Taiwan & Philippines Expedition 2024

We started the Taiwan portion of the spring 2024 overseas trip in March and wrapped up the trip in the beginning of April. We ventured down to the southern tip of Taiwan and enjoyed diving in Kenting National Park. We loved the rustic and laid-back feeling of Kenting and we felt we experienced more authentic Taiwan. This was such a fun-filled and memorable trip that we started planning another Taiwan trip while we were still there.
Some of us continued on to Anilao, Philippines, after the Taiwan portion of the trip. We were joined by more Ocean Safari divers there for a 5-nights, 6-day dive trip. Anilao is considered macro photography heaven, but there were more than just tiny critters to see. Of course we saw countless tiny nudibranchs, shrimps, crabs, and fish, but we also enjoyed swimming over a wide field of heathy coral reef teeming with fish. We enjoyed our stay at the resort and had so much fun diving and hanging out with each other. We were discussing planning another trip there before we even started packing for our trip home.
Epic November
It was a record setting November for Ocean Safari. We had five different overseas diving and eco expeditions in three weeks – Galapagos, Ecuador, Cabo Pulmo, La Paz, and Magdalena Bay Sardine Run. Alongside the overseas trips, we also ran local dive trips to Catalina, pool sessions, and seminars. This was one of our busiest November, but it was a month of great adventures and wonderful memories for everyone. We look forward to setting another record in the near future.
Ocean Safari 31st Annual New Year Party
Dear OSDT Divers, Family, and Friends,
You are cordially invited to our New Year Party on Saturday, January 6, 2024.
Let's welcome in the new year together!! Bring your family, and friends. We will have food & drinks, slide/video shows, and prize drawing. There is no charge for our party. Rain or shine, let's welcome in the new year together!
Time: Saturday, January 6, 2024 from 12pm - 3pm
Location: Ocean Safari Parking Lot
This event is a pot luck, so please bring one dish or BBQ meat and/or vegetable of your choice sufficient for 4 people (max 4 servings, otherwise we'll have too much food).
BYOB - bring your own beverage/booz.
We will provide BBQ grill and ice chest.
Hang out with fellow divers and exchange diving stories.
We will have filtered water, so we encourage you to bring your reusable canteens. Please do not bring bottled water as a potluck item.
Prize Drawing - we will be giving away prizes totaling over $1000 in value (donated by Ocean Safari and various manufacturers).
Important:
San Ignacio Gray Whale Watching and Glamping Adventure
During the last week of March, we headed to San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur for a gray whale encounter and glamping adventure.
We first flew to San Jose del Cabo. After a briefing at the dive center, we had time to go out for tacos before heading out on a complimentary humpback whale watching boat tour arranged by Nautilus. Then we checked into the hotel and relaxed. Some of us went on a leisurely walk to the nearby San Jose estuary before dinner. We could have gone to the trendy looking restaurants near the hotel, but we opted for a more authentic experience at a taco place about 15 minutes away.
Next morning, we flew to San Ignacio Lagoon, where we stayed in insulated and windproof tents that had heaters, ensuite bathrooms and showers, hot and cold running water, power, and real beds. We enjoyed encounters with gray whales in the lagoon, kayaking, walking on the beach and the sand dunes, stargazing, and hanging out around the camp.
The gray whales in this breeding and birthing lagoon choose to swim over to the pangas to be caressed, stroked, and rubbed. Most of the whales we encountered were mothers with their calves. It was amazing to see the mother whales approach with their calves and allow us to touch them. Some of us got to hug and even kiss the whales! It was such a fun trip.
Trip report by Megumi
Diving Triton Bay - by Judy Ho Orange