Special 1: 8 nights on the MV FeBrina for only USD3,028 per person, all cabin types (normal price $3,365 pp sharing or $3,700 single cabin).

Dates:
20 to 28 June 2014 (Walindi/Walindi, diving Kimbe Bay and Fathers or Witus Reefs)
19 to 27 July 2014 (Rabaul/Walindi, diving Fathers Reef and Kimbe Bay)

Special 2: 8 nights on the MV FeBrina for only USD3,160 per person twin share or $3,490 single cabin (normal price $3,510 pp sharing, $3,870 single).

Dates:
16 to 24 June 2015 (Walindi/Walindi, diving Kimbe Bay and Fathers or Witus Reefs)
26 June to 04 July 2015 (Walindi/Walindi, diving Kimbe Bay and Fathers or Witus Reefs)
08 to 16 July 2015 (Walindi/Rabaul, diving Kimbe Bay, Fathers Reef & Rabaul)
19 to 27 July 2015 (Rabaul/Walindi, diving Rabaul, Fathers & Reef Kimbe Bay)

Both offers include: all meals, 6 1/2 days diving, 4 or 5 dives per day (2-3 dives on final day), airport transfers and daily laundry.

Conditions: Must be booked through Symbiosis Custom Travel by 30 April.

Also: 5% Early Bird discount of normal prices for ALL departures (subject to availability, or course) during 2015. Bookings must be made no less than 12 month prior to travel.

Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel for more info and to book

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10% discount for diving at World Diving Lembongan up until the 1st July, and if guests do 5 days or more, the discount increases to 15%. Accommodation available between 25US$ per night to 70US$ per night.

More info and to book contact Symbiosis Custom Travel

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Excellent value: 10 night triple combination package to the best dive sites along Bali’s north coast, including:

Meet & greet at Denpasar, transfers and visit to Ulun Danu Temple.
2 nights at Sukun Cottages, Sanur (or similar) – bed & breakfast
4 nights at Tirta Sari, Pemuteran (or similar) – bed & breakfast
4 nights at Tirta Sari, Pemuteran (or similar) – bed & breakfast
5 days diving (20 dives) at Pulau Menjangan, Secret Bay, Tulamben (Liberty wreck) and Amed.

Price: USD1,150* per diver, sharing (minimum 2 people).

Includes bed and breakfast throughout, plus lunch on the 5 diving days.

*A high season surcharge of $150 will apply between 01 July and 30 September.

Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel too book.

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Aboard the lovely Tambora to some of the most exotic and remote dive spots in Indonesia. The following discounts apply to bookings made (confirmed and deposits receive), between 14 Feb and 14 March only through Symbiosis Custom Travel.

03-14 March | Four Kingdoms of the East | From/to Sorong
· Retail price US$4,265 | LIDS Special Price* US$3,200 | 25% OFF
· Central & South Raja Ampat
· Additional costs on board: Diving fees (approx. US$50/pax); Nitrox (US$20/day); dive gear rental

02-15 May | Beneath Cliffs & Cloves | Sorong to Ternate
· Retail price US$4,995 | LIDS Special Price* US$4,245 | 15% OFF
· Raja Ampat & South Halmahera
· Additional costs on board: Diving fees (approx. US$150/pax); Nitrox (US$20/day); dive gear rental

16-27 June | Borneo-Celebes Blues | Palu to Tarakan
· Retail price US$4,265 | LIDS Special Price* US$3,625 | 15% OFF
· Palu, Toli-Toli, Maratua, Kakaban, Derawan, Sangalaki
· Additional costs on board: Diving fees (approx. US$15/pax); Nitrox (US$20/day); dive gear rental

30-June – 11 July | Pearls of Borneo | From/to Tarakan
· Retail price US$4,265 | LIDS Special Price* US$3,625 | 15% OFF
· Maratua, Kakaban, Derawan, Sangalaki
· Additional costs on board: Diving fees (approx. US$15/pax); Nitrox (US$20/day); dive gear rental

14-26 July | Sulawesi Seas & Sights | Tarakan to Lembeh
· Retail price US$4,630 | LIDS Special Price* US$3,936 | 15% OFF
· Maratua, Kakaban, Derawan, Sangalaki, Toli-Toli, Bunaken, Bangka, Lembeh
· Additional costs on board: Diving fees (approx. US$25/pax); Nitrox (US$20/day); dive gear rental

08-20 September | Among the Volcanoes | Manado to Ternate
· Retail price US$4,630 | LIDS Special Price* US$3,936 | 15% OFF
· Lembeh & South Halmahera
· Additional costs on board: Diving fees (approx. US$35/pax); Nitrox (US$20/day); dive gear rental

Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel now to book.

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Valid for dive cruises between 22 June and 26 September, 2014, aboard the lovely traditional sailing Pinisi, the Ondina in Indonesia’s Komodo National Park:

5 night cruise = 50 euros off = final price 950 euros/person for a 16 dive cruise in South Komodo + Nitrox Free
6 night cruise = 60 euros off = final price 1.140 euros/person for a 20 dive cruise in North Komodo + Nitrox Free
11 night cruise = 100 euros off = final price 1.880 euros/person for an amazing full Komodo cruise!! + Nitrox Free

2.- Special Permanent Offer for Small Groups
PAY 5 COME 6 = 1 FOC every 5 Paying Passengers

Click here for further info and to book.

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Amazing opportunity for young divers to experience some of the world’s best diving in Indonesia’s Raja Ampat islands, West Papua.

Raja4Divers is running an Under 30s only fortnight at an extra special price of only EUR 2,222 (normal price € 4,350) in June/July 2014.

Dates: 21st June – 05th July 2014

The offer also includes free Nitrox for anyone with an Enriched Air certification card and limited free dive gear rental (60 days notice needed of what items are required).

More: If you can manage to get a group together of 7 or more people, one will stay for free!

For full information contact Symbiosis Custom Travel NOW. An offer like this will not be available for long!!

Symbiosis can also help you to arrange flights, book additional accommodation as needed, and advise on other travel arrangements for you in Indonesia and South East Asia.

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Ocean Hunter I and Ocean Hunter III – 5% discount on bookings made between 15 and 18 Feb only!

Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel to book.

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One cottage still available at the lovely Raja4Divers in West Papua, Indonesia.

Dates: 15 to 22 Feb 2014

To book contact Symbiosis Custom Travel now

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A new species of frog has been identified in the high elevations of Vietnam’s Mount Fansipan by a team of Australian and Vietnamese researchers.

The amphibian has been named Botsford’s leaf-litter frog (Leptolalax Botsfordi) as a tribute to Christopher Botsford for his role in amphibian biodiversity research in Asia.

Leptolalax Botsfordi. Photo by Jodi Rowley.

“I had a pretty good idea that the species was undescribed the moment I heard its faint chirp,” said Jodi Rowley of the Australian Museum Research Institute.

One characteristic shared by other Asian leaf-litter frog species is that they make noises similar to insects, but the calls of this new species are unique. While Rowley’s colleagues found many frog species in the stream, Rowley spent hours in the fog filled night sifting through the leaves in one spot trying to find the unknown frog. The moment she finally located the frog, she was filled with a sense of triumph.

The genus Leptolalax is a group of small-bodied frogs whose true biodiversity has only started gaining appreciation in the last five years due to increased exploration and improvements in acoustic and molecular data analysis. Despite being scientifically classified as frogs, they are sometimes referred to as toads due to their bumpy skin. This particular species is more vigorous than other Asian leaf-litter frogs, and has a distinct brownish-pink belly and huge white glands on its thighs.

Although Mount Fansipan hosts many overnight tourists attempting to summit “the roof of Indochina,” relatively little is known about its flora and fauna. Earlier in 2013, scientists in Fansipan described the Sterling’s toothed toad (Oreolalax sterlingae) which, similarly to the Botsford’s leaf-litter frog, is also technically a frog from the Megophryidae family.

Rowley says that she and her colleagues plan to continue working in Vietnam to gather as much information as possible about the amphibians and their conservation status.

“With the discovery of Botsford’s Asian leaf-litter toad, and Sterling’s toothed toad from the same high-elevation stream… it’s clear that the area is important for amphibian conservation,” said Rowley.

Clouds and fog fill Mount Fansipan. Despite being a heavily visited area by tourists, this rough environment has seen little biological research.

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The State of Emergency in Bangkok that was announced last week has had no tangible impact to date on the protest sites or the ongoing blockades, and no freedom of movement restrictions or night time curfews have been imposed.

Talks between all parties concerned will be held from today until Friday as all sides try to find some resolution to the current situation. The planned elections for Sunday 2nd February are still confirmed to take place. The protestors are still adamant that they would like to postpone the elections until after a political reform takes place. All these subjects will be discussed and debated over the next few days.

The blockade of the core downtown protest area from MBK to Siam Paragon to Central World to the Rajaprasong intersection to Central Chidlom still remains in place. Additional road blockages may occur at other locations as the core group of protestors moves around the city to the other protest sites during the day. Please note that sporadic incidents and out breaks of violence may occur without warning, so visitors would be advised to stay clear of these blocked intersections and areas of demonstrations, especially in the evenings.

Bangkok continues to function at a near normal level with most businesses and offices continuing to operate, and people are able to move around the city freely.  The Shopping Malls in the affected areas of the city also remain open for business, however most advised that they have implemented earlier closing times.

The public transport systems, including the BTS Skytrain, MRT Subway and Airport Rail Link continue to operate as scheduled, as do the rail services and bus links from Bangkok to the provinces.

All areas outside Bangkok and other tourist destinations within Thailand such as Phuket, Koh Samui, Hua Hin, Pattaya and Chiang Mai remain fully operational and are not affected by the demonstrations. These out-of-Bangkok destinations fall outside the jurisdiction of this State of Emergency.

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Feature-length documentary on the stunning music, culture, and history of Cambodia. In post-production. 2012.

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Due to a late cancellation we have ONE berth free on this fantastic cruise aboard the Black Manta to some of the world’s very best dive spots: Raja Ampat, Spice Islands and Ambon, Indonesia.

Dates: 10–19 April 2014
Destination; Raja Ampat-Banda-Ambon, Indonesia
Duration & Dives: 10D9N & 28 dives

Cabin: 1 pax in en-suite twin share cabin (male)
Trip price; USD2,975 per diver (15% off original Trip price of $3,500)
Marine Park & Harbour fee; USD230 per person

Start: Sorong (SOQ), West Papua
Finish: Ambon (AMQ), Moluccas

Raja Ampat simply offers world class diving with its sheer abundance and amazing bio-diversity in marine and coral life to keep everyone wanting for more.  We cross the Banda Sea, tracing the perimeter of islands.  Remote and almost untouched locations with wonderful reefs and stunning drop offs full of critters, sea snakes, manta rays, sharks and much more.  We have also found cleaning stations offering regular sightings of hammerheads. Finally Ambon, home to some excellent muck diving.  

Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel to book and make your travel arrangements.

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18-22nd of September 2014. (Race day 20th of September).

Now open for 2014 registration.

Unique trail runs of 10km, 21km, 42km or 70km in a spectacular mountain region of north Vietnam.

Welcome to the mountains of Vietnam to thousands of yellow rice fields, water buffaloes and colourful ethnic minority groups. The small dirt roads and narrow trails will take you through the majestic mountains and valleys that are only used by locals. Each route will encompass challenging climbs, exhilarating descents and a true glimpse of local life through the rice fields and ethnic minority villages.

Extend your journey and make the race a part of a longer active adventure in Vietnam. Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel to discuss how.

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3 great special offers for divers from Two Fish Divers in Bunaken & Lembeh, Northern Sulawesi, and in and Nusa Lembongan, Bali.

Half-price Buddy Discount
Jan-Mar 2014 – Bring your buddy for only 50% of normal prices when you book a 5N or more dive package in Lembeh, Bunaken or Bali.

Solo Diver Promo
Jan-Mar 2014 – Get a 10% discount off normal prices when you book a 5 night or longer dive package in Bunaken, Lembeh or Bali.

TEC Course Discount
Jan-Mar 2014 – Get a 20% discount on TEC courses in Bunaken, Lembeh or Bali.

Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel for more info and to arrange your trip to Indonesia.

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The 4th Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge over the Mekong River is to open tomorrow, 12 December, significantly easing travel between northern Thailand and northern Laos.

The new bridge spans the river between Chiang Khong in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, and Houay Xai in Bokeo province, Laos.

For anyone joining a river cruise down the Mekong River to Luang Prabang, such as the Luang Say or the Nagi of Mekong, this should make joining your boat from Thailand significantly quicker and easier. Hooray!

The three other Mekong Friendship Bridges are: Vientiane-Nong Khai, Savannakhet-Mukdahan, and Khammouan-Nakhon Phanom. The construction of the fifth bridge between Bolikhamxai province of Laos and Bung Kan province in Thailand is also in the pipeline, while there is a plan to build a sixth bridge between Saravane province in Laos and Ubon Ratchathani province in Thailand.

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