News
Dive Worldwide launches new brochure packed with tempting new holidays
Dive Worldwide’s latest seasonal brochure brings the very best new diving experiences to the attention of divers, ranging from an action-packed long weekend in Iceland to a selection of expert-led small group adventures. Outlined in the brochure is a range of new Australian holidays, with recommendations on the best diving locations Down Under and some inspirational new trip ideas. Among other highlights are features by TV presenter Kate Humble who recounts her recent visit with Dive Worldwide to Papua New Guinea where she re-kindled her love for diving; and another by award-winning underwater photographer Jane Morgan who will be escorting a photography trip to Bali for Dive Worldwide on the 4th September.
With 40 of the world’s finest dive destinations on offer it could be a challenging decision to make, but Dive Worldwide, with over 14 years experience, manages to select their Top 5 Diving and Adventure Holidays and their Top 5 Great Liveaboard Diving Holidays. Among the 10, respectively, are a Galapagos Island Dive Adventure (10 days from £4,295 inc. flights) and a Komodo Liveaboard exploring the vast Komodo National Park (11 days, from £2,545 inc. flights).
There is little more magical than discovering the underwater world with all the family. Dive Worldwide picks six dive resorts for families that offer outstanding facilities and safe and colourful diving adventures; indeed everything that a family needs for the perfect diving holiday. Among them are Anthony’s Key Resort in Honduras, Compass Point in the Cayman Islands, Sifawy Boutique Hotel in Oman, Lions Dive Resort in Curacao, a Learn to Dive trip in southern Thailand, and Buddy Dive Resort in Bonaire.
Writing in the new brochure about single travellers, Phil North, manager, Dive Worldwide, says: “Single divers do not need to miss out on all the fun or pay twice the price.” A former pro in Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt and Thailand, Phil recommends that singles join one of their liveaboard or small group adventures, or take a look at their top resorts for single travellers which start from as little as £1,655 for a 9-day adventure. Among them are Reethi Beach Resort in the Maldives which waives single supplements in certain months of the year, or True Blue Bay Resort in Grenada which offers superb year-round wreck diving and discounted singles packages in quieter months.
With the long summer months stretching out before us, it’s a great time to be travelling throughout the world, whether making the most of the sunshine or its seasonal marine activity. Over a dozen trips come highly recommended for summer diving. Among them are:
- Gulf of Papagayo, Costa Rica – summer is the time when the Pacific coast comes alive with big pelagic life, including sharks and mantas (9 days, from £1,845)
- Sardine Run Adventure, South Africa – witness the greatest shoal on earth as millions of sardines migrate along the coastline in July attracting thousands of dolphins, seals, sharks, whales and birds (10 days, from £2,495)
- Walls, Schools and Critters, Indonesia – the world-class diving meccas of Bunaken and Lembeh are both at their best in our summer months (17 days, from £2,575)
- Blue Shark Adventure, Azores – the short summer season of this Portuguese archipelago promises superb blue shark and even mako encounters, along with devil rays and manta rays at Princess Alice Banks (8 days, from £1,145)
WHAT’S BUBBLING
Introduced this season to Dive Worldwide’s programme are the following:
Australia – With its vast coastline and wealth of world-class diving opportunities, divers can expect thrilling encounters with whale sharks, dwarf minke whales, great white sharks, huge potato cod, turtles and leafy sea dragons. Choose from a trip to Queensland combining diving with minke whales from a liveaboard with diving with manta rays on the southern barrier reef (22 days, £5,495, inc. flights). Or opt for The Great White Dive Adventure in South Australia, diving with white sharks on a liveaboard trip in the remote Neptune Islands (16 days, £4,095, inc. flights).
Belle Amie Liveaboard, Mexico – Custom built for divers, this boat cruises to two remote world-class diving locations. Socorro is big animal diving at its best where, from November to July, divers experience encounters with giant mantas, numerous shark species and pods of dolphin. The boat visits Isla Guadalupe from July to November for thrilling great white shark encounters from the safety of cages (10 days, from £2,395, boat only).
Magic Island Resort, Philippines – This small resort on the tip of Moalboal is wonderfully located for the amazing variety of local dive sites. Suited to all abilities, highlights include sardine bait-ball and mandarin fish dives. Sister property, Magic Oceans in Anda, opens next month (July 2015) making a great twin centre option (10 days, from £1,545).
New Expert-led and Small Group Holidays – A programme of trips that offer a fascinating insight into little-known and far-flung destinations such as the islands of New Britain and New Ireland in Papua New Guinea or Japan’s seldom visited Okinawa islands. Travelling with like-minded individuals, these unique trips allow divers to pick up useful tips and enhance their knowledge through workshops and talks alongside incomparable guided dives with destination experts. Among them is the Dumaguete Dive Festival when divers join photographer and marine biologist Dr Richard Smith on a 10-night adventure to the Philippines’ critter capital of Dumaguete (20 February 2016, from £2,835, inc. flights).
Iceland Diving Weekend – A UNESCO world heritage site, Iceland’s Silfra fissure is a unique phenomenon where it is possible to dive between continents in the mid-Atlantic ridge. Discover numerous tunnels and caverns while diving through the purest and clearest water imaginable, with visibility exceeding 100 metres (4 days, from £995, inc. flights).
All prices are per person based on two sharing.
For further information visit www.diveworldwide.com or call +44 (0)1962 302 087.
In this series, the Shark Trust will be sharing amazing facts about different species of sharks and what you can do to help protect them.
This month we’re taking a look at the Dusky Shark, a highly migratory species with a particularly slow growth rate and late age at maturity.
Dusky sharks are one of the largest species within the Carcharhinus genus, generally measuring 3 metres total length but able to reach up to 4.2 metres. They are grey to grey-brown on their dorsal side and their fins usually have dusky margins, with the darkest tips on the caudal fin.
Dusky Sharks can often be confused with other species of the Carcharhinus genus, particularly the Galapagos Shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis). They have very similar external morphology, so it can be easier to ID to species level by taking location into account as the two species occupy very different ecological niches – Galapagos Sharks prefer offshore seamounts and islets, whilst duskies prefer continental margins.
Hybridisation:
A 2019 study found that Dusky Sharks are hybridising with Galapagos Sharks on the Eastern Tropical Pacific (Pazmiño et al., 2019). Hybridisation is when an animal breeds with an individual of another species to produce offspring (a hybrid). Hybrids are often infertile, but this study found that the hybrids were able to produce second generation hybrids!
Long distance swimmers:
Dusky sharks are highly mobile species, undertaking long migrations to stay in warm waters throughout the winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, they head towards the poles in the summer and return southwards towards the equator in winter. The longest distance recorded was 2000 nautical miles!
Very slow to mature and reproduce:
The Dusky Shark are both targeted and caught as bycatch globally. We already know that elasmobranchs are inherently slow reproducers which means that they are heavily impacted by overfishing; it takes them so long to recover that they cannot keep up with the rate at which they are being fished. Dusky Sharks are particularly slow to reproduce – females are only ready to start breeding at roughly 20 years old, their gestation periods can last up to 22 months, and they only give birth every two to three years. This makes duskies one of the most vulnerable of all shark species.
The Dusky Shark is now listed on Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS), but further action is required to protect this important species.
Scientific Name: Carcharhinus obscurus
Family: Carcharhinidae
Maximum Size: 420cm (Total Length)
Diet: Bony fishes, cephalopods, can also eat crustaceans, and small sharks, skates and rays
Distribution: Patchy distribution in tropical and warm temperate seas; Atlantic, Indo-Pacific and Mediterranean.
Habitat: Ranges from inshore waters out to the edge of the continental shelf.
Conservation status: Endangered.
For more great shark information and conservation visit the Shark Trust Website
Images: Andy Murch
Diana A. Pazmiño, Lynne van Herderden, Colin A. Simpfendorfer, Claudia Junge, Stephen C. Donnellan, E. Mauricio Hoyos-Padilla, Clinton A.J. Duffy, Charlie Huveneers, Bronwyn M. Gillanders, Paul A. Butcher, Gregory E. Maes. (2019). Introgressive hybridisation between two widespread sharks in the east Pacific region, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 136(119-127), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2019.04.013.
3rd AUGUST 2024 – 1 or 2 WEEK PROGRAMMES
Daily water programme with Snorkelling & Scuba Diving.
Beginners or qualified, something for all.
Leave the kids with the Splash Team for days of Excitement, Fun & Adventure!
BOOK NOW: INFO@PHARAOHDIVECLUB.COM / TEL: +44 7598 329059 or +20 100 6822000
There are various options for accommodation with options for 2, 3, 4 or 5 guests.
Eco Huts provide accommodation for families of up to 4. The best option to enhance the adventure and closest to camping with basic facilities. For August we will provide central air cooling for all the Eco Huts.
Deluxe Chalets are only suitable for 2 guests. Fully air conditioned rooms with private bathroom and other facilities.
Boutique Rooms are available for families of up to 5.
Individual bespoke rooms fully air conditioned with private bathroom and other facilities.
Eco Huts: £675 per adult / £425 per child / Under 8 FREE of charge
Deluxe Chalet: £830 per adult / £505 per child / Under 8 FREE of charge
Boutique Room: £925 per adult / £550 per child / Under 8 FREE of charge
BOOK NOW: INFO@PHARAOHDIVECLUB.COM / TEL: +44 7598 329059 or +20 100 6822000
This is a truly unique opportunity to have a Family Desert Adventure totally away from it all! You will be based at the remote Roots Red Sea on the coast of the Egyptian Eastern Desert, 140km south of Hurghada city.
Red Sea Splash main focus is Snorkelling & Scuba Diving but that’s not all, we provide a rounded week of activities in support.
Pool& Field Games – Arts & Crafts
Marine Biology Workshops
Cultural Activities – Orienteering Adventures
Roots Red Sea have established strong links with the local communities of Hamerwain & El Quseir affording our guests to have a true taste of the local culture, SPLASH CAMP embraces this opportunity and bring in the local children to join in the fun with our adventure seekers.
During the day, families are welcome to take part in all activities together or the kids can be left with the SPLASH CAMP team while the parents enjoy the facilities or go diving themselves!
At the end of the day, its family time while the SPLASH CAMP team take a break. For those with the energy, there are family evening activities planned a few evenings.
Open Air Movie Night – Desert Star Gazing Walk & Talk
El Quseir Evening City Tour
The second week is very special, we head off on the Big Blue for a liveaboard safari around Fury Shoals.
BOOK NOW: INFO@PHARAOHDIVECLUB.COM / TEL: +44 7598 329059 or +20 100 6822000
U-8 Splash Club
Sadly we can’t offer Scuba Diving to the Splash Club but we can have lots of fun Snorkelling & Free Diving!
Splash Club includes:
Certified Snorkel Course – Marine ID Games – Intro to Free Diving
Arts & Craft Sessions – Adventure trails – Cultural Playtime – Pool Games
U-12 Explorer Club
In addition to an exciting snorkelling and Free Diving Programme in the Splash Club we can take you under the water on SCUBA to a whole new world of fun and wonder. If you are under 10 your first breath under water will be as a Bubblemaker and continue with daily Seal Team Missions. From 10 we will complete a Discover Scuba Diving experience in the amazing Red Sea. Alternatively we offer a full junior certification programme to become an international qualified Scuba Diver.
U-16 Adventurer Club
For qualified Scuba Divers regardless of age it’s the Adventurer Club and exploration of the local reefs and marine life. There will be 2 dives every day with the Open Ocean marine field station team who will introduce you to Red Sea marine life and workshops on marine research. Alternatively there are opportunities to continue your scuba diving certifications with our instructional team.
Parents are welcome to join the club activities and join the courses.
BOOK NOW: INFO@PHARAOHDIVECLUB.COM / TEL: +44 7598 329059 or +20 100 6822000
Big Blue might seem like the new kid on the block, but the team behind the highly acclaimed liveaboard is far from that. They have been running Red Sea safaris since the late 1980’s and were in fact part of the early pioneers who ventured out to the unknown on vessels that in today’s world, really shouldn’t have left the harbour! It’s that experience and the years of operating the award-winning Roots Red Sea resort which truly set Big Blue apart from the crowd!
Large lounge area, spacious sun deck and terrace deck.
Airy restaurant with five tables with up to six chairs per table, serving a varied and delicious menu with special dietary requirements catered for.
The spacious cabins have side by side beds and a large walk in wet bathroom.
Ample dive deck for divers & snorkelers.
Safety is everyone’s priority, whether you are relaxing on board, swimming, snorkelling or diving.
On board Big Blue is fitted with smoke alarms, emergency lighting and a fire alarm system. The lower corridor has a full-size door fire exit at the bow and open stairs to the stern. There are evacuation plans in each room along with life jackets, glass breaker tool and a fire extinguisher.
BOOK NOW: INFO@PHARAOHDIVECLUB.COM / TEL: +44 7598 329059 or +20 100 6822000
Red Sea Splash at Fury Shoals is a very rare opportunity to get involved with marine biology expedition for children and adults. Open Ocean biologists are on board to provide fascinating and entertaining facts about the marine life you will see. The team will provide workshops on marine life identification and survey methods both of which, should you wish, you will have the chance to put into practice during your safari.
The week is open to snorkelers, scuba divers and non divers too!
Fury shoals is perfect for first time mariners as it offers plenty of protection from the weather.
We board at Port Ghaleb on Saturday evening and prepare to set sail early on Sunday morning.
Heading south, our first day will be diving the reefs of Abu Dabbab before sailing overnight to reach our ultimate destination the Fury Shoals.
Here we will spend four days swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving amazing reefs. This includes guaranteed DOLPHIN encounters at Sataya Reef! After the last dive we haul anchor and head back to Abu Dabbab for our final two dives before disembarking our boat BIG BLUE.
Camp Extension Cost*
Adult £650 per adult
Under 16 £350 per child
BOOK NOW: INFO@PHARAOHDIVECLUB.COM / TEL: +44 7598 329059 or +20 100 6822000
FURTHER INFORMATION – INFO@PHARAOHDIVECLUB.COM
TEL: +44 7598 329059 or +20 100 6822000
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