Kasawari Lembeh Resort is open for business! Located in the Lembeh Strait of North Sulawasi, Indonesia, this new luxury resort is designed specifically to cater to the needs of photographers. Owned and operated by the owners of MY AquaOne liveaboard, this high-end boutique resort caters to a maximum of 20 guests, with a maximum of eight divers per boat.

Photographers and videographers who’ve experienced frustrations with their special needs will appreciate the dedicated photography/ videography area, charging stations for everyone, a huge dive centre, large tables to spread your photo gear onto, ample rinse tanks - in short, everything you need to set your mind at ease and concentrate on getting the images and footage you want. Also, you can fill your air tanks on the boat, so you don’t have to lug your gear back and forth.

FiNS Magazine contributor Jez Tryner is currently diving around Bali. Here are some brief updates from Jez: Read more…

Divers to Pattaya have a new wreck to look forward to – the HTMS Kut.

Members of the Royal Thai Navy attended the sinking on 17 September 2006, where the HTMS Kut was filled with sea water by Navy fire fighting vessels before the decent to her final resting place around 300 metres off the North East corner of Koh Sak. Read more…

Bali is one of the most enchanting places to visit. Towering volcanoes, ornate temples and a fascinating culture never fails to captivate. But what many people don’t know is that Bali has some truly world class diving. For the past two years, I’ve led groups of experienced divers and underwater photographers to Bali — all of whom were stunned by its beauty. Hopefully this four-part blog gives you an idea of what Bali has to offer and also an insight to my favourite itinerary. Read more…

Jump right into the best diving has to offer! Issue 5.5 of FiNS Magazine is out already, but if you can’t wait to start reading, check out PDF versions of some of the main destination pieces:

Bali: Explore the northeast shores with Jez Tryner
Bali: Winnifred Wong on a trip to paradise with Bali Hai Cruises
Myanmar: A treasure trove in the Mergui Archipelago by Stephen Wong & Takako Uno
PNG: Hop on the MV FeBrina with Bob Halstead
Sabah: Diving in style in the Sulu Sea by Andrea & Antonella Ferrari

* The offer still stands! Mention the FiNS Blog when you reserve your spot aboard Voyager’s Komodo itinerary, and get 2 nights free at Tauch Terminal’s luxury villas…worth US$570!

Dive the very best of Komodo National Park in style with two special cruises aboard the Voyager, part of Tauch Terminal Bali’s Liveaboard Service. Read more…

DiveFilm Podcast Video has been chosen by Apple as one of its “Featured Video Podcasts, TV & Film,” along with other video podcosts such as National Geographic Video Shorts and HBO Documentary Films. DiveFilm Podcast Video is the first diving-related podcast to achieve this level of recognition at iTunes.

DiveFilm podcasts are produced by our good friends at DiveFilm and Wetpixel. Head over to the iTunes store and download some of the (free!) amazing video footage to watch on your computer or iPod! If you’re not familiar with podcasting yet, there’s more information on the DiveFilm and Wetpixel sites.

News of the military coup in Thailand has spread around the world since the coup took place last night. The FiNS Magazine team in Thailand has prepared this update:

Troops are all around the city, but everything has been completely peaceful. The soldiers are all poilte, and people are free to walk around. Many of the soldiers have tied yellow or blue ribbons on themselves as a sign of respect for our King, who is loved by everyone in the country. Read more…

Starhub, one of Singapore’s leading telecommunications, television and internet providers, recently sent out a promotional package which includes a seemingly contradictory message.

On the one hand, there’s a 15% discount voucher for shark fin, promoted with the tagline “A taste of Thai I can’t resist.”

But on the other hand, there’s a 15% discount voucher for scuba diving courses, promoted with the tagline “I like my fish wild, not on a plate.”

So Starhub — Which is it? Eat the sharks, or swim with them?

Feel free to ask Starhub yourself via email.

Remember Kingsley — the winner of our “Dive into Cairns!” seminar held in April? He walked away with the grand prize of a 4D/ 3N trip aboard Taka Dive to the world-famous Cod Hole + 3 nights at the Bohemia Resort Cairns + a brand new Canon camera with underwater housing. He’s taken his trip, and he’s now back to share his experiences! Read on for all the exciting details in Kingsley’s travel journal. And stay tuned to the FiNS Blog for more exciting trips and prizes! Read more…