Category: Codger Divers

The best diving near Puerto Galera in the Philippines is at Verde Island and the best dive site on Verde Island is the Pinnacles.  We liked it so much our first day we immediately booked a boat for the next day to go back.  There were 12 divers on the boat and we had two dive masters.  The boat had a captain and one crew member.  When we came up from the first dive the sea had become very rough and the boat was only a few yards from the rocks.

We grabbed the line off the stern of the boat and tried to get on board.  The captain had to stay at the helm and the crewman was busy not getting washed out of the well.  Both dive masters were in the water keeping the divers on the line away from the prop and the rocks.  Gene, Howard and I were the first ones on the boat and we turned around and started pulling the others into the boat some of them in all of their gear.

It was quite an adrenaline rush.  No one was hurt, Chris Huss took some great photos and then we went somewhere calmer for the next dive.

Howard dubbed us the “Dive Militia”.  A self organizing group of citizen who help out when necessary.

Gene sent me a link to his excellent dive photos from the Philippines.  He went to the effort of buying a good light and taking a class so that he could be the official underwater photographer for the trip and it paid off his pictures are some of the best ever taken by amateur Codger photographers.

His teacher was Steve De Neef.  Who went with us on a trip to Apo Island and took some great pictures. Check out his flickr site here. Steve took some super Codger pictures:

We also dove with Chris Huss for two day at Verde Island.  I mentioned him a few days ago but here is a link to his site. Chris has shared some of his photos with us and Brock is going to Seattle to strong arm some more from him.

First Codger: “Its windy.”

Second Codger: “No.  I think its Thursday.”

Third Codger:  “I’m thirsty too.  Lets have a beer.”

On the way to Verde Island (day one)

Photo credit: Chris Huss brilliant photographer and excellent diving companion

In Codger code:  “Its windy.  Lets have a beer.”

More great codger diver quotes Here and Here.

Thanks to Gene B. for reminding me of this one.

“You’re probably used to women walking away from you”

Bigs Eggert

Manager Altantis Resort Dumaguete

“We’ve got people.”

An oft repeated quote about the excellent service at the Atlantis Resorts.

Blatantly stolen from H & R Block commercials.

“In your dreams.”

Howard G. reminded me of this quote. It was first delivered perfectly on the flight to Manila and was then repeated in many inappropriate circumstances for the next two weeks.

“I live in a different data stream than you.”

Howard R.

“Bad O-Ring”

Various Codgers

“I just made three women happy.”

Brock S.

This is the first of a series of entries about the Codger Divers trip to the Philippines.  It was a great group of five codgers on the trip.  We took between us about 1000 pictures some of which are bound to be postworthy.  We went to the Cock Fights, which are legal in the Philippines.  We had an adventure, a sarong night and some great diving.  We met some wonderful people.  We learned some political and personal lessons and we made it back alive.  These pictures will whet your appetite.

A good start

Beautiful Places

Excellent Shopping

Roosters

And Diving

Stay tuned for more.

Posted by Lilli in behalf of Simon who is in the Philippines

Its winter in the USA.

Joel G went diving yesterday and took this amazing picture:

and 18 more on Flickr

Even though I don’t have a clue what the creature pictured is I can use the term “amazing” without hyperbole for three reasons:

• The water is almost never this clear in Southern California
• Joel has been taking underwater photos for only six months
• A man was killed by a shark in the water near here yesterday morning

Good job Joel. Click in the face of danger.