30
April
2007
That’s what Hantu Blog volunteer Marcel dan Herder from the Netherlands texted me on my mobile phone after surfacing from the 2nd dive at Hantu last Sunday. He was so excited from his dive as he had to tell me as soon as the dive was over that he’d seen a huge blue cod, which we also call groupers.
Down with a cold, I missed out on Sunday’s dive but it seems it was one of the best days at Hantu since! Apparently 6m vis, which was very welcome for all. Even regular divers Chay Hoon and Wai were thrilled at the findings from Sundays dive, and they are out in local waters ALOT! So I get to experience the excitement vicariously though the wonderful and insightful Blogs of 2 very enthusiatic divers…
Apart from the common animals such as swimmer crabs and sea slugs and flat worms, the divers also spotted and photographed the elusive Gorgonian shrimp or Sawtooth shrimp, which we haven’t seen in awhile! Good to know that they are back on our reefs! These slender shrimps live on sea whips and remain hidden by staying absolutely still along the length of the coral, much like whip gobies! Below are some pix taken by Wai on her Fire & Light Blog.
Chay Hoon also managed to catch a glimpse of “not one but THREE!” ceratosoma (pictured below). See her account and pictures on the Colourful Clouds Blog and check out the other amazing pictures and creatures that were observed last Sunday.
Posted: Uncategorized
16
April
2007
Channel NewsAsia 11 Apr 07
SINGAPORE : Beginning May 2, passengers will have to pay $4 more for ferry tickets between Marina South Pier and the Southern Islands. The new charges for adults will now be $15, while children will have to pay $12.
The operators of the ferry services York Launch says there are two reasons for the increase - the low number of passengers on the routes to Kusu and St John’s Islands, and the berthing cost of its ferries onto these islands. It says the previous operator, Sentosa Leisure Group, used to absorb the berthing cost which ranged from $5 to $10 for each boat, and 50 cents for each passenger.
York Launch takes over the operation of ferry services on May 2.
Full story
Posted: Uncategorized
16
April
2007
By Krist Boo Straits Times 12 Apr 07
Five months after announcing with much fanfare that the Southern Islands would be turned into the next big tourist attraction, the plans have been put on hold.
Although the Singapore Tourism Board wouldn’t reveal why, industry sources say the Government is considering housing a casino on the six-island cluster. If this is true, the islands could remain asthey are for the next 10 years.
If the two IRs prove to be successful, the Southern Islands will command a premium, the tourism industry sources said.
The STB would not comment on the speculation, saying only: ‘A premium destination, an eco-tourism resort, or an attraction
leveraging on the islands’ existing cultural elements - all remain possibilities.’
The STB had, in November last year, said it would in the first quarter of this year come up with tender guidelines to transform the island into a tourist attraction, possibly for the well-heeled.
The board did meet potential investors in January to gauge their interest and listen to ideas, but the results apparently were not very encouraging.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, STB’s assistant chief executive for leisure, Dr Chan Tat Hong, said: ‘No decision has been made yet on a development concept, including whether an RFC (request for concepts) exercise will be launched.’
Full story
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