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Get news from Scuba Diving, Pictures, Videos, Environmental protection, Updates from the Dive Center and the Weather in Ao Nang Krabi and Thailand!

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Sharks are in big trouble!

Sharks are in big trouble if don’t protect them, cause in the end all comes back!

  • Reefs will die
  • More population of Jelly fish as well as Sea-urchins through overfishing
  • Lack of Oxygen Producer like Corals and water plants

We humans wont survive either!!

Please also sign my Online Petition to protect Sharks!
Thank YOU

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TDEX 2010 Bangkok Scuba Diving Expo

TDEX 2010 Bangkok Scuba Diving Expo Team

More Pictures here! 

TDEX 2010 great success in Bangkok for TDA (Thailand Diving Association) & Poseidon Dive Academy Thailand Krabi Ao Nang

Daniel Sasse and Yuphin Phiranam have had a lot of interessted customers on the Booth and where busy during the four days of the Scuba Diving Expo not only promoted the TDA but also the amazing Dive Sites in the Southwest of Thailand Phi Phi and Local Islands close to Ao Nang

This year TDA presents also additional information on mono fin swimming directly given by the Thai National Coach Mr. Vladimir Karmazin who three times won the World Championships already.
Further information you will find of course on the best diving spots all around Thailand!

Mr. Maik Rudolph, TDA BOD Member, was – as the years before – organizer and leader of TDA booth at TDEX 2010 in Bangkok.
With his idea to present the new discipline of fin swimming beside all information about diving in Thailand he could attract many visitors to the booth!
Therefore especially at the weekend all TDA Team was very busy to provide interesting information to everybody.
For more details on Free- & Apnoe diving click here or contact us directly here!

There were also Environmental Organisations like Greenfins Thai Environmental Reef Check ect. Who showed on how to prevent littering and wasting the Ocean with Movies and little tricks which actually help a lot!

 

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A win for the whales

despite huge corruption at whaling commission

by Rod Marining

humback and calf

A psychic message had gone out to all eco-warriors who had ever fought for whales: “Get your body over to Agadir, Morocco, now!” As we say on the Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace ships, “All hands on deck!”

So there I was at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (June 21-25), walking through loads of security into a room where the fate of the great whales would be decided for one more year. There were 88 representatives from various countries – people who would make the ultimate decisions – and more than 240 non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Everyone was very nervous and there was no clear indication of the fate of the whales, one way or the other. There were powerful forces at play, both good and evil.

Sex was one of the forces working against the whales. Flights, Girls and Cash Buy Japan Whaling Votes read a Sunday Times headline on June 13. A stack of Xeroxed copies of the article sat on the NGO media table and I picked one up. The jokey comments included, “Hookers for harpoons? ‘What do you mean?’ asks the diplomat. ‘You give me harpoons to kill the whales with your vote and I give you hookers, really “good girls” for you. What do you say? We have a deal?’”

It is common knowledge among enviros that a huge block of small nations –surrogates as they are called – have been bought off by the Japanese foreign affairs department and the Sunday Times article provided definitive proof of the corruption. Journalists with hidden cameras and micro-phones had set up a sting operation, posing as anti-whaling lobbyists with very deep pockets, wanting to buy votes.

The Times piece accused Japan of systematically bribing nations with sex, aid, cash and flights in return for their vote to overturn the 1982 ban on commercial whaling and end the hard won Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary – two huge environmental milestones in the battle to save the last of the whales. The journalists spoke extensively to officials from St. Kitts, Nevis Island, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Grenada, Ivory Coast, Tanzania and Guinea, offering multi-million pound aid packages if they stopped supporting Japan at the IWC.

For example, within the last two years, Japan had given Tanzania the sum of $88 million pounds (about $160 million Canadian) in fisheries aid. Five Tanzanian government officials at the IWC were given $22,000 pounds for tuition fees and living expenses while they studied in Japan – that’s more than $40,000 Canadian per year times five officials – to get their fisheries degree at a Japanese university.

A Tanzanian official revealed that Japan “secretively” paid for the tickets and hotels for the IWC delegates from different countries. They were also taken on all-expenses-paid visits to Japan where “good girls” would be available.

The Sunday Times reporter asked the Tanzanian official, “So you think the other countries’ representatives are set up with prostitutes from Japan?” The official answered, “Yes, you know, yeah… it starts by… ‘You want massaging? It’s going to be free massaging. Are you lonely? You don’t want any comfort?’”

Both the Associated Press and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation have previously aired stories in which Japanese officials have stated there is nothing wrong with using overseas development aid to buy votes. However, this is the first time prostitution and cash payments have been added to the list of bribes.

I learned the present Chair of the IWC has also received money from the Japanese. The Chair actually confirmed his flights and hotel were paid for by them, yet the NGOs would not call for his resignation. I noted to the NGO that this Chair was obviously in a compromised position and that he controlled the entire conference. When I asked why they would not ask for his resignation, the answer was, “It is better to know the devil you know than to get a new devil that you don’t know.”

After only two hours on Monday morning, the Chair stated, “We are now breaking into secret sessions to discuss the consensus proposal and we will be adjourning to Wednesday morning.”

The consensus proposal called for the approval of commercial whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary and other places at a fixed limit of about 1,300 whales per year for 10 years – a harvest of 13,000 whales. A whaling phase-down would follow, (not a phase-out). In other words, kill whales now for 10 years, in the hope that after 10 years we would start saving whales. Kill whales to save whales, sort of like fighting for peace. All this was happening behind closed doors with media and NGOs waiting for the verdict.

On Wednesday morning, it was clear the “deal” was dead. Chairman Livingstone, in his opening remarks, which reviewed the 10 intercessional meetings held since the Commission met in Alaska three years ago, as well as the work completed over the last two days, quickly revealed that many differences between parties remained unsettled, trade and “scientific” whaling among them. The process had been useful in that exchanges had been cordial and frank, but no consensus had been reached. Japan led off the commentary, saying it was willing to compromise to some extent, but unwilling to commit to zero after 10 years of legal whaling in the Antarctic.

On the edge of the Sahara Desert, the great whales were given one more year of reprieve. Japan is again in the position of violating the ban on commercial whaling and killing whales within the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. The Japanese state they are killing whales for scientific purposes, yet not one peer review scientific paper has been published. Furthermore, they have never answered the question why it is necessary for them to kill whales for research when the world’s scientific community has been employing non-lethal DNA research for more than 20 years.

Despite an international moratorium on commercial whaling established in 1982 and a huge whale sanctuary surrounding Antarctica, roughly 2,000 whales are killed each year, including endangered and vulnerable species. More than 35,000 whales have been killed since the moratorium began.

Australia is preparing its court case against Japan in the International World Court in The Hague, for whaling within a sanctuary and selling their whale meat. If it wins, it will have the moral right to slap tariffs on Japan. Japan may have a bigger navy than Australia, but Japan’s economy is on the ropes; the prime minister likens Japan’s economy to Greece. A trade war would definitely increase the cost to defend Japanese whaling to a $2 billion+ enterprise. Economics will play a significant role in abolishing whaling industry.

I hope the United Nations creates a navy to enforce the many laws in place for the protection of the great oceans. There is also a need to enforce governance issues, such as buying votes. Diplomats should fear jail sentences in cases of bribery. The IWC, in order to maintain credibility with the world, must investigate and take action to stop such blatant usurpation of the Commission’s integrity.

As for the age-old question of whether or not mankind is an instrument for good or evil, a real battle ensued at the IWC and the profoundest changes took place within a short time frame. Yes, we beat back what amounted to a ridiculous proposal to legalize commercial whaling. Meanwhile, more than 20,000 dolphins and porpoises and 2,000 large whales are slaughtered every year. Many other eco-battles lie ahead and I hope that all good people step forward and take an active role in saving our natural world from greed.

Let’s make mankind an instrument for good. There was a real battle here, where profound changes took place within a reduced time frame. Whales are a symbol of life on this planet. If we save the whales we save the humans. Fortunately the good side has won for now. Lets keep it that way. Get involved.

Take action at:
www.dallsporpoise.org
eii.org/immp/
www.avaaz.org
www.seashepherd.org
www.iwcoffice.org
www.savejapandolphins.org
www.thecovemovie/takepart
www.opsociety.org

Rod Marining is a co-founder of Greenpeace International. He has sailed into nuclear test zones and has disrupted Antarctic whaling on the Sea Shepherd.
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Expedition launch: Arctic Under Pressure

Greenpeace heads to Arctic to investigate urgent ocean threats

We are returning to the Arctic Ocean with our ship the Esperanza this month to reinforce the urgent need to protect one of the most pristine and fragile environments on Earth.

 

Our ship departs soon from Germany zoom

Our ship departs soon from Germany The Esperanza will arrive in the Arctic waters of Svalbard later this month.

The Arctic is warming faster than anywhere else on the planet. As the sea ice vanishes, the fragile marine ecosystem is becoming disrupted and fishing fleets are racing northwards to exploit previously unreachable stocks. At the same time, increasing carbon dioxide levels from fossil fuels and forest destruction are changing the chemistry of our oceans and creating a severe threat to marine life.

The acid test

Our ship, Esperanza, and its crew are joining leading scientists to investigate the change in marine chemistry - called ‘ocean acidification’ as part of our ‘Arctic Under Pressure Expedition’. Although this is a lesser known impact of carbon dioxide (CO2), it has the potential to disrupt our oceans just as much as climate change. The effects of ocean acidification are expected to hit first and hardest in the Arctic, but pose a serious threat to all ocean life, which is already struggling with climate change, over-fishing and pollution.

Each year, our oceans absorb around 8 billion tonnes of the CO2 produced by the use of fossil fuels. The change in ocean chemistry is already evident and causing problems for shell-building sea creatures. But, as the situation worsens, it could cause the breakdown of marine ecosystems and affect the overall ocean health. The survival of corals, plankton and other critical sea life is severely threatened. If CO2 emissions continue to rise at projected rates, there could be a 120 percent increase in ocean acidity by 2060. Ocean chemistry probably hasn’t changed this much, or this quickly, for 21 million years.

In the first experiment of its kind, we are supporting the German marine research institute IFM-GEOMAR (Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences) to study the effects of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems. The ‘Esperanza’ is taking scientists and over 30 tonnes of scientific equipment, including nine giant marine monitoring systems called ‘mesocosms’, to the Svalbard islands in the Arctic. Scientists from nine countries will be taking part in this research, which is the most comprehensive study on ocean acidification to date. It will highlight yet another scientific reason why we must make deep and urgent cuts in global CO2 emissions.

Under pressure

 

Thinning ice zoom

Thinning ice Prof. Peter Wadhams and his team study Arctic ice thickness in 2009 - with the Greenpeace ship, Arctic Sunrise.

Throughout the northern hemisphere summer, our ‘Arctic Under Pressure Expedition’ will also expose and document the other serious threats to the Arctic Ocean. The melting of sea ice and the expansion of fishing industries into this region are endangering the pristine Arctic environment and unique wildlife. In attempting to secure ‘rights’ to Arctic fisheries, new transport routes, oil, gas and mineral resources, countries gain a vested interest in the continued melting of the Arctic. But, the more coal, oil and gas we burn, the faster the Arctic melts and the closer our planet comes to catastrophic climate change.
Professor Peter Wadhams, head of Cambridge University’s Polar Ocean Physics Group, will join the ‘Esperanza’ in August to investigate the thickness of the ice and its melting rate, following on from his 2009 Arctic work with Greenpeace.

Polar protection

The Arctic Ocean deserves full protection as a marine reserve and we are calling for a moratorium on all industrial activities there - including fishing. In 1991, after a long Greenpeace campaign, the 39 Antarctic Treaty signatories agreed to a 50-year minimum prohibition of all mineral exploitation, in effect preserving the continent for peaceful, scientific purposes. This serves as an example of how Arctic territorial issues should be handled.

The Antarctic is a landmass surrounded by oceans, the Arctic is an ocean surrounded by land, but the polar regions still have a lot in common. Both are incredibly fragile and susceptible to human activities. Both are part of the global commons and should be protected in perpetuity. Both are relatively untouched and should stay that way.

Don’t let it melt away

 

Quit coal zoom

Quit coal Carbon emissions from coal are destroying polar bear habitat.

We’re also calling on governments to quit coal and spark an energy [r]evolution in order to reduce our carbon dioxide emmissions so that we can avoid the worst effects of climate change and save the Arctic together with all of its amazing wildlife, including polar bears and ringed seals. Governments need to realise the impacts of each new coal fired power plant they approve, and we’ll be in the Arctic for the next three months to show them.

Take Action: Help protect the polar bears — join the call for a global network of marine reserves that includes a fully protected Arctic Ocean
Sign up to our newsletter to stay updated on this exciting expedition and find out how you can get involved
Read more about Arctic threats
Check out the webcam on the Esperanza
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Useful tourist information and phone numbers for Tourists traveling to Thailand

The government stresses that measures resulting  from the declaration of the state of emergency in Bangkok and nearby  provinces will not affect ordinary people or foreign visitors. But, just  to play safe, you can read more information that will help your trip go  easier and safer, below.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva informed the public of the Thai Cabinet’s decision to declare a severe emergency situation.

Thank you TAT for this useful information.

The Declaration of a Severe Emergency Situation covers areas of Bangkok and certain districts of five nearby provinces. As follow:

- Nonthaburi province
- The districts of Muang, Bang Phli, Phra Pradang, Phra Samut Chedi, Bang Boh and Bang Sao Thong in Samut Prakan province
- The districts of Thanyaburi, Lad Lumkaew, Sam Kok, Lam Luk Ka and Khlong Luang in Pathum Thani province
- Phutthamonthon district in Nakhon Pathom province
- The districts of Wang Noi, Bang Pa-in, Bang Sai and Lat Bua Luang in Ayutthaya province

Travel to all other parts of the kingdom has not been affected. Tourism activities in all other areas continue as normal. Tourism activities in all other areas of Bangkok and travel to all other parts of the kingdom have not been affected.

Both city airports (Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang) are operating as normal.
All other international and domestic airports in Thailand remain fully operational.

To avoid traffic congestion, it is best to travel by BTS sky train or MRT underground train.

Useful phone numbers
Ministry of Tourism Aid Center: +66 (0) 2356-0720 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +66 (0) 2356-0720      end_of_the_skype_highlighting  / +66 (0) 2356-0729 / 1414
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: +66 (0) 2575-1023 / +66 (0) 2981-7225  / +66-88-022-1540 / +66-88-022-1541
ATTA (Association of Thai Travel Agents): +66 (0) 2134-4263
Tourism Authority of Thailand: +66 (0) 2652-8313-4
BTS skytrain Hotline: +66 (0) 2617-6000
BTS skytrain Tourist Information Centre: +66 (0) 2617-7340
Bug1133 (ask anything): 1133
Ministry of Tourism and Sports: 1414
TAT Call Centre: 1672
Tourist Police: 1155
General Insurance Association: 1356
Suvarnabhumi International Airport: +66 (0) 2132-1888
Suvarnabhumi International Airport flight inquiries: +66 (0) 2132-0000 / +66 (0) 2132-9328-9
Don Mueang Airport: +66 (0) 2535-1669
Don Mueang Flight inquiries: +66 (0) 2535-1616
Chiang Mai International Airport: +66 (0) 5392-2100 / +66 (0) 5392-2444

Airline phone numbers
Bangkok Airways Hot Line: +66 (0) 2265-8777 / 1771
Nok Air: +66 (0) 2627-2000
Air Asia: +66 (0) 2515-9999 / www.airasia.com
PB Air: +66 (0) 2261-0220-5 / www.pbair.com
Jetstar International: +66 (0) 2267-5125
Tiger Airways: +66 (0) 2649-9688 (Bangkok)
Thai Airways International (THAI): +66 (0) 2356-1111

Natürlich auch in Deutsch erhältlich! Klick hier!

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We have a new Flickr Account

A new Photostream on Flickr from Poseidon is available to watch! Click here
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Haischutz adé? (22.03.2010) China, Japan sowie Russland verweigerten sich dem Haischutzantrag

Es ist wie eine Achterbahnfahrt: kaum hat mein einen Berg erklommen, geht es wieder mit rasanter Fahrt hinab in die Abgründe. Genauso stellen sich derzeit die Bemühungen dar, eine Katastrophe in den Weltmeeren abzuwenden und endlich, buchstäblich in letzter Minute, den Haibestand zu schützen. Als am 9. März die Malediven sich zum 1. Juli als Haischutzzone erklärten, war ein wichtiges Etappenziel im Haischutz erreicht.

Bis zum 25. März findet in Doha / Katar die 15. Vertragstaatenkonferenz zum Washingtoner Artenschutzübereinkommen (CITES) statt. Und hier gab es gestern eine Schlappe für den internationalen Hai- und Artenschutzschutz, die so nicht eingeplant und erwartet worden war. Sie wird dazu führen, dass die Bemühungen der internationalen Haischutzorganisationen und hunderttausender engagierten Sporttaucher um Jahre zurück geworfen werden! Überraschend verpasste die von der EU und den Vereinigten Staaten unterstützte Initiative nach mehr Transparenz beim Fang und Handel von Haien und Haiprodukten, sowie die Agenda zum Schutz der Blauflossen Thunas die notwendige Zweidrittelmehrheit. China, Japan sowie Russland verweigerten sich dem Haischutzantrag und auch Staaten wie Libyen und Marokko zogen nicht mit, weil sie Probleme für die einheimische Fischindustrie befürchten.

Die internationale Konferenz, an der insgesamt 175 Staaten teilnehmen läuft noch bis zum 25. März. Und auch für den Schutz der drastisch zurückgegangenen Blauflossen-Thunfische hat sich keine Mehrheit gefunden. Japan hat auch in diesem Punkt seine harte Ablehnung signalisiert und hat, u.a. mit der Unterstützung durch China, auch diesen wichtigen Punkt der Agenda zum Flop für den Artenschutz werden lassen.

Mit der Haischutz-Erklärung der Malediven, die bewusst wenige Tage vor Beginn der Konferenz auch ein Zeichen setzen sollte, war zunächst ein leichtes Aufatmen durch die Reihen den engagierten Haischützer und durch die Reihen der Sporttaucher gegangen.

Ibrahim Didi, Fischerei- und Landwirtschaftsminister der Malediven hatte verkündet, dass die Malediven sich nach Palau als zweiter Staat entschlossen haben, ab 1. Juli sein Staatsgebiet zur Haischutzzone zu erklären und jede Form von Haifischerei und -Finning zu untersagen. Neben Palau haben also inzwischen auch die Malediven erkannt, dass mit dem Zusammenbruch der Haibestände nicht nur das gesamte ökologische System in Gefahr gerät, sondern dass die Haie gerade auch für die Attraktivität der Tauchgebiete für Sporttaucher von großer Bedeutung sind. Und für beide Destinationen, Palau und Malediven, sind Sporttaucher eine wichtige Zielgruppe im Tourismusgeschäft.

Leider war die Erkenntnis und das Bekenntnis zum Haischutz auch erst nach jahrelangen, teils massiven Protesten von Haischutzorganisationen mit der Unterstützung hunderttausender Sporttaucher „gereift“. Behilflich war bei diesem Erkenntnisprozess sicherlich auch das Ergebnis der Studie eines Forscherteams der australischen James Cook Universität in Townsville/Queensland, die nicht nur das Great Barrier Reef vor der Haustür hat, sondern auch feststellte, dass rein ökonomisch betrachtet ein grauer Riffhai für die Tourismusindustrie einen Wert von rund 2500 € pro Jahr hat, während ein Fischer für einen zur Strecke gebrachten Hai nur einmalig wenig mehr als 23 € bekommt. Also auch in diesem Fall scheinen ökonomische Kalkulationen und nicht allein menschliche Vernunft das Kernargument für die vernünftige Lösung gewesen zu sein. Doch was nützen zarte Fortschritte wie in Palau und auf den Malediven, wenn sich anderenorts Nationen, wie nun in Katar geschehen, mit Brachialgewalt und unter Missachtung aller Warnungen und wissenschaftlicher Erkenntnisse über ökologische und ethische Erkenntnisse hinwegsetzen und sich als Lobbyisten wirtschaftlicher Interessen bloßstellen. Bleibt zum Abschluss dieser Meldung nur noch ein Zitat von Bertold Brecht anzuhängen:

Sie sägten ab die Äste, auf denen sie saßen
und schrien sich zu ihre Erfahrungen,
wie man schneller sägen könnte, und fuhren
mit Krachen in die Tiefe. Und die ihnen zusahen,
schüttelten die Köpfe beim Sägen und
sägten weiter.

 

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Sharkwater

Please watch this important Documentary about Sharks! The medias just DO NOT tell the truth about them!

Here is the Trailer of Sharkwater!!!

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TDEX Mai 2009

 

Poseidon war auf der TDEX (Thailand Golf und Tauchen Messe) vom 14.-17.05.2009 in Bangkok vertreten und es war ein toller Erfolg für Poseidon und die CMAS/TDA (Thailand Diving Association)! Wir überlegen uns auch auf der ADEX (Asiatische Tauch und Reise Messe) anzumelden.

Hier einige Bilder der TDEX!

tdex01

group

opening

serm dan

CMAS/TDA 5***** Tauchlehrer Trainings Academy Poseidon!

Am 03.11.08 haben wir unsere Basis zu einer TDA/CMAS 5***** Tauchlehrer Trainings Academy gemacht und somit unseren Status hier in Ao Nang gefestigt. Nach einem tollen Crossover in Phuket bei Rainer Gottwald und Jens Hofacker sind wir nach langer Vorbereitungszeit und einem langen Kurstag abends mit unseren Zertifikanten aus der Tauchschule Aquadivers entlassen worden.

daniel congrats
Daniel Sasse TDA/CMAS Tauchlehrer3***

Sonderbrevetierungen:

  • Apnoea Tauchlehrer Trainer
  • Erste Hilfe Tauchlehrer Trainer
  • Nitrox Tauchlehrer
  • Gasmischer Blender

serm congratulations
Weera Yawichaipong TDA/CMAS Tauchlehrer 1*

Sonderbrevetierungen:

  • Nitrox Tauchlehrer
  • Erste Hilfe Ausbilder
  • Wrack Tauchlehrer
  • Tauchlehrer in Gruppenführung

harry congrats
Herbert Peter Winterstein TDA/CMAS Tauchlehrer 2**

Und noch ein schönes Bild von unserer gemeinsamen Poolsession. Schade das es an der Bar kein Bier zum Abschluss gab! ;)
bar

Ein anstrengender aber schöner Tag geht zu Ende: Mit einem wundervollen Sonnenuntergang!

sunset phuket

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