As promised, here are a few images from the newly remodeled Sam's Tours Dive Center.
All images courtesy of our good friend Gunther Deichmann. Check out www.deichmann-photo.com for stunning images from Gunther's latest travels to Palau and elsewhere.
SAM WELCOMING EVERYONE TO THE RE-OPENING AND 17TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY:
VIEW FROM THE WATER:
ANOTHER VIEW FROM THE WATER:
VIEW FROM PARKING LOT:
RENTAL LOCKER:
COMPRESSOR ROOM:
November 1st, 2007 marks the start of the eighth season for Sam’s Tours unique dive offering in Palau, Eclipse, still the only chartered live aboard exploring this diving paradise. What makes Eclipse unique is that it is small enough for just one or two couples to afford exclusive use of a fully equipped live aboard, complete with very experienced captain, dive master and chef.
How often have you wished you could just have your own boat for a week of diving? How often have you wished you could have visited fabulous dive destinations when there were no other divers? That is the reality of diving with Eclipse, and in Palau, yet, famous for big fish encounters on remote pristine reefs, dozens of miles from the hotels and resorts in the developed parts of the country.
Another great treat aboard is getting to know the crew, John and Charlie, the husband and wife team that show what total immersion in the diving life can be. John has had the rare opportunity to sail his own boat and dive all over the Pacific, living the dream so many divers harbor. Charlie is a talented chef from China who went crazy for diving after starting work on Eclipse. Now one of the best dive masters in Palau, Charlie’s enthusiasm is overwhelming, extending even after dinner for the most amazing night dives imaginable. Sounds good?
For more info, visit: http://www.palau-divensail.com
Radio and television financial and political commentator Keith DeGreen, a U.S. Marine veteran and author, lecturer and lawyer is the owner of The Global Adventure, a beautiful Nordhavn 55 Motor Yacht presently visiting Palau. The Global Adventure is berthed at the Royal Belau Yacht Club at Sam's Tours. The boat is a floating television and radio station from which Keith now broadcasts his weekly show. Keith and his crew originally departed from San Diego, California and have visited Hawaii, the Marshall Islands and Pohnpei, Micronesia before arriving in Palau.
Keith just completed his PADI Open Water Course today at Sam's Tours PADI 5-Star National Geographic Dive Center with Sam's Tours Instructor, Jeroen JB Beckers. Congratulations Keith and welcome to the underwater world!
To learn more about Keith's amazing vessel and his exciting world circumnavigation adventures, log on to http://www.theglobaladventure.com Those who love the open ocean and passage making will really enjoy reading Keith's wonderful log entries and trip reports.
Crew member Bryan Wallace, who serves as engineer on board, is from Ireland as am I. We had a good old session at Bottom Time Bar & Grill at Sam's Tours savoring the local Red Rooster beer but all the while dreaming about those creamy pints of Guinness back home!
Wolf and Alida, captain and deckhand respectively, also joined our wee session at Bottom Time. Wolf who hails from Austria was intent on convincing Bryan and I that the Irish descended from the Austrians! When that didn't work he started on the locals and was doing a pretty good and convincing job telling the story of how the Austrians first settled Palau and the Palauans later descended from them! Maybe, just maybe....there was a wee bit too much Red Rooster involved!
Dermot
At a small but lively function last night at Sam's Tours, official home of
the Royal Belau Yacht Club (RBYC), Commodore Sam Scott presented the four
Earthrace crew members with Perpetual Honorary RBYC Membership Awards in
recognition of their valuable contributions to seamanship and the art of
world circumnavigation and for promoting the development of environmentally
friendly technologies including bio-diesel. Earthrace is fueled by
bio-diesel and hopes to be the first boat to go around the world using this
environmentally friendly alternative fuel.
Earthrace crew on the leg to Palau consisted of Peter Bethune, Skipper;
Marty Mead, Engineer; Ryan Heron, Navigator; Joe Grabill, Sponsor.
Ground support team members Scott Fratcher, Allison Thompson and Lance
Wordsworth also received Perpetual Honorary Membership cards and club
t-shirts.
Today while the technical team is poring over the engines one Earthrace,
Skipper Peter Bethune and a few of the crew members are taking advantage of
the down time to enjoy some of Palau's spectacular diving which includes
visits to the Helmet Wreck and Chandelier Cave in Malakal Harbor. Next stop
for Earthrace is Singapore.
Skipper Peter Bethune and support crew Scott Fratcher spent a generous
amount of time explaining the advantages of using bio-diesel and how to
produce it to Sam and several other interested boat owners. For more
information on Earthrace and bio-diesel fuel log on to
<http://www.earthrace.net/> http://www.earthrace.net/
I just spoke to Peter and the crew as they got back from their day trip and
they were ecstatic! "Best day of my life" said both Peter and Ryan!... and
that from two guys who are half way around the world! Wow! A bit of wreck
diving, some cave diving and a little cliff jumping. Check out their blog.
I'll have to post my pictures later.
Dermot Keane
General Manager
Sam's Tours Palau
<http://www.samstours.com/> http://www.samstours.com/
For RBYC info: <http://www.samstours.com/services-yachtclub.html>
http://www.samstours.com/services-yachtclub.html
Andromeda La Dea's former owner is Tom Perkins who now owns the spectacular
"Maltese Falcon" with it's hi-tech dyna-rig.
When not out in the Rock Islands, Andromeda anchored up right in front of
the Royal Belau Yacht Club and provided a beautiful addition to our already
spectacular scenery and sunsets.
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