Every dive is a different dive.

Do you have a hobby you enjoy? Horseback riding, bicycling, maybe kayaking? My hobby is scuba diving. I have always been interested in diving but, living in north Georgia, I really never had the opportunity to investigate diving. My friends never showed any interest in diving. Hey. We were all car guys! But, a project with Ford Motor Company in Detroit changed my life.

While working in Detroit I became acquainted with Rich Synowiec, owner of Divers Incorporated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I spent some time in his shop, asking questions and learning about the sport. Rich, his dad and his staff were very patient with me. Never pushy, they always had the time to answer my questions and show me examples. In addition, Divers Incorporated also coordinated the scuba training for local and state police and sheriff departments so that really convinced me I was in the right place.

Several weeks went by and I noticed on his bulletin board an Open Water National Geographic class was to start the next week. This really interested me because the more I read and learned the more I became interested. So, I decided to take the plunge, literally, and take the class.

I don’t know if you are familiar with Detroit Michigan but these guys and girls are passionate about their diving. Detroit is home to “hard water” and many of these folks dive almost year around. Considering most lakes freeze with several inches of ice during the winter, this practice is impressive to say the least.

My confined dives were in the swimming pool of the local high school. My class started in November so there was a nice layer of snow on the ground. But the water inside was a cozy 78 degrees. David McCagg was my instructor. I was impressed with his focus on safety and his desire to ensure my understanding of the equipment. “After all”, Dave would say, “your scuba equipment is a life support system. You must understand how it works to dive safely.”

After completing my class assignments and confined water skills, I was ready to go for my open water dives. Rich was leading a diving expedition to Bonaire that May and suggested I complete my open water classes there. Since the lakes in Detroit didn’t even consider warming up until mid May, I convinced my wife that we “had to go.”

Typically, my wife and I try to take a trip together every year around our anniversary and this trip to Bonaire was perfect. After an unusually pleasant flight, we arrived in Bonaire. With an airport that was slightly bigger than our back yard we easily transitioned through customs and were on our way to the resort.

After a basic checkout assessment by the resort staff I set off with Rich and his wife Jill to complete my skills and open water dives. I could not believe the beauty of the resort reef! It was unbelievable. I was completely stunned by the beauty of the different varieties of Parrotfish, Squirrelfish, Basslet, Wrasse and Sergeant Majors. I had poured over scuba diving magazines and the pictures but nothing prepared me for the beauty I saw.

When we returned and discussed the dive, people in our group laughed and told me that was only the resort reef. Wait until this afternoons dive. Well, I was hooked. It has been an amazing 5 years since I began diving. Even though we return to Bonaire, every dive is different. To be diving and come across an ancient anchor lodged in the coral or to see the red tentacle of an octopus exploring out of his hiding place. Or to come upon a sunken ship and to be able to patiently watch the aquatic life that calls the ship home. Each dive is amazing. Simply amazing.

And that is why I am planning a trip to the Philippines and diving with Aqua Ventura divers in Dauin. The atolls and islands in the Philippines hold some of the world’s best diving. In fact, the Philippines are ranked No.2 on my bucket list of places to dive before I shuffle off into that great ocean on the other side.

Just the beautiful islands, the landscape and the history of the Philippines are cause for a trip or two. With over 7000 islands to explore one certainly will not get bored! And the geography varies from island to island. Some have beautiful white sandy beaches while others have darker sand for you to soak the rays up with. But, when you consider the vast amount of underwater territory and the aquatic life that is there for the exploring, scuba diving the Philippines is an absolute must. Every dive is a different dive!

Visit Rich Synowiec at Divers Incorporated at www.diversinc.com . Stop in and tell Rich hi!

Thanks for the great article, hope you can visit us soon buddy. We have some really fantastic resorts for you to sip a cold drink at and think about your next dive adventure the following day. Diving in the Philippines doesn’t get any better then this.

Ronald E Coselman
Aqua Ventura Diving center

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If one is looking for a great tourist destination or vacation destination then definitely one of the best countries is the Philippines. Philippines is a country of many diversities which can be observed in its different cultures. It owns one of the newly selected Seven Wonders of the World, the Palawan underground river in Puerto Princesa, and the previously known 8th wonder of the World, the Banawe rice terraces. But where in the Philippines? Where is it more fun in the Philippines?? It is more fun in Dapitan City! The shrine city of the Philippines Dapitan city is part of Mindanao and is located in the Zamboanga del Norte region. Although it is a 3rd class City, it is rich in historical treasures and natural attractions. Dapitan City is one of the best travel destinations in the Philippines because it is where the Rizal Shrine is located; it is a 16 hectare land where the Philippines National Hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal spent his four years of exile. Inside the Rizal Shrine are the replicas of Jose Rizal’s original house, his octagonal shaped clinic and the dormitory & classroom of his students. Dapitan city also boasts one of the world class beaches in the Philippines, the Dakak Park and Beach resort in barangay Taguilon, Dapitan City. It has pristine white sand beaches and crystal clear blue waters, with modern amenities. It’s the perfect place for vacationer’s who wants to experience the beauty of nature coupled with modern facilities. Dakak Park and beach Resort is also the diving mecca in Mindanao. But Dapitan is not just all about Rizal and Dakak anymore, one of the factors that contributed to the boost in the tourism industry in Dapitan is the construction of Gloria’s Fantasyland theme park in Sunset Boulevard, Dawo Dapitan City which was completed in 2004. It is Mindanao’s version of Disneyland. It consists of 30 plus rides and has a 5D cinema and a life size horror house that was designed by top production designers from Manila.

If you are planning on a trip to Dapitan City Philippines, Fantasyland Travel and Tour Corporation a travel & tour agency in Dapitan City and a member of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA), can give you the best opportunity to experience these tourist destinations. Fantasyland Travel and Tours have different tour packages to choose from, that suits your wants and needs. Packages that lets you have Dakak Park & Beach resort accommodations, historical tour, Bay or River Cruise, and free all rides at Glorias Fantasyland theme park. Or packages with just accommodations and free rides at Fantasyland are also available. For more information you can visit our website at http://www.fantasylandtours.com.

After you visit Dapitan, take the ferry to Dumaguete and experience some of the best diving in the world. Resort rates and Dive packages can be found at http://www.venturadiving.com

Ronald E Coselman

Aqua Ventura Divers

The post Dapitan, Philippines appeared first on Diving in the Philippines.

Pawikans, or Turtles to  English speaking divers who visit the Philippines, are what brings a lot of divers to Apo Island, Negros Oriental, Philippines.  Located 30 minutes south of Dumaguete, Philippines.  Apo island while know as a foremost  fish sanctuary is also home to dozens of  Pawikans. Apo is what makes diving in the Philippines a fantastic adventure. Sea Turtles aging over 100 years and weighing in at over 200 kilos. The Pawikans while graceful swimmers, tho stumbles along  on land. The common Green Sea turtle is joined by the colorful Hawks bill turtle and the Leather back. Sea turtles are different from land turtles for their inability to retract their heads into their shells.  And thus seem to act in a friendlier manner.  Aqua Ventura Diving center offer server diving packages to Apo island

Snorkelers as well as divers are almost guaranteed a swim with the many  Apo Island turtles. While most trips provide swimming opportunities, it is worth mentioning that they are, VERY FAST. Reaching speeds in excess of 30 kilometers an hour. The Pawikans leave most swimmers in their wake.

However, a memorable experience awaits the Apo Island visitor who finds a leisurely Pawikan among the corals. The Pawikans act like your friendly neighbors house pet.  Curious of this strange new visitor to his world, slightly cautious,  yet eager to show off his home. Slowly swimming among the barracudas and schools of  red tails. He will be your  guide for your island tour..

The island consists of well protected coral reef that surrounds a volcanic island. Its dive sites are home to many kinds of aqua life including large jacks, fields of grass eels, clownfish, lots of colorful coral, and many more tropical fish.

Average annual temperature: 26°C (78° F).
Average Water surface temperature: From 27°C to 31°C (80° F to 87 °F).
Visibility often averaging: Visibility is between 10 and 40 feet (3 to 12 meters).
Coldest Month: December to February
Warmest Month: March to May
Possible to dive: All year round.
Closest Airport:  Dumaguete DGT

Post by: Ronald Coselman @ www.venturadiving.com

Aqua Ventura diving center Tour guide on duty during an Apo Islad Dive trip

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Young or old, you can always learn to Scuba dive. At Aqua Ventura Diving Centers we provide top instructors.

Instructions are provided by highly qualified instructors

We provide the instructor, the equipment, the air tanks……SMILES are FREE.

The post Learning to Scuba Dive appeared first on Diving in the Philippines.

Experience the fun of a PADI diving adventure underwater with our professional dive team and see the beauty of the underwater scenery. Scuba diving in the Philippines with Aqua Ventura diving offers boat diving, beach diving, dive trips to various marine sanctuaries on Negros Island from Apo island to southern Negros Oriental,where the underwater scenery will astound you. You will wish you had brought extra camera for all the underwater pictures you will want to take.Choose a  Philippine Beach Resort that has our  professional dive team located on site. Aqua Ventura Diving also offers PADI diving instruction for beginners. No Dive vacation to the Philippines would be complete without some diving.

Scuba diving in the Philippines is undoubtedly one of the most exciting diving locations in the world. With Aqua Ventura Diving you can experience  a number of truly magnificent dive sites for you to choose from. Dive trips to nearby marine sanctuaries of Apo Island and Dauin Reef, located off Dauin, Negros Island are our highly popular specialty with spectacular underwater scenery. Divers from all over the world come to see our undersea wonders whether beach diving or dive trips to one of the many marine sanctuaries on Negros Island. We offer multi dive packages or single shore dives.

The Best Dive Centers that Philippines Has To Offer is on Negros Oriental.

The most scenic, and exciting diving sites can be found here, in the Philippine Islands.  Spectacular underwater pictures can be collected on any one of our 32 dive sites. These  dive sites are extremely popular for those that love underwater pictures, both amateur and professionals , and the volcanic past of the island created one of the world’s best dive destinations.  Professional dive team, PADI diving instructional classes, fantastic underwater scenery makes Negros Oriental a diving Paradise.  Aqua Ventura dive team is the best way to experience Negros oriental diving.

View Fantastic Underwater Scenery of the Philippine Islands

Choose your accommodations at one of the Philippine resorts that we represent.  Philippine Dive Resorts enjoys a very pleasant climate all year round making it a great dive destination. The average annual temperature is 25 degrees Celsius, 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The surface of the water actually enjoys a higher average annual temperature ranging from 27 degrees to 31 degrees Celsius, 80 degrees to 87 degrees Fahrenheit. The water at our Philippine dive resort is remarkably crystal clear as well. Visibility can vary at the marine sanctuaries and with the beach diving, but it generally ranges between 10 feet and 40 feet, 3 meters to 12 meters, excellent for the PADI diving classes at any of our Philippine Beach resorts and photographing the beautiful underwater scenery and an ideal dive destination.

It is certainly possible to dive the marine sanctuaries and beach diving all year round on Negros Island, though the months from December through to February are the coldest. But that is in relative terms; cold is hardly the right word to use. The warmest time tends to be from March and May, making all dive trips comfortable.

The dive sites at the marine sanctuaries and off the beach diving generally range between 16 to 98 feet, 5 to 30 meters deep. You can see some 400 species of coral and some 700 species of fish, making the underwater pictures fantastic. If you are seeking the experience of a lifetime,we  offer scuba diving in the Philippines at its best. Our PADI diving classes are conducted by professional certified PADI Diving instructors.

Philippine Islands Dive Resorts

Choose from several Philippine Beach Resort that we offer at Aqua ventura diving. Negros oriental is a popular diving destination for the marine sanctuaries and a jumping off point for  Apo Island. Getting to our Philippine Beach Resort is as easy as getting an airline ticket. The nearest airport is Dumaguete DGT. Located North of Dumaguete, Negros Oriental. Ferries also arrive daily from Cebu via Bohol.

The dive team at Aqua Ventura Diving center  has your tanks are full, and the dive boat is standing by for tomorrows diving trips. Mark your 2013 Dive vacation with a trip to fantastic Philippine dive destinations. Experience diving in the Philippines today and don’t forget the underwater pictures.

French Divers experiencing the adventure of Apo island with Aqua Ventura Dive team.

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