Jurassic Park? No... Club Paradise
Palawan Philippines - Part 1



© Gunther Deichmann - like... Jurassic Park..."Flying Foxes"
Fruit Bats & a Heron on Dimakya Island

Part 1:
All Photographs on this Blog Post taken the very first day (actually half a day, I arrived about 11:00 AM) on Dimakya Island
Watch out for part 2 & 3 more nature and interesting animals soon to follow on my Blog...plus a cool marine creature taken during our dinner at the Pier of El Rio y Mar...ha, ha my suspense again. Don't you love it!

I returned last night from Palawan the last Frontier in the Philippines...Nature at its best. The past week my Blog posts have been very thin and I didn't bring my MacBook Pro this time either...just the cameras and plenty CF Cards.

I knew if I had brought my Laptop the nights would have been very long, spending hours sorting the photos on Aperture 3 and having non or very little time for my good buddy Dirk Fahrenbach, plus Juergen Warnke was on the Island too this time.
Spending quality time with friends in "Jurassic Park" for a change...plus Aperture 3 worked so well that I am almost done with the editing the day after my return.

I left Manila on a Cebu Pacific flight to Busuanga and after about 50 minutes arrived at the new Busuanga Airport, wow things have really changed since my last visit here. I had been to Club Paradise before but that was many moons ago, so it was interesting to find out what changes had taken place besides the new airport. After a short jeepney ride I boarded the Boat from Club Paradise for Dimakya Island.

© Gunther Deichmann - arrived on Dimakya Island Home of
Club Paradise & Dugong Dive Center
Palawan, Philippines

Located on Dimakya Island and also the Home of my good friend Dirk Fahrenbach from Dugong Dive Center. Dimakya Island undoubtedly one of Asia’s Eden, the Philippine’s Last Frontier and the Calamianes group of Islands is perhaps one of the world's best-kept secrets among travel destinations and at the same time the Home of Club Paradise.


The Resort had also undergone some facilities changes including a Spa and the Dugong Dive Center is offering now some Liveaboards trips to APO Reef and other areas.
The islands house reef is world famous for its marine life and is frequently visited by Dugongs, as a matter of fact this season has seen a record number of these amazing animals right in front of the Resort... a divers paradise without a doubt.

Within few minutes of my arrival I spotted the Flying Foxes having the their usual midday rest...hanging upside down in the trees right next to the Resort. Oh this is great!
I checked into my cottage located right on the beach, changed into something more comfortable before setting off for a little exploratory walk with Dirk to the other side of the Island...but first we had a nice cup of coffee and a good chat...

Dirk...GD... some diving too? Absolutely NOT! What? Are you sick? No... I am going to have some fun running around in the Jungle and heat finding these other creatures almost everybody seems to forget about.
...there are plenty great shots of Dugongs and marine critters by good Underwater Photographers already, besides our good friend and excellent underwater photographer Tony Wu is going to visit you next year anyway and he is getting all those great underwater shots. As for me... I am getting sweaty and dirty trying to find some endemic animals on this beautiful island.
Dirk...GD you're crazy...yep I know!

Ok.,OK...but may be in a couple of days Dirk commented with a grin... sorry Buddy not this time. However in the evening I am having a couple of drinks with you. Dirk...I don't believe it....you left your computer at home...yes my friend, otherwise no drinks later...Dirk...oh I get it now...!

© Gunther Deichmann - A Monitor Lizard cooling off in the Lagoon on the Island, he was my very first encounter on day one. I followed him around for about 2 hours trying to get the perfect shot of him in his natural environment.

© Gunther Deichmann - Abstract reflections of nature in the lagoon. A natural attractant to wetland inhabitants and visitors, thus, wildlife around the lagoon area (such as herons, bulbuls and kingfishers) continues to inhabit the island. The climax vegetation and the hills are also preserved in their natural state. These areas provide habitat to other birds which area displaced in the flatlands.

© Gunther Deichmann - Just one more my "friendly" but very shy
Monitor Lizard in the Lagoon on the Island

© Gunther Deichmann - my lucky day... the Dugong Dive Center still had some hatchlings before their release, a great opportunity for me to get some shots at sunset.The Turtle protection program on the island is a joint effort between the staff and management from Club Paradise and Dugong Dive Center http://www.dugongdivecenter.com/turtle_program.html

The resort has engaged in an active tagging program for marine turtles to study their habitat range. From February to October 1991, 12 marine turtles were tagged using the markers from Pawikan Conservation Project of the DENR.

© Gunther Deichmann - Painted Sky - the end of day one...& what a day it was in Paradise.
A few more days and more exotic nature will follow, so please stay tuned for Part 2 and 3.

Before I am signing off today, (only today, plenty to come yet) a special thanks to all the staff and Management at Club Paradise & El Rio y Mar and of course to Dirk Fahrenbach and his staff from Dugong Dive Center.
Until soon...Save and Protect our Environment!
GD