ScubaEarth: A New Online Diver Network

PADI has launched SCUBAEARTH, a new online social network dedicated to divers.  It is easy to log, share, and research information about dive destinations all over the world.  Anyone can create an account and start sharing dive adventures, meeting new dive buddies, and learning about dive sites through the experiences of fellow divers.

SCUBAEARTH has a comprehensive list of dive sites around the world.  This makes it easy to gather information about depths, characteristics, and recent conditions, where ever diving takes you.

The online log book allows you to browse recent dive experiences of others at the sites you are planning to visit.  If you log all of your dives digitally, there is little need to carry a paper logbook.  This means you never have to worry about losing you logbook, getting it wet, or forgetting to bring it with you.  It is always there for you online.

Here at Neptune Dive Center, we log all of our dives on SCUBAEARTH.  All you have to do is join our crew and we will add you to the dive buddies list for the dives you made.

Join our Crew, and team up with Neptune Dive Center and SCUBAEARTH today!  http://www.scubaearth.com

Staff Spotlight: Tan Tan

Last night I sat down with Christian Garcia, known to our guests as Tan Tan, and asked him some questions about his diving life.  Many of our quests will remember Tan Tan for his intimate knowledge of the wrecks and his ability to find some of the smallest macro life around.

Question.  How long have you been diving?  And how many dives do you have?

Tan Tan.  6 years, (Tan Tan shakes his head back and forth) I have no idea how many dives.  Too many to count.

Q.  What is your favorite dive site and why?

T.  I love the Irako.  Its more challenging.  I have more fun there.

Q.  What do you like best about your job as a PADI Divemaster and your life diving?

T.  It’s a completely different world.  Underwater, everything is just so peaceful and quiet.

Q.  If you weren’t diving, what would you be doing?

T.  I don’t know.  I would want to be involved with an extreme sport of some kind.  I really like adventure.

Q.  What is your most memorable moment underwater?

T.  I was guiding at Tubataha Marine Park.  We had a 4 meter tiger shark swim up from behind the group. It passed within half a meter to me.  That is something I will never forget.

Q.  Now you are really great at finding small stuff for me and our guests.  How do you do it?

T.  I am just lucky.  It is one of those things. If I tell people in the briefing I will show them something, I won’t be able to find it.  If I don’t mention something it in the dive briefing than I just see it.

Q.  If you could go on a dive vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go?

T.  Anywhere with wrecks.  Maybe Truk (Chuuk) Lagoon.  I like diving, I love reefs, but I got addicted to wrecks.

I think many of our guests would agree with Tan Tan’s last statement.  I would like to thank Tan Tan for taking a few minutes to talk to me, and for always finding nice macro life for me to photograph.

Ebook on Coron’s Dive Sites

Now available for download:  “Wrecks and Reefs” a guide to the dive sites of Coron, Palawan, Philippines.  Written by Neptune Dive Center, this 14 page ebook is filled with descriptions, data, and pictures of the most popular dive sites in Coron.  Whether you want to learn more about diving in Coron or you are planning your next dive vacation, “Wrecks and Reefs” has information you.  Best of all, once it is downloaded, you can view it anytime you want, regardless of internet availability.  “Wrecks and Reefs” is a 1.4mb PDF file that can be easily viewed on almost any electronic device.  Available only on our website, click the image below to be taken directly to the download page.

 

More than just Wreck Diving

Most people come to Coron to see our World War II wrecks. Last week we had a welcome change from wreck diving with some guests that wanted to see our reefs. We do have some nice reefs here. Most people know that my passion is nudibranchs. I have lived here for 5 years and still find new critters that I have never seen before. The big surprise last week was a frog fish and an ornate ghost pipefish!

A frog fish we spotted on a night dive!

Ornate Ghost Pipefish found at one of our reef training sites!

NUDI Meeting

One of our past divers told me about a Philippines based group dedicated to underwater photography.  Immediately I was interested.  With the help of my good friend Google, I was able to make contact with the group.  My first contact was with a very friendly gentleman by the name of Boogs.  He answered all my questions, so I timed my next trip to Manila to coincide with the September NUDI meeting. 

NUDI, or Network of Underwater Digital Imagers, has monthly meetings in the Metro Manila area.  Each meeting has a themed photo contest.  Everyone is welcome to bring in a photo related to the theme.  The beginning of the meeting was a dinner and social interactions with the other members.  Plus we had a bit of a look at some of the photo entries. 

After dinner, we were guided through some NUDI general business.  One of the points was induction of two new members.  Membership in NUDI is only available to those active in the group.  You gain points by attending meetings, entering the photo contests, etc.  Memebership is awarded after accumulating enough points.  I like the process, as it helps ensure the membership is active, and not just a bunch of names on paper.

Next came a series of talks from some of the NUDI members.  First was some photo tips from Jan, followed by tips for backing up your photos by Jayvee, and finally basic video tips by Bobbit. 

The next segment introduced Gear Up.  GearUp is a local dive clothing company.  They sell dive clothing and donated prizes for the evenings photo contest. 

Finally, came the Photo Contest results.  Everyone attending the meeting ranks the top 5 photos in the compact and DSLR category.  The theme this month was big marine animals.  We don’t get a lot of big animals here in Coron, so I used one of my photos of tarpon from Bonaire.  I am proud to say that my entry was awarded 5th place in the the compact division.  

I was really impressed with the group.  It was the right mix of fun and professionalism.  While I can not attend every meeting, I do intend to plan my trips to Manila so that I can be as active as I can.  If you would like more information on NUDI, send me an email.  I can help you get in contact with them.

Beach Clean Up 28th July 2012

Neptune Dive Center is sponsoring a beach clean up at CYC beach this Saturday, the 28th of July 2012.  Everyone is welcome to join and help us make a difference.  Please let us know in advance if are interested, so we can prepare food, drinks, and fun accordingly.  Email us at info@neptunedivecenter.com or you can call or text us at +63-921-760-7492.  We hope to see you on Saturday!

Grand Opening

After months of hard work, we finally had our grand opening of Neptune Dive Center on July 10th.  Lots of people showed up to get a tour of our new shop, have lunch, and of course partake in videoke!  The party lasted well into night.  We have posted pictures on our facebook page, check them out:  www.facebook.com/neptunecoron.  Business has been steady and it seems as if the whole community of Coron is supporting us.  It is a really good feeling.  I would like to extend a special thanks to Al and his work crew.  Al is the one responsible for building us an awesome shop to call our home! 

Looking Forward:

The opening was just the beginning.  Now that we have our recreational diver programs in place, we are looking to become the first technical dive center in Coron.  All of my friends know that I am an avid cave diver.  With the help of the locals, I have located some possible underground springs to explore.  We also have the famous World War 2 Japanese shipwrecks.  These wrecks and Neptune Dive Center are the perfect place to attain the PADI Tec 40, 45, and 50 rating. 

Keep checking our blog for more exciting updates!

Neville Coleman OAM Peacefully Passes Away -Underwater Photography Loses A Legend

Neville Coleman OAM Peacefully Passes Away -Underwater Photography Loses A Legend.

 

The underwater world lost a champion today.

Welcome

Welcome to Neptune Dive Center.  We are Coron’s newest and fastest growing dive shop.  Neptune Dive Center was started by divers for divers.  We are not one of the big guys, and we don’t want to be.  Our focus is small personal groups.  It allows us to keep it fun and safe.

We just returned from a buying trip in Manila and have a treasure trove of new stuff on the way.  New Seaquest Wave BCDs, Apex regs, Cressi wetsuits.  Help us break in our new rental gear.  We have daily trips visiting the World War II wrecks of Coron Bay.  Send us an email today to make your reservation!

Safe Diving,

Patrick

info@neptunedivecenter.com