Great Weekend

This weekend has seen some amazing diving in Dili and up and down the coast. Lone tree has fallen done so is now no tree and "scary crab" has once again proven it is one of timors most amazing sites. In one dive we found 2 frog fish, 4 leaf scorpion fish, a cuttle fish, stone fish and a heap more (see pics below).

Vis up the coast at "No tree" hit 20m --which is great for this time of year and we are expecting more on Atauro Island tomorrow.

2008 and a new year for Diving and East TImor

2008 is here

and most people have or are returning from their family holidays from all corners of the world. East Timor looks set for a great year of diving! Currenlty we are still in the middle of the wet season and vis is best expected at 10m along the shore dives.

Those lucky enough to get to Atauro Island can expect better vis up to 25m.

DTL has a new dive team line up with Volker Katzung (German) returning for another season as manager and Mark Mialszygrosz (Australian) returning after being MIA in Australia for a few years. Also returning part time is Rui (Portuguese) and Maartin (Dutch) allowing DTL to cover courses in English, German, Portuguese and Dutch.

Martin (our Dive master in training) is 3/4 finished and will be helping out at the dive centre for the first 1/4 of the year.

New and Inproved

our new dive office and shop is up and running with some great deals on all diving equipmet and snorkelling equipment. And our court yard area should be finished within a few weeks (Timor Time...)

The shop has just recieved new stock including SUUNTO dive computers D6 and D9's along with a new range of fins and masks.

Remember if you have not used your regs for a while this time of year is perfect for and inspection and service. DTL offers full inspections for 20USD during Febuary 2008 so take advantage.

Dive Courses

Wet season is a great chance to join one of our Advanced Open Water Courses. Improve your skills and explore new fields in diving. Courses start daily and are run to fit your busy life styles. Contact DTL for details.

Enough writing for now...its time to get wet and go for a dive!

Keep checking this post for updates and some great photos....out resident photographers have all upgraded their cameras so we are expecting some great shots!!

Its was the week before Christmas

Only a week to go before Christmas and some great diving has been had in the past weeks. Our new dive shop is nearly finished and we hope to be moving in and settingup within the first weeks of the new year.

The last minute rush of students is on - as everyone wonts to complete their certification before they head of on holidays so the shophas been very busy.

Merry Christmas to all and see you in the water soon.

Busy Week

Its been a busy week. With Timor's first annual EXPO being held this week in DILI, the dive centre has been busy creating a stall and will be offering a whole bunch of door prizes from free dive courses to mask and snorkel sets. Make sure not to miss out this Sat and Sun.

We have also had a new arrival to the dive team with Martin from Germany joining us for a few months. He will be completing his Rescue and Dive Master course over the next months and im sure you will all get to meet him around the place.

Diving is still good with vis around 20m. Although the rain is starting up there are some great dives still on the go. Make sure to make the most of it as the wet season is just around the corner.

Snorkel Safari

Thursday proved a busy day with 16 snorkellers taking a trip to K41 and whale shark point. The boys could not dive this time due to work commitments yet a great day was had by all.

BBQ lunch and cold salads on the beach and great vis agian - proving why Timor is so great for snorekelling and diving.

DATA MASK !!!

This really does change things. Every once in a while a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything. The DataMask is not just about having a computer in your mask – it is about the many practical benefits provided by truly “Hands-Free” diving.We are extremely excited to announce that we have begun shipping the DataMask. Over the past 5 months, demo dealers and their customers have logged more than 3000 dives on the DataMask. The feedback has been nothing short of phenomenal.

The DATAMASK contains a miniature liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, proprietary Digital Optic System, microprocessor, depth transducer, wireless cylinder pressure receiver, diver replaceable battery, and controlling software. The miniature LCD allows you to keep your eyes focused on the dive while presenting critical dive data including: current depth, elapsed dive time, cylinder pressure, and dive time remaining. The Digital Optic System provides a clear, highly magnified image of the LCD, which is viewable regardless of environmental conditions and may be seen clearly by the vast majority of people, regardless of vision.

Text and Image from "Oceanicworldwide.com"

Long Weekend

Atauro Island - the lunch spot

What a weekend! Great weather, great vis, great company and great diving. Friday saw a full boat leave for Atauro Island where the main attraction was a killer whale. These amazing creatures are seen only a few times during the year and if lucky can be watched while on the hunt.



A lunch stop at secrete beach (only accessable by boat) and some fun in the sun then off for the second dive

Killer Whale diving under the boat

Saturday saw a group of divers and snorkellers on a shore safari down the coast. Once again the highlight being a group of Dolphins and Whales just of the reef wall. Sunday was back to Atauro on East Timors only purpose built dive boat and another fantastic day.

To be apart of next weekends activities make sure to get in early as we are in the peek dive season and seats are limited.

Dili Rock - Sharks and Frog Fish

Dili Rock once again turns out to be one of Timor's best dive sites. This baby shark has been hanging around with larger ones for a few weeks now and only living about 20m from this 20cm brown frog fish.

You will need good eyes to find both!!

Bumphead Parrot Fish

For those of you lucky enough to be diving around the Jesus Statue you would have come across the large group of bumphead parrot fish over the last few weeks. These large parrot fish can come within a few metres of divers but always the trick is to let them come to you - never try to swim up to them.

Although they look large and slow - divers are always the slowest creatures under water.

BumpHead Parrot Fish

Speciality Courses

Interested in becoming a better underwater photgrapher? Why not come in a see one of our instructors and ask about the Digital Photogrpahy courses. Great time to learn as the water is clean and calm.

BUDDY SPECIAL

November is a great time to learn how to dive with Dive Timor's buddy special. Sign up to any of our PADI courses and not only do you recieve a free dive after certification but a free log bog and 15% your first boat dive to Atauro island - not to mention 25% your course.

Week in Diving

The last week has brought some interesting life to Dili Rock Bay area. With 2m black tip sharks, three different frog fish, jelly fish and even two baby sharks. With the wet season approaching fast you better get in the water and make the most of the great diving!

Jelly Fish at 10m

Both these amazing Frog Fish found at 12m

NITROX in East Timor?

Over the last few years DTL has discussed the question of setting for NITROX. We know that most divers would prefer diving with NITROX but is EAST TIMOR ready for it?

Well that question we have decide to leave up to you, the divers in East Timor.

If you have an opinion please post it on the guest book or email me directly. If we can be convinced then DTL would invest in a NITROX sytem to other East Timor's diving society.

NITROX

Enriched Air Recreational Divingby R.W. Bill Hamilton, PhD and Joel Silverstein

During the last ten years there has been significant emphasis placed on diving with gas mixtures other than air. As one read articles, papers and books one may begin to ask, "What’s wrong with diving on air?" Simply, air contains two major components, oxygen (21%) and nitrogen (79%). The nitrogen in normal air limits your bottom time, or the number of dives that can be done in a day, or requires a longer surface interval between dives. Nitrogen is also the cause of decompression sickness.

Enter Enriched Air Nitrox, also called Oxygen Enriched Air, or just nitrox. Enriched Air Nitrox is air that has more oxygen in it. Consequently it has less nitrogen. Since nitrogen is the controlling factor for decompression from no-stop diving, with less nitrogen in the breathing mixture the body will absorb less nitrogen and will have less of a decompression obligation.
The two most commonly used nitrox mixtures are 32% and 36% oxygen. In all cases the other gas in the mix, is nitrogen. These mixes were first introduced by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for use in their scientific and shallow water research dives.

Today’s diver is seeking more adventure and exploration, which almost always leads to the desire for more bottom time. Many times the only way to get that longer bottom time is to plan dives that require lengthy and sometimes complicated decompression stops. Using enriched air nitrox makes getting that longer bottom time not only easier by eliminating decompression stops required with air, but this also allows the diver to have shorter surface intervals while still maintaining a minimal level of risk.

OCTOBER EQUIPMENT SPECIAL

During the month of October the following equipment specials are on offer

20% all equipment rental (must hire min 2 sets)

20% all tank rental (must hire 4 tanks)

please make sure to contact DTL to reserve your gear.

Speciality Courses

During the Month of October 2007 DTL is conducting PADI speality dive courses is

Digital Photography

Deep Diving

Night Diving

to join just contact DTL +670 7237092

(Buddy Special - if you bring 2 buddies get 15 % off all courses).

For Sale - Ikelite Sony Package

For Sale:

Sony W1 5.1 Mp Digital camera with Ikelite Housing and DS50 Ikelite strobe.

Strobe and housing valued at over 1000 usd

Sell whole package 750 USD

Dive the Cave

DTL is currently looking for interested experienced divers to join a charter to Dive the Cave. Located roughtly 55km East of Dili this dive is not for the weak hearted!

Contact DTL for quiries.

Atauro Charter

This weekend saw DTL's dive boat the Margeritha travel to Atauro Island. With a mixed group of divers and snorkellers.

Sending most of the day on the West side diving Clam cove and Frank's crack. Visibility was 25m plus and had calm conditions. Good to see the large pob of pilot whales and dolhins again on the trip back.

About this blog

This blog was created to inform divers on current dive events within East Timor. Comments on dive sites visited, conditions, security and highlighted points of interest.

It should act as a current diary for diving in East Timor.