Harlequin Crab in Manado

Found Herlequin Crab (Lissocarcinus Laevis) at Odyssea 1. Photo taken by James Mamoto.

Xeno crab in Mando.

Xeno crab at Aba Point in Manado. Photo taken by James Mamoto

at Aba point in Manado

Beautiful nudibranch found at Aba point! Photo taken by James Mamoto.

James Mamoto... Scuba Instructor! Congratulations!!!

James (2nd from left) with the rest of the Instructor Candidates and PADI Examiner Jim Woodlull (fifth from left)

Odyssea Divers :: James Mamoto, one of the pioneer members of Odyssea Divers, could not even swim when he first joined our company and on 5th September, he fulfilled his dream of becoming a Scuba Instructor!


Learning to swim first , progressing to snorkeling and then finally becoming a diver in less than a month, James finally got his break to start his career as a dive guide back in 2004. Through the years, after logging hundreds of dives a year guiding Odyssea and Cocotinos' guests, he became a certified Dive Master in 2009. In 2010, he enrolled in the PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC).

Without a doubt, 2011 will be the most memorable year for James. In April, James won the Asian Diver Magazine's "Best-In-Class" Individual Award and 5 months later successfully completed the PADI Instructor Exams (with flying colours!) to become a Scuba Instructor!


James also became the first staff member in our Odyssea Divers' sponsorship program to start from entry level diving to becoming a Scuba Instructor.



We will also see another staff member become a Scuba Instructor this year, stay tuned for our next broadcast!!

Awarded Best Dive Individual at ADEX 2011

Another first for Odyssea Divers! James Mamoto, our Dive Guide from Odyssea Divers, Manado, was awarded the Asia Dive Expo's "Best in Class - Dive Individual" at the recently concluded ADEX 2011 held in Singapore.

James was a member of our opening team back in 2004, spotted while working on the project building of Kima Bajo Resort & Spa - where Odyssea Divers was the first Dive Centre operating within the resort. A native of the Minahasa Highlands, the ocean was one of the last places he had thought of having a career in. The recognition from this award has certainly given him assurance that his choice and all his hard work has really paid off.

"Thanks to everyone for all the support. I hope, with this award, I can show others that hard work and being in good, professional environment are important ingredients for success." - James

James (Right) with Pierre, showing his award certificate