News
Dive into some great deals with OonasDivers
UK based tour operator OonasDivers are offering some great deals on both resort-based and liveaboard diving holidays over the next few months.
Here are the details:
Toucan Inn, Tobago
Dates:
28th August – 4th September only £925 per person
4-11th September only £895 per person
18-25th September only £895 per person
2-9th October only £925 per person
4-11th December only £895 per person
Includes: Flights from Gatwick, transfers, 7 nights twin share B&B accommodation in a Pool or Garden Room and 10 dives with R&Sea Divers with weights and cylinders. No single supplement if you upgrade to half board or all inclusive.
Marsa Shagra and Nakari Villages
Dates:
28th August – 4th September (Gatwick £860, Manchester £740)
4-11th September (Gatwick £840, Manchester £760)
11-18th September (Gatwick £830, Manchester £779)
18-25th September (Gatwick £879 Manchester £800)
25th September – 2nd October (Gatwick £879, Manchester £810)
Prices are per person and include flights into Marsa Alam, transfers, 7 nights full board in a Madyafa Guest House at Marsa Nakari (please add £20 per person for Shagra) and 5 days unlimited house reef diving including 4 guided dives with weights and cylinders. Single supplement applies. Upgrade to a Madyafa with Air Conditioning & Mini Fridge for just £65 per person.
Upgrade to a 10 Guided Dive Package from just £25 (unlimited house reef diving + 10 guided dives (2 on the first day in the house reef and 8 more in Zone A or guided on the house reef).
El Hierro
Dates:
12-19th October only £820 per person
2-9th November only £785 per person
16-23rd November only £750 per person
Includes: Flights from Gatwick, transfers, 7 nights self catering and 10 dives with weights and cylinders.
Northern Wrecks and Reefs on MY Juliet
Dates:
8-15th September only £1075 per person (Manchester departure)
13-20th October only £1025 per person (Gatwick departure)
Includes: Flights, transfers, 7 nights full board in a twin share cabin, 6 days liveaboard diving with weights and cylinders and marine park fees.
Shark Diving, South Africa
Dates:
31st August – 7th September only £1590 per person
7-14th September only £1470 per person
14-21st September only £1520 per person
21-28th September only £1495 per person
Includes: Price includes flights from Gatwick, transfers, 6 nights B&B accommodation in a twin share room at Scuba Addicts Lodge, 7 x Shark Dives, 2 x Baited Shark Dives and 1 x Baited Tiger Shark Dive with weights and cylinders. Guaranteed Sharks or your diving is FREE!
All of the offers above are subject to availability and the price may change due to fluctuations in flight price.
For further information or to book call the OonasDivers team on 01323 648924 or e-mail them at info@oonasdivers.com.
Blogs
TRAVEL BLOG: Jeff Goodman Dives SOMABAY, Part 3
Today we are diving one of the outer reefs from an inflatable. As we reach the bottom, a reef octopus eases its way into the cover of a small crack in the coral while displaying it’s incredible ability to change colour. They are arguably one of the most charismatic of reef dwellers and it is always exciting for me to simply hover and watch. I would have spent longer and waited for it to come and investigate me, but as dive time is limited we wanted to move on and find a turtle.
The waters around Somabay are well protected and hold a rich variety of marine life. The reef edges are thriving colonies of coral and shoaling fish, while nearer the sea bed plenty of wildlife is still to be found.
Then we located the turtles. They are very used to divers and so show little concern when slowly approached. In fact occasionally one will come over to see what you are doing. There is always huge excitement when diving with a turtle. The shear thrill of sharing a moment with another species.
What a fantastic way to finish a wonderful few days diving and I would like to thank SOMABAY, ORCA DIVING and THE BREAKERS for making my stay such a good one.
I had a great time, with diving everyday either on the house reef or on one of the offshore reefs by inflatable or larger day boat. Orca diving provided high quality equipment and facilities while the staff were all very friendly and welcoming. The Breakers was right on the coast with nice rooms, good food and once again friendly staff making the whole trip a real pleasure.
Soma Bay covers an entire peninsula and is home to several resorts as well as residential compounds.
As well as scuba diving, Somabay caters for many other sports and activities, and so is perfect for families as well as individuals and/or groups. And of course there is always time to lay peacefully on the beach under the Egyptian sun.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
Blogs
TRAVEL BLOG: Jeff Goodman Dives SOMABAY, Part 2
Day three of my trip to Somabay and we were spending the day on the Lady Christina and diving on the wreck of the Salem Express.
Diving wrecks for me is always one of mixed emotions. The excitement of diving a wreck is more than often tempered by the thought of loss of life when she sank. The Salem Express was a passenger ship and a roll-on/roll-off ferry travelling from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Safaga, Egypt. Most passengers were of poor class travelling home from their holidays while around 150 people were returning home from their pilgrimage to Mecca.
The ship struck a reef and sank within 20 minutes. Passengers were trapped below deck and the ship was filled with fear and panic.
The wreck area is strewn with personal belongings from the crew and passengers such as a transistor radio and a flat iron for clothes. A diver at sometime has put them in a prominent place to be seen.
Tragically only one life boat was launched while the others went down with the ship. More than 600 men, women and children lost their lives here.
It’s a stark reminder that the sea can be unforgiving and so when we dive on such wrecks we should do so with humble regard.
Returning to the surface, shoals of fish are gathered under our boat and seem to be welcoming us back into the light.
Back at the Breakers I sat in the dining area with a beer and a very good meal while my thoughts still remained with the day’s dive on the Salem Express.
Check in for part 3 tomorrow for Jeff’s last day of diving with Somabay on the off-shore reefs looking for turtles.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
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