Keeping The Crew Happy!

L-R: Matsuo, Eddy, Flavin, Annloyd,Jade, J-Five, Daniel, Jason - looking cool in their new BOAT COATS! Picture by Nick Martorano.

There's a whole lot of happiness going on at Sam's Tours!

Keeping our guests super happy has always been mission number one for everyone on the team here at Sam's Tours, and keeping our guests happy starts with keeping our team members happy. You know the drill...happy people keep people happy! That's a whole lot of happiness going on!!!

Well, I'm really happy to report that all of our dive crews are now the happy owners of BOAT COATS.....the best thing since sliced bread when it comes to keeping warm and dry out on the water. Manufactured by DIVEGEAR USA http://divegearusa.com/ the BOAT COAT is perfect for dive guides and boat captains alike. With a soft nylon outer shell and a fleece lined interior, the BOAT COAT is designed to keep you warm and dry and can be worn right over your wetsuit. It's nice and long so that you're still well covered when sitting down, and the two way zipper makes it easy to adjust for comfort. The fleece lining keeps you warm without becoming waterlogged and the outer shell blocks the wind and rain. The BOAT COAT is a top quality garment with features designed for divers.

I met Susan Shaw, President of DIVEGEAR USA at a recent trade show and had an opportunity to check out the BOAT COAT firsthand. I was so impressed with the quality and features of the BOAT COAT that I ordered one for each of our boat crews including dive guides and boat captains and will carry them in our retail store along with other quality garments from DIVEGEAR USA.

P.R.A., a local Palau company specializing in logo clothing did a wonderful job embroidering Sam's Tours logo and each crew members name on their coat. Pictured above are some of the staff happily modeling their personalized BOAT COATS.

Check out http://divegearusa.com for more info on DIVEGEAR quality clothing or contact info@samstours.com to order your very own BOAT COAT. Be Happy!

Update on proposed Shark Fishing legislation in Palau, Micronesia.

The two controversial Senate Bills (SB8-44 and SB8-50) which propose to undo Palau’s landmark shark protection laws adopted under the previous Remengesau Administration in 2003, are both pending at the Senate Committee on Resources, Commerce, Trade and Development.
SB No. 8-44 which proposes to allow commercial fishing for sharks was introduced on March 5, 2009 and passed 1st reading on that same day.

SB No. 8-50 which proposes to exempt commercial fishing companies from export taxes on fish caught by purse-seining methods for a period of 5 years was introduced on March 26, 2009 and passed first reading on the same day too.

Picture left of shark fins burned in protest in 2002 by former President Tommy Remengesau Jr. PHOTO: Kevin Davidson.

For background information on these controversial Bills please visit: http://www.sharksanctuary.blogspot.com/ Visit Palau Shark Sanctuary for more information on shark conservation efforts in Palau at: http://www.sharksanctuary.com/

According to Senate sources if the committee reports on these proposed Bills in the next session of the Senate which opens tomorrow, the Bills will go to their 2nd Reading.

The shark conservation organization SHARK SAVERS has created an on-line petition where you may register your opposition to Senate Bill 8-44 and commercial shark fishing. Please visit the link below and sign this petition today. Time is of the essence. Please act now!!!

Picture left of illegal shark catch from Palau licensed fishing vessel arrested by Palau Patrol boat 2007. PHOTO Christopher Hale.

Petition Link: http://www.sharksavers.org/en/get-involved/sign-these-petitions/542-petition -to-palau-stop-senate-bill-8-44-on-shark-fishing.html

Also, please continue to pass the word to others and continue to submit comments to Palau Chamber of Commerce and Belau Tourism Association respectively at: pcoc@palaunet.com and bta@palaunet.com

Many thanks to all who have already acted including professional photographers and environmentalists EDWARD DORSON, TODD ESSICK and GUNTHER DEICHMANN who are among the many concerned individuals who have taken time to submit their comments in opposition to these Bills. These professional photographers have all visited and dived in Palau and know just how important sharks are to Palau’s tourism industry and to the entire marine eco-system. We appreciate their support.

Visit their websites and blogs for more information and fantastic images at:

Edward Dorson: http://dorsonstudios.com/

Todd Essick: http://www.essickphoto.com/

Gunther Deichmann: http://gdphotonews.blogspot.com/

http://www.deichmann-photo.com/

http://www.deichmann-photo.com/blog.html

The Great Easter Egg Hunt!

Our friends at SEA BEES DIVING Thailand who are members of the Quality Divers network and winners of the coveted Golden Dolphin Award, are organizing an on-line Easter Egg Hunt for 6 GOLDEN EASTER EGGS! Here are the details:

SEA BEES DIVERS have hidden a number of golden eggs on their webpage http://www.sea-bees.com/eng/index.htm and on the Quality Divers webpage http://www.quality-divers.com/qd/english/kern.htm

Anyone who finds all 6 of the eggs will be included in their lucky draw for great prizes as follows: 1st prize: 6 daytrips with 12 dives with the Quality Divers Partner of your choice.

2nd prize: 4 daytrips with 8 dives with the Quality Divers Partner of your choice.

3rd prize: 2 daytrips with 4 dives with the Quality Divers Partner of your choice.

That's right! Winners can redeem their prize at any Quality Divers location round the world.

Visit http://www.quality-divers.com/ for complete info on Quality Divers twelve member dive centres in Egypt, Croatia, Thailand, Madeira, the Philippines, Mexico, France, Gozo, the Seychelles, Yap and Palau in Micronesia and the Caribbean. Truly a GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY to have some fun, win great prizes and enjoy world class diving!

Here's all you have to do:
Visit SEA BEES DIVERS homepage and find 3 golden eggs. Record the unique number of each egg. Visit the Quality Divers web page where there are 3 more hidden eggs and again record the unique number of each egg. When you've found all six (6) Golden Eggs send an e-mail to Sea Bees Divers with all 6 numbers - the order is not important.

All e-mails with the right numbers will participate in the lucky draw. The entry deadline is the 30th April 2009. The winners will be notified by e-mail and published on the Sea Bees Blog. Quality Divers and Sea Bees staff are not allowed to participate. Good luck!
Dermot

Sam's Tours Joins the Quality Divers Network!

Sam's Tours recently became a member of QUALITY DIVERS an international Association of First Class Dive Operators whose membership spans the globe and includes Manta Ray Bay Hotel & Yap Divers, our very own next door neighbor on the beautiful island of Yap, Micronesia. Other member dive centres are located in Egypt, Croatia, Thailand, Madeira, the Philippines, Mexico, France, Gozo, Seychelles, and the Caribbean and new applications for membership continue to be received.

The purpose of Quality Divers is to offer divers a worldwide network of first class dive companies committed to providing excellence in service, satisfaction and safety. Sam's Tours appreciates our selection for membership in Quality Divers and we believe it reflects our own long standing reputation for these same qualities.

In addition to the high safety and quality standards required of Quality Divers member dive centers, their diving customers may also benefit from the Quality Divers Privilege Card by availing of special offers from network dive centers to make diving holidays even more attractive!

The Quality Divers Privilege Card is totally free and it is accepted by all Quality Divers members, regardless of the issuing dive center. It's a great way for divers to get out and explore the world with the comfort of guaranteed service excellence, maximum safety, and save some money too!

Visit the Quality Divers website for complete information on Quality Divers and our partners in diving excellence around the world.