Scandi Divers, Author at Scandi Divers Resort

News, Resort News

Greener Future for Scandi Divers: Solar Panels, Sewage Treatment, and Sustainable Practices

Posted on April 13, 2023April 13, 2023 by Scandi Divers

13
Apr

As concerns about climate change and environmental degradation continue to grow, the importance of sustainable practices is becoming increasingly apparent in every sector, including tourism. As a dive resort, we recognize the impact that our operations can have on the environment and are committed to minimizing our footprint. That is why we are proud to announce the recent additions we have made to our resort to further enhance our sustainability efforts.

Solar Panels

One of the most significant additions we have made is the installation of solar panels. These panels harness the sun’s energy to generate electricity for our resort, reducing our reliance on traditional energy sources. Not only does this help us reduce our carbon footprint, but it also lowers our energy costs, allowing us to invest more resources into improving our guests’ experiences. By utilizing renewable energy, we are not only protecting the environment but also creating a more sustainable future for our resort and the wider community.

Sewage Treatment Plant

Another addition we have made is the installation of a sewage treatment plant. This plant enables us to treat our wastewater on-site, reducing the impact that our operations have on the surrounding environment. By treating the wastewater before it is released, we are ensuring that it does not harm the surrounding marine ecosystems. This not only benefits the environment but also contributes to the overall health and wellbeing of our guests, who can be assured that the water they are swimming in is clean and safe.

Room Management Tools

In addition to our renewable energy and wastewater treatment efforts, we have also implemented new room management tools. These tools are designed to help us minimize our water usage by reducing the amount of washing needed for linens and towels. By providing guests with the option to reuse their towels and linens, we are not only reducing our water usage but also lowering our energy usage by reducing the frequency of laundry loads. These small changes may seem insignificant, but they can add up to make a significant impact over time.

The Future of Sustainability at our Resort

While we are proud of the steps we have taken so far to improve our sustainability, we recognize that there is always more that can be done. Moving forward, we are committed to exploring new ways to reduce our environmental impact and promote sustainability. This may involve further investments in renewable energy, implementing more efficient water and energy-saving measures, and working with local communities to promote sustainable tourism practices.

Conclusion

As a dive resort, we understand the importance of preserving the natural beauty of the underwater world. That is why we are committed to promoting sustainable practices that minimize our impact on the environment while providing our guests with an unforgettable experience. Our recent additions, including solar panels, a sewage treatment plant, and new room management tools, are just the beginning of our sustainability efforts. We look forward to continuing to explore new ways to promote sustainability and make a positive impact on the world around us.

Resort News

From Speed to Tradition: Scandi Divers’ New Boats Offer Something for Everyone

Posted on March 21, 2023April 16, 2023 by Scandi Divers

21
Mar

As a dive resort, we understand the importance of providing our guests with the best possible experience. That is why we are thrilled to announce the addition of two new boats to our dive fleet: a new speedboat and a traditional Philippine banka. With these new additions, Scandi Divers now has a total of five boats, ensuring that we can provide the best possible diving experience in the area.

New Speedboat

Our new speedboat is perfect for those looking for a fast and efficient way to reach their dive sites. Equipped with powerful engines and comfortable seating, this boat will get you to your destination quickly and in style. Whether you are exploring nearby reefs or heading out to deeper waters, the speedboat is the perfect choice for those who want to make the most of their time underwater.

New Banka

We have also added a traditional Philippine banka to our dive fleet. These boats are known for their stability and comfort, making them the perfect choice for those who prefer a more relaxed and leisurely diving experience. With ample space for divers and their gear, the banka is a great option for larger groups or families. Plus, its traditional design is a nod to the rich culture and history of the Philippines.

Unique Feature: Boat Covers

One thing that sets Scandi Divers apart from other dive resorts in the area is our commitment to our guests’ comfort. That is why all of our boats, including the new speedboat and banka, are equipped with covers to protect guests from the sun. This unique feature is not common among dive resorts in the area, and we are proud to offer it as a way to enhance our guests’ experience.

The Best Dive Experience in the Area

With our new additions to the dive fleet, Scandi Divers is now better equipped than ever to provide the best possible diving experience in the area. Whether you prefer the speed and efficiency of the new speedboat or the comfort and tradition of the new banka, we have a boat that is perfect for you. Plus, with covers on all of our boats, you can rest assured that you will be comfortable and protected from the sun throughout your dive trip.

Conclusion

At Scandi Divers, we are committed to providing our guests with the best possible diving experience. That is why we are thrilled to add a new speedboat and banka to our dive fleet, bringing our total number of boats to five. With covers on all of our boats, we are also proud to offer a unique feature that sets us apart from other dive resorts in the area. Whether you are a seasoned diver or just starting out, we invite you to join us for an unforgettable dive experience on our new boats.

Blackwater Diving

Dive Spotters Training at Scandi Divers

Posted on January 10, 2022 by Scandi Divers

10
Jan

Scandi divers had the pleasure of hosting the Puerto Galera leg of the Dive Spotters Training Program. Alongside this we refreshed our knowledge about bonfire and blackwater diving.

Dive Philippines stalwarts Wen and Cels only work with the best, with the main presentations conducted by Ram Yoro. Ram is well known and a true sensei in the bonfire/ blackwater field. There were 19 participants from the dive shops in Puerto Galera. There was the added dangled carrot of a nice t-shirt and some great meals from chef Ivan at Scandi divers.

Ram shared his knowledge and techniques from the blackwater world to the enthralled room of dive professionals. We got to learn about all the amazing species that can be seen around the bonfire of placed dive lights. Time was also spent refreshing everybody on the current hot marine critters and where’s the best place to find them. After a break of almost 2 years from major tourism it was a very worthwhile exercise to reboot our knowledge on the bountiful marine life in Puerto Galera.

As the sun went down we prepared the lights and lines for a bonfire dive right in front of Scandi divers resort. With the dive pro’s spread over four light set ups we were flabbergasted at the amazing species that live in the mid-water. There were many larval fish, with juvenile pipe fish and seahorses drifting around. A tiny larval octopus decided to attract itself to one of the guys, even hiding in the sleeve of his wet suit. We lost count of the number of crustacean species that were attracted by the powerful lights. The dive blew the minds of the participants, for some it was the first time to experience this kind of diving.

The next morning was spent going over proof of life images and video footage taken by the divers. Ram was also mightily impressed with the amount of night life. We finished up by honing our spotting skills with two dives in our muck diving area. The area outside of Montani was described as a AAA dive site by Ram. The sightings included a hairy shrimp, sean the sheep nudibranch, blue dragon and a tiny flamboyant cuttlefish.

The evening was spent giving out certificates to the participants and then of course the Red horse started to flow. The karaoke was fired up and all the blackwater creatures decided to go to deeper water.
Scandi divers would like to thank Dive Philippines, the department of tourism and the master Ram Yoro for sharing his amazing experience with us. We now look forward to using our new skills to impress our guests once international travel restarts again.

Puerto Galera Dive Sites

Top 5 dive sites of Puerto Galera

Posted on September 7, 2020 by Scandi Divers

07
Sep

Puerto Galera is one of the most diverse scuba diving destinations in the world. With over 40 dive sites and 3,000 marine species to dive with we have given our verdict on the top 5 dive spots that you have to visit during your stay at Scandi divers resort.

The Drop off at Verde Island is not just the number 1 dive in Puerto Galera but must be classed as one of the best in Asia. The Pinnacle breaks the surface before dropping down to three hundred meters. It can have very strong currents which brings in fish by the bucket load. You can see large tuna and snapper mixed in with massive schools of wide mouth mackerel, Chub and the neon colored blue streak fusiliers. The population of anthais is so thick that you struggle to see the reef in places. You can see banded sea snakes, hawksbill turtles and warty frogfish. There are some massive sea fans and barrel sponges that can dwarf scuba divers. With a spectacular ecosystem existing here also look out for large pelagic species in the blue.
Canyons have been listed in the 50 top dives in the world. Best visited with a decent incoming tide, it can be a jaw dropping experience. There are 3 separate canyons the deepest one at 27 meters. You can see schools of jacks, Spanish mackerel and batfish. The delicate soft corals that cover the reef are beautiful soft pinks, purples and orange in color. The large sea fans quiver as the currents rush through them with pygmy seahorses clinging on for dear life. Hiding from current are oriental sweetlips, scorpion fish and moray eels. As you get to the last canyon there is an old anchor embedded into the reef, look out in the blue for spotted eagle rays and tuna before heading up for your safety stop.
The Alma Jane wreck was sunk in 2003 and has become one of the best dives in Puerto Galera. This artificial reef is down at thirty meters and is encrusted with some great coral growth. There is a resident school of a hundred or so batfish that are always facing into the current. Around the prop shaft you see large snappers. You can explore inside the wreck very easily, look out for banded sea snakes living in the celling. There are some large lion and scorpion fish. There is a high chance that you will see a few giant frog fish.
The Giant Clams are one of the best muck diving locations in the Philippines. If you would like to see mimic octopus, thorny seahorses, ornate ghost pipe fish, Dragon sea moths, Hairy frogfish, wunderpus, harlequin shrimp, blue ring octopus and the flamboyant cuttlefish then you will have to visit this magical macro playground.
Kilima Steps creeps in at number 5, we chose this site not only because of its beautiful stepped topography but this is place where you can see the majestic thresher shark. If the sharks don’t show up then you can still find the Palate surgeonfish otherwise known as Dori from Finding Nemo. You can discover many tropical reef fish and a number of nudibranch species.

So what do you think about our choice of the top 5 dive sites? You are welcome to let us know what your top 5 dives are from Puerto Galera. Thanks for reading this blog and we hope you can share it with your friends.

Creature Features

Keep your friends close but anemones closer – A look at anemone fish

Posted on July 21, 2020July 21, 2020 by Scandi Divers

21
Jul

There’s a small but feisty species of fish that have evolved to live in a dangerous place in the ocean. Sea anemones may look beautiful, soft and colorful but they are armed to the teeth with tiny little darts that are used to poison fish before being eaten. That has never bothered anemone fish, they have been blessed by evolution to become bulletproof in the anemone world. Due to this blessing the anemone – anemone fish symbiotic relationship has become one of the most famous in the underwater world.

There are twenty-eight species of anemone fish worldwide, they form part of the damselfish gang. There are over eleven hundred species of anemone but only ten are used by the anemone fish. Once they decide on which to call home there are some rules which keep the house in order. There is only one female, she mates with the largest male. Once the female dies the broken-hearted male will swap genders to become the new mother and will then mate with the next male in line. Eggs are carefully laid very close to the anemone, they are attached to the reef or if on sand they use items like empty coconut shells. The parents take it in turns on aerating and cleaning them. After a while you can see tiny little eyes forming, after around fourteen days they all hatch.

If you are lucky enough to see some eggs you will notice parents are very vigilant, doing everything to protect the young. After watching these guys for many years there has been some very brave behavior. One fish took a very small bite out of my cheek, you could see tiny teeth marks on my face. Another headbutted the glass in my mask multiple times in an effort for me to vacate the area, one was biting the cloth of my rash guard trying to drag me away. You could say they are the Chuck Norris of the reef, even though we are million times bigger they will not be intimidated.

On the many dive sites of Puerto Galera, you can witness this amazing behavior while scuba diving. The most common species of anemone fish are Clarke’s, False clownfish, Saddleback and Pink. The most common anemone species are carpet, magnificent and bubble tip. They come in a few colors like orange and green. They can be found on most reef and muck diving sites. They are found at depths from five to thirty meters typically.

We hope you enjoy seeing these guys on your next dives at Scandi divers resort and remember don’t get to close if you value your life. We have made a short video for you to watch about anemone fish. Please like our Facebook page and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Creature Features, Puerto Galera Marine Life

The Nudibranchs of Puerto Galera – Video

Posted on January 9, 2020January 29, 2020 by Scandi Divers

09
Jan

If you spent hours in your garden looking through the flora for tiny little slugs, then your neighbor would probably be concerned for your welfare and call out the local psychiatrist recommending an emergency check-up. Yet scuba divers in their thousands spend hours searching through the corals looking for the underwater version of these creepy crawlies.

With Puerto Galera located in the Coral triangle and the Verde Island passage, it has more nudibranchs than you can shake a stick at. There are reason’s why the Godfather of the nudibranch world Dr Terry Gosliner has made numerous trips here. The Verde Island Passage has over a thousand named nudibranch species, when you consider the Caribbean has less than a thousand reef fish species the abundance is clear to see. The word nudibranch comes from Latin and ancient Greek words naked and gills which comes out of Google translate as nudibranch.

So, what’s the attraction of nudibranchs?

For a start the patterns and colors are so vibrant that they make great subjects for underwater photography. As slow movers, the chance to get a great image is high. They come in all shapes and sizes, one of the smallest and most famous is the Costasiella kuroshimae, affectionately know as Shaun the sheep, it’s sometimes smaller than a grain of rice but can be seen with the aid of a macro lens or magnifying glass.

At the other end of the spectrum we have giant nudibranch like the Hexabranchus sanguineus or Spanish dancer, these guys can be seen at night and are a fiery red color. They can grow up to ninety centimeters in length and bust impressive dance moves that would have made Michael Jackson jealous.

There are great opportunities to observe nudibranch behavior on our reefs. The Chamberlin nembrotha seem as sexually active as mandarin fish. You can see a mating pairs curled up together, being hermaphrodites they both pass sperm into each other for about ten minutes before breaking apart. The Chromodoris reticulata has the added skill of a disposable penis which is ideal if his partner starts to nag him to death about the washing up.

Nudibranch eggs can be found on the reef, look out for swirls of tiny egg. Some are more ribbon type which can be white or pinkish in color. To deter predators the eggs are covered by a slime from consumed sea sponges that are toxic.

There are a few species that eat their own kind, this is a pretty gruesome death as some have teeth inside which shred the poor victim making it easier to digest. So there is some information on the attraction of nudibranchs, we hope after reading this you will become a sea slug enthusiast.

You can watch our latest video on nudibranchs to give you just a sample of these amazing creatures. Come and join us at Scandi divers resort to see some with your own eyes.

Puerto Galera Dive Sites

UNTV’s “The Dive” visits Scandi Divers to explore the Verde Passage

Posted on January 2, 2020January 29, 2020 by Scandi Divers

02
Jan

This episode of The Dive is a great introduction to Puerto Galera, and the incredible dive sites of the Verde Passage, “The center of the center of marine biodiversity”, with Scandi Divers as hosts and guides to the UNTV team.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8wpm2okTrQ

Scuba Diving in Puerto Galera

DSD (Discover Scuba Diving) – A Wonderful Adventure!

Posted on September 2, 2019September 2, 2019 by Scandi Divers

02
Sep

Earlier this year Scandi Divers Resort offered resort staff the chance to experience the thrill of scuba diving for the first time, and see what all the fuss is about. Here is Milcah Manocsoc’s account of her experience, in her own words:

Nowadays, most people may be fond of hiking, trekking, camping or other outdoor activities. Meanwhile if you’re looking for a new adventure , scuba diving is a perfect must-try. As a beach lover, this is my most wanted kind of adventure on the sea and is definitely on top of my bucket list.

And there came a wonderful day when I was finally able to check scuba diving off on my bucket list. This happened on March 29, 2019, when I have experienced one of the most wonderful adventure of my life.

As a first timer I have felt mixed emotions, a day before my scheduled free DSD experience all I felt was pure excitement. Come the morning on that day, Kuya Rey, our instructor, met us to finally start the diving course wherein he played a video showing how scuba diving was done and all the equipments to be used and also how it works. During that time I really felt nervous and realized that it will not be easy as what I have thought.

Before, when I’m just seeing people scuba diving, my perspective is, if you know how to swim and have tried snorkeling, it will all be easy but I was wrong. You have to know many important things about it. From the gear that you need to use, up to your first breath under water.

After watching the video, we went straight to the dive shop to wear our diving suits and then our instructor Kuya Rey taught us the uses of each piece of gear that we’ll be using and taught us some skills when we went to the swimming pool. First, using the regulator, BCD (Bouyancy Control Device), inflating and deflating, and I was just amazed while our instructor was demonstrating every skills. He also taught us the hand signals. The hardest part for me was trying not to breathe through my mouth. My instructor knows whenever I use my nose to breathe because my mask becomes very foggy. It was really tricky. He also taught us three basic skills which are regulator clearing, regulator recovery and mask clearing.

After making sure that we already know all the things we need to know, Kuya Rey then instructed us to go to the sea. I was guided underwater by Kuya Rey and I was really nervous going down because I am very used on being just in the surface.

As we explored the underwater world, I eventually became comfortable knowing that Kuya Rey was with me and I am in good hands. But what really made me comfortable was seeing the underwater creatures. I was able to have a face-to-face with nemo and saw his home. I was totally amazed with all the different kinds of fish and the coral that will automatically close whenever it was bothered just like the “makahiya” plant on land. It was indeed a fluttering moment for me seeing all those beautiful creatures that we didn’t get to see everyday.

After that dive I realized how much I really love the sea. Not only it makes you feel calm and at peace once you’re at the sea but it will literally blow your mind when you see the amazing creatures there is living under it.

I feel very grateful being part of the Scandi Divers and for letting their staff experience this one of a kind adventure. This is unforgettable, I hope there is more to come!