Sam's Tours, Palau, Micronesia

PHOTO TIPS FOR DIVING PALAU

2010-04-29T18:06:00.000+09:00

TEXT and PHOTOS by Kevin Davidson

(Kevin operated KD PHOTO at Sam's Tours from 1998 - 2008, before joining the super yacht BLUE STAR)

This post below was written some time ago by professional photographer Kevin Davidson. I picked it up as it is still timely and good advice for photographers diving Palau, courtesy and rights of our good friend Bonnie Pelnar at WWW.UNDERWATERCOLOURS.COM

Anyone who's investigated before deciding on a trip to Palau has probably heard the stories of how strong the currents can be, "It almost took my mask off! " or " It was making my regulator purge by itself! " Although the current can be that strong at times, in a one week trip to Palau chances are you may experience that kind of current maybe once, if at all. These kind of currents happen only at certain times of the month and for brief periods of time. Let's also remember that when you actually feel these strong currents is when you are hanging on to the reef and watching the fish action. We will address the "hanging on to the reef" topic later. Link to Dive Site Map

Throughout the day the tides and currents are doing their usual thing, going high or going low, and in palau there are generally four tidal exchanges in a day and diving plans are made around these tides. Other islands in this area of the Pacific have only one high and one low tide in a twenty four hour period. In as much as we all would prefer to dive with no current, it is believed that the reason palau has so much diversity in marine life is because of the exceptional amount of tidal exchange. When the current is stronger the fish life is more abundant and active. Something else to remember about Palau is that at half moon, reef areas that form a corner will have stronger currents, a good time to get shark photos at Blue Corner. At full or new moon the channels will have the stronger currents, the perfect time to go for a ride through the classic Ulong Channel.

Being a working photographer / diveguide in palau for 15+ years the one statement that I tell people frequently is expect the unexpected. Some people act like this is a cop out but what they haven't seen is tides that are sometimes up to an hour early or late or not at all. A dive you would expect to have poor visibility maybe crystal clear or vise-versa or you expect a strong current and it's not. Fear not photographers...there are plenty of dives that are very placid and still have wonderful photo opportunities. Following is what I hope to be good advice to the photographer visiting palau.

1. During a day of diving the boats travel out to the dive sites which is approximately a thirty to forty minute boat ride. Store your gear with some sort of padding under it...don't leave gear on the hard deck of the boat. Vibration can occur and when you jump in at the dive site a critical screw might have come loose and the chance of something going over the wall is possible. Check connections and screws before entering the water. Generally a moderate current carries you down the reef and can actually be quite fun until you want to stop and take a picture. Of course then starts the struggle to get there. As you gaze down to check your equipment you look up and that beautiful scene is gone, now you see it, now you don't!

2. Look ahead of you always and get close to your subject well before you get there. Always be aware of your buoyancy. You are about to interact with the reef, home to countless types of marine life big and small. You want to leave the area the way you found it. Preserving the reef for others to enjoy and saving nature should be important to all of us.

3. As you approach your subject use a light touch and with one or two fingers position yourself. It is not difficult to use your good judgement to find something to stabilize yourself with. Bare rocks and low profile objects that are not brittle is what you are looking for. Don't wear gloves and you will be much more careful and keep your fins up. It's not hard to practice good buoyancy techniques. The better you are at this and the more you are aware of what your body is doing underwater, the better the photographer you will be.

The Reef Hook (Current Hook for the P.C.)

From the Photographers Point of View

4. A nice little invention used by divers in Palau is "the hook", as in the reef hook. It is nothing more than a large fishing hook with the tip ground off and a long piece of nylon line secured to your BCD. As you approach the area where you want to stop for a bit, take your hook and place it on a bare low profile piece of rock...somewhere secure and safe. Inflate your vest a little and you'll stay in one place safely without using your hands to clamor around the reef. You will not have to touch or sit on anything.

In addition, your hands are free to operate photo equipment. Non-photographers use it to relax more during the dive, save air, and comfortably check guages. Of course paying attention to where your fins are and always keeping in mind low impact and no stress to the reef should just be habit.

There are those who believe that the reef hook should not be used and pictures should be taken without any underwater aids as you pass by the reef. All I can tell you is that on a day when the current is fairly strong you will fly by the reef and your dive will only last about five minutes. You will be out in the blue water (planet blue) before you know it. When you are a diver traveling long distances to this beautiful dive location you want to maximize your dive time and get the most out of each dive. So why not use somthing that is far gentler on the reef. Remember that the reef hook is for those times when the current is up and the fish action is active in a certain area. It is not used on every dive. Most of the currents in Palau are very manageable when it comes to getting photos as long as you know what you are getting in to ahead of time. Some may like it some may not, but the hook is just another tool to keep you from damaging the coral.

5. Make a dive without your camera once and make sure that you feel comfortable in the water. The better your buoyancy skills are the better your photos will be...they will be a reflection of your diving skills. Without your camera practice approaching subjects underwater and see if you can control bouyancy around the reef. Even when approaching skittish reef fish this skill is invaluable to capture those fish portraits. You can have the best camera system in the world but you wont get the shot if you scare away the subjects. Know at all times where your fish and fins are!

6. No matter what type of camera system you own, whether it be a camera and housing system or an underwater disposable type, be familiar with what your camera can and cannot do. Every time you change a lens you change the cameras purpose. Get to know the coverage of your strobe or strobes. You don't have to turn it into exact degrees or measurments, just have a good feel for your camera system. As you look at the shots you have taken, learn from them. I know you are saying "I only do it once a year!" if you are at a dive location that has photo services, take advantage of the local photo pro. Spend a little extra for some photo tune up courses if the photo pro is good, its worth the extra time and money. I know if you come visit me in Palau you wont be sorry we met!

IMAGE: Shark image courtesy Christoph Hoppe, Tourism Unlimited

UPDATE: Kevin is presently cruising the world onboard the superyacht BLUE STAR, a former Sam's Tours and KD Photo client during their several cruises to Palau! Kevin's stock images are for sale at UWCstock.com

Scuba Diving Palau in The World's First Shark Sanctuary

2010-04-28T19:18:00.002+09:00

DIVING PALAU ISLAND, Micronesia:

“Will we be diving with sharks?” is a question asked all too often by people new to diving in Palau. The truth is that while many divers have never seen a shark while diving they have indeed been diving with sharks all along. In many locations around the world you may be lucky to catch even a glimpse of these awesome creatures. Sharks are truly an honor and privilege to observe and in often allow themselves to be seen only when they want to. Surely you have heard before that you are more likely to be struck by lightning than to be bitten by a shark. Of course our mind seems to tell us differently each time we enter the water. When you dive Palau, plan on diving with sharks and be assured you too will be hooked on the incredible experience.

Palau diving is unique, a rare place in the world where divers come to observe the magnificent shark in a natural environment. Around the globe there are various opportunities to dive with sharks, whether it is cage diving with great whites or a shark feed in the Bahamas, but Palau is different. In most cases organized viewing of sharks requires a “baiting” mechanism of some sort. Whether it is a chum slick or fish from a feeder tube most shark dive operators need something to bring the sharks to their customers. This is what makes diving with sharks in Palau special; No “BAITING” is needed. Palau has done a remarkable job in conserving the marine environment and keeping it as natural as possible. Shark feeding, handling of sharks or chumming are not allowed as that would change the sharks natural behavior. For shark divers from novice to expert, Palau offers a natural experience few can match.

The nutrient rich waters and the currents along the outer walls of the barrier reef allow for large congregations of sharks. At many sites gray reef sharks and whitetips are abundant. Large pelagic species also can be seen including whale sharks, tiger sharks, hammerheads, oceanic white tips, silver sharks, bull and silky sharks. Some spots there are too many to count. Palau offers the opportunity to see any shark on any dive without baiting. Of course natural predation happens frequently and this amazing hunt is often witnessed by divers. Sharks are wild animals, while beautiful and amazing they must be respected. By allowing them to act naturally it helps to provide a safer environment to those diving with the sharks of Palau!

REEF HOOK

While diving in Palau you will have the unique experience of using a reef hook. The reef hook was developed to assist divers where strong currents made it difficult to stay in one place (it's a Palauan invention allegedly invented by a photographer and which many now seems to claim credit for). Virtually all shark diving in Palau is on the outer walls of the barrier reef where currents can be strong, for example like Blue Corner. These stronger currents provide the nutrients and prey sources necessary to attract large numbers of sharks. The reef hook made it possible and much easier to stay put when “hanging” over a drop off or at the edge of the wall where the currents provide a better experience for observing sharks and other pelagic species. It is a very simple design that is far more environmentally friendly and safer than having divers try to hold onto the reef. At the “hook” end there is a stainless steel hook. It looks much like a giant fish hook without the sharp edge. A line is attached through an eyelet and extends about 3-4 feet up to a handle or clasp. Dive sites where reef hooks are used have specific areas used for “hooking in”. These are rocky areas or rubble patches as we do not want to hook into live coral concentrations. Proper and safe use is explained by the dive master during the pre-dive briefing.

When approaching the “hook in” point the dive master will signal it is time to hook in. It is at that point that the reef hook can be removed from the BC pocket and undone. Upon reaching the “hook in” point the hook is secured in the rocky area. The awesome feeling of “stationary flying” allows for an unbelievable visual experience you will talk about for years! When it's time to unhook from the sharks you simply join the rest of the fish and fin gently across the reef and off to your safety stop out in planet blue!

Some Popular Shark Diving Locationshttp://www.samstours.com/divemaps.html
Blue Corner
Ulong Channel
Shark City
German Channel
Peleliu Express
Peleliu Cut
New Drop Off

Sam’s Tours 20th Anniversary Bash!

2010-04-23T13:31:00.001+09:00

Sam’s Tours 20th Anniversary Bash!

Oct 2 – 8, 2010

Hard to believe it's been almost 20 years since Sam launched Sam's Tours. If only he knew what he was really getting himself in to! But sure enough, the 20th anniversary is just around the corner. Naturally, we’re planning the party of the year in Palau:

SAM’S 20th ANNIVERSARY BASH!

Family, friends, long time guests, and members of the Sam’s Tours "alumni" around the world are heading this way to join the fun! In true Sam’s Tours spirit, everyone is invited and will be warmly welcomed for a week of fun in the sun!

Register with reservations@samstours.com to be included in upcoming announcements on our Anniversary Bash Special Package and for complete details on our Trip of a Life to Palau GRAND PRIZE drawing.

TRIP OF A LIFETIME TO PALAU
Grand Prize
includes
Roundtrip Tickets to Palau for Two on Continental Airlines
All the Dives & Tours You Can Handle
7 Nights Luxury Accommodations Lots of Extras!
* Some Restrictions May Apply
For more information contact: reservations@samstours.com

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Gunther Deichmann - GD PHOTOWORK SHOP - Palau 2010

2010-04-22T17:45:00.000+09:00

GD PHOTO WORKSHOP PALAU, MICRONESIA

June 18 - 25, 2010

This is Worth Looking in To!

GD Photo Workshops are conducted by Gunther Deichmann, one of Austral-Asia's most accomplished photographers. Join Gunther on a fantastic Journey through Color & Time as he guides you through a week of photography and learning second to none. Improve your photography as you study side by side with Gunther. Click Here for Testimonials.

Digital photography has changed the way photographers create images, both in terms of the actual work with the camera, and the possibilities that exist in the digital darkroom. Instead of waiting a day or more for film to be processed, the photographer can now relate to the image while still at the location. This presents possibilities for improved exposure and composition, as well as new visual discoveries and insights that arise from seeing the image immediately after it has been exposed. In the digital darkroom, precision adjustments for color and tonal balance, contrast, and sharpness allow for unparalleled creative and technical control.

We're taking a big break from diving here ..... a surface interval so to speak! This workshop is targeted at photographers...... not divers or underwater photographers, but those photographers who wish to explore Palau's topside secrets with a master of lens and light, Gunther Deichmann. Gunther has just returned from a whirlwind of exotic travel that included Cambodia, Tibet and India where he conducted his highly acclaimed workshops. While Gunther has been to Palau and other islands of Micronesia many times...this will be the first workshop he's conducted here since launching the program more than three years ago.

If you're a photographer with a little time on your hands, a desire to improve your shooting and are up for some fun too....then you really need to look in to this program and contact Gunther now for more details!

ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT

GUNTHER DEICHMANN

E-MAIL: gdeichmann@mac.com

DIVE PALAU: A PADI Diving Society Event - September 2010

2010-03-01T14:04:00.003+09:00

Join Us. See Life. In Palau.
15 - 24 September, 2010

Image Copyright GUNTHER DEICHMANN

Sam's Tours, a PADI 5 Star National Geographic Dive Center and member of the Quality Divers Network, is pleased to announce that we have been selected to host the prestigious PADI Diving Society Event in Palau, September 2010. Join us for nine adventurous days and eight magical nights in Palau at the wonderful Palau Royal Resort including five days of 3-tank diving with Sam's Tours award winning staff.

Enjoy some of the world's best diving and lots of fun parties, contests, prizes and special guests including Ty Sawyer of Sport Diver Magazine. Visits to the stunning Rock Islands and amazing Jellyfish Lake included!

Packages start at U.S. $2,250 (some restrictions may apply).

Reserve your space by contacting PADI TRAVEL NETWORK at:

+ 1 800-729-7234 (USA and CANADA) or

+ 1 949-848-7234 ext. 2555

E-mail: ptn1@padi.com

Other Sponsors Include:

Continental Airlines; DAN Divers Alert Network; Olympus; 4 x 4 it.

KIDS SEA CAMP PALAU 2010

2010-01-01T06:43:00.002+09:00

Celebrate Thanksgiving 2010 with Your Family in Palau.

KIDS FLY FREE!

We are very pleased to announce that by popular demand Kids Sea Camp is coming back to Palau in November 2010 and space is filling fast! Join Kids Sea Camp, Sport Diver Magazine and PADI Diving Society for another amazing and unforgettable Thanksgiving family vacation in Palau hosted by Sam's Tours PADI 5 Star National Geographic Dive Center and Palau Royal Resort. Everyone flies together from LAX to Palau on Continental Airlines, a member of Star Alliance and official sponsor of Kids Sea Camp Palau. Stay at the beautiful Palau Royal Resort & Spa for 7 nights and enjoy 6 days of amazing diving and excursions with Sams Tours.

Palau is a divers dream! A true “one stop shop” when it comes to diving! From sheltered coral gardens filled with colorful reef fishes and lots of turtles to current swept plateaus Palau offers a wide and wonderful range of diving for divers of every interest and skill level. Healthy reefs, stunning walls, beautiful hard corals and soft corals, lots of sharks, huge mantas, turtles on every dive and huge schools of fish, tiny seahorses, elusive mandarin fish and lots and lots of tiny critters, all topped off with an amazing collection of WWII wrecks! Whatever your diving pleasure, level of interest or experience level, Palau diving is sure to please!

There's a limited number of blocked seats at $1750 + tax for adults and KIDS FLY FREE on CONTINENTAL AIRLINES - (pay taxes only).

Call Margo at Kids Sea Camp now to book your space 1 800-934-3483.
Click here for full package information and rates

See You in Palau!

THE JOB IS NOT FINISHED 'TIL THE PAPERWORK IS DONE!

2009-10-01T16:16:00.005+09:00

Sam's Tours urges everyone who cares for the marine environment to show support for Palau's declaration of a

National Shark Sanctuary

by signing the on-line THANK YOU to

Palau President Johnson Toribiong.

CLICK HERE TO THANK
PRESIDENT TORIBIONG!

A Hero’s Welcome for Palau President Johnson Toribiong.

2009-09-28T22:04:00.004+09:00

For Immediate Release:

KOROR, PALAU, 9/28/2009, 7:45 p.m.

A Hero’s Welcome for Palau President Johnson Toribiong.

Palau President H.E. Johnson Toribiong arrived home moments ago to a hero’s welcome at Koror International Airport, Palau. The founder of Palau Shark Sanctuary, Dermot Keane, Managing Director of Palau dive shop Sam’s Tours, was on hand to greet the President and thanked him for declaring Palau a Shark Sanctuary. (L) Dermot Keane, Palau Shark Sanctuary; (R) Palau President Johnson Toribiong.

The large welcome committee included grateful members of the Palauan community who greeted President Toribiong with flower leis and loud applause upon his arrival. Palauans are understandably proud of their President who declared Palau as a Shark Sanctuary during his recent address to the United Nations, General Assembly, on Friday, September 25, 2009.

Despite his long journey from Washington D.C. to Palau, the President was clearly moved by the warm reception and graciously thanked everyone for showing up to welcome him. Palau Shark Sanctuary once again thanks and admires President Toribiong for his landmark declaration of Palau as a Shark Sanctuary.

Palau Shark Sanctuary was founded in 2001 with a goal of securing a declaration by Palau that the waters of their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are a Shark Sanctuary.

Sam Scott, Sam's Tours (blue shirt)

For more information visit: http://www.sharksanctuary.com/ or http://www.sharksanctuary.blogspot.com/

For more information visit: www.sharksanctuary.com or http://www.sharksanctuary.blogspot.com/

All images courtesy Nick Martorano - Ocean Wonders.

Images are approved for use provided credit is noted to: http://www.oceanwonders.org/

THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT!

2009-09-26T15:30:00.004+09:00

Sam's Tours salutes and thanks President Johnson Toribiong of Palau

for his unprecedented action in declaring Palau a

Shark Sanctuary.

THANK YOU PRESIDENT TORIBIONG!

(Please see President Toribiong's entire speech to the U.N. General Assembly in the earlier post below).

Sam's Tours congratulates and thanks the President for his strong stand in protecting Palau's sharks which are among the top reasons that many divers visit Palau. Palau already has in place among the strongest shark protection laws in the world. Declaring Palau as a shark sanctuary serves notice to the world that Palau is serious in it's commitment to shark conservation. Other nations need to follow suit.

We urge everyone to send a Thank You message to President Toribiong for his tremendous action in protecting sharks and other marine creatures.

The President has made it clear that he cares about the ocean.

Please show that you care too by letting the President Toribiong know you support his actions.

Sent your Thank You note to President Toribiong via Palau Shark Sanctuary at: sharksanctuary@gmail.com

Messages will be promptly delivered to the President's Office.

Thank You!

President Toribiong's Landmark Speech to U.N.

2009-09-26T15:17:00.004+09:00

PALAU OFFICIALLY A SHARK SANCTUARY!

"The strength and beauty of sharks are a natural barometer for the health of our oceans. Therefore, I declare today that Palau will become the world’s first national shark sanctuary, ending all commercial shark fishing in our waters and giving a sanctuary for sharks to live and reproduce unmolested in our 237,000 square miles of ocean. We call upon all nations to join us." Johnson Toribiong, President of Palau, 9/25/09.

Below is President Toribiong's entire speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, September 25, 2009, in which he declared Palau as the WORLD'S FIRST NATIONAL SHARK SANCTUARY. I urge you to read this excellent speech and to then send a Thank You Note to President Toribiong commending him for his unprecedented actions to protect sharks and other marine creatures.

Send notes for President Toribiong to: sharksanctuary@gmail.com

Messages will be promptly delivered to the President's Office.

Thank You!

U.N. SPEECH: United Nations General Assembly, New York, September 25, 2009

Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am speaking here for the first time as a Head of State. However, in 1977, I appeared with my country’s delegation before the Trusteeship Council seeking independence. In 1994, the Trusteeship ended and we took our place as a member of the United Nations. Our independence is testament to the success of the International Trusteeship System, for which we are grateful. The legacy of our experience is a Constitution which incorporates the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights -- freedom, democracy, equal protection, rule of law.

Mr. President,
Palauans have lived throughout history in symbiosis with the sea. We are seeing now though that the sea, which has long been the source of our sustenance, is both rising in rage to destroy us and becoming barren. This fury was caused by the abuses of humankind and we therefore need to take every action necessary to allow the oceans to heal themselves.
In days gone by, the traditional chiefs of Palau would declare a “bul” – a moratorium to protect a resource which had become scarce. This traditional concept, now popularly known as conservation, shows the way for us to move forward. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed. “ This is why the world must declare a bul on destructive fishing practices like deep sea bottom trawling, unsustainable harvesting of shark for their fins and overexploitation of tuna stocks.

Mr. President,
The odious fishing practice of bottom trawling, where a weighted net is dragged along the sea floor crushing nearly everything in its path, is contributing to the rapid loss of a critical ecosystem, our coral reefs. We have outlawed deep sea bottom trawling in Palau, but no matter what we do in our own waters, there must be an international solution.
For several years, we have advocated, along with our Pacific neighbors, a moratorium on this practice. The Sustainable Fisheries resolution adopted by the UN in 2007, urged nations and regional fisheries management organizations to stop trawling in sensitive areas by 2009. We have waited for compliance, which has not come, and now renew our call for a worldwide moratorium on this practice.

Mr. President,
An equally destructive fishing practice is shark-finning. We have banned it in Palau and call upon the world to address this issue in order to save the sharks from extinction.
The strength and beauty of sharks are a natural barometer for the health of our oceans. Therefore, I declare today that Palau will become the world’s first national shark sanctuary, ending all commercial shark fishing in our waters and giving a sanctuary for sharks to live and reproduce unmolested in our 237,000 square miles of ocean. We call upon all nations to join us.

Mr. President,
It is anomalous that Palau is experiencing economic difficulty while it sits in the middle of the richest waters in the world. We can no longer stand by while foreign vessels illicitly come to our waters to take our greatest resource, our tuna stocks, without regard to their conservation and without regard for adequate compensation to the island states which rely on this resource.
Palau believes that the best model for a regional effort to conserve our tuna resources and maximize the benefits to us is the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). I therefore will work for the establishment of OTEC, the Organization of Tuna Exporting Countries, and I now call upon our friends in OPEC to come forward and help us to understand and obtain fair value from our threatened resource and to make tuna fishing sustainable.

Mr. President,
I come now to the economic crisis which my country is facing. As a developing nation, we are grateful for the grants provided by our allies and partners to advance our development. They have been helpful. But, we must acknowledge that outright grants do not always create meaningful employment. Jobs created are illusory and temporary.
Without a strong local economy, our children, our most valuable resource, are leaving our shores for opportunities elsewhere. As they leave it creates a continuing downward cycle which we must stop.

Our allies and partners can help us stop this cycle by promoting the development of private enterprise in our country. We need capital, and entrepreneurial expertise. I implore our allies and partners to consider providing incentives to their nationals to encourage them to come to our islands and launch partnerships with our talented people to create a viable economy. Let us once and for all put aside the fiction that we need handouts. What we need are partners to help advance our economy and put an end to the out-migration of our people.

Mr. President,
We note with satisfaction the decision by the People’s Republic of China to invite Taiwan to attend the World Health Assembly. The health and safety of the world’s people is at the heart of the ideals of the UN. In order to further promote these, we recommend that Taiwan be invited to participate meaningfully in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and other international organizations.

Mr. President,
We have heard the voices of world leaders from countries small and large, powerful and vulnerable. We have heard the voice of science. Let us heed these voices, fulfill our obligations to our people, and work for a strong economy and a healthy planet.

Thank you.

# # #

PALAU TO DECLARE EEZ A SHARK SANCTUARY!

2009-09-25T15:42:00.005+09:00

PALAU TO BE DECLARED a SHARK SANCTUARY !!!!!!!!

Friday September 25, 2009
UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, New York.

H.E. Johnson Toribiong, President of the Republic of Palau, will announce to the General Assembly of the United Nations that the waters of Palau's Exclusive Economic Zone (230, 000 Sq. Miles / 620,000 Sq. Kms.) are declared the worlds first officially recognized SHARK SANCTUARY!

President Toribiong will also called for a global ban on shark-finning and for other nations to follow suit.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/25/science/earth/25shark.html

President Toribiong's declaration will signal Palau's continued position as a global leader in shark protection and puts to rest recent fears that Palau's resolve in protecting sharks was waning. With this announcement Palau will remain clearly at the very forefront of worldwide efforts to protect sharks from unsustainable destruction.

This is tremendous news for Palau and for the worldwide battle to protect sharks from unsustainable destruction!

Sam's Tours anxiously awaits the official announcement and will deeply commend President Toribiong for his strong international leadership in world wide efforts to protect sharks.

Late Breaking News! KIDS SEA CAMP coming to Palau!

2009-05-11T16:25:00.003+09:00

We’re delighted to report that Sam’s Tours has been selected to host the very first KIDS SEA CAMP (KSC) in Palau slated for this November. Kids Sea Camp is an award-winning educational vacation program for families that love the ocean.

Kids Sea Camp PALAU 2009: November 21 – 28, 2009.

Kids Sea Camp is the brain child of Margo Peyton, a scuba diver since 1989. This Scuba mom with husband Tom, two kids of her own, Jen and Robbie, decided it was important for her family to spend time together doing what she loved the most, scuba diving & travel.

Kids Sea Camp is a full week's schedule of events and educational programs that promises great times and learning experiences for families with kids age 4-15. Each week includes 7 nights accommodations, diving, meals, excursions, activities for both adults and kids including, diving, snorkeling and many PADI Specialty courses.

KSC is hosted at PADI 5 Star Dive Resorts around the world which include Cayman Islands, Bonaire, Roatan, Fiji, Curacao, Galapagos and now in PALAU! Sam’s Tours and Palau Royal Resort, a Nikko Hotels International partner http://www.palau-royal-resort.com/ are teamed up to host this exciting event. Space is limited so get in touch with Sam’s Tours right away if you’d like to participate.

Families can spend a week scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, discovering underwater photography, meeting other families and making friends from all around the world. Kids Sea Camp is the perfect family vacation for those that love to scuba!

Sam’s Tours PADI Five Star National Geographic Dive Center is proud to have been selected to host Palau’s very first Kids Sea Camp and we are already in full swing planning an exciting action-packed week of fun in the sun!

For more information on Kids Sea Camp please visit http://kidsseacamp.com/ although details of the Palau Kids Sea may not be posted yet.

For bookings please contact: kids@kidsseacamp.com or e-mail Sam’s Tours Reservations Desk at: reservations@samstours.com

Kids Sea Camp PALAU 2009: November 21 – 28, 2009.

Keeping The Crew Happy!

2009-04-24T11:49:00.001+09:00

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.

2009-04-13T18:10:00.000+09:00

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!

2009-04-07T15:27:00.000+09:00

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!

2009-04-03T16:17:00.000+09:00

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.

Repeal of Palau's Shark Protection Laws Proposed!

2009-03-18T16:00:00.000+09:00

A Bill is now before Palau's OEK (Congress) that if passed would eliminate Palau's strong shark protection laws and actively encourage fishing for sharks and the taking of shark fins.

Senate Bill No. 8-44 seeks "to amend Title 27 of Palau's National Code to allow for the commercial fishing of sharks within Palau's Exclusive Economic Zone, to impose a tax on the export of sharks and tuna-like species, and for other related purposes."

The proposed law is a potentially severe blow to Palau's tourism industry of which scuba diving is the mainstay. Palau gained international recognition in 2004 for passage of landmark legislation that protected sharks, turtles and rays and outlawed the practice of shark-finning. Under Senate Bill 8-44 it is unclear whether shark fishing and or shark-finning is or is not permitted and the ambiguity will make it virtually impossible for law enforcement to successfully prosecute potential violators. Sections of the bill read as follows:

"It is unlawful for any person: to remove the fins of or otherwise intentionally mutilate or injure any such shark"

"It shall be unlawful for any person to have on board a fishing vessel shark fins that total more than five percent of the weight of sharks on board."

Other provisions of the proposed Act call for:

"An appropriate export tax for shark and fish caught pursuant to this Act."

"A minimum monetary or in-kind fish donation that commercial fishing companies shall make to the Belau National Hospital, the Aging Program within the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs, or similar governmental agency or private, non-profit organization. These donations shall come from fish or shark caught pursuant to this Act, or revenues generated from those fish or shark."

Members of the Belau Tourism Association, Palau Chamber of Commerce and the Palau Visitors Authority are strongly opposed to passage of this legislation.

Fishing company consortiums from the city of General Santos, Philippines, are pressing hard for rights to fish in Palau's Exclusive Economic Zone and it is widely believed that introduction of this bill is no mere coincidence. Foreign fishing fleets have a well documented track record of violating Palau's environmental laws, poaching Palau's marine resources and violating fishing agreements. This proposed Bill puts the Palau's tourism industry directly at odds with commercial fishing in Palau's waters as the two are simply incompatible.

In 2004 Palau was recognized by shark conservation agency Sharkproject as their Shark Guardian of The Year. Passage of Senate Bill 8-44 will be a sudden and potentially costly about face for Palau that will yield no gain. Palau only stands to lose...lose its fisheries and its dive industry.

I urge you to speak out against this proposed Bill by sending your comments to all of the following organizations who are fighting against Senate Bill 8-44:

Belau Tourism Association: bta@palaunet.com

Palau Chamber of Commerce: pcoc@palaunet.com

Palau Visitors Authority: pva@visit-palau.com

Dermot

Every Week is SHARK WEEK in Palau!

2009-01-18T17:04:00.000+09:00

For Immediate Release:
Dusseldorf, Germany: January, 17, 2009

Announcement!
S.AV.E. Our Sharks – Shark Awareness Visitor Education Program

Sam’s Tours Palau is pleased to announce the official launch of SHARK WEEKS (http://www.sharkweeks.com/) marking a year long commitment to shark awareness and education in support of the International Year of The Shark 2009, to help bring an end to the unprecedented slaughter and destruction of sharks worldwide.

Palau is renowned among divers for exciting encounters with sharks in their natural environment. There is no need to bait sharks, stage orchestrated shark feeds or place divers in shark cages. As a veteran Palauan dive guide says “every week is shark week in Palau!” and it’s true. Divers and snorkelers can encounter sharks on almost every outing all year round. While different times of the year bring different behaviors among sharks, diving and snorkeling with sharks is an experience to be enjoyed year round in Palau.

And “shark diving” is not just limited to dive trips or snorkel trips. Kayakers participating in tours with Planet Blue Sea Kayak Tours may enjoy unique opportunities to visit shark nurseries in the inner lagoon areas where baby black tip sharks hide out until mature enough to take their place on the outer reef.

Even those enjoying helicopter rides with “Matt the Pilot” over at Palau Helicopters are often treated to shark sightings. In fact, Matt most recently reported sightings of baby hammerhead sharks within the lagoon which were heretofore almost unknown. Bottom line, there are few better places than Palau for exciting up close shark encounters whether you’re a diver, a snorkeler or simply enjoying a birds eye view of Palau from the air.

What better place then than Palau to get up close and personal with sharks and learn about their critical role in the marine environment, understand their life cycle, witness their importance to Palau’s fledgling tourism industry, and learn about the unprecedented destruction in a matter of a few short years of a creature that has otherwise survived unchanged for millions of years? Why limit shark awareness to a once a year Shark Week when in fact every week is Shark Week in Palau?

As a member of the International Year of The Shark and a long standing supporter of shark conservation in Palau, Sam’s Tours is therefore proud to launch SHARK WEEKS with a year long S.A.V.E. our SHARKS (Shark Awareness Visitor Education) program.

Throughout Shark Weeks 2009 guests will enjoy shark awareness and shark education interpretive briefings that will enhance their shark encounters in Palau and hopefully encourage them to join the fight to protect sharks worldwide. SAVE our SHARKS certificates will be presented to those who complete the program and they will be listed in the Palau Shark Sanctuary, Shark Savers Registry.

Throughout 2009, Sam’s Tours will also conduct Shark Byte, a year long free competition for Sam’s Tours guests in search of the best digital image of a shark taken in Palau. Starting February 1, 2009, and every week until the end of the International Year of the Shark 2009, we will select a winning image for Shark Byte of the Week from entries received that week. Winners of Shark Byte of the Week will receive a Palau Shark Sanctuary T-shirt and have their image posted on-line. Weekly winners will automatically be entered in Shark Byte of the Year, with the results of the competition to be announced at the close of the International Year of the Shark.

For more information on Shark Weeks please visit:

http://www.sharkweeks.com/

or contact: RESERVATIONS@SAMSTOURS.COM

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE SHARK 2009

2009-01-12T17:06:00.000+09:00

Sam's Tours is proud to announce its' membership in The International Year of The Shark 2009 and joins the efforts to bring an end to the unprecedented killing off of shark populations around the world.

The International Year of The Shark initiative was launched by the LET SHARKS LIVE network whose members were so alarmed by the announcement in The Global Shark Assessment that "at the current rates of decline, extinction is indicated for a high fraction of oceanic shark species, in ten to fifteen years." In response to this very disturbing news, Let Sharks Live declared 2009 International Year of The Shark in an emergency effort to halt the unsustainable killing of sharks before it’s too late.

For more information on International Year of The Shark please visit:
http://www.year-of-the-shark-2009.org/

For information on Palau Shark Sanctuary, please visit:
http://www.sharksanctuary.com/

http://www.sharksanctuary.blogspot.com

DIVING FOR LIFE!

2008-12-29T17:08:00.000+09:00

THE DIVE LOG below was recently posted on-line by an avid diver who has spent the last 18 +/- months fighting for his life. He was originally scheduled to make his second visit to Palau for a dive trip in late 2007 but was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma shortly before he was scheduled to head for Palau. Following diagnosis he underwent several rounds of radiation treatment and chemotherapy regimes, enduring months of the tough physical and emotional toll these harsh treatments wreak upon the body.

Amazingly, this diver refused to cancel his trip to Palau and instead just rescheduled it for later. In the meantime he committed himself to fighting this difficult disease with all his might and set himself a goal of returning to diving and eventually to Palau as originally planned.

With diving as his motivator for life he suffered through all of the physically and emotionally painful ups and downs that doing battle with cancer can bring. Yet not once did I ever hear him complain or give up though I’m sure he must have wanted to more than once. Instead he sent out regular upbeat reports about his doctor visitors, latest condition, next treatments, hoped for results, steps to follow, and all this framed against the backdrop of his dream to one day return to diving. DIVING GAVE HIM LIFE!

While it may seem like just another entry in any old dive log, to me it marks a milestone of success in a brave and difficult battle with a dangerous foe and demonstrates the importance of positive-mindedness in all that we do in life. It gives me hope and inspiration.

DIVE LOG: Cork, Ireland, December 2008.

"WELL, TODAY WAS THE DAY! I made my first boat dive of the year today and
boy was it good to be back. We met at Oysterhaven at around 11.15 after allowing for the icy roads and got our gear organised and onto the boat which we then launched.

First task of the day was to head over to the creek directly across from the slip and give a hand to a local fisherman and his crew to put some ropes under a yacht that sank a few weeks ago. With the good deed done it was off to Bream Rock on a nice crisp day with a flat calm sea.

We dropped into 5 metres and swam out over the kelp and gradually dropped to 10m where we met our first lobster of the day and a lot of shrimp but no sign of any conger eels. Moving on we dropped to 15 metres in between the rocks and gullies where we saw more lobster, shrimp, crab and numerous other fish and sea urchins. Brightly coloured sponges and anemones and other plant life were also in abundance.

Keeping the rock on our right we continued through the gullies dropping gradually to 19 metres and at 26 minutes started to profile up and move along in the slight current.

At 12- 14 metres it was up with the SMBs and start for the surface which we reached at 38 minutes, following our safety stop. Water temp was about 9 degrees and visibility
was quite good at over 7 metres.

It was a lovely gentle dive with lots to see and just perfect after being out of the water for so long. Back into Oysterhaven, boat out of the water, out of the dive gear and a nice cup of warming soup and a quick picnic. What a great way to spend a day and being back under water again – JUST BRILLIANT! Boy it’s great to be back!"
# # #

I’m proud to say that the diver who made this log entry is also my eldest brother Rory. I hope and pray for his continued health and for the opportunity to welcome him back to Palau in 2009. Hats off to you Rory and Happy New Year! See you soon!

P.S. Special thanks are due to members of the Cork diving community and especially Cork Sub-Aqua Club who rallied around Rory immediately and who continue to give him the support and encouragement he needs to live. They are truly “buddies for life”. Thank you all. Dermot

Sam's Tours - TOUR OPERATOR OF THE YEAR!

2008-12-11T17:09:00.000+09:00

SAM'S TOURS receives "TOUR OPERATOR OF THE YEAR" AWARD!

The Palau Visitors Authority (PVA), Palau's official tourism board, announced their selection of Sam's Tours as "TOUR OPERATOR OF THE YEAR" for 2008. The announcement and award presentation took place during the Annual Christmas Gala of the Belau Tourism Association (BTA), Palau's private sector tourism industry association, recently held at the Palau Pacific Resort (http://www.palauppr.com/)

Awarding winning is not new to Sam’s Tours which has been consistently recognized over the years not only by government and industry bodies for their commitment to development of sustainable tourism in Palau but also by their customers for consistent service excellence.

In 2007 Sam's Tours received a Top 10 Sponsor Award from PVA for "their continual support and sponsorship" and in 2006 the private sector Belau Tourism Association recognized Sam's Tours with their Outstanding Member Award for their "dedication, support and commitment over the years to Belau Tourism Association and its objectives.”

The readers of Scuba Diving Magazine have recognized Sam’s Tours more than any other dive center in Palau or Micronesia with seven “Readers Choice Awards” since 1997 including a Gold List Award for top dive center, top staff, and top value.

Sam’s Tours is the first and only dive center in Palau to receive the Palau Conservation Society “Ten Year Partner in Conservation Award” and is a Corporate Sponsor of the Palau Shark Sanctuary, a shark conservation organization founded in 2001 by Sam’s Tours General Manager, Dermot Keane, to help bring an end to the destructive practice of shark-finning by foreign fishing fleets operating in Palau’s waters. The Palau Shark Sanctuary received a PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Environmental Education Gold Award for their work.

“Sam’s Tours has consistently demonstrated their long standing commitment to responsible tourism development, environmental preservation, and excellence in customer service and while recognition is not what drives us to excel, we sincerely appreciate the acknowledgment of our efforts by our industry peers and our valued customers alike” said Dermot Keane, General Manager, Sam’s Tours.

PALAU - TAKING POSITIVE ACTION TO PROTECT SHARKS!

2008-12-02T17:11:00.000+09:00

While there continues to be every reason to be deeply concerned about the damage shark-finning by Palau's licensed foreign fishing fleets and other illegally operating pirate fleets are having on Palau's dwindling shark population, there is finally some positive news to report on Palau's struggle to protect their ever shrinking marine resources, including sharks.

Palau's Division of Marine Law Enforcement is now operating a Marine Observer Program that places trained fisheries observers on some of the licensed foreign fishing vessels operating out of Malakal Harbor, Koror, Palau. This is a small but very positive step in the right direction. The purpose of the marine observer program is to gather data about the fishing practices engaged in by licensed fishing vessels and to monitor compliance with the fishing treaties and or licensing agreements under which these vessels are permitted to operate in Palau's waters. Data gathered by marine observers can be used to help develop and promote better fishing practices intended to reduce unintentional by-catch of sharks, turtles, billfish and other ocean dwellers that are often killed or injured during long-lining for tuna.

Marine Observer programs are not new and alone they may have little or no impact on poor or illegal fishing practices, but when combined with the support of law enforcement and the political will to protect marine resources they become an important window in to fishing industry practices and a valuable tool in holding the fishing industry more accountable for sustainable fishing practices.

I extend my hearty encouragement to Palau to expand the Marine Observer Program and I commend those Palauans in the Observer Program and in Law Enforcement who serve every day on the front lines in the never-ending battle to protect Palau's resources from exploitation and illegal destruction. They are our eyes and ears and are to be commended. Thanks for your hard work.

FOR SHAME!

2008-11-22T17:14:00.000+09:00

WHAT HAVE THEY DONE?

My good friend and internationally acclaimed photographer / environmentalist Gunther Deichmann has once again used the power of his lens to bring world attention to yet another of mans destructive practices in an unfortunately ever-growing list that shows a callous disregard for the world we will pass on to our children and their children.

Gunther was recently in Bali, Indonesia on a commercial photo shoot when he came across some boats being unloaded in the harbor. Much to his dismay the catch being unloaded was thousands and thousands of shark fins from species that included hammerheads, white tips, black tips and more. True to form, Gunther's first reaction was to start shooting pictures. So powerful were some of the images he shot that Germany's STERN MAGAZINE chose one as "Photo of the Week" (Issue #46, November 06, 2008). Britains DAILY MAIL also featured Gunther's images and story on shark-finning. Follow the link below to see the article:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1086501/A-sad-sharks-tale-Shocking-images-scale-fin-trade.html

I think it is safe to say that most divers are well aware that shark-finning represents massively destructive and absolutely unsustainable decimation of sharks and I'm likewise sure that most divers do not support the practice. But being aware of and or not supporting shark finning is simply not enough anymore. It is time for each and every one of us to do more right now!

The rate of destruction of sharks is already so monumental that there is a growing belief that many species of sharks are headed for extinction in our lifetime. It is hard to believe that sharks, a species that has existed for millions of years, face extinction at the hands of man on our watch. While there's no guarantee of success for any actions we may each take to try to end this wasteful practice, there is every assurance that if we FAIL TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION NOW to stop the rape of our oceans, sharks and many fish stocks too will be eliminated. Greed, corruption and massive profiteering is destroying the very world that we as its present stewards are supposed to hold in trust for our children. We must each take it upon ourselves to act against these forces for if we do not, we too are part of the problem.

I call on every diver to take an immediate and strong stance against shark-finning and to fully engage themselves every single day in rallying more and more non-divers to the cause. We need to relentlessly fight back against those who are destroying our oceans without regard for the future. We cannot allow them to win. To most of the world shark-finning is out of sight and therefore out of mind. By the time the world wakes up to the danger it will be too late! We have to work together now to keep this issue in the forefront and to bring about an immediate halt to this insance practice before the total collapse of shark populations signals their total extinction.

Won't you follow Gunther's lead and DO SOMETHING POSITIVE TODAY and every day hereafter to help protect sharks forever? Tomorrow is already too late!

If you need more information about shark finning simply Google “shark finning” follow the links and start reading!

For more on Gunther's incredible photography, some great tips on Apple Aperture & Photo Shelter, or interesting articles on the environment, follow the link below to:
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/blog.html