News
blue o two’s Red Sea fleet gets a makeover
UK-based diving tour operator blue o two have upgraded their Red Sea fleet.
M/Y blue Fin, M/Y blue Horizon, M/Y blue Melody and M/Y Red Sea Adventurer have had a team of over 100 people working hard on each vessel over the last few months, updating both the interior and exterior of each boat.
Guests on board any one of the Red Sea fleet can spend their evenings in redecorated cabins with new fixtures and fittings, carpets and colour schemes.
The inside saloon of M/Y blue Fin in particular has been spoilt with up-to-date blinds and carpets, as well as new food and drink facilities to ensure ease for all guests making use of the saloon area at different times of the day in between dives.
Leaving the tranquil experience of the underwater world to the crystal blue surface above and on deck, a sky lounge sun deck has been created onboard M/Y blue Melody for the perfect place to relax and unwind after a day full of diving, providing a serene infinity view of the sea from mid deck surrounded by open space and brand new teak furniture.
Not only has M/Y blue Melody been fitted with a sky lounge sun deck, but the sun deck on board M/Y blue Horizon is now new and improved, extended by 1.5 metres, enhancing the infinity view of the sea from mid deck with a brand new Jacuzzi. Guests can bubble their evenings away taking advantage of the peaceful view whilst sharing their experiences from their day of diving.
Continuing the effortless layout of the vessels, bar areas in both the main saloon and on the sun deck of M/Y Red Sea Adventurer have been completely redesigned to create an open and comfortable space. M/Y Red Sea Adventurer has also received a complete new paint scheme, whilst the outside of the rest of the Red Sea fleet have been given a fresh lick of paint for an extra sleek look.
Built by divers, for divers, these incredible vessels allow guests to experience a variety of the top dive sites in the Red Sea. Basking in spectacular scenery and gliding above the rich and diverse ecosystem, the Red Sea is unique with a marine paradise that offers some of the most spectacular diving in the world.
blue o two provides a selection of itineraries to choose from ensuring everything that the Red Sea offers is included in an exciting trip for all. From the famous Northern Wrecks & Reefs to Daedalus & St Johns in the South, divers will witness the wonders of nature and experience a trip of a lifetime.
For more information about blue o two and their scuba diving holidays, visit www.blueotwo.com. Alternatively, contact the blue o two team by emailing divingholidays@blueotwo.com or by calling +44 (0)1752 480808.
News
Euro-Divers to close dive centre at NH Collection Maldives Havodda
Euro-Divers have announced that as of 15 April 2024, they will no longer be operating the dive centre at NH Collection Maldives Havodda (formerly known as Amari Havodda).
The popular dive centre chain released this statement regarding the closure:
Dear valid customers, business partners and friends,
We are leaving NH Collection Maldives Havodda – former Amari Havodda as of 15th of April 2024.
Unfortunately, the information reached us on short notice that we are no longer operating the dive centre at the resort.
It was a great pleasure to work with the Amari Hotel group and continue to work with the NH Hotel group.
We wish our partners great success with all their new changes.
Thanks a lot for cooperating during our time at the resort. We wish everyone with whom we have worked a good and hopefully successful future.
Euro-Divers continue to operate in several other dive resorts throughout the Maldives in addition to other locations.
To finds out more about Euro-Divers, visit www.euro-divers.com.
Marine Life & Conservation Blogs
Creature Feature: Undulate Ray
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 looking at the Undulate Ray. Easily identified by its beautiful, ornate pattern, the Undulate Ray gets its name from the undulating patterns of lines and spots on its dorsal side.
This skate is usually found on sandy or muddy sea floors, down to about 200 m deep, although it is more commonly found shallower. They can grow up to 90 cm total length. Depending on the size of the individual, their diet can range from shrimps to crabs.
Although sometimes called the Undulate Ray, this is actually a species of skate, meaning that, as all true skates do, they lay eggs. The eggs are contained in keratin eggcases – the same material that our hair and nails are made up of! These eggcases are also commonly called mermaid’s purses and can be found washed up on beaches all around the UK. If you find one, be sure to take a picture and upload your find to the Great Eggcase Hunt – the Shark Trust’s flagship citizen science project.
It is worth noting that on the south coasts, these eggcases can be confused with those of the Spotted Ray, especially as they look very similar and the ranges overlap, so we sometimes informally refer to them as ‘Spundulates’.
Scientific Name: Raja undulata
Family: Rajidae
Maximum Size: 90cm (total length)
Diet: shrimps and crabs
Distribution: found around the eastern Atlantic and in the Mediterranean Sea.
Habitat: shelf waters down to 200m deep.
Conservation Status : As a commercially exploited species, the Undulate Ray is a recovering species in some areas. The good thing is that they have some of the most comprehensive management measures of almost any elasmobranch species, with both minimum and maximum landing sizes as well as a closed season. Additionally, targeting is entirely prohibited in some areas. They are also often caught as bycatch in various fisheries – in some areas they can be landed whilst in others they must be discarded.
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered
For more great shark information and conservation visit the Shark Trust Website
Image Credits: Banner – Sheila Openshaw; Illustration – Marc Dando
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