News
DIVE 2016 Exhibitor Showcase
With the UK’s biggest dive show just around the corner, Scubaverse brings you an exclusive sneak-peak at what you can expect to see at DIVE 2016 from some of this year’s exhibitors.
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Scuba Tours Worldwide
STAND NUMBER: 890
PHONE: +44(0)1284 748010
EMAIL: sales@scubascuba.com
WEBSITE: www.scubascuba.com
Maldives specialists and experts in tailor made dive holidays to the world’s top dive destinations.
We’ve got some amazing trips to Socorro and Galapagos to tempt you with – two destinations that we know very well and are so popular due to their big animal encounters.
We are presenting two Exhibitor Seminars each day ‘Galapagos: the Enchanted Islands’ and ‘Diving with the Manta of the Maldives and Socorro’. Dr Anne-Marie Kitchen-Wheeler, who studied manta rays for her PhD, will be giving the talks and sharing with you her fantastic knowledge and enthusiasm for these beautiful creatures, as well as her first-hand experience of diving in the Maldives, Socorro and the Galapagos Islands.
French Polynesia is our newest destination, so come and ask us about diving in paradise … and find out about a special Red Sea trip that we’re busy planning! We will also have new Maldives Resorts to tell you about, some fabulous Show Offers and a ‘Name the Manta’ Competition for you to enter.
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Dive Master Insurance
STAND NUMBER: 950
PHONE: +44 (0)1702 476902
EMAIL: sales@divemasterinsurance.com
WEBSITE: www.divemasterinsurance.com
On 1st June 1987 Dive Master Insurance Consultants commenced its business as an independent insurance provider to recreational divers in the UK.
Early on we innovated many new insurance products for the developing recreational sports diver market and the associated dive trade. Today we also provide insurance to recreational dive professionals, underwater film & media, and underwater scientific & archaeological projects. Many of the underwater scenes you see on TV, web based media or films are insured through us!
However, recreational diving remains at the core of our business activities and we are probably the largest independent provider of recreational dive related insurance in the world. Our business is built on our reputation for reliability and integrity; we are the partner the dive trade relies on and our brand is respected by sports divers worldwide. As we approach our 30th Anniversary we’d like to thank you all for your custom and wish you safe and happy diving!
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Dive Worldwide
STAND NUMBER: 600
PHONE:+44(0)1962 302087
EMAIL: sales@diveworldwide.com
WEBSITE: www.diveworldwide.com
Atlantis Resorts – The Philippines
The Philippines, part of the renowned ‘Coral Triangle’, are home to some of the world’s greatest marine biodiversity… in particular the incredible array of corals. The Atlantis resorts, in Dumaguete and Puerto Galera, provide the perfect place to explore the region’s world-class diving with up to five dives per day offered at both resorts.
The Atlantis Beach Resort, Dumaguete is a boutique resort only 20 minutes from Dumaguete and set in lush tropical gardens packed with indigenous plants, trees and visited by exotic birds. Diving highlights in this area mainly focus on the incredible macro life found along the Negros coastline, with the Atlantis House Reef is a great site to begin your adventure.
The Puerto Galera Atlantis Beach Resort is situated on Sabang Beach, and features 40 rooms and suites offering maximum comfort and privacy. Dives range from shallow reef dives to channel dives with a plethora of marine life and some of the most diverse coral reef diving in the region.
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Diverse Travel
STAND NUMBER: 232
PHONE: +44(0)800 9154436
EMAIL: info@diversetravel.co.uk
WEBSITE: www.diversetravel.co.uk
Looking for expert advice, well-priced holidays and first hand reviews? Look no further. Visit the Diverse Travel team to book the holiday of your dreams to just about anywhere in the world.
Years of working with some of the best dive operators means you are sure of a seamless experience from your first conversation to your last dive. Enjoy the best itineraries and great value with Diverse Travel’s expertise in tailor- making holidays.
Why travel with Diverse?
- Tailor-made holidays from scuba diving to hotels to tours
- Honest, expert advice, well-informed recommendations
- Great value, fair prices, exclusive offers
- ATOL protected
Visit Stand 232 to find out more and check out the show offers.
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O’Three
STAND NUMBER: 730
PHONE: +44 (0) 1305 822820
EMAIL: info@othree.co.uk
WEBSITE: www.othree.co.uk
Stand out from the crowd… Not anonymous units dispatched next day! A quality dry suit should be with you for years, as long as you take a little time to consider and discuss your options.
When buying an O’Three dry suit, your options are endless and our time afforded to you is limitless. You will not become a number, your dry suit will not be an anonymous unit, and we will support you for years to come.
Come and visit is on stand 730 and experience the difference in comfort, safety and longevity that a drysuit tailored to your needs can give you.
Our full range of suits will be on show, from our Port 10 workhorse to the Technical diver’s perennial favourite the Ri 2-100. We have suits to cover all types of diving and budget.
Our Base Layers, Hoods and Gloves will be on the stand for you to try on as well as the range of options you can apply to your new O’Three Drysuit.
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Emperor Divers
STAND NUMBER: 230
PHONE: +44(0)20 36950974
EMAIL: info@emperordivers.com
WEBSITE: www.emperormaldives.com, www.emperordivers.com
Biggest fleet of Maldives liveaboards | Top service & value for money
When it’s Red Sea day boat diving, house reef or liveaboards, you get the best service at undeniably great value with Emperor. Getting your own flight? Emperor can help with hotel and diving packages giving you the complete holiday experience.
The Red Sea is the perfect year-round destination from the UK; we cover more ground (and sea) than most with centres in El Gouna, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh and an exciting liveaboard programme.
Our Maldives liveaboard fleet now offers SIX choices: Emperor Serenity (new for 2016), Emperor Orion, Emperor Voyager, Emperor Virgo, Emperor Leo and Emperor Atoll with some of the best value diving on a variety of routes. Read testimonials on Feefo and TripAdvisor for the full pleasing picture. Visit Emperor at Stand 230 to find out more, check out their show offers and enter a competition with the chance to win Red Sea diving.
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Caribbean Fun Travel
STAND NUMBER: CV10
PHONE: +44(0) 1604 882929
EMAIL: info@caribbeanfuntravel.co.uk
WEBSITE: www.caribbeanfuntravel.co.uk
Caribbean Fun Travel are the UK dive specialist for the Caribbean, offering holidays to some of the best dive destinations in the world GRENADA – BONAIRE – CURACAO – ARUBA – SABA – ST. MARTIN.
The good news is that during 2017 Caribbean Fun Travel will add St. Lucia, Barbados, the Bahamas, Antigua, St. Kitts, Turks & Caicos and Tobago to our holiday destinations – places snorkellers and divers can enjoy. We are family team and have visited the accommodation we offer. Local knowledge is the vital element of our tailor-made holiday itineraries and we have spent some time finding the best options for divers. All accommodation is offered based on our personal recommendation supported by real customer feedback.
We can find the best accommodation to suit your personal preference and budget. Our holidays are ATOL protected.
Booking with Caribbean Fun Travel is easier – cheaper – safer.
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Scuba Travel
STAND NUMBER: 724 A & B plus Scuba Travel TALKS stand
PHONE: +44(0)1483 411590 or +44(0)800 0728221
EMAIL: dive@scubatravel.com
WEBSITE: www.scubatravel.com
Great holidays don’t happen by accident. Scuba Travel are the undisputed dive experts.
There’s a holiday waiting for you at stand 724 A&B with our unmissable show offers! We’ve hand picked our dive centres, hotels and liveaboards to create award winning holidays. No matter what your budget or underwater passion, we’ve got you covered.
Dive with the best in the Red Sea, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Indonesia, Palau, Galapagos, Cocos, Socorro, the Caribbean, Fiji and Truk! Win a trip on board ScubaSpa. Maldives. Diving’s biggest names will be giving talks on our dedicated stage, just behind our stand. Win huge holiday vouchers at the tombola after each presentation.
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Safari Diving
STAND NUMBER: 524
PHONE: +34 928 511 992 or Wendy on +34 625 059 713
EMAIL: enquiry@safaridiving.com
WEBSITE: www.safaridiving.com
Safari Diving Lanzarote is a family friendly English owned dive centre, located directly on the beach which is the main shore entry point for the whole island.
The only dive centre to have been awarded the Quality Award by the government of Lanzarote. Daily (7days a week) shore and boat dives, and twice weekly night dives, which means we can offer you the most dive sites – all at the same price! FREE diver deals and discounted rates for groups, universities, clubs, etc– you can use your own instructors to complete training or ours. FREE dive deals for all divers.
It is possible to dive without our guides – although they know the sites well and give you a fun and interesting dive. We can store your equipment or very good standard full or partial equipment hire if required. We can assist with accommodation and flights from most UK airports regularly.
Check out our webpage or email us for further information – we respond quickly! Visit us at this years Birmingam dive show, you can find us at stand 524 where we will be making a special announcement!
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AP Diving
STAND NUMBER: 810
PHONE: +44 (0)1326 563 834
EMAIL: ccrsales@apdiving.com
WEBSITE: www.apdiving.com
Thinking about moving to closed circuit?… or simply curious as to what it’s all about? If so, three things not to be missed at DIVE 2016… a visit to the AP Diving stand… catch a talk by leading Inspiration divers Mark Powell or Paul Rose… and have a dip in the try-dive pool with an AP Inspiration CCR.
AP are rebreather pioneers with almost 20 years production pedigree. The Inspiration CCR, first developed back in 1997, is now in its 7th generation and is the most widely used unit in the world.
The AP team of designers, divers and engineers will be on hand and happy to answer your questions, general or specific… and to demonstrate all the latest in the ongoing AP product development programme.
We are also running our regular Free Prize Draw and all are welcome to come along and sign up.
Take the first step of your next big challenge… with the people who started the rebreather revolution.
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ALKIN Compressors
STAND NUMBER: 942
PHONE: +44 (0)1422 410466
EMAIL: info@candrtesting.co.uk
WEBSITE: www.candrtesting.co.uk or www.alkincompressors.co.uk
ALKIN Compressors were established in 1990 and our production activities take place at our 16500m2 site in Izmir, Turkey.
Our products appeal to different sectors, we offer fast, high quality service and our recognition in the international markets has been rising. Around 85% of our production is accounted by exports to 96 countries, such as UK, Germany, France, Italy, Finland, Sweden, Spain, USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Japan, China, Indonesia, Korea, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, UAE, S. Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, S. Africa, etc. Ask about our NEC Birmingham Dive Show specials.
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Cameras Underwater
STAND NUMBER: P8
PHONE: +44 (0)1404 812277
EMAIL: sales@camerasunderwater.co.uk
WEBSITE: www.camerasunderwater.co.uk
We are underwater photography specialists with 25 years of experience.
As suppliers of a wide range of equipment, Cameras Underwater offers friendly advice with expert knowledge on every aspect of underwater photography. We sell cameras, housings and strobes, as well as optical and other accessories to all parts of the diving and photographic industries.
We will be showcasing the Gates housing for the Sony AX100 at DIVE 2016. Depth rated to 137 mt / 449 ft, this is the perfect small video solution for the deeper diver. Gates makes some of the best underwater video housings in the world, and their housings have filmed some of the most iconic videography of the past few years; you’ll have seen them in the hands of people like Doug Allan and Hugh Miller on the shows presented by David Attenborough. Also on display will be examples of aluminium SLR and compact housings, including Subal SLR housings and the 100m depth-rated Recsea housing for the latest Canon compact camera.
We will also be displaying ranges of lightweight aluminium ball-arm systems that allow you elegantly and efficiently to attach lighting systems to your housing.
Visit us at stand P8.
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Maltaqua
STAND NUMBER: 516
PHONE: +356 2157 1111
EMAIL: dive@maltaqua.com
WEBSITE: www.maltaqua.com
With 45 years of experience, Maltaqua offers the highest standards in Diving and Diver training. Maltaqua was Europe’s first PADI centre and Maltaqua first BSAC Centre of Excellence.
Maltaqua offers a complete range of training programmes from beginner to instructor level, including refresher, referral, specialty and technical courses. With excellent facilities, services, packages, as well as outstanding teaching and Instructional standards, Maltaqua offers the very best in diving experience whatever your requirements.
If you are looking for a winter getaway check out our great offers on web site.
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DIVE 2016 takes place at the Birmingham NEC in the UK on the weekend of the 22nd – 23rd October. You can purchase tickets here.
Find out more about 2016 at www.diveshows.co.uk.
Jake Davies boards Ghazala Explorer for an unforgettable Red Sea diving experience…
Overnight, the wind picked up, making the planned morning dive a bit bumpy on the Zodiacs to the drop point on Thomas Reef. There, we would dive along the reef before descending through the canyon and then passing under the arch before ascending the wall with a gentle drift. The site provided great encounters with more pelagic species, including shoals of large barracuda, tuna, and bigeye trevally.
Once back on the boat, it was time to get everything tied down again as we would head back south. This time, with the wind behind us, heading to Ras Mohammed to dive Jackfish Alley for another great gentle drift wall dive before then heading up the coast towards the Gulf of Suez to moor up at the wreck of the Thistlegorm. This being the highlight wreck dive of the trip and for many onboard, including myself, it was the first time diving this iconic wreck. I had heard so much about the wreck from friends, and globally, this is a must on any diver’s list. Fortunately for us, there was only one other boat at the site, which was a rarity. A great briefing was delivered by Ahmed, who provided a detailed background about the wreck’s history along with all the required safety information as the currents and visibility at the site can be variable.
Kitting up, there was a lot of excitement on deck before entering the water and heading down the shoreline. Descending to the wreck, there was a light northerly current which reduced the visibility, making it feel more like the conditions that can be found off the Welsh coast. At 10m from the bottom, the outline of the wreck appeared as we reached the area of the wreck which had been bombed, as our mooring line was attached to part of the propeller shaft. Arriving on deck, instantly everywhere you looked there were many of the supplies which the ship was carrying, including Bren Carrier tanks and projectiles that instantly stood out.
We headed around the exterior, taking a look at the large propeller and guns mounted on deck before entering the wreck on the port side to take a look in the holds. It was incredible to see all the trucks, Norton 16H, and BSA motorcycles still perfectly stacked within, providing a real snapshot in time.
Overall, we had four dives on the Thistlegorm, where for all of the dives we were the only group in the water, and at times, there were just three of us on the whole wreck, which made it even more special, especially knowing that most days the wreck has hundreds of divers. Along with the history of the wreck, there was plenty of marine life on the wreck and around, from big green turtles to batfish, along with shoals of mackerel being hunted by trevally. Some unforgettable dives.
The final leg of the trip saw us cross back over the Suez Canal to the Gobal Islands where we planned to stay the night and do three dives at the Dolphin House for the potential of sharing the dive with dolphins. The site, which included a channel that was teeming with reef fish, especially large numbers of goatfish that swam in large shoals along the edge of the reef. These were nice relaxing dives to end the week. Unfortunately, the dolphins didn’t show up, which was okay as like all marine life they are difficult to predict and you can’t guarantee what’s going to be seen. With the last dive complete, we headed back to port for the final night where it was time to clean all the kit and pack before the departure flight the next day.
The whole week from start to finish on Ghazala Explorer was amazing; the boat had all the facilities you need for a comfortable week aboard. The crew were always there to help throughout the day and the chefs providing top quality food which was required after every dive. The itinerary providing some of the best diving with a nice mixture of wreck and reef dives. I would recommend the trip to anyone, whether it’s your first Red Sea liveaboard in the Red Sea or you’re revisiting. Hopefully, it’s not too long before I head back to explore more of the Red Sea onboard Ghazala Explorer.
To find out more about the Northern Red Sea reef and wrecks itineraries aboard Ghazala Explorer, or to book, contact Scuba Travel now:
Email: dive@scubatravel.com
Tel: +44 (0)1483 411590
Photos: Jake Davies / Avalon.Red
Jake Davies boards Ghazala Explorer for an unforgettable Red Sea diving experience…
The second day’s diving was a day full of wreck diving at Abu Nuhas, which included the Chrisoula K, Carnatic, and Ghiannis D. The first dive of the day was onto the Chrisoula K, also known as the wreck of tiles. The 98m vessel remains largely intact where she was loaded with tiles which can be seen throughout the hold. The stern sits at 26m and the bow just below the surface. One of the highlights of the wreck is heading inside and seeing the workroom where the machinery used for cutting the tiles are perfectly intact. The bow provided some relaxing scenery as the bright sunlight highlighted the colours of the soft coral reef and the many reef fish.
Following breakfast, we then headed to the next wreck, which was the Carnatic. The Carnatic is an 89.9m sail steamer vessel that was built in Britain back in 1862. She ran aground on the reef back in 1869 and remains at 27m. At the time, she was carrying a range of items, including 40,000 sterling in gold. An impressive wreck where much of the superstructure remains, and the two large masts lay on the seafloor. The wooden ribs of the hull provide structures for lots of soft corals, and into the stern section, the light beams through, bouncing off the large shoals of glass fish that can be found using the structure as shelter from the larger predators that are found outside of the wreck.
The final wreck at Abu Nuhas was the Ghiannis D, originally called ‘Shoyo Maru,’ which was 99.5m long and built in Japan back in 1969 before becoming a Greek-registered cargo ship in 1980. The ship then ran aground on the reef on April 19th, 1983, and now sits at the bottom at a depth of 27m. Heading down the line, the stern of the ship remains in good condition compared to the rest of the hull. The highlight of the wreck, though, is heading into the stern section and down the flights of stairs to enter the engine room, which remains in good condition and is definitely worth exploring. After exploring the interior section of the ship, we then headed over to see the rest of the superstructure, where it’s particularly interesting to see the large table corals that have grown at the bow relatively quickly considering the date the ship sank. After surfacing and enjoying some afternoon snacks, we made sure everything was strapped down and secured as we would be heading north and crossing the Gulf of Suez, where the winds were still creating plenty of chop.
The next morning, it was a short hop to Ras Mohammed Nature Reserve for the next couple of days of diving. The 6am wake-up call came along with the briefing for the first site we would be diving, which was Shark & Yolanda. The low current conditions allowed us to start the dive at Anemone City, where we would drift along the steep, coral-filled wall. These dives involved drifts, as mooring in Ras Mohammed wasn’t allowed to protect the reefs. As a dive site, Shark & Yolanda is well-known and historically had a lot of sharks, but unfortunately not so many in recent years, especially not so early in the season. However, there was always a chance when looking out into the blue.
The gentle drift took us along the steep walls of the site, with plenty of anemone fish to be seen and a huge variety of corals. It wasn’t long into the dive before we were accompanied by a hawksbill turtle, who drifted with us between the two atolls before parting ways. Between the two reefs, the shallow patch with parts of coral heads surrounded by sand provided the chance to see a few blue-spotted stingrays that were mainly resting underneath the corals and are always a pleasure to see. With this being the morning dive, the early sunlight lit up the walls, providing tranquil moments. Looking out into the blue, there was very little to be seen, but a small shoal of batfish shimmering underneath the sunlight was a moment to capture as we watched them swim by as they watched us.
Towards the end of the dive, we stopped at the wreck of the Jolanda where the seafloor was scattered with toilets from the containers it was carrying. This provided a unique site to make a safety stop, which was also accompanied by a large barracuda slowly swimming by, along with a hawksbill turtle calmly swimming over the reef as the sun rays danced in the distance.
For the next dive, we headed north to the Strait of Tiran to explore the reefs situated between Tiran Island and Sharm El Sheik, which were named after the British divers who had found them. We started on Jackson before heading to Gordons Reef, where we also did the night dive. All the atolls at these sites provided stunning, bustling coral reefs close to the surface and steep walls to swim along, which always provided the opportunity to keep an eye out for some of the larger species that can be seen in the blue. Midwater around Jackson Reef was filled with red-toothed triggerfish and shoals of banner fish, which at times were so dense that you couldn’t see into the blue. Moments went by peacefully as we enjoyed the slow drift above the reef, watching these shoals swim around under the mid-afternoon sun.
The night dive at Gordon’s Reef was mainly among the stacks of corals surrounded by sand, which was great to explore under the darkness. After some time circling the corals, we came across what we were really hoping to find, and that was an octopus hunting on the reef. We spent the majority of the dive just watching it crawl among the reef, blending into its changing surroundings through changes in colour and skin texture. It’s always so fascinating and captivating to watch these incredibly intelligent animals, in awe of their ability to carry out these physical changes to perfectly blend into the reef. Before we knew it, it was time to head back to the boat to enjoy a well-deserved tasty dinner prepared by the talented chefs onboard.
Check in for the 3rd and final part of this series from Jake tomorrow!
To find out more about the Northern Red Sea reef and wrecks itineraries aboard Ghazala Explorer, or to book, contact Scuba Travel now:
Email: dive@scubatravel.com
Tel: +44 (0)1483 411590
Photos: Jake Davies / Avalon.Red
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