News
Dive into 2018 with one of Scuba Travel’s Fabulous Offers…
Dive into 2018 with one of these fabulous offers from UK-based Tour Operator Scuba Travel.
Red Sea: 22 February I Hurricane – Shark Quest I £995 plus extra £50 off if booked by 31 December (including flights)
Hurricane has won Liveaboard of the Year for the last two years running. She’s a very special boat, with a superb crew and captain onboard, getting you to the right place at the right time for the best sightings. She has now headed off for an extended dry dock and Scuba Travel are looking forward to welcoming her back to the fleet on 22 February 2018.
The planned maintenance includes new updated bathrooms throughout, new airconditioning system in the saloon and an update in cabins, more sun loungers and beanbags, as well as the standard dry dock procedures of replacing carpets, repainting etc…
Package includes return flights to Gatwick, 7 nights full board, fully guided diving and weights and tanks. Book to travel on Hurricane from today until 31 December 2017 and receive an extra £50 Christmas bonus. This is available on top of your loyalty discount, and on top of any current offers (not available for group bookings).
Click here for further information on Hurricane
Indonesia: 4 January I WAOW I Save £700, 12 nights only £5295
WAOW takes space, excellence and luxury to a whole new level in Indonesia. This is a vast liveaboard offering itineraries in some of Indonesia’s most exciting dive spots. WAOW has undeniable wow factor and it is not just in the cabins. The saloon area has plenty of space for lounging around. Head up to the sundeck to find a sunny or shady corner. Enjoy the view as you sail between the myriad of tiny islands and reef tops that pepper the seas.
Your trip starts on arrival in Jakarta where you will be met and taken to your hotel for the night (B&B, twin share). The next morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Sorong where you board WAOW. All trips are fully guided by two expert dive guides and include 12lt tank, weights, full board, soft drinks. There are usually 3/4 dives a day. At the end of you trip you will return to Sorong and fly back to Jakarta.
Click here to find out more…
Maldives: 14 January I Orion I £1425 (excluding flights)
Set sail on this popular hotel standard Maldives liveaboard. Orion is generously proportioned with a relaxed atmosphere on board. As all diving takes places from the tender dhoni all the space on board is living space with generous areas for relaxing after your day’s dive. Best of the Maldives is a popular year round itinerary which focuses on the hottest site around Male and Ari atolls; there are pelagics aplenty with manta, sharks and even whalesharks.
This package includes transfers from Male airport, 7 nights full board including drinking water and a complimentary glass of wine with dinner, average of 17 fully guided dives over the week, 12 ltr tanks and weights plus FOC Nitrox.
Click here for more information…
Bali: 3 February I Scuba Seraya I £1545 (including flights)
Scuba Seraya sits next to world class dive sites, and as such, this really is a diver’s resort. But you do not have to forgo your creature comforts! There is a freshwater pool and beachside massage service for those chill out days. The beach is for the exclusive use of guests. The restaurant is right by the sea, and serves freshly prepared Indonesian and Western meals.
The whole atmosphere at Scuba Seraya is understated elegance. Relax and forget about the world as you dive from your very own corner in paradise. This package includes 10 Tulamben dives and unlimited unguided house reef diving, 7 nights fullboard in a maisonette, return flights and transfers.
Click here for more information…
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.
Blogs
TRAVEL BLOG: Jeff Goodman Dives SOMABAY, Part 3
Today we are diving one of the outer reefs from an inflatable. As we reach the bottom, a reef octopus eases its way into the cover of a small crack in the coral while displaying it’s incredible ability to change colour. They are arguably one of the most charismatic of reef dwellers and it is always exciting for me to simply hover and watch. I would have spent longer and waited for it to come and investigate me, but as dive time is limited we wanted to move on and find a turtle.
The waters around Somabay are well protected and hold a rich variety of marine life. The reef edges are thriving colonies of coral and shoaling fish, while nearer the sea bed plenty of wildlife is still to be found.
Then we located the turtles. They are very used to divers and so show little concern when slowly approached. In fact occasionally one will come over to see what you are doing. There is always huge excitement when diving with a turtle. The shear thrill of sharing a moment with another species.
What a fantastic way to finish a wonderful few days diving and I would like to thank SOMABAY, ORCA DIVING and THE BREAKERS for making my stay such a good one.
I had a great time, with diving everyday either on the house reef or on one of the offshore reefs by inflatable or larger day boat. Orca diving provided high quality equipment and facilities while the staff were all very friendly and welcoming. The Breakers was right on the coast with nice rooms, good food and once again friendly staff making the whole trip a real pleasure.
Soma Bay covers an entire peninsula and is home to several resorts as well as residential compounds.
As well as scuba diving, Somabay caters for many other sports and activities, and so is perfect for families as well as individuals and/or groups. And of course there is always time to lay peacefully on the beach under the Egyptian sun.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
Blogs
TRAVEL BLOG: Jeff Goodman Dives SOMABAY, Part 2
Day three of my trip to Somabay and we were spending the day on the Lady Christina and diving on the wreck of the Salem Express.
Diving wrecks for me is always one of mixed emotions. The excitement of diving a wreck is more than often tempered by the thought of loss of life when she sank. The Salem Express was a passenger ship and a roll-on/roll-off ferry travelling from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Safaga, Egypt. Most passengers were of poor class travelling home from their holidays while around 150 people were returning home from their pilgrimage to Mecca.
The ship struck a reef and sank within 20 minutes. Passengers were trapped below deck and the ship was filled with fear and panic.
The wreck area is strewn with personal belongings from the crew and passengers such as a transistor radio and a flat iron for clothes. A diver at sometime has put them in a prominent place to be seen.
Tragically only one life boat was launched while the others went down with the ship. More than 600 men, women and children lost their lives here.
It’s a stark reminder that the sea can be unforgiving and so when we dive on such wrecks we should do so with humble regard.
Returning to the surface, shoals of fish are gathered under our boat and seem to be welcoming us back into the light.
Back at the Breakers I sat in the dining area with a beer and a very good meal while my thoughts still remained with the day’s dive on the Salem Express.
Check in for part 3 tomorrow for Jeff’s last day of diving with Somabay on the off-shore reefs looking for turtles.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
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