Jesse, the Filippino Santa Claus

Orphanage children from Dumaguete with an enjoyable singing and dancing performance

Two additional new Deluxe rooms are now available in Pura Vida Beach & Dive Resort.

Proud father: Chris son JR passed his CMAS 3* and SSI Dive Control Specialist certifications at  SUBEX Red Sea in Egypt, congratulation!

On the celebration of the “100 year anniversary of the Philippine Football Association” was a chance to have a picture taking and short talk with the president of FIFA, Mr. Joseph Blatter. David Borja, childhood friend of Martin made this possible in his position as FIFA delegate. However, it can be considered a rumor that they were talking about the successful football career of David and Martin with the legendary FC Therwil J.

From left to right:

Dr. Peter Suter, Ambassador of Switzerland to the Philippines

David Borja, Development Manager Asia and Oceania, FIFA

Martin and Flor Nussbaumer, Sea Explorers

Joseph S. Blatter, President FIFA

Werner Berger, Werdenberg Group of Companies Manila

New amenity in Love’s Lodge, Moalboal

1. ASIA PREMIERE DIVE

The biggest event in Sea Explorers history started on November 22 in Cebu City. The first ASIA PREMIERE DIVE of ROGER TOURS, Germany, with 65 participants was welcome by an official reception at the airport and transported in 3 groups with 3 busses to Marco Polo Plaza. The first evening was organized and sponsored by DOT (Philippine Department of Tourism) with colorful polo-shirts and hats, delicious dinner buffet and cultural dance performance. Following DOT and Cebu officials were present: Dawnie Roa, Laani Jaraplasan, Cynthia Carrion, Agnes Almendras Magpale, Verna Covar-Buensuceso and Ina Asirit.

The 3 groups visited our branches in Cabilao, Dauin und Malapascua. One group could not go up to Malapascua due to the weather conditions and went to Moalboal instead. About half of the 65 guests are spending an extension week at Alona Beach.

For more pictures please click here

New Boule court in Pura Vida Beach & Dive Resort

In October we opened a new Boule court on the beach at Pura Vida. The pictures show style studies of Hervé (in classic-french style since he is a compatriot of the world best Boule players) and Chris (sporty-elegant) and the winners of the first competition.

The Poison Ocellate Octopus (Octopus mototi) was discovered first time in Dauin area on a sandy slope close to Pura Vida Beach & Dive Resort.  Roan Stoel and Janny Hadderingh together with dive guide Daniel Wernli were even able to get the first shots of this rare specie. Some more pictures of different rare creatures in Dauin area you can find in our forum.

Our dive guide Martin found for the first time around Malapascua the Weedy Scorpionfish (Rhinopia frondosa). The dive site was Gato Island on the south side. Dirk and Yvonne Neuhaus were lucky to get some photos of this special discovery.

New Speed boat in Moalboal

In Moalboal we have a new speed boat in service. It will be mainly used as a service boat to bring our guests more comfortable from the shore to the bigger bankas.

Sea Explorers Manager Meeting in Cebu City

Another meeting before the actual start of the high season with all the branch managers took place on October 12 in Cebu City. This time with a little bit Italian touch since we met in “La buena forchetta da Paolo”, an Italian restaurant close to our Head Office. One of the main topics was the preparation of the big event of Premiere Dive in November-December.

“Celebrate the Sea Festival” first time in the Philippines

For the first time the 6^th “Celebrate the Sea Marine Imagery Festival” took place in Manila in the Philippines from September 21-23. It was organized by OceanNEnvironment Australia in collaboration with Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD). The main event comprised of imagery presentations and seminars by a panel of world renowned image makers and marine scientists such as David Doubilet of National Geographic, Jennifer Hayes – aquatic ecologist, Amos Nachoum – www.biganimal.com , Brad Norman – whale shark scientist, Michael Aw – author Celebrate the Sea and last but not least the best known Philippine underwater photographer Scott Tuason – author of Anilao.

One of the highlights was the presentation of the 15 recent award winning features from the International Underwater Film Festival in Antibes.

On the pictures: David Doubilet during his very interesting presentation and then joking together with Michel Aw.

International Cleanup Day in Dauin on September 15

This event was organised by Sea Explorers Dauin and we were able to cleanup our beach and also another dive site located outside Dauin, the Ducomi Pier, they allowed us to do so and were very happy that we ask for it.

At the end of the day, a team of 10 divers on 2 dive sites and 15 members of Sea Explorers and Pura Vida Beach & Dive Resort, were able to collect a total amount of 79 kg of waste from the sea and the land. 48 kg were taken from the sea and 31 kg were collected on the beach. It was a nice event and everybody was very happy and proud of their efforts that day.

Thanks to Jimmy Christrup, our new PADI Regional Manager who help us in this event.

International Underwater and Coastal Cleanup Day at Siquijor Pier on September 15

Another award winning picture of a Sea Explorers guest

Alexey Stoyda from Moscow Russia wins two 1^st prices with a beautiful wide-angle shot taken in Balicasag.

- Grand-prix winner of the VI Moscow International Photo Festival <Golden Dolphin> 2007

http://www.goldendolphin.ru

/News_of_the_Festival.shtml

- 1^st Prize wide-angle in Australasia ScubaDiver Magazin Photo Competition

http://scubadiveraa.com/

contest_result/wa_big.html

Last destination of the Sea Explorers Easy Ride:

The Sea Explorers Easy Ride, which transported hundreds of divers in Dauin area in the last years, found his final destination in about twenty meters depth in front of Pura Vida Beach & Dive Resort. As a new artificial Reef it will be home now for different kinds of fish.

Sea Explorers Manager Meeting in Pura Vida Beach & Dive Resort end of August. All branch managers assembled in Dauin to discuss about the coming high season, new strategies and standards of the company. During the business lunch the new Pura Vida specialty “Swiss holes” was served, it looked that Martin enjoyed it.

First helicopter landing in front of Pura Vida Beach & Dive Resort. Max Raetz, a longtime Swiss friend of Chris was visiting in August and invited him and his family for a round trip flight over Dauin and Apo Island.

A new culinary specialty is now available in the Pura Vida restaurant – Swiss holes – derived from a Swiss specialty in Basel area. The platter will be served either with chicken, beef or sea foods with the sauce of your choice.

A new generator (125kW) in Pura Vida Beach & Dive Resort will serve our facility with power more reliable and quiet during brown outs and low voltages.

Felix Suter, for several years working already for Sea Explorers Alona Beach and the company’s Tec Dive guru, is taking over the dive center manager position in Alona Vida Beach Resort starting August. He will be assisted by his partner Eriko from Japan.

Swiss National Day party as well in Pura Vida Beach & Dive Resort as well on August 1.

Swiss National Day celebration in Marco Polo Plaza, Cebu City:

On August 4 the little bit delayed August 1^st celebration took place at Marco Polo Plaza Hotel in Cebu City. This event has been initiated by the Swiss General Manager Hans Hauri together with our Martin Nussbaumer. The Sea Explorers Head Office staff together with Chris, Martin and Rolf really enjoyed the excellent cheese fondue and outstanding buffet. Pascale und Martin participated as well at the yodeling contest.

Spectacular sand diving in Dauin:

It’s approved again that even diving just on a sandy slope without any corals can be very fascinating. Just beside Pura Vida Beach & Dive Resort some rare species like Hairy Frogfish (antennarius striatus) on the picture together with a Painted Frogfish (antennarius pictus), Wunderpus and even Mimic octopus were encountered the last days and weeks.

(for some more pictures please check our forum)

Middle of June most of the dive masters and dive instructor Tata together with his dive master trainees participated in an equipment seminar conducted by Rolf Muehlemann in our Malapascua branch. There must also be a little bit fun of course.

Melanie meets Melanie.... At the end of the “Schoener Tauchen“-Safari the group leader Melanie Fallier met Melanie Lazaro in our Sea Explorers Head Office in Cebu City. The two of them are doing most of the communication between Schoener Tauchen Germany and Sea Explorers and finally meet each other personally.

In the April edition of the German magazine “tauchen“  you can find an interesting article with beautiful pictures about the Pier in Bacong written by the Swiss editor and UW-photographer Fredy Brauchli, a regular guest of Sea Explorers.

German speaking management in Sea Explorers Moalboal branch again. Beginning of April Peter Brakhoff takes over the manager position from Christopher Cruz. Peter was a regular guests of us before and did as well the instructor course with Sea Explorers.

We’d like to thank Chris very much for his excellent job during the last months and wish him all the best in the future.

Happy faces after the successful PADI Instructor Examination beginning of February in Pura Vida Beach & Dive Resort. Sara Kuepfer, Andreas Keller, Michael Go, Michael Meding, Peter Huebscher, Vicente“Borge” Reyes together with PADI Examiner Gary Cruea, Course Director Gabrielle Banister and Master Instructor Raphael Virchaux.

Special “Island Hopping” in Malapascua. Our branch in Malapascua get a new generator for independent power supply. In a spectacular, Philippine style boat transfer from Maya to Malapascua the generator finally arrived safely on the island.

The new Sea Explorers Dive Center in Alona Vida Beach Resort is our second one at Alona Beach with the same management and team. The dive center includes office, equipment rooms, rinsing area and a nice class room with a big terrace on the second floor with beach view. We are renting out brand new Scubapro equipment and offer technical diving especially in this center.

On December 18 we could celebrate the official opening of Alona Vida Beach Resort and the new Dive Center. The new resort offers 8 spacious and well equipped rooms with air condition, ceiling fan, cable TV and a bathroom with hot and cold water shower. Connected to the resort are the Coco Vida bar and restaurant and another Sea Explorers Dive Center.

The new Sea Explorers Dive Center in Alona Vida Beach Resort is our second one at Alona Beach with the same management and team. The dive center includes office, equipment rooms, rinsing area and a nice class room with a big terrace on the second floor with beach view. We are renting out brand new Scubapro equipment and offer technical diving especially in this center.

End of November another Sea Explorers IDC starts in Pura Vida Beach & Dive Resort. After the IE four candidates achieved the goal to be a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, congratulation! On the picture from the left: Master Instructor Raphael Virchaux, Thomas Christen, Steffi Gisler, Mirco Huber, David Forster, PADI Examiner George Wegmann und Course Director Chris Heim.

An old but repaired ”piece of art” is in duty now. Sea Explorers Dauin-Dumaguete has a new, typically Philippine transportation, an original Jeepney. After a complete overhaul and renewal the car is artistically decorated with a complete coral reef by the local artist Troy Antipolo.

Good presence of Sea Explorers in the Swiss press in December 2006. An interview with Chris is published in the “MANTA Customer-Magazine” and another interview with Martin in the “Basler Zeitung BAZ”.

On  November 29 all the Sea Explorers branch managers and share holders met in Pura Vida Beach & Dive Resort for reviewing the last months, the planning of the starting high season and for general exchange of ideas.

Beginning of December Hervé Jain branch manager of Dauin-Dumaguete, celebrates his 1 year anniversary with Sea Explorers together with family and staff.

On  November 15 Chris Heim of Sea Explorers was invited for a photo-exhibit and the book launching of Gunther Deichmann’s new coffee-table book “Journey Through Colour & Time”. On the picture Chris together with former Philippine President Fidel Ramos and the author and photographer Gunther Deichmann. For some more pictures of the party please visit: This Link