Dampier Strait Diving ... It really is incredible that in just over 20 years Raja Ampat has gone from a little known, remote outpost of the huge Indonesian archipelago. To one of the world’s must-do diving locations. Google “Raja Ampat diving” and you will be bombarded with dozens of options. Ranging across the full spectrum of liveaboard vessels: Huge and luxurious, spa-suite behemoths through to the floating equivalent of backpacker hostels. Plus, on land the options now range from beautiful resorts to village homestays, with everything in between! The huge wave of tourism that has washed over Raja Ampat changed many things for the …
Articles
Understanding the Indonesian Archipelago
Understanding the Indonesian Archipelago... It is often said that if the 16,000+ islands of the vast Indonesian archipelago did not exist, we would only have 23 hours in our day… To put that rather bold statement into perspective requires a basic understanding of the Indonesian Throughflow. Which, at the most fundamental level, is simply the largest volume of moving water in the world. It is however an incredibly complex natural phenomena. The Readers Digest version of which is that as the Earth rotates around its polar axis, huge amounts of seawater accumulate in the northwest Pacific Ocean. Producing a disparity of some …
Getting into Technical Diving – Intro…
Getting into Technical Diving - Intro... If you are into scuba diving generally you will no doubt have noticed the growth of what is generally referred to as “Tech”. I certainly have and my attitude towards it evolved from somewhat dubious, to quite interested. As it became more and more mainstream. I was initially dubious because I already had a lot of gear and did not feel the need for another expensive set of equipment. Plus, my primary objective for diving is to take photographs underwater. And I could not see how all this additional “stuff” would add anything to what I was already doing. Plus, if I am totally honest, I …
Raja Ampat Pioneers – Ricard Buxo
Raja Ampat Pioneer Ricard Buxo... Undeniably one of the world's extraordinary destinations. Raja Ampat blends breathtaking above-water landscapes with a staggering abundance of marine biodiversity, into a remarkable combination that draws divers from all corners of the globe. My introduction to this incredible region traces back to 1999. When I stumbled upon a post on an online underwater photography bulletin board (anybody remember them?). The author of which was trying to assemble a group of like-minded divers for a trip to a newly established 'eco beach camp' on Kri Island. Providing an opportunity to explore the recently …
The Ultimate Milne Bay Adventure
Ultimate Milne Bay Adventure... Milne Bay was first place I ever visited in Papua New Guinea. And even after many years and several return trips, my fascination with the area endures to this day. It’s a truly special place with much to see. But it is also a really big area and logistically, getting to all the best locations and spending sufficient time there in a single trip can be a challenge. 2023 marked the 25th anniversary of that initial journey. And so I wanted to orchestrate something really special to celebrate my on-going fascination with PNG, its people, their rich cultures, and of course the diving. So, I embarked on …
Southern Right Whales of Peninsula Valdés
Southern Right Whales of Peninsula Valdés - The key lies in how you enter the water… Slip ever so gently over the side and swim quietly toward them, always approaching from the front so that the mother can see you coming and assess the level of threat. The mother, ever vigilant for potential orca attacks and protective of her young calf, will prioritize caution and may cut short the encounter if she senses danger. However, she's weary from the constant stress of shielding and nourishing her hungry calf and yearns for a moment of rest. Get it right, and there's a good chance she will remain stationary, permitting you to draw closer. If …
Raja Ampat Pioneers – Max Ammer
Max Ammer... It really is quite incredible that in just over 20 years Raja Ampat has gone from a little known, remote outpost of the huge Indonesian archipelago to one of the must-do diving locations globally. Google “Raja Ampat diving” and you will be bombarded with dozens of options. Ranging across the full spectrum of liveaboard vessels. Huge and luxurious, spa-suite behemoths through to the floating equivalent of backpacker hostels. Plus, on land the options range from beautiful resorts to village homestays. With everything in between! The huge wave of tourism that has washed over Raja Ampat changed many things for the better. …
The Ghosts of the Machines
Kavieng WWII Aircraft Wrecks... World War II came to the Australian territory of New Guinea in January 1942 when the Imperial Japanese Army invaded Rabaul in New Britain. Followed shortly after by the taking of Kavieng in nearby New Ireland. The invasion turned New Guinea into a major theatre of war in the battle for the Pacific. And there were many brutal encounters between the invading Japanese and the defending Australian forces. Conditions were often appalling; the fighting was incredibly fierce, and many young lives were lost on both sides. To this day the poignant relics of those battles are woven into the fabric of the now …
A Guide to Diving Tasmania
Diving Tasmania... The “Apple Isle” is, in so many ways, the hidden gem of Australian scuba diving. And getting to know a bit more about it has been one of the highlights of my personal diving career! There really is a lot to see underwater around Tasmania. But the reality is you would need a couple of months, together with a significant budget to explore it all. My dive buddy and I only had a couple of weeks… So we reached out to various local divers to get their recommendations. This is what we learned about the “must do” locations. And, looking back I think we got it about right. But first of all let’s start with why …