News
blue o two announce new Destination of the Month: Fantastic Fiji
It’s that time again! blue o two are delighted to bring their divers another fantastic Destination of the Month. This month, blue o two are heading to the beautiful island of Fiji!
The Fijian islands and atolls are embraced by a network of amazing coral reefs and are known for their pelagics. Fiji comprises an archipelago of more than 332 islands (of which only 110 are inhabited) and more than 500 islets. Divers can see a variety of sharks and rays including manta, grey reef, hammerheads and silvertips along with schools of fish and colourful hard and soft coral.
Photo: Volivoli Beach Resort
Divers will be able to experience the magnificent atolls of Fiji whilst relaxing on board the stunning S/Y Fiji Siren. She has the same specifications as her sister Siren yachts and welcomes a maximum of 16 divers on each trip. The cabins offer comfort and flexibility and can be used as twin or double bedded rooms. There is an expansive dive and leisure deck, ample space for kitting up, two high-powered Zodiacs and divers also benefit from free equipment hire and nitrox.
blue o two also offer divers the chance to stay at one of Fiji’s best kept secrets, Volivoli Beach Resort. Located on the northernmost tip of the island of Viti Levu, the resort delivers luxury with a perfect blend of white sandy beaches and coral reef, an exciting range of watersports, a sunny climate all year round and friendly Fijian hospitality and culture.
blue o two are offering customers 25% off for any bookings at Volivoli Beach Resort with an arrival date that falls between 01/12/2017 – 31/12/2017. Bookings must be confirmed by the end of September so if you wish to take advantage of this amazing offer then be quick as spaces are subject to availability.
To celebrate Fiji as Destination of the Month, the discounts continue as blue o two offer some superb reductions on board S/Y Fiji Siren which are as follows:
09/12/2017 – S/Y Fiji Siren – Beyond the Bligh (7 nights) – Was £2809 – Now £2107
The package includes: Full board accommodation (incl. tea, coffee, juices, soft drinks & local beers), all diving on air, nitrox if certified, 12lt cylinder, weights & weight belt, equipment hire (BCD, regulator, 3mm shorty wetsuit, mask, fins & boots). Given changes in exchange rates the final package price can only be confirmed at the time of booking. The price shown EXCLUDES flights and local transfers although these can be organised on request. Subject to availability. Loyalty Club Discount is applicable to this offer but this cannot be combined with BSAC discount. Loyalty Club discount on this offer is capped at maximum 5% and the additional 5% ‘Returning home’ discount may not be applied to this promotion. BSAC Discount is applicable to this offer but this cannot be combined with Loyalty Club discount. Must book by 30th September 2017. GROUP DEAL – Book FIVE spaces, and receive the sixth for FREE!
25/12/2017 – S/Y Fiji Siren – Beyond the Bligh (10 nights) – Full package with flights – £4999
The package includes: Return flights London Heathrow – Nadi, return transfers from and to Nadi airport, 10 nights full board accommodation on Fiji Siren based on double occupancy (incl. tea, coffee, juices, soft drinks & local beers), all diving on air, nitrox if certified, 12lt cylinder, weights & weight belt, equipment hire (BCD, regulator, 3mm shorty wetsuit, mask, fins & boots), 2 nights at Volivoli Beach Resort in Ocean View Room with half board (1 night before liveaboard and 1 night after), and 1 night hotel at Incheon Seoul airport on return journey. Based on double occupancy at Volivoli Beach Resort and shared transfers; single supplement will apply to individual travelers. Given changes in exchange rates and airfare the final package price can only be confirmed at the time of booking (pricing accurate as of 1/9/17). Subject to availability. No further discounts are applicable to this full package special offer (such as Loyalty Club or BSAC discount).
For further details on these offers then please contact the blue o two travel team on +44 (0) 1752 480 808 or divingholidays@blueotwo.com, or visit www.blueotwo.com
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
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