#31 21st. February 2003

Hi, Friends of Moalboal!!

Wow, time really goes fast. It was not long ago that we celebrated
New Year here. Since then I have managed to make a Dive safari, Apo,
Balicasag. Good safari, good food and good diving but I could not
help my self for thinking after every dive "Yeah that was good but I
like Pescador better".

Also, please remember that if you want to send me a letter or know
someone that want's to join the mailing list. Write me a letter to
starner@... , do not press the reply button. I just read a
letter from my cousin that was 3 month late.

WEATHER:
Crap.

ACTIVITIES:
Soccer every Monday and Friday. Just show up 16:30 and join us.
Beach volleyball and BBQ at white beach, starting around 13:30 every
Sunday.

Neptune dive shop want's to add this:
Safari: March 25-29, 2003. Possible places we will visit is Sumilon
Is, Balicasag Is, Apo Is, Caseres and Liloan Point. 3 meals a day,
share in air-con room, 3 boat dives a day and unlimited shore dives
at the resort. Tanks, weights and guide are included in the price.
Rental of equipment please send us an email for more information
about this. Price for this is: $450USD per person. For more
information about this please write us an email and send it to
info@...

NEPTUNE DIVING ADVENTURE INSTRUCTOR LEVEL PROGRAMS FOR 2003 Spring
Program Prep Course: March 17­19 , Assistant Instructor Course: March
21­24
OWSI Program: March 26­29 , IDC Staff Instructor Course: March 21­29
EFR Instructor Course: March 25 .
PADI IE: April 1­2 (Boracay) April 5­6 (Puerto Galera)

Fall Program Prep Course: November 10­12 ,
Assistant Instructor Course: November 14­17 , OWSI Program: November
19­22
IDC Staff Instructor Course: November 14­22 , EFR Instructor Course:
November 18
PADI IE: November 26­27 (Cebu ) Dec. 02­03 (Boracay) Dec. 06­07 (Puerto
Galera)
For more information about instructor level courses and prices please
send us an email to; info@... In the subject line,
please put INSTRUCTOR LEVEL

BIRTHS, SOCIAL AND GOSSIP:

We usually have a pool champion ship every Friday. It used to be
Thursdays but ….
Winners of the last pool championships: Jörgen Språng, Sweden, Lars
Stärner, Sweden. Mike Wallin, Sweden, Mike Wallin, Sweden, Mike
Wallin, Sweden, Action Mario Philippines, Mike Wallin, Sweden, Mike
Wallin, Sweden. Bengt, Sweden

Takka, Japanese diver at Nelsons, had his 50'Th birthday this last
Monday. Good party with lots of beer and Pig.

We should also all of us give Takka a BIG thank you for having
installed at least 5 buoys these past weeks. He has used his own
money for finishing the buoys. If YOU want to help with keeping the
reef untouched by anchors, the easiest way would be to donate about
10US$ to the reef buoy project. Give the money to Angie at Neptune
diving and she will make sure that it goes to the project. For those
of you that do not know about the Buoy project I can tell you that
it's volunteer thing. Dive shops help out but it's a non-profit
thing. We try to install as many buoys as possible.

Neptune diving has volunteered to install the "No Anchor"signs
that Roland made, at Pescador.

ARRIVING / ARRIVED:

Marco and Mari-Lou was here for a few weeks. Mark and Jesfil that was
here had the decency to throw a nice good-bye party when they left.
So remember that all of you that come here to visit. Make sure to
have at least a hello or farewell party. It also goes without saying
that you should bring the latest newspapers, sill and caviar.

PRACTICAL:

It is now OK again not to use the express lane at immigration. They
probably needed extra money for their Christmas parties before.

Foreigners are now allowed to own land in the Philippines. You may
own up to 1000 sqm.

WHALE SHARK SIGHTINGS:

There has now been three times that they have seen thresher shark at
Pescador and believe it or not but Abe, Japanese diver at Nelsons,
saw a hammer head shark Feb 7. Hope fully they will come back now
when the water is getting a bit colder.

PICTURES:

This months pictures are the ones I promised you in the last letter.
I am the only certified underwater beverage consumption specialty
instructor on the beach. This last New Years eve we were 9 brave
divers conducting the course.

A picture from White beach that is located 2 Km north of Panagsama
beach. Nice white sand and really good diving.

The last picture is of someone that looks like Nelson after two beers
or so………..

Just go to : http://www.action-philippines.com/mail/moalboal.htm

Colin and Chiyako Watkin writes:
Saw a blue ring octopus on my first night dive. The blue frog fish is
a nice shade of brown if you have the right lights. Got a nice shot
of him with his mouth open. He left his spot after being descended on
by dozens of people over the holidays. But there is another one back
there now just right of the cave entrance. I put some of my pictures
on this site for all to see: http://www.moalboal.shorturl.com
Regards Colin and Chiyako Watkin

LARS TROPICAL TIP:

Some people have asked me what the name was for that skin lotion that
is a good mosquito repellant. It's Skin-So-Soft by Avon. It comes in
a 250 ml. Bottle. The easiest way to buy it would be from the girls
working at Last Filling station. They are Avon girls as well.

When in Cebu you should try Ratskys. It's in Ayala center and
between 2 and 6 you can eat unlimited pizza (I like the mushroom one
best) and drink unlimited beer for 99 pesos. That's hard to beat hey.

For those of you building a house or buying bamboo furniture I
recommend mixing Lentrek with kerosene for wood treatment. 1 liter
Lentrek for 50-liter kerosene. Brush it on or spray it with a hand
sprayer.

ACCORDING TO NELSON (our diving politician)

Sorry this article ended up short in the last letter: They have now
passed a resolution that they will enforce the law that: No buildings
may be erected within in 20 meters from the high tide water line.
They have given the people at white beach 6 months to take down all
buildings within that mark or legal action will follow.

Let's hope that they will enforce that resolution vigorously. White
beach, that 10 years ago did not have one building, is not looking
good at the moment. Concrete walls and shit like that.

The rural health department is now killing stray dogs in Moalboal.
They put out poison nighttime and pick up the dead ones in the
morning. They will soon come to the beach and do the same there.
Those of you that want your pet to live a bit longer should not let
the dog run loose.

GENERAL:

If anyone has any information that they think would be interesting
for people on this list, please do let me know and I will add it in.
Write to: starner@...
If you know anyone that would like to receive this letter, please
tell him or her to send me an E-mail at the address below and I will
add him or her. I've found it to hard to do it through
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/moalboalmail

Best regards,

Lars Starner.