By Alya B. Honsasan 23 - 25 June 2009 N4 07.051 E118 37.655 I SHOULD have gotten the hint when I did my check-out dive the afternoon I arrived at the Sipadan Mabul Resort (SMART) on Mabul Island, one of the two islands within view of Sipadan. On that relaxed 40-minute dive in Paradise 2 and 3, two [...]
30 May - 2 June 2009 We have not been back to Donsol in six years, and the many tight, long hugs we received were enough proof that we had left good friends there. It was truly a heart-warming "Welcome Back Home." But Donsol has changed. It has bloomed. We were generously welcomed to a [...]
29 May 2009 Whale shark made from bamboo and rice-sack cloth paraded along the coast From summers 2000 to 2003, we prided ourselves in being the first to organize tours for European tourists to see whale sharks in Donsol. We stopped when we immigrated to Australia. We have not been back since, and [...]
9-10 May 2009 Palm-fringed beaches, bright white sand, turquoise waters and, of course, a little sunbathing cabana in Pangalusian Island Lunch in a resort such as MIR and LIR means you are spoilt for choice. When asked, “Where would you like to have your lunch, ma’am?” I'd scratch my head and ask, “Where would you [...]
Shelagh Coleman talks about coffee and chocolates during her wonderful Sydney coffee and chocolate walking tour! Stella walks the streets of Sydney with Shelagh Coleman during her tour The best part of Shelagh's tour - trying out the chocolates! Taking a short break from reefs and [...]
Chambered nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) Now how did these beautiful deep-sea living fossils become so vulnerable? Our untiring quest to get them protected is unwavering. We must learn more about them before we can fight for their preservation. Guests help out Undersea Explorer marine biologist Qamar to engrave, photograph and measure caught nautilus for research [...]
Undersea Explorer crew collect tissue samples of a grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) at Osprey Reef North Horn on the UE back deck. Karl measuring a nautilus as part of the marine research done onboard the Undersea Explorer And yet another exciting trip on the Undersea Explorer for more science [...]
Split level coral reef shallows and snorkelling Stella with Kimberley Escape in the Rowley Shoals, Western Australia Colourful gorgonian fan and soft corals with diver in the Rowley Shoals Stella drift snorkelling in Clerke Reef channel of the Rowley Shoals November saw us back to Western Australia to [...]
The LEGENDARY Undersea Explorer Undersea Explorer's minke girl Susan Sobtzick and Stella Undersea Explorer's Rosco, Debbie and guest Bennet pointing at minke direction and helping out with minke research in the Great Barrier Reef Finally home in June and just recovering from our back to back [...]
Kimberley Escape against the magnificent King George Falls backdrop Kim and Allan Wilson with a fresh caught barramundi! End March to early April were 13 fascinating days on board a liveaboard, the Kimberley Escape. We experienced the spectacular Kimberley coast's stunning waterfalls, barramundi filled rivers and ancient aboriginal masterpieces of Wandjinas and [...]
