It was an early 7am start, but well worth it. Our first dive was at Koh Tao’s famous dive site Chumphon Pinnacle, where we were lucky enough to see a whaleshark. The gentle giant was around 5 meters long and we had a great 45 min dive with it passing us many times. The sighting will be added to the Project aware shark trust data base, which monitors shark and whaleshark numbers around the world.

We had 18 people for the secound clean-up dive and we would like to thank everyone for there help, I think a free shot in the bar tonight is well deserved. The clean-up was on sairee reef , close to the beach where all the boats moor up in the evening. We collected 5 large bags of debris ranging from electrical wire, cardboard boxes, a car tire, plastic sheeting and well over 100 plastic and glass bottles. So many thanks to everyone who was involved in doing there part in preserving our paradise island.

Here at DJL Dibing we are proud members of PROJECT AWARE and a GO-ECO operator, it’s our responsibility to do all we can to help the local enviroment. We will be holding monthly clean-up days and starting a new coral reef monitoring project in the coming weeks.

So please remember to do all you can to keep our oceans a beautiful place to dive for yourself and the divers of the future.

Mike, Pete & Ash

Drongo & Canada

Congratulations to the latest PADI instructors Mike (Canada) and Ash (Australia).

Both were ex-Divemasters at Davy Jones Locker and passed their final exams with flying colours!

The guys intend to further their PADI education to MSDT level.

Again well done to Pete, our course director who keeps up his amazing 100% pass rate. I know the lads both speak very highly of pete and would like to say a big thank you!

See you all in the DJL bar later guys for a big celebration party!

Jules, Damien, Frankie, Nigel & Ross

A BIG Congratulations to Jules, Damien, Frankie, Nigel & Ross who have just completed their Power Boat Handling course with Davy Jones Locker.

The BSAC Boat Handling course (which is designed for divers) taught the guys chart work, position fixing and navigation over a one week period.

With all 5 students passing their final exam all finish with an internationally recognised boat handling qualification, which is authorised by both the Marine Coastguard Agencies (MCA) and Combined Diving Association (PADI, BSAC, SSA).

The celebrations went on well into the night at DJL’s pool bar where the 5 new skippers were welcomed in the traditional way of 3 shots of rum after they were presented with DJL dive coxswain caps.

Well done guys and good luck from all at Davy Jones Locker!

For more information on the boat handling course see http://www.davyjoneslocker.asia/en/component/content/article/158-internship/286-boat-handling.html

Another 2 New certified Divemasters successfully completed their Divemaster internship at DJL. Adrian Cole and Heesham Garroun both from Australia have just spent the past 2 – 4 months working hard and enjoying the great diving Koh Tao has to offer. The guys came as novice divers but after lots of swim tests, assits, lectures, skill circuits and leading dives, the two aussies excelled themselves as excellent Divemasters. After completing the course Adrian also continued his further education and completed his Videography course and provided some fun wacky dive videos.

Myself and the rest of the DJL team would like to congratulate the boys and wish them every success in the future.

Davy Jones Locker is now a Project AWARE Official Go Eco Operator.

Project AWARE Foundation conserves underwater environments through education, advocacy and action.

Project AWARE Foundation is a registered nonprofit organization. In partnership with scuba divers and water enthusiasts, Project AWARE offices located in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland and Japan combine efforts to conserve aquatic resources in more than 180 countries and territories of the world.

Project AWARE Foundation works in partnership with divers and water enthusiasts to combat challenges facing underwater environments. Project AWARE and dedicated volunteers are committed to conservation initiatives including:
•Underwater Cleanups and Marine Debris Prevention
•Coral Reef Conservation, Monitoring and Data Collection
•Shark Education, Reporting and Conservation
•Improved Management Policies and Marine Protection Efforts
•Environmental Training for Divers and Education Programs for Kids

As a Go ECO Operator DJL is committed to environmentally responsible business practices and to providing our customers with dive experiences that enhance visitor awareness of our local aquatic environment.

DJL is proud to be one of only two Go ECO Operators here on Koh Tao. Stay tuned for the latest ECO friendly projects that DJL will be hosting or check out the project AWARE website at projectaware.org.

DJL Diving is proud to announce that we are now member of the Shark Trust organization. This is a group dedicated to advancing worldwide conservation of sharks through science, education, influence and action.

DJL will be uploading all shark, whaleshark and sting ray sightings on the Shark Trust website www.sharktrust.org.

We feel that submitting our sightings will provide useful data to researchers and conservationists working with sharks and rays around the world. Hopefully this will have a positive impact on the understanding of certain species and provide data to support management considerations to help ensure a sustainable future for sharks and rays.

DJL will be monitoring all sightings and letting you guys know when and where we spot these amazing underwater animals, so keep logged on to the DJL website and check out the sharktrust site for our up to the date sightings.

We are also proud to announce we will be hosting on a number of beach and underwater clean up events in the coming months, so keep logged on for the latest information on that.

A big Congratulations to January’s IDC candidates, Harry (England) and Bastiaan (Holland) on becoming PADI Instructors. The guys passed with flying colours clocking up the highest IE scores to date. Both are continuing their dive careers as Master Scuba Diver Trainees and we wish them every success. Thanks to Pete, DJL’s course director for training Harry and Bastiaan and maintaining an excellent pass rate!

After completing the theory and pool work, I knew that this was going to be an easy PADI Open Water Course. Anthony and Joanne, both from England took to diving like a fish to the sea. The guys excelled in the pool, completing all the skills with ease and when it was time to do our first two Open Water dives I knew we wouldn’t have any problems. The First dive was at Twin Rocks and the conditions weren’t perfect but that didn’t stop both students doing an excellent job, we saw moral eels, nudibranch and lots more cool fish that call this dive site, the second dive at Sairee Reef were we had to complete 2 mask skills and a few others which the guys made look easy. The final 2 dive and an early 7 am start. With one of the shops videographers in tow we made our third dive of the course on the popular Koh Tao dive site of White Rock. Descending down to 18 meters for the first time, we saw a cool blue spotted stingray and lots of angel fish. Dive four we decided to go to twins again and this time the conditions were much better, with good vis we did our first free decent, a few more skills and a great dive.
So after lots of great diving, waving to the camera and a very easy course to teach, I am very happy to give Anthony and Joanne the their PADI Open Water cards. Well done guys and I can’t wait to teach more great Open Water Courses in 2010.

Yes thats right folks, DJL bar are re-launching their famous pool partys! Kicking off this friday and every friday after, DJLs’ very own pool bar will be offering cheap drinks, top tunes from live DJs, lots of party games, BBQ, new and improved cocktails and free shots.

So we hope to see all you guys and girls there for a splashing time!

Since our friends at Goodtime Adventures threw down the gauntlet and claimed to have circumnavigated koh tao in 19 minutes we stepped up to the challenge and set a new DJL record. With conditions near to perfect we set out to challenge the record in our high speed rib with just enough fuel to speed around the island as quick as possible. On the last attempt we set a time of 24 minutes but this time round with less passengers and fuel managed to circumnavigate in 21 minutes! Although still 2 minutes away from Goodtime Adventures time we feel this new DJL record is more than respectable and in the good spirit of competition would like to offer our speedy friends at Goodtime a swiss time keeping devise and digital camera to record their alleged 19 minute trip!

With Christmas time approaching itis very important to spend time with the people you love.  Well maybe in this case “love” a little bit of a strong word. No offence guys. “The office” is a place where your motorbike goes automatically as soon as you start it. People come in an have a cup of coffee and a chat about the weather. HAHA!  We do have some good conversations as well.  It is nice to come in to work and be a part of a team that enjoys diving as much as you.  Not only is diving about enjoying the fish ,but it is also about spending time with people with the same interests as you.  Koh Tao internships is your way to really get to know the people here at Davey Jones’ Locker.  Working as a diving professional is not a dream but a reality for me…

Watch out ladies, Dan's qualified as an OWSI today and so he's sure to be out celebrating tonight

OWSI completed next up for Paul the MSDT

Stefan receives his Instructor certificate

Congratulations to December’s IDC candidates, Stefan (Germany), Paul (England) and Daniel (England) on becoming PADI Instructors.  We had some great fun during the IDC and they all had excellent scores during their Instructor Exams.

Here's our Course Director Pete with three of the newest PADI Diving Instructors on Koh Tao

Tonight we’re gonna celebrate at our pool bar with a BBQ and DJ’s so leave your bikes at home! On the 19th we start with the MSDT Course intro and we have a group of 7, so this is gonna be fun.

Dan & Paul both completed the Divemaster training here with us at DJL and are both going to go on to take the MSDT here starting in a few days time, then who knows where they’ll end up, but as the season here is just about to start I’m sure they’ll both be looking to get straight into teaching their first courses as PADI Instructors here on Koh Tao and sticking around for a while.

Peter our Course Director here at DJL was extremely happy with the guys and they all passed which means 2009 is another year of 100% pass rate for his IDC candidates, keep up the good work Pete!

While talking to one of our friends over a beer (Tim at Good Time Adventures) he mentioned he had circumnavagited Koh Tao in 19 minutes; we reckoned we could do it faster and in the sprit of friendly competition the gaunlet was thrown down. That afternoon I set out to have a rekki with a 0 .5 mtr sea state blowing into the east coast, we knew the record wasn’t on but we still managed to get around in a respectable 24 minutes. We reckon if we reduce the weight by removing the 5 passengers, and by getting the right amount of fuel on board and with a flat sea state we will get around in 15 minutes; watch this space…

Just after circumnavigating Koh Tao

View of Sairee Bay from villa balcony

We are pleased to announce the completion of our villas on Koa Tao. This accommodation is intended to give our customers the chance to enjoy all the benefits of luxury in paradise. The two bedroom villas have air-con and satelite TV, although with the amazing views over Sairee Beach you probably wont want to watch it. They also have a private pool and complete seclusion. There is a kitchen with breakfast bar,  maid service and the option of having your own chef to prepare you some of the best of Thai cuisine. If you would like to book one of our villas or for further information contact phil@daveyjoneslocker.asia

View of bedroom from balcony

View of balcony and pool from bedroom

Breakfast bar and kitchenView of lower and upper balconies

View of upper and lower balconies