News
Grab one of the last few places on Dive Worldwide’s new Galapagos Whale Shark expedition
There are just a few places left on Dive Worldwide’s brand new and unique cruise to the Galapagos Islands during prime whale shark season under the expert guidance of Jonathan Green, one of the pre-eminent experts on these ancient giants. Developed in partnership with the Galapagos Conservation Trust, this special trip is a one-off departure in August 2016.
If there is one man with whom to discover the whale sharks of the Galapagos Islands, it is Jonathan Green. He founded the Galapagos Whale Shark Project in 2011 and continues to lead research expeditions on an annual basis; identifying, satellite tagging, sampling and studying the whale shark.
During the Galapagos Whale Shark Expedition, divers will spend a week exploring the finest dive sites of the Galapagos from the comfort of the Humboldt Explorer liveaboard. While exploring the world-class dive sites, guests can listen to talks about Green’s research into the ecology, physiology and behaviour of these enormous, yet gentle ocean creatures. Experienced divers may be rewarded with eagle and manta ray encounters, as well as witnessing playful dolphins and hundreds of sharks – the highlight however will be diving with whale sharks.
The adventure begins on San Cristobal Island – the first island on which Charles Darwin set foot in September 1835 – where divers step aboard their liveaboard to cross to Isla Lobos for a check out dive. Visit North Seymour Island, with opportunities to both dive and explore the island, observing the large colonies of blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds, as well as sealions and marine iguanas. Wolf and Darwin Islands are next on the agenda – considered to be two of the best diving sites in the world. These islands provide an unparalleled quality and quantity of marine life. The biggest draw for divers however – and the focus for this trip – are the huge whale sharks. These ancient giants are attracted to the area between June to November, when the Humboldt Current is at its strongest. The vessel then moves on to Cousin’s Rock, renowned for its macro life, where divers should keep an eye out for sea horses as well as eagle rays. The last port of call, before returning to San Cristobel, is Santa Cruz to observe giant tortoises in their natural habitat and visit Puerto Ayora, home to the Darwin Research Centre.
Home for the week is the 30-metre long Humboldt Explorer. Designed as one of the fastest, most stable and most comfortable vessels sailing the area, accommodations are befitting the magical nature of the Galapagos. There are eight double staterooms, all with private facilities, with a maximum of 16 guests on board. Facilities include a spacious air-conditioned salon equipped with a TV/DVD and dining tables, open air salon and a sunning/viewing area on the top deck. The dive deck is well equipped with dive lockers, camera table, rinse tanks and a recharging station.
Dive Worldwide offers the Galapagos Whale Shark Expedition from £3,845 per person sharing (or £5,145 with international flights), including 7 nights’ liveaboard accommodation, all meals (exc. 1 dinner), up to 4 dives per day, expert guide and San Cristobel airport transfers. Flights are extra. Departs 29 August 2016.
For more information visit diveworldwide.com or call +44 (0)1962 302087.
For a week at the end of February I was invited to sample the diving with Orca Dive Club based at the Breakers Diving and Surfing Lodge by courtesy of SOMABAY.
Somabay covers an entire peninsula and is home to several resorts as well as residential compounds. Somabay caters for scuba diving as well as many other sports, including windsurfing, golf, sailing, go-carting, horse riding and many other activities.
All the activities are of a world-class standard and any or all of these can be booked directly from The Breakers.
I took Easyjet from Bristol (UK) to Hurghada. Easyjet are not by any means my favourite airline but the flight was cheap and direct (except for the surprise extra £48 I was charged at the gate for my carry-on bag).
I was met at Hurghada airport by a driver and car and taken to the Breakers 28 miles (45Kilomaters) south along the coast. Once at the hotel I was too late for an evening meal and so a basic meal was delivered to my room. That and a beer from the fridge and I was fast asleep.
Early the next morning after breakfast I arrived for my rep meeting at the Orca Dive Center for 8.00am. I was immediately made to feel welcome, and after brief introductions I got some dive gear from the store, had a chat with my dive guide Mohamed and got ready to try the house reef situated at the end of a very long wooded pier where all diving gear and divers are taken out by buggies.
Once at the end of the pier, a helping hand from staff makes sure your gear is set and then it’s a short walk to the very end where you can either climb down a ladder of simply jump in the water next to the reef. The house reef extends both north and south giving a very easy and safe dive with plenty to see. At this time of the year the water temperature was a constant 22 degrees Centigrade and there was little or no current, so there were no issues in swimming back to the pier.
Quite a few divers were in dry or semi-dry suits, but being from the UK and used to the cold I found a 3mm wetsuit with a 3mm neoprene vest quite comfortable. Even after 50 years of diving I still find that first dive of a trip slightly nerving until I am actually underwater and then all becomes relaxed and I ease into auto diving mode. There was plenty to see with many of the Red Sea favourites along the way.
After the dive and a buggy ride back to the hotel for a very good buffet lunch I was back in the water, once again on the house reef for an afternoon dive.
Check in for part 2 tomorrow when Jeff gets on a day boat and dives a few of the off-shore reefs.
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.
In an interview recorded exclusively for Scubaverse.com, Jeff Goodman interviews Jeremy Higson from Sea to Sky about the itineraries the tour operator offers in Oman.
For more information about diving in Oman, contact Sea to Sky now:
Email: hello@mysetaosky.co.uk
WhatsApp: + 39 379 236 7138
Website: www.myseatosky.co.uk
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