News
Check out these great dive holiday deals from Oonasdivers
![dive holiday](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/diving-the-red-sea-by-gavin-parsons.jpg)
Fancy getting away from it all? UK-based tour operator Oonasdivers have some very tempting dive holiday offers for you to take advantage off.
Here are the details:
Oonasdivers | Red Sea | Sharks Bay Umbi Village | Sharm el Sheikh from £450
Just 10 minutes away from Naama Bay but a million miles away from the hustle and bustle, Sharks Bay is located in a picturesque bay with everything on site – its own private jetty, dive centre, boats, restaurant, Bedouin café and 3 types of accommodation. Combine this with their friendly, personal approach and this makes it the perfect resort for your next diving holiday.
November 2015
07 – 14 Nov only £555
14 – 21 Nov only £500
21 – 28 Nov only £490
28 Nov – 05 Dec only £485
December 2015
05 – 12 Dec only £485
12 – 19 Dec only £485
January 2016
02 – 09 Jan only £450
09 – 16 Jan only £465
23 – 30 Jan only £475
30 Jan – 06 Feb only £450
Prices are per person and include flights, transfers, 7 nights B&B and 10 boat dives. Single supplement applies.
For more information on these itineraries click here.
Oonasdivers | Red Sea | Marsa Alam from £795
The popular and unique villages of Marsa Shagra and Marsa Nakari in the southern Red Sea offer unlimited and unguided diving on their beautiful and diverse house reefs. From either village you can also dive the breath-taking sites of Elphinstone, Dolphin House Reef and many more.
Marsa Shagra
Definitely the most well know of Oonasdivers’ Marsa Alam destinations, Marsa Shagra is located just half an hour from Marsa Alam airport. Shagra boasts one of the most beautiful house reefs in the Red Sea region.
October 2015
07 – 14 Oct only £825
14 – 21 Oct only £865
Prices are per person and include flights, transfers, 7 nights full board and 5 days unlimited diving.
Marsa Nakari
A smaller, quieter and more remote alternative to Marsa Shagra, Nakari is situated a further half an hour down the coast. Another fantastic house reef and a more personalised service. Expect the silence and serenity of the desert atmosphere and the world-renowned beauty of the Red Sea reefs.
October 2015
07 – 14 Oct only £795
14 – 21 Oct only £835
Prices are per person and include flights, transfers, 7 nights full board and 5 days unlimited diving.
For more information on these itineraries click here.
Oonasdivers | Red Sea | Liveaboards from £670
One of the best ways to see the most awe-inspiring dive sites of the Red Sea. Liveaboards offer everything a diver needs – comfort, relaxation and lots and lots of diving.
Emperor Asmaa – FREE Nitrox
Offering genuine value for money, Asmaa is a popular liveaboard drawing diver’s back time and time again. Completely refurbished in January 2015, Asmaa offers comfortable accommodation in 10 twin bed cabins, 4 of which are upper-deck.
October 2015
14 – 21 Oct – Fury & St Johns only £995
January 2016
01 – 08 Jan – North & Wrecks only £670
08 Jan – 15 Jan – North & Wrecks only £685
15 – 22 Jan – North & Wrecks only £715
22 – 29 Jan – North & Wrecks only £745
29 Jan – 05 Feb – North & Wrecks only £755
Juliet
One of the few smaller liveaboards left in the Red Sea. Juliet takes a maximum of just 14 guests. At 28m this means more space, more flexibility and more personal attention to you.
Her amazing and attentive crew will guide you to the very best dive sites in the northern Red Sea. Juliet is a great option for small groups and clubs.
November 2015
21 – 28 Nov – North & Wrecks only £890
28 Nov – 05 Dec – North & Wrecks only £885
December 2015
05 – 12 Dec – North & Wrecks only £785
12 – 19 Dec – North & Wrecks only £785
Prices are per person and include flights, transfers, 7 nights full board and 6 days diving.
For more information on these itineraries click here.
Oonasdivers | South Africa from £1250
Shark Diving South Africa – Scuba Addicts Lodge
Get up close and personal with some of the world’s most magnificent creatures…… SHARKS.
January 2016
23 – 30 Jan only £1250
February 2016
20 – 27 Feb 2016 only £1250
Prices are per person and include flights, transfers, 6 nights B&B and 10 Shark Dives.
For more information on these itineraries click here.
Oonasdivers | Maldives | Liveaboards from £1690
Explore one of the world’s best scuba diving destinations in comfort and style. Join one of Oonasdivers’ popular Maldives liveaboards and pick the itinerary that suits you.
October 2015
09 – 17 Oct – Emperor Voyager (The Best of the Maldives) £1755
16 – 24 Oct – Emperor Atoll (The Best of the Maldives) £1750
November 2015
27 Nov – 05 Dec – Emperor Atoll (The Best of the Maldives) only £1760
27 Nov – 05 Dec – Emperor Voyager (The Best of the Maldives) only £1835
December 2015
04 – 12 Dec – Emperor Atoll (The Best of the Maldives) only £1690
04 – 12 Dec – Emperor Voyager (The Best of the Maldives) only £1760
Prices are per person and include flights, transfers, 7 nights full board, 17 dives and FREE Nitrox.
For more information on these itineraries click here.
Oonasdivers | Caribbean | Tobago from £1035
Fancy a diving holiday with a difference? Sample the true Caribbean in Tobago – soak up the island’s warm atmosphere whilst diving in the colourful waters. Perfect for non-divers too.
Blue Waters Inn
Tobago’s best kept secret, Blue Waters Inn is perfectly located in Speyside. Access the top dive sites whilst enjoying the beauty of your surroundings.
October 2015
02 – 09 Oct only £1185
09 – 16 Oct only £1165
12 – 19 Oct only £1155
Prices are per person and include flights, transfers, 7 nights B&B and 10 dives including full equipment.
Chic Boutique
Introducing you to the unique, intimate and stylish Chic Boutique. Located in Pigeon Point you are just minutes from the best dive centre in the area, Undersea Tobago, who will guide you to explore the stunning underwater world.
October 2015
02 – 09 Oct only £1095
09 – 16 Oct only £1075
12 – 19 Oct only £1035
January 2016
11 – 18 Jan only £1095
18 – 25 Jan only £1095
25 Jan – 01 Feb only £1095
For more information on these itineraries click here.
Oonasdivers | Sudan | Royal Evolution from £2530
Embark on an adventure into the pristine Sudanese waters. Join one of the most sophisticated liveaboards in the Red Sea for her extended 13 day cruise.
November 2015
25 Nov – 09 Dec – Abington Reef, Shaab Rumi & Umbria Wreck only £2530
February 2016
24 Feb – 09 Mar – Abington Reef, Shaab Rumi & Umbria Wreck only £2600
Prices are per person and include 14 nights full board and 12 days diving.
For more information on these itineraries click here.
Oonasdivers | Canary Islands | El Hierro from £665
Dive El Hierro with Shane Gray
El Hierro is the smallest of the Canary Islands, with an extraordinary and captivating landscape both above and below the water. This trip is fully guided by Shane Gray, a well-known figure in the Irish diving community, and his wife Ollie.
November 2015
09 – 16 Nov – Dive El Hierro £670
23 – 30 Nov – Dive El Hierro £665
February 2016
22 – 29 Feb – Dive El Hierro £710
Prices are per person and include flights, transfers, 7 nights self-catering and 10 dives.
For more information on these itineraries click here.
To find out more or to book, contact the Oonasdivers team now by calling +44 (0)1323 648924, email info@oonasdivers.com or visit www.oonasdivers.com.
Photo: Gavin Parsons
News
Book Review: Fire on Monroe Bravo by Fred Lockwood
![the ship beneath the ice](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Book-Review.jpg)
Fire on Monroe Bravo is the latest book in the Jack Collier series by Fred Lockwood. Our story begins with our lead characters, Jack and Sandro, owners of Marine Salvage & Investigation Company, arriving on the Monroe Bravo Oil & Gas Platform in the North Sea. Having secured a contract for their vessel the MV Stavanger to act as support ship to the platform for TransGlobal Oil, our protagonists are on a celebratory visit.
However almost as soon as they arrive a series of explosions rock the platform, causing huge damage, loss of life and the very real danger of a massive human, ecological and financial disaster.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/fireonmonroebravo-683x1024.jpg)
As the danger mounts for both our heroes and the surviving workers, Jack and Sandro will have to escape the inferno, all while trying to save the platform and the men still trapped unable to help themselves.
The disaster sets the scene for the unfolding story lines following the fate of the platform and our main characters, the police investigation into a suspected terrorist act and the actions of TransGlobal Oil as they attempt to navigate the pubic outcry and financial repercussions.
In his eighth book, Fire on Monroe Bravo, Fred Lockwood delivers an explosive thriller, with plenty of above and in-water drama, and our heroes fighting for survival, what more can you ask for?
We thoroughly recommend this read and look forward to the next in the series. For more information about his book series, you can check out the reviews of his previous books here on Scubaverse.
- Title: Fire On Monroe Bravo
- Author: Fred Lockwood
- ISBN: 979-8325324536
Available in a paperback version and for Kindle from Amazon and book stores.
Blogs
Alonissos: The complete diving destination (Part 1)
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In June we were incredibly fortunate to be invited to dive in Alonissos, a small Greek Island in the Sporades island chain located in the North Aegean Sea. While I have long been a big fan of the Greek Islands as a great holiday destination, I had not had the opportunity to do any diving on previous visits and Mike and I were extremely excited to see what Alonissos had to offer both above and below the surface!
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_20230611_132718-1024x769.jpeg)
The Sporades are easily accessible via the airport in Skiathos (the first island in the chain), which is served by Jet2 flights from all major UK airports from May through October. Numerous ferries and charter boats make island hopping from Skiathos Town a breeze. After an hour boat ride, the picturesque port of Patitiri was a wonderful introduction to Alonissos, where we were met by our gracious hosts Kostas of Albedo Travel and Dias of Alonissos Triton Dive Center. Mike and I were delighted to be staying at the Paradise Hotel, aptly named for its stunning views over the sea and great location for walking to the waterfront.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_20230611_134526-1024x769.jpeg)
Alonissos is beautifully situated in the National Marine Park of Alonissos and the Northern Sporades, the largest marine protected area in Europe. The surrounding seas offer fabulous marine life, including incredibly rare species such as the Mediterranean monk seal. They boast deep walls covered in gorgonians and sponges, stunning topography with caverns, swimthroughs and pinnacles, and the first accessible ancient shipwreck from 500BC!
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In locations where historical sites have been reported, the waters are largely restricted, but with collaboration between government, underwater archeologists and dive centres, incredible underwater museums are being created for a truly unique diving experience. Alonissos is home to the first of these, the Ancient Shipwreck of Peristera Accessible Underwater Archeological Site. The chance to dive into history (along with reports of healthy reef life and amazing underwater topography) meant Mike and I were keen to get in the water.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/27-1024x768.jpeg)
Our introduction to the diving around Alonissos was at the Agios Georgios Pinnacles, in the channel between Alonissos and Skopelos. This fantastic site was named “The Chimney,’ and proved to have a huge amount to see. We got to a decent depth here (over 25m), and marvelled at a colourful reef wall with a wonderful swim through whose rocky walls were absolutely covered with life. As well as brilliant topography there was no shortage of macro life here. We saw numerous nudibranchs, five different species in total. The second dive at Mourtias reef nearby was a shallower dive along a nice wall with lots of crevices. Several moray eels and grouper called this site home. We enjoyed looking in the crevices for lobster and smaller benthic life, such as cup corals and tunicates.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/30-1024x772.jpeg)
Our itinerary allowed us two dives a day with afternoons left to explore the island with our hire car and evenings to enjoy the famous Greek hospitality. This proved to be a lovely mix of in-water and land based diversions.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Sunset-chapel-1024x694.jpg)
The next days diving to the Gorgonian Gardens and Triton’s Cave was to be even better! These two stunning sites are nothing short of fabulous. The Gorgonian Gardens was a deep wall near to the Agios Georgios islands. The ever-present currents in this deep channel meant that the sea life was amazing … the namesake Gorgonian sea fans dotted the wall at a depth of 30 to 50 meters, getting ever larger the deeper we went. Above 30m was by no means less beautiful, with sponges, corals, scorpionfish, moray eels and some rare and colourful nudibranchs.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15-726x1024.jpeg)
The second shallower dive of the day was to Triton’s Cave or the Cavern of Skopelos, on the east side of that island. The spectacular rock formations had wild striations both above and below the water making a truly epic topography. The cavern entrance was at 14m, and big enough for a buddy pair, winding up to 6m and passing two beautiful windows out into the blue. Emerging from the cavern, the light at the shallower depths and the incredible rock formations made for a fantastic gentle swimming safety stop and we all surfaced by the boat with massive grins.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/34-768x1024.jpeg)
Check out our next blog :Alonissos: The complete diving destination (Part 2)” to hear about our amazing dive on the 2500 year old Peristera Wreck!
Thanks to:
Alonissos Triton Dive Center https://bestdivingingreece.com/
Albedo Travel https://alonissosholidays.com/activities/
Paradise Hotel https://paradise-hotel.gr/
Alonissos Municipality https://alonissos.gr/en/
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