What a fantastic trip. First dives at Walindi plantation on the Island of New Britain PNG, what can I say this is the best diving I have ever done. The viz just keeps going on and on into the blue, temp I used speedos :) the sea life, coral and colors were like a kaleidoscope always changing at high speed my neck is sore from all the swiveling. The dive master's are all local people who know the reefs and the life on it like the back of there hands, we saw a lot of things we would have missed had it not been for them eg, the dive master told my wife to put her hand into a small hole in the reef and when she did a hord of small translucent cleaner shrimp came from the walls of the opening and commenced to clean her hand. As she withdrew her hand they all went back on to the walls of there home, my turn next. As soon as my hand went in, down they came, you can feel them moving over your hand and a little nibble as they are cleaning. There were never more than six divers per boat three per dive master and sometimes as in my wifes case just her and the dive master. If you wanted to see something special just tell them before the dive and they will find it in a very short time. All dives were at your pace and the Dm's just watched over you.
The resort its self was seconde to none the accomadation and food are the best and the service was outstanding, laundry in the basket before going diving and it was neatly folded in your room when you came back with the bed made and flowers on it I must admit I felt guilty at time's it was like haveing a hand servent. I would highly recoment this place www.walindi.com
Next a live-aboard on the Diversety for four days to Osprey reef in the Coral sea with stops at the GBR on the way out and back.
The boat, food, dive sites and staff were very good BUT I must say I was disappointed with the type of diving, six divers playing follow the DM and the object seemed to be to cover as much reef as possible in the dive with no time to stop and take photos. On one dive we were at about seventy feet on the edge of a drop of. when we saw two manta rays side by side doing loops to our right and out from the wall about 50 ft away, after stoping for a few seconds the DM started to move along the reef in the opposite direction ^%$*#@ I wanted to get closer to get a photo but had to keep up with the group.
cdiver2
October 28th, 2003, 01:15 PM
Taken in PNG
cdiver2
October 28th, 2003, 01:16 PM
in PNG
caymaniac
October 28th, 2003, 03:51 PM
Hey cd, looks like PNG outdid the Coral Sea, I was thinking it might. I hope you got some more pics coming my way!!:)
Looking forward to your total report!
Caymaniac
cdiver2
October 29th, 2003, 05:55 PM
cy three more photos but I can-not get them sharp on the scan, they are as sharp as a pin in the slide ?. two more to follow dont know how to get more than one on a post.
David
cdiver2
October 29th, 2003, 05:57 PM
saw a lot of these all sorts of colors
cdiver2
October 29th, 2003, 06:00 PM
photo attached this time
cdiver2
October 29th, 2003, 06:02 PM
More later hope I can get them sharper
cdiver2
October 29th, 2003, 06:04 PM
head is in a spin messing with the photos
Valwood1
October 29th, 2003, 08:05 PM
Thanks for the reference to the resort website. Is that place as expensive as it was shown on one travel agent site -- ie, $300+ daily for a room for 2, and $250+ daily for 2 tank diving?
Bill
cdiver2
October 29th, 2003, 08:16 PM
That sounds about right, it cost us $2941 to stay six days and three dives a day for four days. But it was well worth it I have dived a number of place's around the world and none have come close to this for dive site's or the resort its self.
If you need more info you can E me at ddiver@tampabay.rr.com
All the best
David
cdiver2
October 29th, 2003, 10:55 PM
more photos
cdiver2
October 29th, 2003, 10:57 PM
another
cdiver2
October 29th, 2003, 10:59 PM
still not sharp cy
caymaniac
October 30th, 2003, 10:42 PM
cdiver2 once bubbled...
$2941 to stay six days and three dives a day for four days.
David
I've seen that price before, the StarDancer is less than 2K each, I'm thinking that the liveaboard might be a good way to go.
So far it's just a dream.
I'm still drooling at your pictures even if they aren't super clear. How about a couple from Osprey?
Caymaniac :)
caymaniac
October 30th, 2003, 10:50 PM
cdiver2 once bubbled...
still not sharp cy
This web site can only take a small amount of pixels, that may be your problem. Some of the pics that I have are in the 20K bracket. There's quite a few pics that I haven't figured out how to share with others because of the file size. I'm slow learning the new adobe tech stuff.
Dive safe, take alot of pictures.
Caymaniac :D
cdiver2
November 1st, 2003, 09:15 PM
it appears all underwater shots are soft, I susspect the lens may-not be moving when I focus. Still sortin through film will post some from Osprey next week, by the way a certain lady cook on the Diversety was asking about you ??.
I dont know about a live-aboard in PNG I really enjoyed Walindi and only saw a few of the dive sites, but we also enjoyed land based sights as well. We got lucky and were invited to a sing sing, that was as colorfull as the reef pic att and another on next post.
David
cdiver2
November 1st, 2003, 09:17 PM
me and my galls
caymaniac
November 2nd, 2003, 12:33 PM
cdiver2 once bubbled...
me and my galls
Wow CD, which one is you :D, did you feel like a real stand-out without that deep dark tan? I too love visiting with the culture as well as the underwater world.
Did you have to travel far to get to the sing- sing?
Caymaniac
cdiver2
November 2nd, 2003, 02:17 PM
The sing sing was only about 20 min down the road. There were hundred's of people there, tribes had traveled for days through the jungle and along the coast in dug out's. Did feel a little out of place, our group consisted of my wife, three Japanese girls and myself two people from a marine research station every one else was from the Island.
sapphire
November 2nd, 2003, 06:19 PM
David,
You sure got some really nice pics there! I am so glad everything worked out well and you got to go on that trip - it is definitely on my list now... :)
Looking forward to more pics when you can post them!
sapphire
cdiver2
November 2nd, 2003, 10:44 PM
Sapphire there will be lots more pics comein Im still sorting through them and trying to write a report for a swedish reporter we meet there, why he had to ask the worst writer/speller in the world I dont know :( but I am flatered :)
Did have one bad moment, sat on the gunnal of the boat between dives and when I got up for the next dive I could-not move my right leg first thought was S***k so I did-not do the dive.
By the time the other divers returned it was ok so I guess I had just pinched a nerve in the leg butt area but it took a hour to work out.
My advice do Walindi I have never seen anything like it.
David
cdiver2
November 3rd, 2003, 01:20 AM
I suppose whats good for the goose is good for the gander
cdiver2
November 3rd, 2003, 01:26 AM
A crystal clear volcanic river 108f in the jungel. We traveld for a hour in a 4x4 along tracks in the jungel to get to it. After the dip our driver had wet towels for us that had been in the fridge then a cooler :) Haaaaaaa
cdiver2
November 3rd, 2003, 02:18 AM
Well cay you sked for them
cdiver2
November 3rd, 2003, 02:20 AM
I dont think the strob fired on these
cdiver2
November 3rd, 2003, 02:21 AM
last tonight
cdiver2
November 3rd, 2003, 12:24 PM
new pic
caymaniac
November 3rd, 2003, 12:55 PM
Nice CD, Cuttle fish, we were hoping to see that on our trip but didn't get as lucky. Too bad you had strobe problems, looks like you were close enough. Nice Clown fish shot.
All the best,
Caymaniac :)
cdiver2
November 3rd, 2003, 01:32 PM
More shots
cdiver2
November 3rd, 2003, 01:34 PM
and another
cdiver2
November 3rd, 2003, 01:58 PM
and another. Had enough cay
sapphire
November 3rd, 2003, 02:10 PM
cdiver2 once bubbled...
Sapphire there will be lots more pics comein Im still sorting through them and trying to write a report for a swedish reporter we meet there, why he had to ask the worst writer/speller in the world I dont know :( but I am flatered :)
Did have one bad moment, sat on the gunnal of the boat between dives and when I got up for the next dive I could-not move my right leg first thought was S***k so I did-not do the dive.
By the time the other divers returned it was ok so I guess I had just pinched a nerve in the leg butt area but it took a hour to work out.
My advice do Walindi I have never seen anything like it.
David
David - I love all the new photos - great job! I am glad there were not any health issues for you... be careful where you sit in the future!
Sapphire
cdiver2
November 3rd, 2003, 03:06 PM
Will take your advice but I can think of more dangerous places to park my but
sapphire
November 3rd, 2003, 03:42 PM
cdiver2 once bubbled...
Will take your advice but I can think of more dangerous places to park my but
For sure, don't sit on THAT, David!
sapphire
cdiver2
November 3rd, 2003, 05:03 PM
This would make a nice seat, when stuffed
cdiver2
November 3rd, 2003, 05:05 PM
This is how to do it
cdiver2
November 3rd, 2003, 05:08 PM
Now thats a look of sheer contentment
sapphire
November 4th, 2003, 01:32 PM
cdiver2 once bubbled...
This would make a nice seat, when stuffed
LOL David, be sure to sew that mouth closed first!! :D
