Palau, Micronesia, SAM'S TOURS.

I am very delighted to report that Palau’s Legislative and Executive Branches have come together to support individual states in bringing an end to the controversial practice of “Live Reef Fisheries” in Palau with the recent signing in to law of a bill outlawing the destructive practice. The people and leaders of Palau’s northerly states of Ngarchelong and Kayangel sought the assistance of the national government to help protect Palau’s environmentally important Northern Reefs.

The issue of Live Reef Fisheries first came to public attention through postings made on this blog dating back to 11/19/07 and continuing through 12/08/07. After the story on Live Reef Fisheries first broke on this blog a great deal of public debate and very close scrutiny took place on the environmental impact caused by this unsustainable and destructive fishing practice. States then appealed to the national government for assistance in ending the practice.

President Remengesau, Senator Alan Seid, Members of the OEK, and the leadership of Ngarchelong and Kayangel States are to be commended for their actions to protect Palau’s natural resources and marine environment from unsustainable exploitation.

For more on the issue of Live Reef Fisheries, please refer to these earlier posts on the subject on this blog

11/19/07: LIVE REEF FISHERIES: Who Will Outwit, Outplay, Outlast Whom?

11/25/07: LIVE REEF FISHERIES - MORE INFORMATION

11/28/07: LIVE REEF FISHING - ISLAND TIMES INFORMS THE COMMUNITY!

12/01/07: EYEWITNESS REPORT on IMPACT of LIVE REEF FISHING!

12/02/07: WHAT OTHERS THINK ABOUT LIVE REEF FISHING!

12/08/07: UPDATE: LIVE REEF FISHING STILL GOING ON!

Dermot

Science and Nature on BBC.

Walter Ty has done it again...thanks so much... Maybe the visibility was not so great for seeing all the other marine life...but then the coral spawning is something not to be missed...natures gift to man and a reminder that we have to take care of our environment...ironically the month of April is supposed to be the green month...I guess Palau has both, above it is green and below during the spawning it is all pink.
What a contrast!

The annual mass spawning of corals on the Palau archipelago in the western Pacific has occurred right on cue. With Sunday night's full moon, coral polyps let forth a huge swathe of sperm and egg, to seed the next generation.

The event was short-lived - only about 30 minutes - but so vast in its scale that it turned the sea water pink. Scientists from Palau, Australia and the UK are studying the practicality of collecting coral larvae to help restore damaged reefs elsewhere.

See what a mass spawning at Palau looks like (Reefvid.org)
As we got into the boat for our trip to Luke's reef, I admit I was not really expecting to see the mass spawning on the exact night of the full Moon. All the visiting scientists here thought it was more likely the reproductive extravaganza would happen the next evening or the following one - based on what had happened the last two years. The only person who seemed sure it would happen on cue was Steven Victor, the Palauan director of the Palau International Coral Reef Center. Local knowledge was spot on, as it turned out.
Almost as soon as the boat engine switched off, we got a sense that something might be brewing... you have to see and read the whole story...and images

@ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7358423.stm

I picked this story up thanks to an alert from Gunther Deichmann, professional photographer and Apple certified trainer for Aperture who manages the Philippines-Micronesia Alliance website at www.alliancediving.com His good friend Mr Walter Ty, watchdog for information about amazing natural wonders, scored again! Thanks Walter and Gunther!

Catching corals' spectacular moment
Courtesy of BBC
By Andrew Luck-Baker
BBC Radio 4, Palau

The coral reefs in the tropical Western Pacific are at the brink of one of the most spectacular and significant nights in their annual life cycle. By the light of April's full moon on Sunday or, quite likely a night or two after, corals will be mating en masse.

Along the length of the island archipelago that makes up the Republic of Palau, millions of coral colonies will simultaneously release billion upon billion of eggs and sperm into the dark waters. An hour or so after sunset, each spawning coral will discharge showers of sex cells, packaged in orange and pink blobs. They will rise to the surface in such huge numbers that they may form oily slicks metres long. If the sea conditions are right, spawn slicks can coalesce to be large enough to be visible from space.

For the complete story and photos please go to:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7357121.stm

Want to upload all your holiday/vacation images or video on your iPod?

The staff at Sam's Tours DIGITAL PHOTO CENTER will be happy to assist you with uploading your Palau pictures on to your iPod. The only thing you have to do... bring your iPod, but then who doesn't these days?...and of course, take some pictures. Don't have a digital camera or don't want to risk getting your own camera wet? No worries!... we rent simple to use CANON digital cameras and videocams complete with underwater housings right here at Sam's.

Be ready to share your images from Palau with friends and family as soon as you get home...or even sooner! Get on line on one of our superfast iMACS and start sharing images right away. Let us take away the hassles so you'll be organized back home, no more looking for hours on end where you stored those great shots...just plug your iPOD in to a TV and enjoy the great show! Video footage too! You concentrate on having fun and let us take care of the rest!

Dive the great dive sites of Palau, like Blue Corner and Blue Holes .....enjoy a leisurely kayak tour.....take a walk down ancient stone pathways...visit Palau's significant historical and cultural sites....or just chill out on the beach! But don't forget to snap a few shots to torture your friends! Palau is not just for divers anymore...there's lots more to do.

And for photographers, Palau is a fantastic place to pursue your passion for that perfect shot! Shoot underwater, shoot topside or shoot from air...or do it all....then stop by our Digital Photo Center and enjoy the latest toys and tools in image management and work flow processing with APPLE iMACS, Aperture 2, Adobe Photoshop and lots and lots of secure data storage space and other handy applications.

For the latest amazing images from Palau take a visit to Gunther Deichmann's stock images @ http://www.deichmann-photo.com/stock.html

For the latest Tips & Tricks on Aperture 2 visit Gunther Deichmann's Blog @ http://www.deichmann-photo.com/blog.html

ALL IMAGES in this post by Gunther Deichmann.

PALAU, Micronesia:

Sam’s Tours is pleased to announce the arrival of award-winning High Definition Underwater Filmmaker and Digital Video Producer Dr. Nick Martorano, Ph.D. who just joined the Sam’s Tours team!

A PADI Instructor with PADI Specialty Certifications that include Nitrox and Underwater Naturalist/Research, Nick has a very strong interest in marine conservation and has participated in research work that includes monitoring the health of the California coast kelp forest environment.

Nick is the founder of Ocean Wonders www.oceanwonders.org which he launched as a service to all those who wish to document the beauty and the wonders of the
ocean realm through the magic of visual media and particularly digital video. Nick’s hope is that by promoting an appreciation for the beauty and the complexity of
the marine environment people will ultimately protect what they have come to
understand through the power of the visual media. Ocean Wonders promotes collaboration between individuals and agencies interested in the protection of the marine environment. Click on the Award Winning Films buttons on www.oceanwonders.org for sample of Nick’s award-winning works.

Nick’s past underwater photo and video projects have included locations such as the Cocos Island (Costa Rica), Palau (Micronesia), Philippines, Florida Keys, Fiji, Cozumel (Mexico), Virgin Islands, French Polynesia and Hawaii. Upcoming trips and videos will feature Belize, Red Sea (Egypt) and Great Barrier Reef (Australia).

Using professional Sony digital video cameras, Light and Motion housings with H.I.D. lights, Apple Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere and other professional software tools, Nick creates underwater documentaries, promotional videos, films and personalized videos that include wide angle and close-up images of fish, invertebrates, wrecks and divers in the marine environment.

Once he settles in, Nick will be offering Workshops and Training Programs at Sam’s Tours on both Apple and Windows based systems for underwater video shooting, digital video editing, DVD authoring, Layout & Imaging Solutions using Adobe Photoshop, and other useful digital video skills.

Nick is also available for professional work including underwater digital videography services, digital video editing, post-production and final output assignments. Demo Reels are available.

To contact Nick, e-mail: nick@oceanwonders.org or send a note to info@samstours.com

Sam’s Tours is very excited to have such an accomplished underwater videographer and film maker join our team and we are equally sure that our guests will be delighted and amazed with Nick’s stunning photography. Stay tuned here for more information on the exciting world of high definition video.

To make a reservation for Nick to shoot a personalized video of your diving adventures with Sam’s Tours, please e-mail: reservations@samstours.com

Please join us in welcoming Nick back to Palau!