No fear of the big shark

„That’s our life, man.“ Onas, the fishermen, laughs. He points to the sea where the sun begins to set. A brown pelican sails above the water; the small waves are reflecting its rays in all directions. Reggae-rhythms are drifting over from the jukebox in Rosie’s restaurant. The jetty, reaching far out into the sea, is the first landmark or the last – depending on how one looks at it. The water is gurgling underneath the fisherboats and those for the tourists, who sometimes head out to go fishing. „And then we’ve got the insanes“, says Onas. They attend Erich Ritters “sharkschool” who is a famous shark-researcher.

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– unterwasser

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Hope for the help of the gods

“Surga ada Disney,” shouts Herdan – “Paradise is here”, and he points ahead. The sea off the coast is home to a third of the world’s coral reefs. This paradise is huge, but the threat of expulsion is real. The country suffers. Borneo’s rain forest is the refuge of rare species; especially the orangutans are faced with extinction. “Forty years ago the loggers came into the country,” says Singa Sinam, chief of a village in Central Kalimantan. “The rivers were clean and swarming with fish. Then the stranger began to chop down our forests and pollute the waters. We still hope for the help of the gods.”

Published in:
– Silent World

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Manta Rays don‘t cry

Twilight makes room for silence. In it you can feel loneliness and the breathof harmony. The fishermen in outrigger canoes, life-long friends with thetranquility, complement the feeling. Every night they go out. Later their lamps will illuminate the night to attract prey, like Will-o’-the wisps in thesky. The setting sun lowers itself down for a few moments of magnificent display and islands like the backs of wooded dragons, thrust out of the wateras a backdrop. Batbitim lies ahead, an island somewhere in the nowhere west of Papua New Guinea.

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– unterwasser

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At the edge of the world

The Fidjis – if you try to spot them on the world map you will find them on the right-hand edge just to search again on the left. This is because of the 180° meridian that marks “the end of the world“ on both sides. “There are not many places on our planet as beautiful as this” says Jean-Michael Cousteau. “The diversity of the underwater life is overwhelming.” The documentary film-maker is carrying his father’s legend in his name. This causes a strong attraction. The islands are approaching as a destination.

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– unterwasser

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madagasgar

Madagaskar

Ages ago in the southeast of Africa a piece of land broke off and drifted towards the sea. It is now a day journey by ship away from Mosambique. Madagaskar is the fourth biggest isle in the world. Being isolated since 150 million years, a unique nature has developed with rare species of plants and animals. The locals in the land of lemurs and chameleons, of perfume and vanilla are extremely poor. It is however a paradise, full of natural wonders and shaped by an old culture. Nosy Be, nominal the Big Island, is the paradise outpost with a diameter of about 20 km. The sea outside contains a fantastic underwater world.

erschienen in:
– unterwasser

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Adelaar

The old ship’s fate seemed to be sealed. The Adelaar, built in the Netherlands during the imperial era, was rusting out in a harbor at the Baltic coast. No one cared about the barge, which had seen better days. Its time as a coaster was over. Then he was spotted by Bernd Pfeiffer, who was actually only looking for an anchor. He found him – attached to the Adelaar. Over many years he carefully restored the brig. Today it is a comfortable charter vessel, most of the time in Indonesia on its way to the most spectacular diving spots in the world. Recently the sailing trip started from Bali – heading for the Komodo National Park.

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– unterwasser

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Egypt – Quo Vadis?

The popular uprising in 2010 banished the tourists from Egypt. Now the country are of high priority again. The Red Sea: Hans Hass and Jacques Cousteau dived ahead – thousends upon thousends followed. The small town Dahab on the Sinai Pininsula is still a place of pilgrimage. „The hype surrounding the blue hole – uncredible“, says the marine biologist Dr. Robert Hofrichter. On some days a caravan of Hundrets of snorkelers and divers is moving to the 110 meters deep hole. The natural phenomenon, just a stone’s throw away from the beach, is considered as one of the most dangerous diving plaves in the world. The memorial tables at the rocks are telling the dramas.

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– Silent World

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The Hotel

There are many stories about diving. Only some will keep in mind because they talk about a hotel. Lady Di has been there, also Mick Jagger. The story is again about a far-flung island world; Vasco da Gama discovered it 500 years ago for Portugal. Later on the dutch came. The Moluccas has been exploited as Spice Islands – the nutmeg-trees characterize the landscape even till today. It’s unique, also under water. The small island Banda Naira is situated in the south-east. It is a dive centre there and the hotel Maulana, constructed in colonil style near the small harbour.

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published in:
– unterwasser

Endless Water – Endless Sky

Dream destination French Polynesia: it is said that the islands there are the last places to find paradise. The archipelagos at the edge of the world map stand out of the sea between the 150th and 160th longitude, far away from any tourist destinations, which are usually considered paradisaic. The coast of Peru in the east is 8000 km away. Australia in the west 6000 km. Starting point Europe: to bridge the distance inspires the imagination and expectation.

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– unterwasser

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Unequal Sisters

Exploring a country by boat which consists of 99 percent water, changes your perspective. The horizon expands endlessly. Sometimes you just gaze – as if you stare dreamily into the flames of a campfire. The brisk wind blows up spume and salty flavours and the feeling of being an adventurer and a pioneer. In such moments you are alone on the Maldives. The Lhaviyani Atoll lies ahead.

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– unterwasser

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