DIVE GIZO NEWS

Memories of April 2, 2007

As we pass the 1st Anniverasary of the Earthquake and Tsunami of 2007, we ask everyone to think of the 52 lives lost and those who are still living in camps on the hills waiting for assistance. The Hospital staff are still spread over the town in camps. On Feb 18, The Prime Minister of SI. Hon Dr Sikua and the Australian High Commissoiner, HE Peter Hooton attended a Ground Breaking ceremony for new staff houses funded by Aus Aid. Many villagers are also, still in tents waiting for access roads to be rebuilt on the shoreline so that they can re-establish their homes closer to the water. It was a very long wet season for them.

o the

ANZ bank ATM working well!

The ANZ bank is providing 24 hr service to its customers and visitors requiring access to cash from their overseas accounts. Dive Gizo continues to accept VISA / Mastercard for all services at both the Hotel office and the dive shop. For daily exchange rates after 10am local time, consult ANZ's web site.

Solomon Telekom officially opens its Broadband wireless Hotspots in Gizo!

For the convenience of those with their own computers and wishing to connect to the internet, you can now buy Bumblebee internet prepay cards and use them at the PT109 restaurant, Telekom office, Gizo Hotel pool area and bar or at our dive shop! Regular internet service is also available at 2 internet cafes in the centre of town. Regular

Spray Glider recovery 2007 & 2008!

Dive Gizo has been involved in a joint oceanograhic project with SCRIPPS and NOAA recovering Spray Glider units due south of Ghizo Island.

Check out the web pages for some interesting information: http://spray.ucsd.edu/ http://spray.ucsd.edu/

Spray Glider Recover 2007 and 2008

New Discovery after April 2 2007!

History has revealed itself following the events of 2007 . Enjoy the detailed web link below.For those

Phhttp://www.pacificwrecks.com/ships/other/ranongga.html

ase

Japanese Lugger on Ranongga

Diving in Munda April 2008

Dive Munda is alive and well with new dive sites and exciting discoveries like Pygmy Seahorses! Business has been steady with our staff of local dive guides and office manager working with our fantastic PADI Instructors Jen and Graeme offering full dive training . Check out our web site www.mundadive.com . Jen, Graeme, Brian, Sunga, Geoff, Solomon and Ahi look forward to meeting you on your next visit. .

Gearing up at Agnes Lodge

Agnes Lodge

A little bit of History

In the early morning hours of August 2nd 1943, the patrol boat PT109 was sunk after being rammed by the Japanese destroyer “Amagiri” in Blackett Strait, Solomon Islands.

The Captain, Lt. John F. Kennedy, an ex Harvard swimmer spent the next 30 hours supporting and towing his 10 surviving crew members to a temporary shelter known today as Kennedy Island. In addition to the swim after the collision, Kennedy stage a daring rescue attempt, swimming first to Naru Island and then to Olasana Island in search of help and a better food source for his men. His swim of approximately 8 kilometres, through waters patrolled by enemy ships, has long been recognised as a feat of tremendous courage and bravery.

Another historic occasion occurred on the 4th August 2003. A marathon swim marking the 60th anniversary of the sinking of PT109 , and the first of what will become an annual event – The PT109 Swim Marathon in Gizo. 2003 saw 8 participant from Australia, New Zealand, United States and the Solomon Islands. The winner, Suanne Hunt of Australia, completed the swim in 2 hours, 10 minutes and 35 seconds. Second place getter, Paul Ellercamp – a veteran of ocean swims, described the PT109 swim as “the hardest swim I have ever done”.

2 more swims have been held and we hope that the 2009 swim will be a success.

For information on the next swim visit www.pt109swim.com or www.oceanswims.com or contact Danny at divegizo@solomon.com.sb.

Broadreach Explores the Solomons

During the months of July and August 2007, Dive Gizo again hosted 20 teenagers all participating in the Broadreach Youth Program. Broadreach is a U.S. based program aimed at getting young people to extend themselves and provide the opportunities to experience some pretty spectacular things. The Broadreach groups dived at Gizo and Munda in the Solomon Islands as well as Fiji. The programme also allows the students to participate in village activities, and get involved in some community work around town. Gizo now has a great collection of colourfull garbage bins. Apart from the diving (of course), the Broadreachers have said that the highlight of the trip was being able to play soccer and volleyball with a bunch of local kids they met while on surface interval .

For further reading about previous group trip reports to Fiji and the Solomons, please click on the link below- http://www.gobroadreach.com/about/news.asp.for

The Sea Hunters II

A number of years back, Dive Gizo received a visit from Dirk Cussler, son of world famous author, Clive Cussler. Dirk was researching a new book for his father, a sequel to the popular ‘The Sea Hunters’. Dirk and co-author, Craig Dirgo came to Gizo to find the elusive PT-109, the WWII patrol boat captained by future US president John F. Kennedy.

An account of Dirk and Craig’s exploits with Dive Gizo can be found the book ’The Sea Hunters II”, including a description of Danny – “A man who looked like the cartoon character Yosemite Sam........"You must be Danny Kennedy”!”

Although the Sea Hunters didn’t find PT-109, it was great fun and really interesting being involved in the research.

December 2007- Farewell to Flippa and Justin

It doesnt seem that long ago that we said farewell to Tina and Ross, and now Justin and Philippa have moved on to travel home. Perhaps we will see them back again in the new year. In March we had a landmark meeting with Tim Olsen joining us at OzTek in Sydney to catch up and share stories with Ross, Tina, Justin and Kerrie.

with Ross

Protecting Our Reefs with WWF

Dive Gizo continues to joined forces with the World Wide Fund for Nature to protect the amazing reefs in the area. Permanent moorings have been provided at 24 of the dive sites and fish monitoring sites around the area. Dive Gizo and WWF have actively sought funding from various aid and environment programs and used local workers and materials to produce the heavy duty moorings. These moorings are available for use by anyone and will prevent anchor damage to the coral. Dive Gizo thanks WWF for their help with this project and is proud that groups in the Solomon Islands are so active in protecting their spectacular marine environment.

Security in the Solomon’s

Please check out the latest travel advisory by the Australian Government encouraging travellers at last!. The majority of travelers are pleasantly surprised at the openess and friendliness of Solomon Islanders. We often hear comments from visitors that Gizo is much safer than their neighborhood at home! If you have any concerns about travelling in the region, please email us. Kerrie will forward some email addresses of recent visitors to the region who can provide you with unbiased opinions. Additionally, the British High Commission in Honiara is a good source of information.

Cruise ships have kept the Solomons on their itinerary due to the low risk to their vessels and passengers. In 2007 we saw quite a few ships and the schedule is full for 2008! next visit is from Cr

Cruise ships

The Missing Bag- old story but a good one!

A couple arrived in Gizo some time ago with the intention of getting married. Unfortunately, they stepped off the plane to discover the small cabin bag which held, among other things the engagement and wedding rings, had been mistakenly off-loaded at a previous stop. After a week of frantic searching around the country, the couple had given up hope. Then a phone call out of the blue from a gentleman in Honiara to say that he had their bag! The bag had been on a tour of the country and had ended up at a logging camp. The gentleman brought it back to Honiara and spent considerable time chasing the owner. The couple received their bag, with everything inside and happily enjoyed their wedding !