Calaguas, Philippines

Explorers members who went: Josephine Palencia

Scouted 3 dive sites (50ft), saw a 1.5meter long sea snake (Sea snakes are the most poisonous snakes.. they belong to the cobra family). The snake was colored blue with black stripes. They can last 5 hours underwater and just come up the surface to breath. Other cited organisms were huge lion fishes, family of clown fish, cauliflower corals as big as 2meters, huge fish schools, (flying fish, sardines), stingrays, tanguigue (King Mackerels). Stayed on the safer side of the islands. The place is swarming with tiger sharks and sea snakes fortunately those can be found at deeper depths (i.e. the tiger sharks).

-J. Palencia

Summersville Lake, WV

Explorers members who went: Josephine Palencia, Carla Costa

Left for Summersville Camp late Friday and arrived 4 hours later. Set up out tent, dive gear (loaded compressed air). Dove at wreck with 2 platforms (60ft), the wall (50ft), near shore (40ft) and did my first lead dive with Carla (40ft) from the dock. Also experience buddy breathing for an entire dive :) (er.. ran out of air). We rented 2 pontoon boats and dove for 2 days. Weather cooperated.

-J. Palencia

Cancun/Cozumel, Mexico

Explorers members who went: Josephine Palencia

Flew from Pittsburgh to Cancun, Mexico and stayed at Blue Bay club (bluebayclub.com). There were 22 of us, 15 total divers.

We dove for 4 days doing 2 dives/day going with with mantadivers.com.

In Cancun, we dove Black tip (Punta Negra)-60ft), Garampin (50ft), C-58 (80ft), Santo Remegio (night dive0-saw the most beautiful 2ft octopus, lots of bluefishes, 1meter wide turtles (caught a ride), lots of lobster, stingrays.

Then went to Cenote to do cave/rn diving at Chac-Mool. I did 2 dives with Nitrox (enhanced air). Proceeded to Cozumel (one of the top dive spots in Mexico/world for coral wall diving) and had spectacular dives of Palancar caves (90-100ft). Probably one of the best dive sites I've seen. Definitely going back to Cozumel. Then proceeded to dive last at Chankanah (50ft).

Too bad I didn't have a camera to take photos during cave/rn scuba diving so adding one that would give an idea of Cenote's chacmool.

-J. Palencia

Canton Air Sports, OH

Don and Greg made a bit of a spur-of-the-moment trip out to CAS on 5.15.2009 and spent the day making jumps with a notable group of AFF students and fun jumpers. After arriving at 1pm, Don & Greg each made 5 jumps, including some freeflying, RW, and licensing work. 'Twas another great day of skydiving!

-G. MacLean

Part I:

Part II:

Canton Air Sports, OH

Despite a cloudy weather forecast for the day, Greg and Mike led a trip around Pennsylhio, joined by 3 new tandem students (P4ND4, Rhia, Collin) and an experienced jumper from Switzerland (Guido). After departing from the UC Turnaround shortly after 8am, the group eventually found a welcoming sky over Canton AirSports and began a day of many highlights. Among most noteworthy events, the three students experienced their first skydive, Guido experienced his first (2) skydives in America, and Greg made his 200th jump! Mike (and Greg) celebrated his birthday with 4 jumps, including two hop-n-pop skydives from only 5k feet, and Greg discovered a new, apparent affinity for obstacles!

-G. MacLean

Check out all the videos below!

Greg's trip compilation:

P4ND4's tandem skydive:

Collin's first skydive: