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in this issueKararu Dive Voyages would like to welcome all the new subscribers to this newsletter. Instructions for modifying your subscription or removing yourself from the list are at the end of this message, please contact us if you experience difficulties. Photo credits to Lauren Greider & Kararu. |
Warm greetings to all readers of the Kararu Dive Voyages Newsletter. In this edition we bring you an update on the recent DEMA show, a close encounter with a crocodile in Misool, as well as the Kararu trip winner of the best humoristic image at the esteemed World of Underwater images competition in the Red Sea. Read on for the story behind the cover image of the latest Lonely Planet Indonesia guide book, recent articles on Kararu's great trips in International dive magazines and of course, some special offers on selected cruises for 2008 & 2009. DEMA 2008
The Indonesian Government sponsored a wonderful pavilion and over 20 exhibitors from around the Indonesian archipelago attended. Kararu was honoured to be the organizers of the government's cocktail party with over 500 people in attendance! Many beers were guzzled and several prizes were given away including free round trip tickets from the USA to Bali from Singapore Airlines, a free trip on the Cheng Ho and many others. Congratulations to all the lucky winners! A great time was had by all - thanks to the government for assisting in promoting our businesses and Indonesia as an overall destination.
The extraordinary and industry shaping, Cathy Church who was inducted into the Diver's Hall of Fame and her better half, Herb spent time at the Kararu booth to firm up their 2010 charters to Raja Empat. If you would like to join a true legend amongst divers, look into signing up for one of their trips at www.cathychurch.com
To all our fellow friends and divers, thank you for your generous support and happy diving! A Close Encounter in Misool
"I had blown ahead of the group in the current and was enjoying the ride, checking out the shoreline for corals on the mangroves, when he/she cruised out within four feet of me. I did the best thing I could think of which was take a picture as I pushed myself down deeper to give myself some distance.
Lauren Greider Lonely Planet Cover Picture
The location: Alor just east of Flores & the Komodo National Park. Alor has been "the best kept secret destination" for Kararu since 7 years. The small island of Pura in the Alor region, where this cover shot was taken on board our first vessel, The Sea Safari III is, coincidentally, the birthplace of our beloved Captain Pak Yan! The charming people of Alor, a mix of Christians and Muslims live side by side on slopes of volcanic islands located in a strait between the Indian and the Pacific ocean. Due to the fact that the staple diet for the people of Alor is fish, everybody from the age of 3 years on can swim and free dive like there is no tomorrow. They make their own goggles from carving wood and inserting glass from coke bottles - check out the picture! So besides pristine reefs and tons of muck diving the interaction with the children of Alor is something that can not be found anywhere else in Indonesia. The area is still just lightly traveled with just a few dive centers and the occasional liveaboard.
Many famous group leaders and underwater photographers (Berkely White, Dan Baldocchi, Pat and Jim Strayer, Mark Webster, Dos Winkel, Laura Buck, Burt Jones and Maurine Shimrock) have joined us on our trips to Alor in the past and they are all a testimony to the beauty of the region. Please go click HERE to view our scheduled trips in 2009 to this exciting region and sign up quick, spaces are limited. We Have a WinnerKararu Dive Voyages was the proud sponsor of the main prize in the "World of underwater images competition - Best humoristic image" The winner of a 11 night cruise to any of Kararu's great destinations for 2 people is Steven Kovacs - congratulations! To view Steven's winning image please click HERE Red Hot Special Deals in 2008 & 2009There are also a few spots left on some upcoming trips to great diving destinations so if you can travel on a whim, book fast and receive attractive discounts! We have selected a few trips below where we still have limited availability. 29-08 SORONG/SORONG - Raja Ampat (Dec 14 - 26, 2008) 30-08 SORONG/SORONG - Raja Ampat (Dec 29, 2008 - Jan 7, 2009)
Please contact us for more information about these special deals Next Month's IssueWe will be featuring Aaron & Vicki Fink from Reef & Rainforest on their trip to Komodo in the next issue. Don't forget to check out some of the amazing guest comments on our dedicated guest comment pages The Kararu team and management looks forward to welcoming you on board our vessels for the liveaboard scuba diving expedition of a lifetime. Please feel free to contact any of us at any time or see the 2008 and 2009 cruise schedules at our web site. www.kararu.com/schedules |
For the past 10 years, Kararu has attended the annual DEMA scuba diving trade show (the only event of its’ kind worldwide!) in the United States giving us the well anticipated chance to reconnect with a whole lot of past customers and future divers alike. This year, owners Lisa and Sascha flew to Las Vegas to join over 12,000 participants combining business, pleasure and well, what we all love to talk about, diving!
A special mention should also go to our dear friends, Susan and Chip Scarlett who graciously hosted an incredible dinner in the MGM grand. Chip, who recently had his work published in Australasian Scuba Diver's latest edition (Issue 5, page 92). With an eclectic mix of nations and people, we joined, Australasian Scuba Diver’s Dave Espinoza and John Thet, the incredible underwater photographer, Todd Essick (watch for his upcoming charters with Kararu soon!), the iconic master of digital photography, Berkeley White, the Light and Motion Underwater housing wizard, Dan Baldocci, Nick and Cristina Fenly of the Super Yacht world, Mike Neuman, and Eric Cheng of Wet Pixel, to name a few! Thank you Chip and Susan, it is always a pleasure spending time with you.
In closing, even with the current world recession looming, the promise of change for the better, under the leadership of the president elect Obama, is keeping all our spirits lifted. From the entire Kararu team, we are ready to escort you on our expeditions of a lifetime as we have done, through many a world crisis over our 10 years of uninterrupted service in the live aboard industry.
One of our favourite repeat guests, Lauren Greider had a truly spectacular encounter with a crocodile when diving the Blue Water Mangroves of Misool...read on below for her own account of this very special dive.
Normally this would have been a great photo op for me but this was different. The croc was really interested in me and came after me. I probably should have gone deep but I was alone and opted to head out to the channel and surfaced and blew my Subalert for the dingy which was around the bend and no where to be seen. I thought all was well when he appeared to not have followed me and then came the eyes in a surface swim right toward me. He did look a little Mochi like in his swim approach but man was I nervous!
I'm kicking myself now for not being more calm, submerging and taking some great photos but I was breathing way to hard to even contemplate submerging again. He swam right up to me and the extended arm of my camera strobe. He even took a "gentle test" bite of the strobe arm. About that time the dingy showed up and he swam back to shore. Both dingy drivers witnessed the croc although one of our cruise directors doesn't believe me! Anyway I must say in the words of SNL, "I ran like a little girl" instead of being macho and seizing the photo moment!
If you were wondering where the great shot of the latest 
Kararu Dive Voyages has crossed through Alor, every year since 2001. We consider it one of our many homes! In 2009 we would like to offer three special dedicated cruises in this area which will entail the chance to see whales and Mola Molas in the Indian ocean. There is still lots to discover in the surrounding islands of Alor and this is our plan to explore it and introduce it to you over the next season.
05-09 AMBON/AMBON - Banda Sea (Mar 22 - Apr 3, 2009)| This email was sent to [youremail@youraddress.net] Click here to instantly unsubscribe or click here to modify your subscription. |
Kararu Dive Voyages Jalan Kesari 32, Sanur, Bali, Indonesia 80228 +62 361 282 931 |