Shark Adventures

Shark Adventures

Join us for one (or all) of these incredible shark diving adventures:
The Farallon Islands - Great white sharks are closer than you think! Choose from a one day adventure departing from San Francisco or a two-day expedition that leaves from nearby Sausalito. The Gulf of the Farallons Marine Sanctuary is home to some of the world's biggest great white sharks. Read more >

Bahamas - A one-day tiger shark adventure departing from West End, Bahamas. The area known for very big tiger sharks is also home to reef sharks, lemonsharks and hammerheads. Read more >

Isla Guadalupe - 5 day live-aboard adventure to the newly discovered and pristine Isla Guadalupe site off the coast of Mexico. Read more >

False Bay (Cape Town, South Africa) - Just down the coast from our Cape Town jets, there's another incredible adventure. Shark dives depart from the scenic village of Simon's Town and are led by a professional shark photographer and experienced researcher. Dive for one day or dive for ten. Read more >

Gansbaai (South Africa) - Cage diving is incredible in the area near Dyer's Island better known as Shark Alley. You don't have to be a diver to see great action. Read more >

Sardine Run - Follow the annual migration of sardines along the Wild Coast of Africa. This rugged dive adventure puts you in the middle of a feeding frenzy. Read more >

What is Shark Diving?

What is Shark Diving?
Shark diving, or cage diving, allows divers, researchers and film crews to view the extraordinary world of Great White Sharks in comfort and safety. Specially designed shark viewing cages provide adequate protection for the sharks from sport divers, while allowing divers total freedom of movement and panoramic views. Our shark diving crews are industry professionals who care about your safety and enjoyment. Equally important, they care about making our dives safe for the sharks.

Is Shark Diving Dangerous?
To date, our most serious injury has been a sunburn. White sharks have many myths surrounding them. One is that they are killing machines attacking anything in sight. We have found that even at the height of a feeding event with multiple animals around a carcass, white sharks prove to be shy, slow moving animals. Our divers are amazed to learn first hand that these animals are almost gentle. That said, divers should always maintain a healthy respect for these awesome predators, in and out of the water!

Marine Biology Degree Programs in the U.S.

Marine Biology Degree Programs in the U.S.

The following is our list of all U.S. schools that offer degrees in Marine Biology. All links open in a new window linking directly to each school's marine biology program. To determine which school is right for you, you may want to consult the current rankings, but be forewarned that they are not always the best indicator of the "best" school. It is often better to make your own assessment based on the school's curricula, the experience of its faculty, and good laboratory facilities for hands on experience. To browse through a list of research facilities, click here. » Download the 256 page Admission Guide created by Franziska Elmer from Switzerland (700KB) - contains addresses, contact, student residential and program information as well as admission details for international students interested in Marine Biology degrees in the U.S. Thank you Franziska!

Contact us if you have any comments, changes or additions.

International Marine Biology Degree Programs »

Alabama
Alabama State University BS
Auburn University BS, MS, PhD
Samford University BS
Tuskegee University BS
University of Alabama BS, MS
University of North Alabama BS
University of South Alabama MS, PhD
University of West Alabama BS

Alaska Alaska Pacific University BS
University of Alaska Fairbanks MS, PhD
University of Alaska Southeast BS

California
California Lutheran University BA
California State University, Long Beach BS, MS
California State University (Moss Landing Marine Laboratories) MS
California State University Monterey Bay BS, MS
Humboldt State University BS, MS
San Diego State University BS
San Francisco State University BS, MA
San Jose State University BS
Sonoma State University BS
University of California Berkeley BS, MS, PhD
University of California Los Angeles BS
University of California Santa Barbara BS, MS, PhD
University of California Santa Cruz BS
Univ of California San Diego (Scripps Institution of Oceanography)University of San Diego BA, MS in Marine Science
University of Southern California PhD

Connecticut
University of New Haven BS
University of Connecticut BS, BA

Florida Barry University BS
Eckerd College BS
Florida Atlantic University BS, MS
Florida Institute of Technology BS, MS, PhD
Florida International University BS
Florida Keys Community College AS
Florida State University BS
Jacksonville University BS
Nova Southeastern University BS, MS, PhD
Stetson University BS
University of Florida: Fisheries/Aquatic Sciences (FAS) BS, MS, PhD
University of Miami: Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science BS, MA, MS, PhD
University of South Florida BS, MS, PhD
University of Tampa BS
University of West Florida BS

Georgia
University of Georgia BS, MS, PhD

Hawaii
Hawaii Pacific University BS
University of Hawaii Hilo BS
University of Hawaii - Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology BS

Kansas
Southwestern College BS

Louisiana
Nicholls State University BS, MS

Maine
Maine Maritime Academy BS
Unity College BS
University of Maine BS, MS, PhD
University of Maine Machias BS
University of New England BS

Maryland
University of Maryland MS, PhD

Massachusetts
Boston University MA, PhD
Hampshire College BS
Harvard College summer program only
Salem State College BS
Suffolk University BS
University of Massachusetts Darmouth BS

Mississippi
University of Southern Mississippi Coastal Science MS, PhD
University of Southern Mississippi Marine Science BS, MS, PhD

New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire - Marine Program BS, MS, PhD

New Jersey
Fairleigh Dickinson University BS
Richard Stockton College of New Jersey BS
Rutgers BS, MS, PhD

New York
Hofstra University BA, MA, MS
Long Island University, Southampton College BS, BA
State University of New York BS
State University of New York - Stony Brook BS, MS, PhD

North Carolina
Duke University BS, MEM (Master of Environmental Management), PhDUniversity of North Carolina Chapel Hill MS, PhD
University of North Carolina Wilmington BS, MS, PhD

Ohio
Bowling Green State University (BGSU) Aquatic and Marine Science BS Biology with an emphasis in marine and freshwater science
Ohio University BS

Oregon
University of Oregon BS(eMB), MS, PhD

Pennsylvania
Bloomsburg University BS
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania BS

Puerto Rico University of Puerto Rico Hunacao BS
University of Puerto Rico Myaguez Campus MS, PhD

Rhode Island
Roger Williams University BS, BA
University of Rhode Island BS

South Carolina
Coastal Carolina University BS, MS
College of Charleston BS, MS
Medical University of South Carolina MS
University of South Carolina BS, MS, PhD

Texas
Texas A&M University Corpus Christi BS, MS
Texas A&M University Galveston BS, MS
University of Texas at Austin BS

Virginia
College of William and Mary MS, PhD
Hampton University BS
Old Dominion University BS, MS, PhD

Washington
Seattle Pacific University BA, BS
University of Washington: Marine Biology BS
University of Washington: School of Aquatic and Fishery Science BS, MS, PhD
Western Washington University BS, MS

Wisconsin
Carroll College BS
Lawrence University BS
University of Wisconsin Superior BS

Graduate School Directory for Marine Sciences »

« Back to MarineBio Education & Career Resources

Sanctuaries of the Sea

POSTED BY: http://www.earthocean.tv/series/whalesmed_part5.html
Want to know more, read from the source..

"Sanctuaries of the Sea - Are Marine Protected Areas for Cetaceans a Solution?" is the fifth and final program of the documentary series, "Whales of the Mediterranean Sea".

What does it mean to save whales, dolphins and porpoises if their habitat is left unprotected?

Marine Protected Areas, also known as MPAs or Marine Sanctuaries, are the equivalent of national parks and protected areas on land.

Erich Hoyt is an author and senior research fellow for WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. He feels that creating MPAs for cetaceans can have a far-reaching impact in conserving other species, and whole ecosystems.

Marine scientists Ana Cañadas and Ric Sagarminaga work in the Alboran Sea off the coast of southern Spain. They are identifying critical habitats for migratory species while working with various local groups whose livelihoods depend on a healthy sea.

However, can establishing MPAs protect cetaceans from all human pressures? We interview Cristina Fossi, a marine toxicologist from the University of Siena, Italy, whose work highlights the extreme levels of pollution in Mediterranean cetaceans.

Our final program of the series, Whales of the Mediterranean Sea, explores whether whales, dolphins and porpoises can be the catalyst in protecting marine biodiversity in this ancient sea.

Nature Conservancy Announces Marine Fellowship Program

Nature Conservancy Announces Marine Fellowship Program

HONOLULU, HAWAI'I — The Nature Conservancy is launching a two-year Marine Conservation Fellowship Program to train recent college graduates to become the next generation of marine conservation leaders in Hawai‘i.

Modeled after the Conservancy’s successful Natural Resource Managers Fellowship Program, its marine counterpart will provide training in all aspects of marine resource planning, management and monitoring. Trainers will include senior Conservancy staff, marine resource experts, kupuna and other Hawai‘i conservation leaders.

O'ahu Marine Coordinator Eric Co (center, facing) with Maunalua Bay community members. © TNC

“Hawaii’s near shore fisheries have declined by 75% over the past century. If we are going to reverse this trend, we need a lot more people working in Hawai‘i to protect, restore and manage our coral reefs,” said Kim Hum, director of marine programs for Conservancy’s Hawai‘i program. “At the end of two years, fellows will have the necessary skills and knowledge to become successful marine resource managers in Hawai‘i. They will be highly competitive in Hawaii’s conservation job market for positions not just at the Conservancy, but at state and federal partner agencies, and other private sector marine-based programs.”

According to Hum, the fellowship program is designed to increase the state’s pool of qualified marine resource managers. “It’s difficult to find qualified candidates to fill mid-level resource manager positions,” she said. “These are the people who work directly with local communities to manage local marine resources, and they are key to restoring our reefs and near shore fisheries.”

The two-year program is designed for four fellows: two will be hired in the first year and two more in the second year, with a one-year overlap. The fellows hired in the first year will help train those hired in the second year. Fellows will be based in the Conservancy’s program offices on O‘ahu, Maui and Hawai‘i Island, and play an integral role in the Conservancy’s marine conservation efforts, working on community-based projects with senior staff, as well as staff from partner agencies.

Manuel Mejia, the Conservancy’s community-based marine program manager, is coordinating the fellowship program. Before joining the Conservancy in 2006, Mejia worked with the Locally-Managed Marine Area Network, coordinating a network of 244 member sites from seven Asia-Pacific countries. In the Philippines, he managed a UNESCO World Heritage Site at Tubbataha National Marine Park for the World Wildlife Fund. He has also worked for USAID evaluating the effectiveness of community- and nature-based enterprises in Indonesia, the Solomon Islands and Fiji.

TNC marine staff (from left) Manuel Mejia, Zachary Caldwell and Eric Co © Rob Shallenberger/TNCAccording to Mejia, by the end of the training program the fellows will:

1) be able to identify Hawaiian species of fish, coral and limu;
2) understand human impacts on marine ecosystems;
3) be familiar with traditional Hawaiian practices and values that support environmental stewardship;
4) be able to identify the major threats to sustainable marine resource use and management;
5) be proficient in marine biological survey methods, data management and analysis of coastal ecosystem health;
6) be familiar with Hawaii’s regulatory framework and policies for marine resource management;
7) have experience in organizing and managing community-based conservation efforts, including project and volunteer management;
8) know how to communicate scientific survey results to communities, decision-makers and the media; and
9) be certified in SCUBA diving and emergency safety protocols.


The Conservancy is now seeking applicants with undergraduate degrees in ecology, biology, natural resource management, Hawaiian studies, environmental studies, geology, geography, conservation or other related fields. Candidates must be proven “self-starters” who have demonstrated initiative and motivation in all of their past experiences (e.g., school, professional or volunteer projects). Preference will be given to applicants who have knowledge of cultural and traditional marine resource management practices, are dedicated to marine conservation, and are likely to seek careers in the marine resources management and conservation field in Hawai‘i.

For more information, contact Jan Eber at jeber@tnc.org or call (808) 587-6269. The deadline for submitting applications is January 2, 2008.
Funding for the Marine Fellowship Program is being provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Atherton Family Foundation.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at http://www.nature.org/.


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HOW MUCH DAMAGE HAS HUMAN FISHING DONE TO THE OCEAN?

HOW MUCH DAMAGE HAS HUMAN FISHING DONE TO THE OCEAN?

We thought we could fish forever, because the sea was a limitless protein mine. But dawning now is a realization that we were wrong about that. But how naive were we? And what price will be paid? Ocean life is dying back in unexpected ways: although there are fewer fish and other sea animals, more of them are starving, while waves of 'sickness' spread as primitive microbes gain the upper hand. Symptoms include spreading 'dead zones,' harmful algae blooms and a diminished presence of sea animal life in general. Is fishing implicated in all of this?

Atlantic Canada reveals what is probably the clearest evidence anywhere of the ecosystem-effects of persistent human fishing. The early 1990's crash of the once great Canadian cod stock is held up as a global cautionary tale against fisheries mismanagement, against greedy human 'overfishing.' But less well known is that the story is not that simple, that, at the level of scientific detail, so much has gone severely and unexpectedly wrong in Atlantic Canada...that the most basic assumptions underlying the 'science of overfishing/sustainable fishing' must now be questioned.

Zooplankton were unexpectedly and inexplicably lost along with Canadian fish stocks. If, as seems likely, this is part of the ecosystem impact of fishing, then this finding has global significance.

Evidence: a Transformed Ecosystem

As the size and abundance of commercially targeted fish species has plunged in recent decades, populations of smaller, unexploited organisms, the 'foundation' species of the marine ecosystem, have also experienced major downshifts. Oceanic zooplankton is in decline, and NASA/NOAA has recently reported an apparent global declining trend in marine phytoplankton production. Evidence suggesting lowered marine nutrient cycling can also be seen along clean oceanic shorelines.

Example: A clean, rocky intertidal zone in Atlantic Canada was heavily dominated by barnacles (filter feeding animals) in summer, 1948, reflecting relatively high marine productivity at that time. (Photo from Stephenson and Stephenson 1954 J. Ecol. 42:14-70 ) Move mouse over photo to see this site in summer, 2002. Now dominated by rockweed with relatively sparse barnacle cover, with individual barnacles very small, this shift away from dominance by filter feeders, and towards dominance by seaweeds, offers classic evidence of a decline in "nitrogen loading" rates. (Carpenter and Capone, Nitrogen in the Marine Environment (Acad. Press, NY, 1983)) This pattern of shifting dominance from filter feeders to seaweed is also widely evident today in the tropics where mass coral bleaching and infectious coral epidemics signal the failing health of those once dominant filter feeders.


WANNA KNOW MORE??

http://www.fisherycrisis.com/



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Save Our Seas

Save Our Seas
How much time do we have left?

Have you read the news? Everyday it's something else pointing to the ignorance of the human race.

Doom and Gloom? Well...Like or or not the planet is ailing and it's the fault of our generation, and our parents, and their parents also...
Our Children will now inherit a wasted planet...Makes ya feel all warm inside eh?

WAKE UP NOW!

Do something....Anything and do it fast.
Tell your neighbors, because time is running out.



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Oceans Conference 2008

"Environmentalism is about saving our communities. It is about the power of the community asserting itself on these environmental issues that will directly affect our future generations."

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., SOS Clean Oceans Conference 1997


We hope to enlist the help of like minded people and organizations worldwide so that we as a whole can make a positive change in conservation practices in Hawaii, Polynesia, and the World. Many places in Hawaii are on the verge of becoming protected areas, and we as a whole can work to implement these changes efficiently and positively!
SOS needs your help, please renew your membership or Join SOS to help us promote and educate people from all walks of life about our precious resource, the ocean.


The link below takes you to a Sierra club summary of our state governments action or inaction on an array of environmental issues during this past session. It is in essence a follow up to the "Common Sense Conservation 2008" briefing book compiled by a coalition of HI environmental organizations earlier this year.

http://www.hi.sierraclub.org/legislative/
Mahalo, Adam Roversi, SOS Advisory Board

“Six Degrees Could Change the World”

A new documentary titled “Six Degrees Could Change the World” will be airing on the National Geographic Channel on Sunday 10 February at 8pm ET.

The program, based on a book by the same title by Mark Lymas, sounds like scenes from a dramatic “The Day After” style disaster movie: from 1 degree of temperature increase: “residents flee midwest drought” “alpine villages threatened by frequent rockfalls” “mass bleaching of coral spreads, scientists warn of ecological impact” “hurricane expected to hit Mediterranean coast”… to 6 degrees of temperature increase:

“emergency alert system disbanded” “communications sporadic as major infrastructures collapse” “ocean’s surface becomes poisonous” “cities and towns unsustainable”

The book and documentary are based on the estimation that, during the last 100 years, global warming has increased by about .07 degrees Celsius or 1.2 degrees Farenheit. According to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), at no other time in the past 1,300 years has our planet been as warm as it is now. Temperature records from the deep ocean suggest that temperatures are now within a degree of their highest levels in 1 million years.

The IPCC estimates that Earth will continue to increase in temperature between 1.4-5.8 degrees Celsius by the end of this century. Though six degrees doesn’t sound like a lot, it’s enough to alter the world as we know it in a devastating way. Much of life will be destroyed. The signs are already there - the snows of Kilimanjaro are melting, glaciers on the Matterhorn in the Alps are melting and releasing huge boulders, and atoll nations in the Pacific are disappearing inch by inch under the water as it rises due to global warming.

This documentary and book describe in vivid detail what will happen if global warming continues unchecked. Check them out! Sunday 10 February at 8pm ET


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Hawaii Snorkeling

Hawaii Snorkeling: No matter which Hawaiian island you visit, enjoy the beautiful views of exquisite coral reefs, colorful aquatic life and so much more just below the surface of the pristine azure waters of the Pacific!

You will be equipped with all of the necessary gear and equipment so whether you decide to join a snorkeling adventure on one of the many available ocean vessels or from the smooth sandy shore, you will be able to experience one of Hawaii's most popular activities!

Kaaihue Brothers

We Snorkel With Turtles ? On Every Tour!! We travel the South Shore of Kauai; the islands best snorkeling year round and best whale watching (December - May)! Poipu, also known as ?Sunny Poipu? or locally as the South Side, is located only about 20 minutes from the airport in Lihue. With virtually no runoffs or streams, the visibility is exceptional and not affected by rainfall. Most of our tour is spent snorkeling with turtles, exotic fish and various sea life. We snorkel at least 2 locations and give you a guided tour through the water, pointing out eels, lobster, octopus, etc.

The surf on the south side is minimal. The large swells that hit our island in the winter months only affect the north and west shores? not the south! Therefore, if you’re planning on snorkeling on your vacation, or just want to join us for exceptional whale watching, be sure to go with Kaaihue Brothers.



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Hawaii Reef Divers

Hawaii Reef Divers is dedicated to providing the best raft and snorkeling tour available on Kauai. Aboard our custom built Rigid-Hull Toad Leaper Raft, guests are treated to a tour that is personalized, educational, interesting and adventurous. Guests are given marine as well as cultural narration and have the opportunity to snorkel with hundreds of species of tropical fish as well as the Green Sea Turtles. We also offer dolphin-watching year round and whale watching December through May. We are truly a specialized boat tour available on Kauai. We are the only boat tour with the emphasis on snorkeling and marine life watching and interaction. Our personalized attention to guests, guided tour in the water, and commitment to education and protecting the marine environment are components we are very proud to feature.

As examples of this, we DO NOT allow or promote fish feeding on our tours and we DO NOT ? throw anchor? in any of our selected sights, since both cause damage to the reef environment and its inhabitants. As a company we are dedicated to making each tour a custom adventure for the guest and giving them a truly Hawaiian experience using ancient Hawaiian place names and knowledge being passed on from our captain and crew. All of this will be shared with the spirit of Aloha!




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Diving With Sharks

My first experience with sharks came at the age of six, looking through the glass of a San Diego Aquarium, looking bright eyed and up at these big fish with fangs and ugly teeth. Kind of like what my daughter looks like when she wakes up in the morning.

When I was little and every chance to visit this sharks I took the chance, not many visits but the few I was able to do, until I got older, I knew then what I knew now. I fell in love with these beats. They are magnificent creatures of mystery and intrigue.

You want the best; dive with these guys:
http://www.divingwithsharks.com/index.html

NO Body BETTER!

Discover cage diving with great white sharks off Australia, California, and South Africa, or try scuba diving with the Caribbean reef sharks of the Bahamas, encounter whale sharks, or hammerheads. This section features some of the top shark diving destinations around the world, and where to go for the best shark diving opportunities

Learn why sharks are some of the most interesting and mysterious creatures in the sea. Have you ever wondered where would be the best place to go cage diving with great white sharks? Or what kind of shark is the biggest fish in the sea? Here are a few quick facts about some of the species most commonly encountered by divers.

For over 400 million years sharks have been the oceans top predators, dominating the marine world and swimming without fear. But now over-fishing and a rising demand for shark body parts, such as cartilage, teeth, and especially the fins, have placed many of the worlds sharks in danger. Check this section to learn more.

Diving With Sharks is here to make your next shark diving experience as seamless as possible. We have selected the top vessels out of San Diego, checked the dive crews and reviewed everything down to your meal service and cage construction. In short these vessels are the best you can get.Shark diving allows shark enthusiasts, divers and non-divers an easy way to observe the extraordinary world of Great White Sharks.

The shark cages we use create a discernable barrier that our sharks quickly recognize allowing us to safely observe and experience these incredible animals up close and personal. Safety is our highest priority, for both divers and our sharks. Shark diving is unique in the fact that the rewards often far exceed the effort both physically and mentally. Not to say that shark diving is not challenging, getting in the water with up to five Great Whites can very challenging and very exciting to say the least!

Shark diving with us requires less equipment to bring along, and only minimal equipment is needed to dive in our cages. For instance we use surface supplied air at Isla Guadalupe, thus no tank is required to be worn in the cage or while climbing in and out of the water leaving more room in the cage. We also provide regulators and weights. Our shark diving crews are industry professionals who care about your safety and enjoyment. In the world of cage diving with Great Whites you can either go where everyone has been before, or discover a newer and better world.

It will change the way you think of adventure forever. Period!



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Pacific Ocean

We've divided the Pacific Ocean into three areas: Cocos and Galapagos Islands, Cook, Fiji and Solomon Islands and the French Polynesia.

Each region has it's jewels to the global diver. For instance, Cocos Island in the East Pacific is the largest uninhabited island in the world, it's remote, wild and excellent for diving. Cocos is located 300+ miles west of Costa Rica, accessible only by boat. Cocos has no hotels and no accommodations and doesn't need them - Cocos Island is only for the determined diver. But with determination comes rewards.

The Solomon Islands, in the South Pacific, only has a few small remote dive resorts but the islands of Uepi and Gizo are outstanding with lots of wrecks from WWII, pristine reefs and walls, and of course, plenty of fish....Fiji is considered "The Soft Coral Capitol of the World" - need we say more? Ever heard of Rangiroa? It's in the Western Pacific, part of French Polynesia, and offers a rocket ride in eight knot currents through shark-filled passes... read more...Click here >>

Cocos Island lies in an Intertropical Convergence Zone. This zone is where the weather patterns of the two hemispheres converge near the equator. Here North and Southeast trade winds meet with the north and south equatorial currents.rainy season) and about 66°F the rest of the year. The Cook Islands experience little fluctuation in climate and have moderate temperatures and humidity. It does rain, however, with the rainy season beginning in December and running through March.Water temperature varies from a mean of 81°F in December to 78°F during their winter in August.

Whale season is September - October. Fiji's weather presents a real mixed bag. The choice is often between good visibility and cool water or warm water and calmer seas with less visibility. The Solomons are hot and humid year-round, with the most rain falling between December and March.

Rangiroa is diveable year-round, with water temperatures of 79­83°F.

See each region's sections for more details concerning seasons.

San Jose, Costa Rica Suva (Fiji) Rarotonga (Cook Islands)Honiara (Solomon Islands) TahitiLonely Planet Micronesia :: BuySouth Pacific Tourist OrganizationSouth Pacific Organizer (South Pacific Handbooks)

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Philippines Scuba

Dive Instructor Thierry left Mexico last year and went off on an extensive journey to explore the Philippines. Here is a photo essay of his trip.

The Philippines is an archipelago consisting of 7,107 islands. They separate the Celebes Sea and the South China Sea from the Pacific OceanThe archipelago is the second-largest in the world after Indonesia.

The warm, clear waters of the Philippines are known to contain some of the most diverse and beautiful marine life to be found anywhere in the world. Its waters are home to more than 3000 species of fish and 448 species of coral (compared to 700 species of fish and 100 species of coral in the entire Caribbean). But there have also been a lot of mixed reports on the destructive aftermath of dynamite fishing. Many visitors return from the Phillippines dissapointed divers because they didn't encounter the abundant marine life and healthy reefs others talk so enthusiastically about. Although some of the world's most extensive coral reefs are found in the Philippines, they are under such sustained assault by dynamite fishing that marine biologists say the corals are on the verge of utter collapse.

"There are many horrific things going on in the world's oceans, but this tops the list," said John McCosker, the chairman of aquatic biology at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. "When divers talked about the world's finest coral reefs 20 years ago, the consensus for the top spot was always the Philippines, but nobody feels that way now." Read more here...

A member of the Dive Global team snorkeled off Boracay island 20 years ago and remembered the reefs looking quite healthy back then. We were curious to find out from Thierry what his general impression was and if it still is a country worthwhile going to for scuba divers. Thierry visited quite a few islands during his stay and traveled by air, bus, ferry, banca (the traditional outrigger boat) and the famous Jeepny to get to the different places on his itinerary. A jeepny, for those of you that don’t know, is a US military vehicle left there in the Second World War. The jeeps have taken on a life of their own. Over the years, the Philippines have decorated these vehicles to their hearts content. You find them everywhere as a local means of transportation and they are considered a national symbol of the country.

Generally speaking, dive sites in the Philippines are known to include walls and drop-offs, coral gardens, drift dives and many rare and truly unique creatures including huge numbers of riggerfish, parrotfish, pennant fish, moray eels, surgeonfish, snappers, groupers, moorish idol, lizardfish, gobies, batfish, lionfish, trumpetfish, pufferfish, filefish, emperors, wrasses, fusiliers and trevallies. Invertebrates from the tiniest transparent shrimp and neon-colored nudibranchs to huge basket sponges adorned with hundreds of multi-colored crinoids can be found.

Anemones, sea cucumbers, starfish and worms reside with vast numbers of hard and soft corals and gorgonian sea fans. Turtles, octopus, cuttlefish, manta rays, eagle rays and sharks make guest appearances in certain areas.Palawan, which is south of Luzon, is considered the best (commercialized) diving destination in the Philippines. Shipwrecks abound in Coron, while excellent coral formations can be found in El Nido. Apo Island and the Tubbataha Reefs, to name a few, are still considered coral paradises.However, if you prefer to stay near Manila, you can go on a day trip to either Batangas (Anilao or Nasugbu) or Mindoro (Puerto Galera). Boracay is also very popular and easy to reach by a direct flight from Manila. It offers some amazing drift dives on walls and the beaches as positively stunning!

The island has become more commercialized over the years however and isn't as idyllic as it used to be.Thierry had an amazing time and even though he experienced some great dives in other locations, the highlight of his trip definitely was a visit to Malapascua Island which is known for a dive location where regular encounters with thresher sharks are pretty much guaranteed. Malapascua Island is in the Visayan Sea and belongs to Cebu. Cebu is easy to reach but this area has not yet been over-commercialized in diving terms and is considered one of the better exciting and off-the-beaten track diving destinations in the Philippines.

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Advance Scuba training, Adventure Sports, airlines, Basic Open Water, Digital Underwater Photography, discount travel, Divemaster scuba, Enriched Air, Extreme Scuba and Jason Kilgore, family travel, family vacations, Hawaii reef divers, Hawaii Scuba Diving, Hawaiian Islands, Hawaiian Islands sight seeing, hotels, Jason Kilgore, Kona, Maui, scuba certification, other specialty certifications, NAUI, NOAA, scuba diving, scuba rental gear, sharks, SSI, TDI/SDI, Underwater Instructors, vacation, Scuba and Jason Kilgore, Naui and Jason Kilgore, How to scuba dive, skin diving, snorkel, mask, fins, Reef Relief, coral reef, reef fish, maui divers, dive shops, scuba dive shops, cave diving, ice diving, wreck diving