News
There’s never been a better time to visit the Philippines, says Regaldive
Following the devastating Typhoon Yolanda in the autumn of 2013, you could easily be mistaken for thinking that the Philippines are currently a no-go destination for tourists. But you couldn’t be more wrong says UK based diving holiday specialist Regaldive. With increased flight capacity now available between the UK and Manila, and the vast majority of the Philippines remaining unaffected or being back in operation following the typhoon, there really hasn’t been a better time to visit.
For experienced divers, the Philippines are a treasure trove waiting to be explored. Its dive sites are home to some of the most diverse marine eco-systems in South East Asia with over 500 species of hard and soft corals and countless varieties of fish and large pelagics waiting to be discovered. For wreck enthusiasts, the Tapilon Wreck – believed to be a WW2 Japanese Cargo wreck, lies off the coast off Malapascua Island, while rare Thresher sharks can also be found close by at Shark Point. For those who are more taken with scenery however, the north of Palawan was once described by Jacques Cousteau as “the most beautiful place I ever explored” and with world-class diving, thermal lakes and underwater caves to be explored, it’s easy to see why.
Andreas Elia, Managing Director of Regaldive, commented “Now is a great time to be visiting the Philippines and this has been reflected in the high demand we have seen for the destination over recent months. From last November, Philippine Airlines re-introduced direct flights from London Heathrow to Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. Divers are now able to get there quicker and have a greater choice on when they fly with five flights each week to choose from”.
With regards to the recent typhoon, Elia commented “The vast majority of the Philippines remained unaffected by the typhoon. All of the accommodation and dive centres we use are open and operating as usual, and we are keen to encourage people to continue visiting and economically supporting the people of the Philippines in line with appeals from the Philippines’ Department of Tourism”.
Regaldive offer a range of dive holidays and liveaboards in the Philippines. Seven nights’ at the Pura Vida Resort, based in the beach town of Dauin, cost from £1,012 per person, to include flights, transfers and seven nights’ B&B accommodation*. Three days unlimited diving costs from £229 per person, to include air tanks and weights.
Regaldive’s six night Southern Leyte itinerary which goes in search of whale sharks and macro creatures which journeying on board the SY Philippines Siren, costs from £1,440 per person*. The price includes full board accommodation, soft drinks and beer, three to four boat dives per day, air tanks and weights. Flights are not included but can be arranged through Regaldive.
For further information or to book, visit www.regaldive.co.uk or call +44 (0)1353 659 999.
* Price quoted when taking advantage of the 10% discount available on almost all dive holidays in Regaldive’s Winter Sale. Valid until 31st January 2014.
Free Octopus with every purchase of a SCUBAPRO regulator system
Just in time for the spring season, divers can save money with the FREE OCTOPUS SPRING PROMOTION! Until July 31st SCUBAPRO offers an Octopus for free
with every purchase of a regulator system!
Get a free S270 OCTOPUS with purchase of these combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with A700
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with S620Ti
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with D420
MK25 EVO Din mit S620Ti-X
Get a free R105 OCTOPUS with purchase of the following combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with G260
MK25 EVO or MK17 EVO with S600
SCUBAPRO offers a 30-year first owner warranty on all regulators, with a revision period of two years or 100 dives. All SCUBAPRO regulators are of course certified according to the new European test standard EN250-2014.
Available at participating SCUBAPRO dealers. Promotion may not be available in all regions. Find an authorized SCUBAPRO Dealer at scubapro.com.
More information available on www.scubapro.com.
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
-
News3 months agoHone your underwater photography skills with Alphamarine Photography at Red Sea Diving Safari in March
-
News3 months agoCapturing Critters in Lembeh Underwater Photography Workshop 2024: Event Roundup
-
Marine Life & Conservation Blogs2 months agoCreature Feature: Swell Sharks
-
Blogs2 months agoMurex Resorts: Passport to Paradise!
-
Blogs2 months agoDiver Discovering Whale Skeletons Beneath Ice Judged World’s Best Underwater Photograph
-
Gear Reviews3 months agoGear Review: Oceanic+ Dive Housing for iPhone
-
Marine Life & Conservation2 months agoSave the Manatee Club launches brand new webcams at Silver Springs State Park, Florida
-
News3 months agoWorld’s Best Underwater Photographers Unveil Breathtaking Images at World Shootout 2023