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Check out the latest diving deals from the Scuba Travel Team

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If you’re in need of a diving fix, check out the latest dive holiday specials from our friends at Scuba Travel:

Emperor Serenity I Maldives I 12 August I Save £600, only £2395

Emperor Serenity is a contemporary, spacious liveaboard where fine accommodation and service is standard. This sleek liveaboard was built in the Maldives specifically for divers. Stand out from the crowd as you moor in the picture perfect Maldivian atolls. All diving is done from Emperor Serenity’s large, 19.8m dhoni tender, giving you more living space on board and getting you to the perfect dive spot every time. She is rebreather-friendly and offers free NITROX, all diving and safety equipment as well as a photography charging station and four dive guides.

This popular itinerary with year round departures that delivers what it says on the tin – the Best of the Maldives! Dive the classic sites that made the Maldives so famous. Focusing on the hottest sites around Male & Ari atolls, there are pelagics a plenty, with manta, sharks and even whalesharks.

Package includes: Return flights, 7 nights on a full board basis (twin/double share cabin), enjoy a complimentary glass of wine with dinner, average of 17 fully guided dives (including 1 night dive, All marine park fees, 12lt tank and weights and FOC nitrox.

Click here to find out more…


Turks and Caicos Explorer I 25 August I Save £500, only £3095

The Turks & Caicos Explorer accommodates 20 passengers in 10 cabins which all have a private ensuite and AC.The saloon and dining area are welcoming but it is the covered sun deck where many guests spend their time relaxing between dives catching the Caribbean rays.

With over 40 islands (only eight of which are inhabited) to explore, the quality of diving will astound even the most seasoned diver. There are dramatic wall dives, opulent corals and sponges, pelagic encounters and healthy reef dives to enjoy.

Package includes: Return flights to Provo, 7 nights on a full board basis (twin/double share cabin), up to 5 fully guided dives per day. Flights are usually with via the States from Heathrow – you may require an overnight en route and must have a valid ESTA for transit through the USA. Please note the final trip cost will depend on flight availability at the time of booking and seasonal liveaboard rates. Excluded are the transfers, departure tax, fuel surcharge $40, port fees $95, alcohol, fruit juice and fizzy drinks.

Click here to find out more…


Caribbean Explorer I 7 October I Save £300, only £2275

Caribbean Explorer II sleeps up to 18 divers and is 35m,  the saloon is located on the upper deck with entertainment centre, comfy chairs and the bar. Meals are served here and your package includes free alcoholic drinks after the day’s diving is done. Or head towards the sun deck to work on your tan, enjoy a read or just soak in the glorious view. The boat will stop at islands for a beach excursion during the trip.

Discover the diving of Saba and St Kitts on board Caribbean Explorer 2. St Kitts is well known as being one of the most picturesque Caribbean islands and has incredibly varied diving to boot. Saba Island is home to exhilarating wall dives with pelagics and swirling fish balls. Virgin reef systems and coral gardens as well as shark dives and drifts await.

Package includes: Return flights to St Kitts, 7 nights on a full board basis (twin/double share cabin), up to 5 fully guided dives per day. You will require a one way flight from St Maarteen at the end of your trip. Please note the final trip cost will depend on flight availability at the time of booking and seasonal liveaboard rates. Excluded are the departure tax, fuel surcharge $30, park fees $115.

Click here to find out more…

To find out more about Scuba Travel and the dive holidays they offer, call 0800 0728221, email dive@scubatravel.com or visit www.scubatravel.com. You can find the latest summer specials at www.scubatravel.com/lastminute

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Dive into Adventure: Limited Space Available for January Socorro Liveaboard Trip with Oyster Diving

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Socorro Giant Mantas, Sharks and Dolphins – 8-16th January 2025

Oyster Diving is offering an unforgettable opportunity to experience one of the world’s most extraordinary dive destinations – Socorro Island. With only one male space left for this January’s liveaboard adventure, divers are invited to join an exclusive trip to explore the waters of Socorro, renowned for its remarkable marine life and incredible dive experiences.

Unmatched Diving in Socorro

Socorro is home to a unique population of giant oceanic mantas that actively seek interaction with divers and snorkelers, making it one of the best places in the world to encounter these majestic creatures. But the adventure doesn’t stop there – the waters surrounding Socorro are also teeming with marine life, including schooling hammerheads and silky sharks, over 10 other species of sharks, playful bottlenose dolphins that love to interact with divers, large schools of pelagic fish, and, during the season, humpback whales.

Luxury Aboard the Nautilus Belle Amie

Diving in such an extraordinary location is made even more special by the Nautilus Belle Amie. Launched in 2015, this modern, spacious liveaboard yacht is designed with divers in mind, ensuring comfort and luxury throughout the trip. The boat offers various suite options, including twin rooms and superior double suites, all with the ambiance of a boutique hotel. Divers will spend 8 days aboard the Belle Amie, with all meals, guided dives, and soft drinks included.

Pricing and Availability

This exclusive Socorro liveaboard trip is available for the following prices:

  • Twin Room (2 people sharing a Stateroom): £3360 per person
  • Superior Double Suite (2 people sharing): £3860 per person

Both prices include Socorro Island fees. A port fee of $35 is payable upon arrival.

Additional Costs:

  • Return economy flights: Approx. £1,000 – £1,300 per person (prices confirmed prior to booking)
  • One night hotel B&B accommodation before the liveaboard: Approx. £100 per person

Book Now

With only one spot left, this opportunity to explore Socorro’s spectacular underwater world is sure to fill up fast. Interested divers are encouraged to get in touch with Oyster Diving Holidays to secure their place today.

For more information and bookings, please contact:

Oyster Diving Holidays
Phone: 0800 699 0243
Email: info@oysterdiving.com

Don’t miss your chance to dive with mantas, sharks, dolphins, and humpbacks in one of the world’s most pristine marine environments!

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Marine Life & Conservation

12 Days of Zero-Waste Fish-mas

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This holiday period, the Marine Conservation Society, the UK’s leading ocean membership charity, invites you to make some simple changes to eating fish this Christmas to help our seas.

Dr Kenneth Bodles, Head of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Marine Conservation Society, said, “During the festive season, our consumption increases, but so does waste. Sustainability isn’t just about where food comes from – it’s also about how you use it. By reducing waste and making the most out of your seafood, you’re not only taking steps to be more ocean-friendly, but can also help to cut costs during what is often one of the most expensive times of the year”.

The Marine Conservation Society has compiled twelve tips on how to consume seafood sustainably with zero-waste this Christmas:

Buy whole fish instead of fillets

Instead of fillets, consider buying whole fish such as salmon, hake, or lemon sole. By adopting a “nose to tail” approach with cooking, whole-baked fish not only feeds a crowd, but also helps to minimise waste and maximise sustainability by using up every part of the animal, including bones, skin, and fat.

Make fish stock

Leftover fish bones or shells can be put to good use by boiling them to make a nourishing fish stock or bisque. This can be frozen and preserved for later use and makes for a flavourful base in a soup.

Make your own fish pâté

Avoid waste by turning leftover fish, such as smoked mackerel or salmon, into a delicious pâté by blending with cream cheese and lemon. Perfect when paired with crackers.

The sustainability of salmon and mackerel varies depending on where and how it is caught or farmed. For more information on green-rated options, check the charity’s Good Fish Guide.

Buy frozen

By purchasing seafood that is frozen or vacuum-packed, this helps to reduce waste by extending the shelf life of your food.

Fish pie

If you’re wondering what to do with leftover cooked fish, why not opt for a classic fish pie with mashed potatoes, leeks, and a cheesy sauce? A sure crowd pleaser on Boxing Day.

Use the head

Don’t forget the fish head! The meat is incredibly tender and flavourful. The charity recommends a cod’s head curry or recreating Fallow’s renowned cod’s head in siracha butter.

By stretching your ingredients further, not only is this a more sustainable way to enjoy seafood, but also cost-effective by repurposing leftovers and cooking creatively.

Boxing Day brunch

Mix leftover kippers or smoked salmon with scrambled eggs for a tasty, zero-waste, Boxing Day brunch.

For best choice, make sure you buy kippers, or herring, from the North Sea and the North Irish Sea.

Zero-waste storage

A top tip from the Marine Conservation Society to avoid waste is freezing fish offcuts to save for future use.

Crisp up the skin

Even leftover fish skin can be turned into a quick savoury snack by crisping it up in an air fryer with a little olive oil and salt.

Anchovies two ways

Leftover anchovies can either be blended with butter to make a delicious anchovy butter or tossed into pasta for a hit of umami flavour.

The charity recommends opting for anchovies caught in the Bay of Biscay for best choice.

Fishcakes

For an easy, zero-waste meal, leftover seafood trimmings can be mixed with mash and fried in breadcrumbs to make fishcakes.

Pickled mussels

Try pickling mussels in 1:1 vinegar and water, with a dash of sugar for a sustainable, zero-waste snack that can be enjoyed well beyond the festive season.

Mussels farmed in the UK are a seafood superhero. Grown using low-impact methods and harvested by hand, they get all the food they need from the sea around them. This makes them one of the most sustainable, ocean-friendly, and cost-effective seafood options.

Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised £6.6M towards the Marine Conservation Society’s vital work in making seafood more sustainable.

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “Fish is a festive favourite for many, but making sustainable choices when it comes to how we buy and eat seafood makes all the difference for our ocean. Support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery has helped the Marine Conservation Society further its sustainable seafood work, so that we can all enjoy healthier, better protected seas.”

The Marine Conservation Society encourages you to make sustainable seafood choices a year-round habit, not just for Christmas. To check how sustainable the seafood on your plate is, you can visit the charity’s Good Fish Guide. The Guide helps consumers and businesses identify the most sustainable seafood using a simple traffic light system, based on where and how species are caught or farmed. Green is the best choice, amber means improvements are needed, and red indicates fish to avoid buying.

Zero-waste gift idea

Why not embrace a zero-waste Christmas by gifting a membership to support marine conservation? It’s a meaningful, low-waste gift that helps protect our ocean for generations to come. Memberships start from as little as £5 a month – the price of a sandwich and drink from your local coffee shop.

Find the latest sustainable seafood advice for wild-caught and farmed seafood on the Good Fish Guide, downloadable to your phone from www.mcsuk.org/goodfishguide.

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