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Check out Scuba Travel’s latest offers
Check out the latest dive travel offers from our friends at UK-based Tour Operator Scuba Travel…
Visit Daedalus, Rocky and St. Johns for only £1295
Sublime reef diving in the southern Red Sea with the most experienced team, on board the stable steel hulled Hurricane. Avoid long transfers with a direct flight to Marsa Alam. Dive the famous Daedalus Reef, Rocky Island and St Johns – night diving is prohibited in some of these areas so expect around 18 -20 dives in total. All fees, 12 L tank & weights and FREE NITROX are included in your package – please pre-book additional kit and tank hire. All trips are fully guided with two expert guides. Flights are with Thomson from Gatwick and transfers are included. At the end of the week, a day use room and lunch at a hotel is included while you wait for your flight home. The only costs not included are the Egyptian entry visa, alcohol, additional kit hire and any onboard souvenirs. Please let your travel consultant know if you would like to pre-book any PADI courses on board or have any dietary requirements.
* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking
Only 8 spaces available, book your spot here
Small group offer – Book 6 spaces for only £1192.5 per person
With only 12 places onboard this beautiful liveaboard is a spacious and comfortable choice for discerning divers. Departing from Hurghada, you will spend 7 nights on board on a full board basis (twin share cabin). This is a classic itinerary in the Northern Red Sea with up to 22 dives over the week. All marine park fees, 12lt tank, air fills and weights are included in your package – please pre-book nitrox and 15lt tanks before travel. All trips are fully guided with two expert guides. Flights are with Easyjet from Gatwick and transfers are also included. At the end of the week, you will have day use of a hotel and buffet lunch while you wait for your flight home. Excluded are the Egyptian entry visa, alcohol, nitrox, additional kit hire and any onboard souvenirs. Please let your travel consultant know if you would like to pre-book any PADI courses on board or have any dietary requirements.
Shore base diving holiday at an incredible price – 23rd May
Recharge your batteries in the peace and quiet of El Quesir, with the British led team from Roots Red Sea. Your holiday includes 7 nights on a B&B basis in a deluxe chalet with a 5 day no limit house reef diving package. Flights from Gatwick to Hurghada or Marsa Alam with airport transfer. Excluded from your package are any meals or drinks outside of your above package, additional diving or local excursions. You can upgrade your room type, board basis to either half board or soft all inclusive (no alcohol) – please speak to a travel consultant at the time of booking. A wide variety of different diving packages can also be offered at the time of booking. Night dives, nitrox, kit hire, and courses are all paid for locally. There is a 5 Euro compulsory reef tax. You will need an Egyptian visa for entry – please speak to your travel consultant to see if you are able to use our Egyptian visa service or if this needs to be arranged in advance/on arrival.
* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking
Book here one of the last 3 places left
Experience The Best of The Maldives onboard Carpe Novo on 7th September
Manta, sharks, eagle rays and so much more on this classic Maldives itinerary on board the sublime and spacious Carpe Novo (new in 2016). Visiting North Male, Ari, Vaavu and South Male, Carpe Novo offers 3 dives daily (except for on the day of arrival and day before departure) including one or two night dives and all diving is from a dhoni tender, with 12lt tank and weights and FREE NITROX are included. You have booked a standard cabin on a full board basis (twin/double share cabin) – cabin upgrades available. Tea, coffee and drinking water are included in your package. All trips are fully guided. Excluded are alcohol, fruit juice, soft drinks, additional kit hire and any onboard souvenirs. Please let your travel consultant know if you would like to prebook any diving courses on board or have any dietary requirements.
This holiday excludes international flights to Male but includes airport transfers. Scuba Travel is able to add flights with a wide range of airlines, including regional departures. Please ask your consultant for a competitive quote for any flight option. Do not book any flights until your boat space is confirmed by Scuba Travel. Transfers operate at fixed times.
Pelagic Magic in the Maldives onboard Emperor Virgo and Save £245
Save £245 Spend more time in South Ari on this pelagic packed Maldives liveaboard adventure! Dive the seasonal hot spots from a dhoni tender with an average of 17 dives (including 1 night dive). You have 7 nights on board on a full board basis (twin/double share cabin) – upper deck cabin upgrades available. All trips are fully guided with expert guides and include 12lt tank and weights, as well as FOC nitrox. Excluded are alcoholic drinks, fruit juice, fizzy drinks, additional kit hire and any onboard souvenirs. Please do not forget to let your travel consultant know if you would like to prebook any courses on board or have any dietary requirements.
You have booked a holiday excluding international flights, with return Male airport transfers. We are able to add flights with a wide range of airlines, including regional departures. Flights will incur a small booking fee. Please ask your consultant for a competitive quote for any flight option. Do not book any flights until your boat space is confirmed by Scuba Travel. Transfers operate at fixed times.
Click here to book this incredible trip
Save £250 Lembeh’s premier muck and critter dive resort!
See for yourself why divers love Lembeh resort. Your SUMMER special includes 17 air dives and 7 nights in a garden room in on a full board basis (2 people sharing). Or why not talk to your travel consultant about adding more dives or upgrading your room to one of the beautiful sea view options? Free wifi operates throughout the resort. Flights are with Singapore Airlines from Heathrow via Singapore but there is also a Manchester departure option with the airline. UK passport holders can obtain a FOC tourist visa on arrival in Manado. Local extras include additional dives, kit hire of private guiding, spa services, alcohol. Some special dives incur a small local charge (eg Mandarin dives, remote sites).
* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking
Save £300 on 31st May and dive Moalboal and Pescador with Kassai Village
Your package includes 18 boat dives AIR around Moalboal and Pescador or on the famous house reef. Once you arrive in Cebu you will be picked up and taken by land and the Kasai Village resort. Your package includes 7 nights in a pool view room on a full board basis – optional room grades available. Please do ask your travel consultant if you would like to prebook additional diving. Special day trips or blackwater dives are organised and subject to a small supplemental charge paid locally. Flights are with Cathay Pacific airlines via Hong Kong but we can book most major scheduled airlines including regional UK departures. You will need to pay a departure tax when leaving the Philippines (approx 750php).
* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking
Save £1700 – Dive the remote pelagic playground Cocos onboard Sea Hunter
Your trip of a lifetime starts as you arrive at Cocos Island (approx 30-36 hours). Here you will enjoy 3 exciting dives a day plus 3 must-see night dives. Your liveaboard package is based on a twin share cabin (full board including soft drinks). All trips are fully guided and include 12lt tank, weights and free Nitrox. During the trip, an excursion will be made to the island. The Cocos Marine Park fees $490 must be prepaid and will be added to your holiday before travel. Onboard, there is a mandatory search & recovery charge of $35, along with additional drinks, kit hire, souvenirs and tipping. Transfer in San Jose are included from the list of approved hotels. There is a departure tax on leaving Costa Rica (approx $35).
This holiday excludes international flights to San Jose Costa Rica (SJO). We strongly recommend you add a night in Costa Rica before and possibly after your liveaboard, depending on your flight times. These can be added to your booking, with a wide range of airlines, including regional departures. Please ask your consultant for a competitive quote. Do not book any flights until your boat space is confirmed by Scuba Travel. Do be aware that if your flight routes through the USA you must have an ESTA prior to travel.
* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking
Book this once in a lifetime trip here
Save £1780 and dive the incredible Galapagos Islands
Experience ocean views as you dive through the Galapagos on board the elegant and spacious Majestic Explorer. Your liveaboard holiday is based on a twin share cabin – twin or queen bed double options – and on a full board basis, including alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages, premium alcoholic beverages available for an additional charge. A 12lt tank, air fills and weights are included in your package with 18-20 dives on average. All trips are fully guided with expert guides. The last night Sunday dinner is not included in your cruise. The crew will help with reservations and recommendations. To pay locally are the departure tax, the Galapagos park fees ($100), chamber tax ($35), tourist card ($20), fuel surcharge ($150) and nitrox ($150) on board.
This holiday does not include any international flights to Ecuador (UIO or GYE) or the Galapagos Islands. We strongly recommend you add a night in Ecuador before and possibly after your liveaboard, depending on your flight times. These can be added to your booking, with a wide range of airlines, including regional departures. Please ask your consultant for a competitive quote. Do not book any flights until your boat space is confirmed by Scuba Travel. Do be aware that if your flight routes through the USA you must have an ESTA prior to travel.
* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking
Click here to book your place.
Dive Turks and Caicos and save £550
Turks and Caicos offer outstanding wall diving with plenty of chances for pelagics from the comfort of your Aggressor liveaboard. After landing in Provo you will be taken to the boat and the adventure begins. You have 7 nights on board on a full board basis (twin/double share cabin) – cabin upgrades available. Full board includes water, tea, coffee, soft drinks and social servings of local beer and wine. There are 5 dives a day on offer and 2 on the first and last days. All trips are fully briefed by expert guides, who are also in water providing assistance, photography and videography. Excluded are the departure tax, bed tax ($110 or $158 10 nights), nitrox, additional kit hire and any onboard souvenirs. Please let us know if you would like to prebook any courses on board or have any dietary requirements.
This is a BOAT ONLY holiday. The cost does not include any international flights to Providenciales PLS. We are able to add flights with a wide range of airlines, including regional departures. Depending on the airline schedule, you may require an overnight hotel en route. Please ask your consultant for a competitive quote for any flight option. Do not book any flights until your boat space is confirmed by Scuba Travel. Do be aware that if your flight routes through the USA you must have an ESTA prior to travel.
* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking
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.
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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