DIVER PARTICIPATION PROGRAMS FAUNA SURVEY EXPERIENCES

Neville on location - All welcome!

Each year Neville visits various dive resorts across the Indo-Pacific where he is carrying out ongoing fauna surveys on behalf of the resort managements. These services are on a voluntary basis and are donated in an effort to establish baseline studies for locations and dive sites across the Asia/Indo-Pacific Australasian area.

Guests and dive staff are always welcome to participate and with a little encouragement many have contributed to the discovery of new records and new species which they receive individual credit for in our resulting magazine articles and eventual publication of listings and/or books.

Welcome participation
In many cases these expeditions provide unique opportunities for snorkellers, divers and photographers from across the world to come along and participate in the real world of scientific discovery and learn a host of new skills and information about the
World of Water.

The atmosphere during our surveys is always electric with anticipation and the excitement generated adds to every diver’s experience and enjoyment. It doesn’t matter if people are pros or beginners, everybody is interested in what is found or photographed on each dive.

Expedition location timetables
From November 2003 all Neville’s future expedition locations will be listed here on the website and regularly published in Dive Log Newspaper.
The fact that participation costs are nothing to join up with Neville make this free service a welcome addition to his regular dive education skill development programs across the Asia/Indo-Pacific area.

All locations will have dive articles which can be downloaded or read in the “Discovery Destinations” section of this website enabling interested parties to easily access information on each destination.

Explanation
Whereas everybody is welcome to come along and take part it must be understood that Neville Coleman is not there in the capacity of a dive guide (all chosen dive resorts have their own very competent and experienced dive guides who work in conjunction with Neville). Neville is there in his own capacity as a guest adviser and consultant only.

Dive 2000 Australia Join Neville Coleman at Dive 2000 as Guest Speaker on Underwater Exploration and Nudibranchs Encyclopedia 14th May 2008 Cnr of Merlin St and  Military Road Neutral Bay NSW 2089 Australia Phone: +61 2 9953-7783 Fax: +61 2 9971-0039 E-mail: dive2000@dive2000.com.au http://www.dive2000.com.au/	SPEAKER EVENING Dive 2000 Australia NSW Join Neville Coleman at Dive 2000 as Guest Speaker Underwater Exploration and Nudibranchs Encyclopedia 14th May 2008
Byron Underwater Festival 2008 WINNERS Byron Bay turned on beautiful sunny days and light winds and launched the 2008 Underwater Festival with a little less challenging weather than the previous year. However, the blue water line just clipped the end of Julian Rocks and left us with a dusty 10 metres vis around the rocks themselves. This did not deter the 58 underwater photographers and videographers who took the conditions in their stride and produced some excellent images. INTERESTING NEW RECORDS FOUND Various new records were established during the Byron Underwater Festival - Dive Log June '08. With Lynda Clarke’s  Julian Rocks Photographic Index well established - 510 species - it is encouraging to see that new records are being discovered all the time.	http://www.underwaterfestival.com.au Photo: John Natoli
PAPUA NEW GUINEA TAWALI March - April 2007 Tawali Dive Resort Over the last few years the fantastic dive sites at Milne Bay have produced more discoveries of new and undescribed marine life by divers than anywhere else in the Asia Indo-Pacific area. Accessible only by boat, Tawali Dive Resort has been constructed on a high limestone bluff overlooking the clear waters and fringing coral reefs of Hoia Bay on Milne Bay’s north coast. The design plan is a huge high-roofed main lodge containing an entertainment, and dining area leading out onto the observation deck with barbecue, outside seating and look-out. At night one can see schools of flashlight fish glowing ghost-like in the shallows. The lodge is filled with artworks, carvings and paintings, framed by huge intricately carved totems, some of which took years to complete. A central glass display wall is filled with the most fantastic bottle collection in Papua New Guinea. Hundreds of old bottles have been collected from the sea floor. Each air-conditioned bungalow is connected to the main lodge by a raised covered walkway meandering between forest giants and rugged limestone outcrops. All bungalows are insect proof with screens; spacious living areas contain two queen beds and rosewood interiors including desks, closet and lounge, a personal safe, modern tiled bathrooms and solar heated water. Seaside villages nestle in the adjoining bays and guests are welcome to visit and purchase local carvings and shell-craft necklaces made by the villagers. Local foods are also on display at the small markets. M.V. Chertan Liveaboard Dive Adventures Milne Bay Marine Charters Rob van der Loos - Managing Director P.O. Box 176 Alotau, Milne Bay Province (211) Papua New Guinea (Niugini) Office: Phone: 675-64-11167 Fax: 675-64-11291 On Board:Phone: 61-0-145-11-4619 http://www.tawali.com/tawali reservations@tawali.com Tawali Reservations: P.O. Box 1684 Alameda, CA 94501(800) 684-9480 (510) 865-2822 (510) 865-1754 FAX
Scuba Diving Hall of Fame January 2007 Cayman Island Neville Coleman’s acceptance speech. “To remain dedicated to an ideal for half a lifetime is no easy task, and to accomplish and persevere alone without any measure of encouragement year in and year out against overwhelming criticism and often unbearable odds, requires a great strength of purpose. A spiritual connection ( one might say ) I could have spent my entire life in a little green cell with padded walls trying to be somebody else’s idea of normal….. Instead I set out to confront the greatest of my fears and became a scuba diver. I discovered that the residues of an abusive childhood and a lack of formal education were only barriers in other people’s minds….. Who can predict what a person might be capable of ? I never knew, what I couldn’t do! I just dreamt up a life and lived the reality. I realized that in the water it doesn’t matter what shaped peg you are……… round or square? UNDERWATER, everybody fits! A wetsuit makes us all equal, no matter what color, creed , shape or status we may be in society, UNDERWATER we are all on equal terms and we all go down and come up, on our merits as individuals. Who, knowing my afflictions, could have predicted that in my time in the wilderness I would discover a secret of such magnitude that it would not only design my destiny, but take me to the top of a Profession that didn’t even exist before my time. Half a lifetime ago, sitting next to the carcass of a giant white pointer shark on a lonely beach in Western Australia, scared out of my wits to go back in the water, I made a deal with my spirit. If he kept me alive long enough to see just one of my pictures published in a book, I would dedicate my life to advancing the knowledge of the aquatic environment and conserving the World of Water. Today there are 70 books with 7000 published pictures and over 100,000,000 reproduced images in print. We both kept our word. “Every idea’s a survivor, and every daydream, needs a driver“ http://www.scubahalloffame.com/hof/neville_coleman.html
Albany Western Australia February 2007 No matter where I travel across the World of Water in search of new species and recording aquatic wildlife there is one place where I always return to – Western Australia. I have spent a fair bit of time in the west and discovered many new species and made lifetime friends. Brilliant diving that caters for all tastes whether its the excitement of wreck diving or diving with the playful sea lions or simply discovering the magic of the weedy sea dragons. Western Australia is where you want to be. Contact: Uwe Klinge and Lianne Sulkowski uwe@albanydive.com http://www.albanydive.com
MARINE LIFE Expedition Christmas Island Completed 2006 “For anybody contemplating a dive holiday to a unique destination where time and nature have stood still for millions of years then Christmas Island is for you. Nowhere else I know has the best of both worlds where unique prehistoric trees, plants and fantastic robber crabs can be so easily seen; unique land crabs are everywhere, while birds seen nowhere else in the world cruise the skies, one of the last bastions where people are learning to live with nature.” Neville Coleman. Although a great deal of work has been done by resident Park Rangers and the Western Austrtalian Museum, Neville linked the existing records with his Project AWARE Indian Ocean Dive Travel / Tourism committments and produced the first World of Water Wildlife Guide to Christmas Island. Contact: Linda Cash marketing@christmas.net.au http://www.christmas.net.au/
MARINE LIFE Expedition Cocos (Keeling) Islands Completed 2006 “Cocos (Keeling) Islands is a wonderful destination with some of the most delightful coconut fringed islands and beaches I’ve seen. The history is amazing; the beachcombing, windsailing, snorkelling, scuba diving and Cocos Malay cultural experience opportunities are unique.” Neville Coleman Undertaken in conjunction with Cocos Dive and the Cocos Islands Tourism Organization. Neville visited the Islandsand produced the first World of Water Wildlife Guide to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Contact: Dieter and Karen Gerhard scuba@cocosdive.com http://www.cocos-tourism.cc/

PHOTO-FAUNA SURVEY    Papua New Guinea Loloata Island Completed 2005 After another successful Fauna Survey Dive Expedition to Loloata Island we have returned with some 25 video tapes chock-a-block with brilliant critters, 50 dives logged, a number of new records and a few new species, including at least one new nudibranch. Three weeks diving in near perfect conditions took a bit of keeping up with, but the results were worth every effort. With pink, orange, green, purple and black colour forms of the lacy scorpionfish Rhinopias aphanes encountered we never tired of recording them. Neville and JoeY would like to thank everyone concerned, especially Dik Knight and the resort's excellent staff who made our endeavours so much more memorable. Contact: Dik Knight loloata@daltron.com.pg Loloata@Loloata.com http://www.loloata.com/AboutLoloata.html Loloata Island Resort P.O. Box 5290 Boroko, N.C.D. PAPUA NEW GUINEA Phone: 675-325-8590 or 675-325-1369 Fax: 675-325-8933

Isle de St.Piere Seychelles Indian Ocean

Lady Elliot Island Great Barrier Reef Australia

I.O.P Dive Site Izu Penninsula Japan

Fanciful visions culled from the subconscious realms of twilight often appear before us as dreams, yet we all possess the ability to make many of our dreams come true. With enough enthusiasm, belief, and the constant application of directed visualisation (energy) we can aim our endeavours towards the objects of our desire and transform the fantasies of yesterday into the fantastic of today. Nowhere is this more important than in the art of re-creation. Our choice of hol(y)iday locations. We all need inspirational influences to encourage us beyond the shackles and cursory obligations of every day existence. We all need some adventure in our lives and we all need to share in the enthusiasm of others, because the "love" we have within us is the only thing that can save the nature around us.

Snorkelling, Great Barrier Reef.

WHERE TO GO?
Not everybody can go to the moon, or observe the fascinating creatures 5 kilometres down in the hot thermals of the Galapagos Rift, but between these two is a wealth of fantastic nature experiences available to the average diver, snorkeller or reef walker.

ARTICLES WITH ATTITUDE
Throughout this section it is my intention to provide interesting feature articles covering the many locations I have dived and experienced over the years, together with updated versions of current amenities, services, travel hints and survival techniques which have kept me in one piece over hundreds of expeditions and 12,000 dives.

DISCOVERY TOURS - Diver Participation Programs - Free! Fauna Survey Experiences
On any number of destinations (where advertised) I will be escorting dive groups, advising, encouraging and providing information on species identifications, natural history, exploration, conservation, photography and, if required, running PADI accredited underwater naturalist / marine biology / identification / photography courses.

THE CHALLENGE
Many centuries ago the Indo-Pacific was discovered by seafaring peoples who faced the unknown of their time and accepted the challenge of the sea. The frontiers of today are those same seas and the challenge has no more diminished with the passage of time, for beneath the sea, there is an infinite complexity of unknowns.

To me, a diver, be she or he a naturalist, photographer, scientist, observer or adventurer, is an explorer. Not just an explorer in another world but an explorer in another concept in which ideas, techniques, philosophies, languages and ideals are constantly being changed, remodelled and invented.

The sea is only an extension of the land but it makes up 71% of the total surface area of our planet. Yet we call it Earth. We cannot in any way, shape or form ever begin to understand this vast unknown part of our everyday existence by standing at a distance and throwing rocks, or by sticking pins in it to see if it's alive. Nor can we hope to evaluate the sea and its contents by remote control robots. We must go down and see for ourselves. We must study and observe the creatures and their relationships within the total overall balance of life as we know it. It must be realised that the land, the air and the sea are all one gigantic system, all related, all connected, all dependant and all important.

UNDERSTANDING LIFE When I was growing up it was always a mystery to me how everybody else could be so smart. My teachers, parents and friends all knew what I couldn't do. It took years to discover my first great understanding in life. People only tell you what they can't do. You don't know what you can do, till you try! Once you try, you will realise (as I did) that everybody with a will can do almost anything they want, and that the longest journey you will ever make is between your ears. All it takes is desire, tenacity and a will to have a go. How do I know? I know because these were the only things I had...the rest I learnt along the way. If we try a little together, our care becomes connected, and the t's drop off the can'ts and we can share in the excitement, exploration, adventure and love that comes with that caring. Never forget, "The nature around us, is also the nature within us." INVITATION If you have a yearning to learn and you enjoy the company of wisdom and a positive outlook to life, come along on our expeditions and share in the "sunshine"; you never know, what you discover may change your life...

Sunset at Fiji.

World of Water Asia/Pacific Aquatic Inventory

In 1968 I envisioned setting up a semi-scientific visual identification system for Australasian marine life. After returning from the "Australian Coastal Marine Expedition" in 1973 I proceeded to organise material whereby transparencies were mounted on cards and each species was given an identity number e.g. (CRUST: 270). Each number was represented in a catalogue and cross-referenced with a collected, preserved specimen donated to variousAustralian museums.

My firm belief was that most marine life (with enough information, photographic evidence and original specimens) could be identified visually in its natural habitat. If this program could be developed and marine life recognised (and therefore referenced) then perhaps we (the diving industry) could work it into our teaching program.

Click here to download full article

"Vanuatu's Hideaway Island Resort "

Vanuatu attracts divers from all over the world but has a special place in the hearts of Australians and New Zealanders who make up the bulk of visitors interested in diving. Many go for the easy access, safe haven and comparatively cheap prices. Others go for the chance to dive the famous wrecks such as the SS President Coolidge and USS Tucker in Santo or the Star of Russia in Vila Harbour.

I had made several visits to Hideaway Island throughout my career and although a great deal has been added to and updated, the island itself hasn’t seemed to change any of its perspective or charm since my first visit in 1980.

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"Mucking Around in Mabul ! "

Muck diving may not be every "dyed-in-the-wool"divers first choice of exciting, breathtaking adventure. However, for those of us who love exploring the "nature of things" and the unquenchable anticipation of discovering new species at every turn, nothing surpasses the heart pounding pleasure of capturing the world of water's incredible wealth of living treasure and ...."mucking around" ... is what life is all about!

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Jervis Bay Nudibranch ID Speciality Course

By any stretch of the imagination the environs of Jervis Bay are enormous and to further emphasise its size and importance it is comforting to have its uniquelandscapes and exceptional wildlife recognised and protected by marine park status.The Jervis Bay Marine Park covers an area of 22,000 hectares and includes JervisBay proper and over 100 kilometres of coastline and adjacent waters extendingfrom Kinghorn Point in the north to Sussex Inlet in the south.

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LORD HOWE ISLAND - SOUTH PACIFIC - Howea Divers (02) 6563 2290
Howeadivers@bigpond.com
Magnificent make-believe
"Deemed as Australia's most beautiful island (certainly the most photogenic) Lord Howe Island is straight out of the fairy tales, a magnificent make-believe with everything anyone could wish for in a holiday resort. It's the perfect paradise for `getting back to nature', recreation and escapism without deprivation. A spiritual rendezvous magnetised by a million happy memories, it is without doubt one of the most visually exciting extravaganzas in the world."

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BALI'S TULAMBEN TREASURE
Underwater excellence
"There's no doubt in my mind that Tulamben in Bali has the most fantastic, easily-accessed dive sites and the most prolific species of Underwater Wildlife that I have ever experienced in one place. For the adventurer/diver/explorer/photographer and keen naturalist the known fauna is amazing. The unknown, undescribed species are still being discovered with new ones being found every year."

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NEW ZEALAND - SOUTH PACIFIC
Poor Knights? Hardly...
The Poor Knights Islands, originally named by Captain Cook are situated at the northern approach to Hauraki Gulf in the North Island. Cook had no means of knowing that in the sparkling azure waters beneath his keel, lay one of the world's most fantastic dive sites. "Poor Knights"? Hardly. The living treasures to be seen here cannot be adequately described in any sense of the English language; it has to be seen to be experienced.

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LOLOATA ISLAND - PAPUA NEW GUINEA - loloata@daltron.com.pg
Adventures in paradise
"Giant puffs of white cumulus cloud roll down the Astrolabe range and billow out in moody transition into a sky of infinite blue. Burning sunsets light up the entire scene horizon to horizon; the tides ebb and flow; the seasons come and go and the coconut palm fronds rustle in the breezes echoing with tunes as ancient as life itself..."

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CORAL SEA CHARISMA"

Too young to be forgotten, this land beneath the seas has yet to be fully explored. A vast monolithic submergence reaching up from the sea floor thousands of feet below, a world beyond imagination where plants and animals defy all terrestrial modes of shape, colour and pattern and become the fairyland figures of an underworld fantasy."

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BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN

There are around 14 species of dolphins in the tropical Indo-Pacific area. The common name terms of `dolphin' and `porpoise' have often been confused; the answer is simple. Porpoises are generally found to the northern hemisphere. The bottlenose dolphin is by far the most well known in the southern hemisphere.

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CROWN OF THORNS SEA STAR

Named in 1758 by the great naturalist and systematist, Carl Linneaus, the crown-of-thorns is known in scientific circles as Acanthaster planci and belongs to the phylum Echinodermata or `spiny skin'.

One of the largest asteroids in the Indo-pacific it grows in excess of 500mm and has between 12 and 17 arms. The whole dorsal surface of the star is covered with needle sharp venomous spines that can result in a great deal of pain, even from a small wound. A bad puncture is serious and medical attention is required.

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LOLOATA- AFFAIRS OF THE HEART - loloata@daltron.com.pg

Who would have thought back in 1980 that this little island with its long sand spit and sparsely vegetated hillsides would become one of the most popular frontier dive resorts in Papua New Guinea, but it has! Who could imagine that after 23 years of amazing discoveries there would be anything new left to find, but there is !

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MADANG'S JAIS ABEN IN RETROSPECT
DIVING AT THE DOCK

"There's an aeroplane under the kids swim pontoon". I looked down at the small sandy beach, a couple of pontoons, open air eat in lunch area, the cement bag dock, reasonably clear water and the ever-present Lorentz's sergeants patrolling the surface...yeah, sure there is...

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MILNE BAY'S "MV CHERTAN"
chertan@globalnet.pg

Rob's voice was filled with excitement, "Wakey! Wakey! Uncle Neville, small sleep is over. We just found two fantastic purple hairy ghost pipefishes. Back deck in five if you want to see them..."

In an instant, my dived out, brain dead body forgot about the three previous mind-blowing dives it had done that day...Within three minutes I was kitting up on the back deck checking my surface interval against bottom times and mentally running down equipment and camera checks, adrenalin pumping...

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WHALE SHARKS OF THE WEST
www.exmouthdive.com

My first experiences with whale sharks was during the early 1980s in the Sea of Cortez off Mexico. Sharks and giant manta rays visited the waters surrounding submerged sea mounts which rose from the sea floor some 1000 metres below to feed on the rich plankton in the area.

Divers and snorkellers swam with these huge sea creatures every day marvelling at being able to get so close to creatures that not so long ago were thought of as devil rays and predatory beings. The fact that their predatory appetites and cavernous mouths were only designed to eat the ocean's smallest denizens (plankton) took humans hundreds of years to determine.

To me, it was of the most amazing and extraordinary experiences of my life and the knowledge gained was significant towards shaping my understanding of the oceans and their inhabitants.

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Eco Tourism - "The Nature Business"

Eco-tourism has been described as "Travel that accomplishes conservation and sustains the well-being of local people" (TIES). Seeing as I helped to pioneer eco-tourism ideas throughout the Indo-Pacific I would like to expand this quote a little and describe how I see eco-tourism.

"Travel that accomplishes conservation, sustains the well-being of local people and contributes to the knowledge and understanding of nature and natural resources."

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