: Philippines, Palawan, Puerto Princesa, Putul/Broken River
Depth: 27m
Dive time: 31min
Visibility: 15-20m
Sea Temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: No wetsuit, shorts + t-shirt Weight: 4Kg

Dive Center: Moana Dive Center
Price: 3300PHP/55€ (2 dives)

Some photos from the dives. Lionfish.
Huge fan coral.
Lobster hiding under the rocks.
On this dive my regulator was leaking badly and that's why dive was only 31min. Problem was fixed for the next dive.
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Dive #: 217
Date: 29.4.2011
Place: Philippines, Palawan, Puerto Princesa, Crossing
Depth: 18m
Dive time: 47min
Visibility: 10-20m
Sea Temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: No wetsuit, shorts + t-shirt Weight: 4Kg

This looks like a giant mushroom.
Nudibranch.
Clownfish family or "Nemos".
Different kind of nudibranch.
Second dive I saw also mantis shrimp. It went under the rock to hole and I tried to take photo, but camera just couldn't focus to correct place. I tried many times, but no. This time it was mission impossible.