News
Dive into savings with Bonaire’s DEMA show specials
Are you attending DEMA Show 2016? Visit the Bonaire Pavilion, Booth #4187, to learn more about the island’s spectacular diving and take advantage of one of the following special offers, and more:
Bellafonte Bonaire/Budget Rent a Car/VIP Diving
Save with Bellafonte Bonaire, Budget Rent a Car and VIP Diving’s Stay, Dive & Drive DEMA Special. Book a Junior, Senior, Grand Suite or Penthouse and receive a 10% discount on room rack rates excluding tax and service charges. Receive a 20% discount on a dive package at VIP Diving. Rent a comfortable truck with Budget Rent a Car for seven days and pay only 6; second driver is free. This promotion is based upon availability, and is valid for travel until December 6, 2017. For more information email info@bellafontebonaire.com.
Belmar Oceanfront Apartments
Take advantage of Belmar Oceanfront Apartments’ 8=7 Special for DEMA Show. When booking a group of eight, the 8th person receives accommodation, driving and truck for free. As an added bonus each group member receives a complimentary BBQ. Book any of their dive packages and receive every second diver dives for free, when paying a deposit before the end of DEMA Show. Rates begin at $545 per person, based on double occupancy and is valid for travel April 22 through December 22, 2017. DEMA specials are not valid in combination with any other specials and are for new bookings only. For more information visit www.belmar-bonaire.com.
Buddy Dive Resort
Save with Buddy Dive Resort’s 8=7 Special for DEMA Show. The 8th person gets their accommodation, diving and breakfast for free, plus each group person receives a 50% food credit at Blennies Restaurant. Additionally, book Buddy’s Drive & Dive boat dive package and get three extra one-tank afternoon boat dives for free, when placing a deposit before the end of DEMA Show. Rates begin at $953 per person, based on double occupancy and are valid for travel April 22 through December 22, 2017. For more information visit www.buddydive.com.
Captain Don’s Habitat
The “Home of the Diving Freedom” is offering their X-Treme Diving Freedom package – groups get one free with seven paid. The special includes seven nights’ accommodations, welcome rum punch, complimentary Wi-Fi, manager’s reception with live music, unlimited boat dives (three departures daily), one night dive to Klein Bonaire, 6 days of 24 hour unlimited shore diving, free Nitrox and all hotel taxes, service charges and fees. Rates begin at $949 per person, based on double occupancy. A deposit must be placed and booked by December 9, 2016. The package is valid for travel April 1 through December 16, 2017. For more information visit www.habitatbonaire.com.
Caribbean Club Bonaire
Book a group of eight and pay only for seven when booking Caribbean Club Bonaire’s 8=7 Special. The 8th person receives their accommodations, diving and breakfast for free. As an extra group bonus, each group person receives a 50% food credit at Caribbean Club Restaurant & Bar. Additionally, book any of their packages and receive every second diver dives for free, when placing a deposit before the end of DEMA Show. The promotion is valid for travel for April 22 – December 22, 2017. For more information visit www.caribbeanclubbonaire.com.
Delfins Beach Resort Bonaire
Take advantage of Delfins Beach Resort Bonaire’s ‘Book for Eight, Pay for Seven’ DEMA Show special. The package includes seven nights’ accommodations, daily breakfast, six days unlimited shore diving, three days of two tank boat dives, free nitrox upgrade and pick-up truck rental. Rates begin at $1,350 per person, based on double occupancy. The booking window is through January 1, 2017, with a travel window October 1 2017 through March 31, 2018. For more information email info@delfinsbeachresortbonaire.com
Den Laman Condominiums/Bonaire Dive & Adventure
Den Laman Condominiums offers a DEMA Special in conjunction with Bonaire Dive & Adventure. Book a group of eight divers, and the eighth person receives their accommodations, breakfast and shore diving for free. The special includes seven nights’ accommodations, hotel tax, full American breakfast buffet daily, four door pickup truck, and six days of unlimited air and Nitrox tanks for shore diving on and off property with Bonaire Dive & Adventure. The booking window is October 17 through December 16, 2016, and a $500 deposit is required within 14 days of reservation. For travel January 7 through April 28, 2017, rates begin at $904 per person based on four people sharing a two -bedroom ocean view condo and truck. Rate begin at $833 per person based on four people sharing a two bedroom ocean view condo and truck for travel between April 29 through December 22, 2017. Note: the full American breakfast buffet included in the package prices at $99 per person is optional. For more information visit www.denlaman.com.
Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino
Save with Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino’s 2-tank boat dive package. The DEMA Special provides: 15% commission for dive shops on all new Divi Flamingo groups of 10 or more people; $70 per person for afternoon boat dives for the week; $110 per person Nitrox for boat packages (shore diving included); buy six days of any meal plan, and get the 7th free; group leader receives free Nitrox; 11th diver free on groups of 10 or more; 10th diver free on groups of 30 or more; seven nights’ accommodations; daily breakfast; 11 boat dives, unlimited shore diving; round trip airport transfers and complimentary Wi-Fi. Rates start at $1,042 per person, based on double occupancy. The booking window is now through December 15, 2016, and is valid for travel now through December 31, 2017. For more information email parker.davis@diviresorts.com.
Eden Beach Resort
Receive 10% off, complimentary daily breakfast and reduced group comps when booking Eden Beach’s dive package at DEMA Show. The dive package includes seven nights’ accommodations, seven day rental vehicle (without insurance), six days unlimited shore diving, free Nitrox and complimentary Wi-Fi. For a limited time only: group show special 7 paid/8th is free (comps must pay taxes). Rates begin at $653 per person, based on double occupancy. For more information visit www.edenbeach.com.
Insel Air
Insel Air offers daily flights from Miami to Bonaire. Book a group of 11 or more, and get the 11th ticket free and 22 lbs. free for dive equipment (excluding taxes). The booking window is now through January 31, 2017, with a travel window from February 1 through December 15, 2017. For more information and booking email groupsales@fly-inselair.com.
Plaza Resort Bonaire
Plaza Resort Bonaire offers their Seven Nights All Inclusive Dive Experience, with rates beginning at $943 per person, based on double occupancy. The package includes seven nights’ accommodations, six days unlimited shore diving, free Nitrox upgrade, round trip airport transfer, all meals, activities, water sports and complimentary Wi-Fi. Receive 10% off bookings for travel December 20, 2016 through April 8, 2017; 15% off bookings for travel between April 9 through December 20, 2017; book a group of 11 divers, the 11th diver stays and dives for free. For more information visit www.plazaresortbonaire.com.
Sand Dollar Condominiums / Dive Friends Bonaire
Sand Dollar Condominiums offers a DEMA Special in conjunction with Dive Friends Bonaire. For every seven guests/divers paid, the 8th receives free accommodations, breakfast, shore and boat diving. As a DEMA Booking Bonus, receive a $200 deduction off final net payment for groups of eight or more. The promotion includes seven nights’ accommodation, full American breakfast buffet daily, government tourist tax and six days of unlimited air and Nitrox tanks for shore diving on and off property with PAD 5-Star IDC Center Dive Friends Bonaire. The booking window is now through December 16, 2016, and a $500 deposit is required within 14 days of reservation. For travel January 7 through April 28, 2017, rates begin at $797 per person based on six people sharing a three bedroom/three bathroom condo and a nine person van. Rates begin at $731 per person value season based on six people sharing a three bedroom/three bathroom condo and a nine person van for travel April 29 through December 22, 2017. Note: the full American breakfast buffet included in the package prices at $99 per person is optional. For more information visit www.sanddollarbonaire.com.
For more information on Bonaire visit www.tourismbonaire.com.
Blogs
Northern Red Sea Reefs and Wrecks Trip Report, Part 3: The Mighty Thistlegorm
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
Blogs
Northern Red Sea Reefs and Wrecks Trip Report, Part 2: Wall to Wall Wrecks
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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