News
Latest Red Sea dive holiday offers from Oonasdivers
UK-based tour operator Oonasdivers have released some great dive holiday offers for the Red Sea.
Here are the details:
Oonasdivers | Red Sea | Sharks Bay Umbi Village | Sharm el Sheikh from £495
Just 10 minutes away from Naama Bay but a million miles away from the hustle and bustle, Sharks Bay is located in a picturesque bay with everything on site – its own private jetty, dive centre, boats, restaurant, Bedouin café and 3 types of accommodation. Combine this with their friendly, personal approach and this makes it the perfect resort for your next diving holiday.
August 2015
08 – 15 Aug only £745
15 – 22 Aug only £715
November 2015
07 – 14 Nov only £615
14 – 21 Nov only £595
21 – 28 Nov only £605
28 Nov – 05 Dec only £540
December 2015
05 – 12 Dec only £495
12 – 19 Dec only £580
January 2016
17 – 24 Jan only £515
February 2016
27 Feb – 06 Mar only £545
April 2016
23 – 30 Apr only £595
May 2016
07 – 14 May only £610
June 2016
18 – 25 Jun only £645
Prices are per person and include flights, transfers, 7 nights B&B and 10 boat dives. Single supplement applies.
For more information, click here.
Oonasdivers | Red Sea | Marsa Alam from £585
The popular and unique villages of Marsa Shagra and Marsa Nakari in the southern Red Sea offer unlimited and unguided diving on their beautiful and diverse house reefs. From either village you can also dive the breath-taking sites of Elphinstone, Dolphin House Reef and many more.
Marsa Shagra
Definitely the most well know of our Marsa Alam destinations, Marsa Shagra is located just half an hour from Marsa Alam airport. Shagra boasts one of the most beautiful house reefs in the Red Sea region.
August 2015
26 Aug – 02 Sep only £720
September 2015
02 – 09 Sep only £780
16 – 23 Sep only £875
23 – 30 Sep only £895
30 Sep – 07 Oct only £895
January 2016
09 – 16 Jan only £595
16 – 23 Jan only £605
23 – 30 Jan only £600
30 Jan – 06 Feb only £585
February 2016
05 – 12 Feb only £595
19 – 26 Feb only £595
Prices are per person and include flights, transfers, 7 nights full board and 5 days unlimited diving.
Marsa Nakari
A smaller, quieter and more remote alternative to Marsa Shagra, Nakari is situated a further half an hour down the coast. Another fantastic house reef and a more personalised service. Expect the silence and serenity of the desert atmosphere and the world-renowned beauty of the Red Sea reefs.
August 2015
26 Aug- 02 Sep only £695
September 2015
02 – 09 Sep only £750
16 – 23 only £845
23 – 30 Sep only £865
30 Sep – 07 Oct only £865
Prices are per person and include flights, transfers, 7 nights full board and 5 days unlimited diving.
For more information, click here.
Oonasdivers | Red Sea | Liveaboards from £665
One of the best ways to see the most awe-inspiring dive sites of the Red Sea. Liveaboards offer everything a diver needs – comfort, relaxation and lots and lots of diving.
Emperor Asmaa – FREE Nitrox
Offering genuine value for money, Asmaa is a popular liveaboard drawing diver’s back time and time again. Completely refurbished in January 2015, Asmaa offers comfortable accommodation in 10 twin bed cabins, 4 of which are upper-deck.
October 2015
14 – 21 Oct –Fury & St Johns only £1120
December 2015
11 – 18 Dec – North & Wrecks only £700
January 2016
01 – 08 Jan – North & Wrecks only £765
08 Jan – 15 Jan – North & Wrecks only £675
15 – 22 Jan – North & Wrecks only £665
22 – 29 Jan – North & Wrecks only £700
29 Jan – 05 Feb – North & Wrecks only £760
February 2016
19 – 26 Feb – North & Wrecks only £765
26 Feb – 04 Mar – North & Wrecks only £805
Blue Pearl
Elegant in design both inside and out, Blue Pearl and her crew will offer the warmest of welcomes. Sleeping up to 20 guests in 8 twin bedded cabins and 2 double upper deck master cabins, Blue Pearl offers all the creature comforts for you to relax between dives.
September 2015
02 – 09 Sep – The Brothers only £1045
January 2016
08 – 15 Jan – North & Wrecks only £765
15 – 22 Jan – North & Tiran only £795
22 – 29 Jan – North & Brothers only £895
29 Jan – 05 Feb – The Brothers only £870
February 2016
05 – 12 Feb 2016 – North & Wrecks only £775
Blue Seas
An impressive looking boat, offering some of the most impressive looking diving the Red Sea has to offer. Blue Seas is the combined result of Egypt’s years of yacht building experience and modern technology.
Sleeping up to 22 guests, Blue Seas offers 8 twin bed cabins, 2 double upper-deck master cabins and a honeymoon suite.
August 2015
12 – 19 Aug – Brothers, Daedalus & Elphinstone only £1195
26 Aug – 02 Sep – Daedalus, Zabargad & Rocky only £1195
September 2015
02 – 09 Sep – St Johns only £1095
Blue Planet 1
Fast, spacious and beautifully fitted out, Blue Planet 1 is a friendly boat. She is ideal for smaller groups and individuals who would like to explore the northern Red Sea from Hurghada.
Fully refitted and upgraded in July 2013, Blue Planet 1 sleeps a maximum of 16 guests in 8 twin bed cabins.
August 2015
21 – 28 Aug – North & Wrecks only £895
January 2016
08 – 15 Jan – North & Wrecks only £765
15 – 22 Jan – North & Wrecks only £755
22 – 29 Jan – North & Wrecks only £765
29 Jan – 05 Feb – North & Wrecks only £825
February 2016
05 – 12 Feb – North & Brothers only £895
19 – 26 Feb – North & Wrecks only £785
Juliet
One of the few smaller liveaboards left in the Red Sea. Juliet takes a maximum of just 14 guests. At 28m this means more space, more flexibility and more personal attention to you.
Her amazing and attentive crew will guide you to the very best dive sites in the northern Red Sea. Juliet is a great option for small groups and clubs.
November 2015
21 – 28 Nov – North & Wrecks only £995
28 Nov – 05 Dec – North & Wrecks only £940
December 2015
05 – 12 Dec – North & Wrecks only £795
12 – 19 Dec – North & Wrecks only £880
April 2016
23 – 30 Apr – North & Wrecks only £990
May 2016
07 – 14 May – North & Wrecks only £995
June 2016
18 – 25 Jun – North & Wrecks only £1035
Prices are per person and include flights, transfers, 7 nights full board and 6 days diving.
For more information, click here.
To find out more or to book, contact the Oonasdivers team now by calling +44 (0)1323 648924, email info@oonasdivers.com or visit www.oonasdivers.com.
Marine Life & Conservation Blogs
Creature Feature: Dusky Shark
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.
Blogs
Join Pharaoh Dive Club for Red Sea Splash Family Summer Camp in August 2024
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
-
News3 months ago
Hone your underwater photography skills with Alphamarine Photography at Red Sea Diving Safari in March
-
News2 months ago
Capturing Critters in Lembeh Underwater Photography Workshop 2024: Event Roundup
-
Marine Life & Conservation Blogs2 months ago
Creature Feature: Swell Sharks
-
Blogs2 months ago
Murex Resorts: Passport to Paradise!
-
Blogs2 months ago
Diver Discovering Whale Skeletons Beneath Ice Judged World’s Best Underwater Photograph
-
Gear News3 months ago
Bare X-Mission Drysuit: Ideal for Both Technical and Recreational Divers
-
Gear Reviews2 months ago
Gear Review: Oceanic+ Dive Housing for iPhone
-
Marine Life & Conservation2 months ago
Save the Manatee Club launches brand new webcams at Silver Springs State Park, Florida