Sambawan Island Uncovered

view from the top of sambawan

 A day trip to Sambawan Island is one of the little known pleasures that Exotic Island Dive Resort offers to its guests as an alternative to Malapascua, our world renowned host island. With beautiful scenery and thriving marine life, it's no wonder this stunning island paradise is becoming more popular with divers. Just check out this view from the easily accessible peak of the island.

view from the lunch table

As with all of Exotic's day trips, one of our very own chefs joins the expedition to cook and serve up a delicious barbecue for lunch. Here we see some of our guests making their way through the assortment of skewers on offer to them with one of our fine vessels, Exotic 2 in the background.

view of the diversity of corals

              Sambawan island is a marine sanctuary and no wonder. The island boasts a wide range of marine life which includes many types of hard and soft corals. Check out these bad boys. Reef sharks, turtles and sea snakes are often seen as well as many species of reef fish.

However, it's not only divers who can enjoy Sambawan. With areas sheltered from any current, snorkelers too can take advantage of all the interesting goings on in the more shallow regions of the island. All in all a great day out and just one of the many options that Exotic offers its guests. Highly recommended too.

It's Competition Crazy at Exotic!

There was excitement throughout the resort recently as a partial eclipse of the sun peaked at about 0858 on Wednesday morning. One of our vastly intelligent instructors, Daniel Richardson, rigged up a very simple pin hole projector, allowing people to stop damaging their eyes by looking at the real thing and instead view a well formed projection instead. Science can be fun. Staring directly at the sun can be stupid.

A real turtle

A grass turtle

A few weeks back the Blog published a picture of a shark crafted from a clump of grass by Exotics groundsmen, our green fingered experts known as the 'Green Team'. The resulting mail we received can only be described as an avalanche although split into two camps. Firstly, those that thought the aquatic sculptures were a sensation. Secondly, those who thought the sculptures were a sensation and yet so lifelike that they could perhaps be real and not made from grass after all.


So just for the second group of conspiracy theorists we start a new feature this week titled,

           'Hake(as in the fish) or Fake?'

 Please don't write or call Exotic with your answer as this feature is just for fun only. Which one is real?

Lucky the cat

Introducing, on the left being held by the happy lady is a new addition to the Exotic team called 'Lucky Cat'. On the right the happy Lady holding Lucky Cat is Liesbeth from the Netherlands. And Liesbeth has every right to feel like she's won the lottery. By finding Lucky on Exotic's very own House Reef recently she was able to claim an Exotic t-shirt as a well deserved prize and doesn't she look thrilled. Lucky will be hiding all over House Reef this year allowing all our guests the chance of winning a whole host of goodies.

Another winner

Slightly old news to report here but a couple of weeks ago on Easter Sunday Exotic's annual Easter egg hunt was held and again the venue was House Reef. It seems we're overdosing on competitions and prize giveaways here right now. It's totally crazy to be honest. All eggs were recovered safely and prizes ranging from complimentary dives to free meals in our restaurant were handed out to delirious guests. Here's one of our guests looking overjoyed to have found his egg.

Blog March Round Up featuring a Poser in a Wet Suit and a Grass Shark

New instructors and Staff Instructor in good spirits

Congratulations to Calle, Charlene, Mark, Mathias and Max to whom we doff our caps. After three weeks of hard work during the IDC and a successful Instructor Examination, we pronounce you PADI Instructors. Also a big shout out to Maciek, (far right) who assisted as a Staff Instructor on the course to great effect by passing knowledge from his his years of experience to the candidates.

Robin hard at work

If dressing up in a synthetic suit is your thing then be warned there are no dodgy night clubs on Malapascua. There is however, world class diving and world class facilities here at Exotic Island Dive Resort. This week we received our annual shipment of brand new dive equipment which included a range of Aqualung wetsuits for the exclusive use of our guests. Great thanks to our work experience intern and 18yr old Swedish pretty boy Robin for modelling part of our new range. The Blog was desperate. Apologies.

A shark made from grass

At Exotic we're lucky to have the finest team of groundsmen on the island. The 'Green Team' as they're fondly known, spend hours making the surroundings here beautiful and peaceful for the relaxation of our guests. And what a fine job these craftsmen do.
Hey look out! It's a shark! Relax, it's not really. It's actually a section of grass cunningly moulded into the likeness of one by one of the Green team. A White tip perhaps.

Sunset without the sunset but nice anyway

And finally, we end with a picture captured yesterday just as the sun was taking it's final bow for the day. No words needed. We're blessed here.

IDC Lunchtime Scoop

This week the Blog pulled out its camera and chased the ongoing PADI Instructor Development Course as the candidates participated in a Discover Scuba Diving workshop during which they learned various techniques to handle non certified divers.

After the session we thought we'd ambush the candidates over lunch and ask them a few incredibly non testing questions about the course. Introducing from left to right, Calle, Max, Charlene, Mark and Mathias.

A happy and confident group of PADI instructor candidates

Blog: Good Afternoon guys.

Candidates: (no reply, but then they were eating at the time)

The Blog continues with some disarming small talk: So how's the IDC going so far?

Candidates: Good (and slight variations of)

Charlene handles two acting novices

Sensing them off guard the Blog moves in for the kill: What made you choose to do your IDC in Malapscua and the Philippines with Exotic?

Max: A friend of mine called Adam became an instructor with Exotic in 2014 and highly recommended the place in terms of the location and the course itself.

Blog: Malapascua is certainly an idyllic location but can you expand on what you mean by the course itself?

Max: Most IDC's appear to be ten days in length where as Exotic run a course that lasts almost three weeks. I didn't want to be rushed.

Calle: Nor me. I like the extended course especially seeing as English isn't my first language so we have more time to adapt and it's easier to adjust.

Under control via the tank valve technique

Blog: Interesting. Mathias, we've become quite familiar with you at Exotic, you've been here ten times? What made you come back here yet again?

Mathias: (false laughing) Well not quite, this is my fourth visit to malapascua. I first came in 2013 mainly to fun dive although I did a nitrox course. The following year I did my Rescue course and on my previous visit I dipped my toe into the world of tech diving. This time I undertook the Divemaster programme and now the Instructor Development Course.

Blog: Thanks Mathias (for the life story) but why Exotic?

Mathias: I just think this place has everything. The scenery is beautiful, the diving is superb and the facilities at Exotic are second to none. And the senior management team are great. No but seriously, in terms of boats, safety equipment and all other facilities I don't think anywhere else on the island comes close. Also, previous candidates I've spoken to have rated the Course Directors here quite highly which I found important too.

Blog: You Creep. Yet true, and high recommendation if ever i heard it. Mark and Charlene, you two did your Divemaster courses in Australia I believe. What brought you both over here?

Charlene: Same as Max, the Exotic IDC was recommended to us by other divers we met from our time in Australia.

Nice circle guys

Blog: Recommendations seem to be going a long way. So the exam starts tomorrow. How have you enjoyed the course?

Mark: The course is challenging and great fun at the same time. Thankfully, we've been able to go dive with the Thresher sharks on a few occasions as unlimited diving is part of the IDC here. Woop Woop!

Blog: Easy now Mark.

So there you have it. Some lunchtime views from our almost but not quite new PADI Instructors. In a few days we'll welcome the arrival to the island of a PADI examiner who will give these guys a rigorous examination minus the rubber gloves. Hopefully we'll all be celebrating at the conclusion.........

Calanggaman Day Trip Expose

Business as usual here at Exotic Island Dive Resort as we help bring joy and happiness to the lives of all our treasured guests that visit us in Malapascua, Philippines.

Approaching Calanggaman Island 

Every few days we run a day trip to the beautiful island of Calanggaman and yesterday was one of these days. The Blog asked one of Exotic's longest term inmates, Katie, if she'd take a few pictures to document her day there. Well she did, and here we see the amazing view as the boat draws near to the island. Just look at that sand bar stretching towards the camera. Super camera work.

On Calanggaman Island

All of Exotic's Calanggaman trips allow for lunch to be taken on the island itself.  Here we see Katie's boat for the day, Exotic 8, on the beach while all the guests enjoyed a barbeque under the shade of the palm trees. A barbeque prepared by no less than one of the resorts chefs. Does it get better than this?

Beside Calanggaman Island

Well the answer is yes. The diving just off Calanggaman island is wall diving of the highest class featuring numerous schools of fish of a wide variety. That said, the Blog's editorial meeting was quite feisty when Katie returned with close up shots only! Anyway, who doesn't love a frog fish like this fine specimen.

Orangutan Crab

As everywhere around Malapascua, the macro is sublime and the colourful walls of Calanggaman island are no exception to this rule. Just admire this Orangutan crab peeping out from its home within the bubble coral.

If looks could kill

And despite the fact they're absolutely everywhere out here in the Philippines, who doesn't like Nemo! Aggressive little bugger too and film didn't show that did it?
Pictured below is Katie herself. She arrived four months ago for a stay of just a couple of days and just never left! Thanks for the pictures Katie...

Katie

Malapascua is the Place to be in 2016

A Perfect Location

2016 at Exotic has begun and the diving is up to its usual world class standards. It's no wonder Philippines scuba diving and Malapascua diving especially finds itself on the bucket list of most dive enthusiasts and just to top things off the weather has been idyllic for months now. There really is hardly a drawback to this place... other than finding it hard to leave!!

There's always one who won't smile

The first Malapascua Instructor Development Course of the year is well under way with four hopefuls throwing heart and soul into achieving their dream of becoming PADI scuba diving instructors. Here they are with their own instructors enjoying the complimentary IDC lunch that comes with every such course here at Exotic.

Incredibly organised looking pool sesision

While not enjoying world class cuisine from our renowned restaurant, the candidates have spent time preparing their confined water skills in the comfort of a large pool. To have Exotic as the starting point on their CV will be a huge advantage as we really are an unrivaled center of excellence in this region. That said, they've not passed the two day PADI Instructor Examination yet so we'll check back in next week to find out how it went.

Nice striped shirt! Kept the receipt?

And finally, slightly old news but as featured on Exotics facebook page a couple of weeks back, congratulations to Mathias and Jason on completing their Divemaster internships. After several weeks of hard work, much laughter and the odd tear here on Malapascua, the lads were able to enjoy the traditional snorkel test which featured far less alcohol than they were led to believe!

Exotics Thresher Shark speciality

Course  Director Johanssen presents

No visit to Exotic and Malapascua is complete without a visit to Monad Shoal in search of our famous Thresher Sharks. This week we welcomed two guests, Kim and Marielle, who undertook our exclusive Thresher Shark specialty with Course Director Becca Johansen. The Blog sat in on what was a very informative presentation.

Did you know?

Each female Thresher shark has not one Uterus but two. Wow.

Sunrise at Monad Shoal

As part of the specialty comes two dives to Monad Shoal and with that comes an impressive sun rise every morning.
Our guests who take the Thresher Shark specialty have all found that the background information they learn on this species really adds relevance to the dives themselves.

Did you know?

The Thresher shark is classed as vulnerable. This means it's just one stage away from becoming an endangered species.

Shark Guardian Presentation

Coincidentally, Exotic were proud to host our friends at 'Shark Guardian' yet again just a few days later. These crusaders fighting for the rights of sharks worldwide set up camp in our restaurant and led by the impressive Camille Lemmens, delivered another informative presentation to a captivated audience.

Thresher Shark  

Did you know?

8000 sharks are slaughtered every hour....

This is destruction at an alarming and unsustainable rate.

 The following morning we were able to picture the shark seen here. But for how many more years will we be lucky enough to do so without changes to our own behavior.....