Jetsettersblog

KOSRAE, Micronesia- In the South Pacific, the island of Kosrae asks volunteers to help protect their pristine reefs by capturing them with their camera. Just below the Pacific’s cerulean surface, tropical fish, pristine hard coral reefs, turtles, rays, even friendly sharks are ready to show their colors. Every fall Kosrae Village hosts an annual Coral Monitoring Project which looks at the health of some of the last remaining pristine fringe reefs in the world and their marine life.

The two-week long project attracts volunteer divers from around the world. New in the last year volunteer scuba divers will now be asked to take photos of the reefs as a way of detecting changes. Diving conditions typically include 150+ foot visibility with air and water temperatures around 84°F.

Kosrae Village, an eco lodge and PADI 5 Star Dive Center, is very active in the project and helps subsidize costs for volunteers. During the project, volunteers enjoy sleeping beneath the palm fronds of traditional Kosraen cottages and listening to the nearby waves calming crashing. Learn more about the history of the Coral Monitoring Project and other Reef Protection Projects on Kosrae at www.kosraevillage.com

www.kosraevillage.com

KOSRAE, Micronesia- Looking for a new winter vacation spot away from the cold and snow?

A place where you can wander through underwater gardens, race through tropical rainforests in search of hidden ruins, paddle through mysterious mangrove channels and fall asleep in a cottage on the beach?

Kosrae Village in the South Pacific has an adventure for everyone after stepping off the plane.

Underwater Playgrounds- Ever wonder what it would be like to swim with Nemo? Scuba dive or snorkel at sites like Hiroshi Point or Walung Coral Gardens and watch colorful fish and invertebrates play. Keep a look out for turtles, rays, urchins, and anemones.

Diving classes and all gear are available with Sleeping Lady Divers.

Mangroves Paddle outrigger canoes or kayaks through Kosrae’s mangroves where trees appear to be walking through water. A local guide can show you the way, and maybe the next day you can strike out on your own.
Ancient Ruins Search for signs of ancient civilizations on the island.

When hiking through the rainforest, watch for ancient ceremonial sites or artifacts.

You can even visit a manmade island, which was once home to Kosraen royalty. Modern historical relics are also sprinkled around the island. Take a trip to a WW II bunker or search for a Japanese radio.

All of these adventures and others such as beachcombing, surfing, fishing, weaving, and tidepooling can be found on Kosrae. Kosrae Village’s Family Fun package includes 6 nights and 7 days for less than $550 per person. Kids under 12 stay free.
www.kosraevillage.com

The Star Alliance has introduced the Micronesia Airpass. Passengers an purchase up to 10 flights on the Continental Airlines and United network across Micronesia, all in a single ticket at an attractive price.

Travel on the Micronesia Airpass can commence from any Star Alliance destination in Japan, as well as from Cairns, Guam, Hong Kong, Manila, Nadi, Palau or Saipan and is available only in conjunction with an international Star Alliance flight into any of these destinations.

Micronesia consists of more than 2,000 islands scattered across the North Pacific and is an ideal location for many types of water sports, such as scuba diving, surfing, kayaking or fishing.

Star Alliance member carriers Continental Airlines and United offer the most comprehensive airline network in Micronesia.

In addition to Guam, customers can choose to travel to: Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia; Kwajalein Atoll and Majuro in the Marshall Islands; Rota and Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands as well as Palau.

For more information, visit www.staralliance.com

KOSRAE, Micronesia- Kosrae Island is a diver and snorkeler’s paradise.

Just below the Pacific’s cerulean surface, tropical fish, pristine hard coral reefs, turtles, rays, even friendly sharks are ready to show their colors.

Novice divers can watch for octopi, shrimp, and reef fish amongst the Walung Coral Gardens.

Nearby the Walung Drop Off showcases resident schools of rainbow runners and barracuda with surprises hidden between the coral heads.

World class snorkeling is to the east at Hiroshi Point where schools of parrotfish and eagle rays swim amidst the large hard corals. Technical divers are invited to help with a 150 ft. deep island circumnavigation goal and discover new wonders. Divers interested in a bit of history can explore plane, whaler, and pirate ship wrecks in Utwe and Lelu Harbors.

On the island Kosrae Village, a local eco-lodge and dive shop, offers a Divers Delight package.

The package includes 6-nights, 7-days accommodations, 4 days diving- including 1 night day, and Nitrox (training included if needed) for under $1000! For those new to diving, the dive shop also provides PADI certification.

This fall experience the colors and adventures of the South Pacific and Kosrae Village.

www.kosraevillage.com   Read the Jetsetters Magazine feature about diving in Kosrae.

Love and Beauty on the Micronesian Shores of Kosrae
KOSRAE ISLAND, Micronesia- Lovers beware one trip to Kosrae Village and you may be scrambling to leave the urban chaos of the real world forever. Owners Bruce and Katrina fell for the lush rainforest covered cliffs and sparkling cerulean-colored waters of Kosrae Island and never looked back. Kosrae Village is an eco-adventure resort boasting ocean-front cottages, a dive shop and the delicious Inum Restaurant all created in the style of pre-contact Kosrae and built using traditional Micronesian materials and methods. Not to worry modern amenities have been added for the comfort of today’s travelers.

Lovebirds can take advantage of their many packages including the 6-day 7-night honeymoon delight deal for under $1000. Adventurous couples can snorkel stunning coral reefs, wreck dive sunken ships or trek the rainforest in search of ancient Menka and Lelu ruins. Couples wanting to give back are invited to volunteer during the annual coral monitoring project in October. In more of a laid-back relax in the sun mood? The beaches promise days full of sun, surf and relaxation, minus the crowds found in the Caribbean. This is just a taste of the beauty and adventure waiting for guests at Kosrae Village.

Don’t let the distance deter, Continental Airlines offers a special Visit Micronesia fare which commences from Hawaii and Guam. For instructions on finding this fare, stop by the Kosrae Village website or email Katrina at katrinakvr@gmail.com . Fall in love all over again at Kosrae Village.

www.kosraevillage.com

KOSRAE, Micronesia- Travelers looking for thrills look no further than Micronesia’s Kosrae Island. Traditional eco-lodge and dive resort, Kosrae Village has a 6-day 7-night Kosrae Island Exploration package for under $1000. Adventure enthusiasts can kayak the mangrove channels, dive and snorkel the stunning coral reefs, and trek through island rainforests to discover ancient ruins. For those new to scuba, or wanting to expand their skills, PADI and DSAT training are available. Additional activities such as blue fishing, with local fishermen of course, paddling outrigger canoes, and mountain climbing are offered for additional fees, $20-$50 USD. Kosrae Village also boasts the top restaurant on the island, Inum Restaurant, which serves up traditional Micronesian dishes with a few American staples mixed in. Top chefs can accommodate most dietary requests, including vegan and vegetarian options. After a day full of excitement, guests can follow the candlelit pathways to thatched cottages and fall asleep to the sounds of waves crashing nearby.
www.kosraevillage.com

The breathtaking art of the South Pacific is as close as Long Beach, at the new Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum (PieAM), which opened June 12 in Long Beach, near the Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA).

Like entering an island village, the museum features a traditionally peaked building and lush sculpture garden with native South Pacific plants.

A mural (by Long Beach native Art Mortimer) recreates a traditional Men’s House from the Island of Yap on the building’s exterior; while inside sculptures, textiles, paintings, wooden tools, jewelry and carvings from across the Pacific showcase the arts of the Marshall, Samoa, Guam, Fiji and Tongan islands.

Nationalities represented include Micronesian, Hawaiian, Ni-Vanuatu, Maori, Polynesian, Melanesian, Palauan, and the I-Kiribati.

Permanent and rotating exhibits as well as continually commissioned new works will be enhanced with traditional dance performances, interactive cultural demonstrations and learning programs.

PieAM was created by the late Dr. Robert Gumbiner, who died in January 2009, and includes his personal collection of Pacific Island ethnic art.

PieAM also is available for small-sized meetings and banquets.

www.pieam.org

LearnToSail.Net Celebrates National Safety Boating Week with Free Safety and Rules of the Road Downloads

In observation of National Safety Boating Week, LearnToSail.Net is running a free downloads campaign of The Rules of the Road and discounts on their educational CDs to raise safety awareness.

This week, to celebrate National Safety Boating Week, LearnToSail.Net is offering free safety downloads and 10% off all CD’s plus a Free Cruising Ebook and Free Sailing App with every order.

The Sailing App topic is “The Points of Sail” and is available for iPad, iPod, iTouch, iPhone and Blackberry. The apps also run on Mac or Windows PC. The Points of Sail App is one of 16 beginner Sailing Apps from Apps4Sailing.com, sister site of LearnToSail.Net.

In addition to the free App, free for download without purchase are The Rules of the Road, and articles on Wearing a Life Jacket and Anchoring.

Apps4Sailing.com is a website featuring beginner sailing applications for iPad, iPhone, and Blackberry, allowing new or rusty sailors access to affordable, individual sailing lessons anytime from anywhere. Taught by a US Coast Guard Licensed Captain and Instructor of American Sailing Association Classes, the lessons are arranged in the order a typical sailing course. Starting with Parts of a Boat, the lessons continue on to other topics such as Wind Theory, Balance, The Points of Sail, Leaving Docks and Moorings, Tacking, Person Overboard Techniques, Righting a Capsize, Knots, Anchoring and much more. These topics are taught using narration, animation and digital video. The user is free to select whatever class she or he wishes to take at anytime and from anywhere on Earth.

The Cd’s “Learn to Sail with Multimedia VOL I and II” and “Learn Coastal Navigation” at LearnToSail.Net are structured to follow the order of a typical sailing or boating course. The topics are taught using Narration, Animation and Digital Video.

There is a Nautical Dictionary, Sailing Terms Glossary and Quiz.

The user is free to move around the program as she or he pleases and at whatever pace they set.

Both programs are designed to run on all versions of Windows and are easy to install.

“It is very important that all boaters know the Rules of the Road and safety measures.”, states Linda Cullum, CEO of LearnToSail.Net. “I am hoping boaters will come to our website just for the free downloads on safety. There are alot of newbies out there every season and I surely hope they are up to date with rules and safety gear.”

Sailing instructional software is a useful tool and beneficial to those who want to learn or brush up on their skills.

Sailing maneuvers can be taught and practiced anytime of year and conveniently at home.

The user controls the pace and level of learning.

This allows more time to absorb new information.

When it is time for those hands on summer classes, the educated beginner, familiar with terms and technique, will have a greater return on investment.

Advanced lessons are also on the agenda for Apps4Sailing.com. The lessons were created using “Learn to Sail with Multimedia VOL I and II”. Adding 20 years of instruction experience, Captain Susan Smith enriches the learning environment by going into great detail with each lesson and adding valuable sailing tips. The Apps can be played on PC or Mac as well.

Currently, the lessons are downloaded onto the user’s computer in the requested device format and can be played on PC or Mac as well. Android and other formats are in production.

For more information, please visit http://LearnToSail.Net

The ‘First in Surfing News’ iPhone app has been released by Surfersvillage and is aimed at surfers, the surf-industry, and lifestyle enthusiasts.

The launch coincided with Apple’s iPad going on sale in the USA.

Available to download for free on the Apple App Store, the tool helps surfers, surf-Industry personnel, surf-media, and lifestyle entusiasts keep up to date with the latest news in surfing from around the world. The Surfersvillage iPhone App is the first and only app dedicated to Surfing News.

The Surfersvillage First in Surfing News iPhone app launch version features:

FREE download to users

Content includes:
- International Surfing News
- Surf-Industry News
- ASP Surfing News
- Regional Surfing News from;
- Africa
- Australia
- Brazil
- Europe
- Hawaii
- USA
http://itunes.apple.com/app/surfersvillage/id364266772?mt=8

First of its kind, iPhone app educating people about beach safety
Rips and currents are the number one hazard on beaches and are the cause of most rescues and many drownings a year.

So the creators of www.mysurfworld.com have just brought out the only iPhone application of its kind educating people around the world about beach safety.

This application provides information about rips, currents, stingers and even sharks.

With everything you need to know about rips and currents, there is now no excuse to get caught in a rip ever again whilst swimming at the beach.

Majority of the people that go to the beach have no idea of the purpose and function of rips and not to mention, why we must have them. Not to worry, all of your questions regarding Rips are answered in this one and only iPhone application.

What you will learn from this application about rips and currents :

- What a rip and a current
- How they are formed
- Why do they exist
- How to identify rips
- How to survive and stay in control
- Why are they dangerous
- Commonly located

The application also provides vital information regarding treatment of jellyfish and blue bottle stings.

Along with facts about sharks and their behaviors and what signs may indicate that a shark could be present and also what may attract sharks.

When majority of people go to the beach they are more than likely to take there mobile phone incase of emergency.

By having this application on your iPhone or iPod you will be able to have all of the information in the palm of your hand allowing you to identify the dangers which may be in front of you before entering the water.

At the moment the first release is only available in English but www.mysurfworld.com are working on localizing the application so it is available in French, Portuguese, Japanese, Italian and German.

The application is now available in the iTunes store.

www.mysurfworld.com