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Dive holiday offers from Scuba Travel
Check out the latest dive travel offers from our friends at UK-based Tour Operator Scuba Travel…
SharkQuest on the 9th of May for only £1195
Hurricane
Price: £1195
Come face to face with pelagics in the Southern Red Sea and save £200 with this amazing early bird offer. Dive with the most experienced team, on board the stable steel hulled Hurricane. Avoid long transfers with our direct flight to Marsa Alam.
Dive the famous Daedalus Reef, Brothers Islands, Rocky or Elphinstone dependant on the best shark activity – night diving is prohibited in some of these areas so expect around 18 dives in total. All fees, 12 L tank & weights and FREE NITROX are included in your package.
All trips are fully guided with 2 expert guides. Flights are with Thomson/Thomas Cook from Gatwick and transfers are included. At the end of the week, we also include a day use room and lunch at a hotel 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.
This holiday is suitable for advanced divers with a minimum of 50 dives and comfortable in the blue.
Whirlwind
Price: £1195
Save £155 on the Wrecks and Reefs trip
Sail away this 13 of July on the ever popular, award winning Whirlwind. This is a classic itinerary in the Northern Red Sea with up to 22 dives over the week. Departing from Hurghada, you will spend 7 nights on board on a full board basis (twin share cabin). All marine park fees, 12lt tank, air fills and weights are included in your package. 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.
Wrecks and Reefs is the ideal itinerary whatever your experience level. A popular route for those new to the Red Sea, the varied depths across dive sites suit all abilities – from novice to tekkie. Visibility is crystal clear and the warm blue waters are perfect for even the longest dive times. Water temperatures typically range between 20 and 28 degrees throughout the year. Diving can be accessed whatever the season, either by boat or RIB. Currents push nutrients rich water from north to south, giving you plenty of opportunity for exhilarating drift dives. Travel times between dive sites are short leaving more time for relaxing. Few other dive destinations can offer the same quality and quantity of top dive sites. This itinerary will fill your log book with both wrecks and reefs that are envied the world over.
Book one of the last 4 places for £1195
Roots Red Sea, a small friendly resort in El Quesir
Price £845
Shore base diving holiday at an incredible price
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
Indonesia
Raja Ampat
Price: £3325
Dive Raja Ampat and Save £350 onboard Mermaid II now only £3325
Dive the ultimate wish list destination, Raja Ampat for £3325 this 15 of April. The experienced crew of Mermaid 2 sails North and South Raja taking divers to some of the best dive spots in the world. Your trip starts on arrival in Jakarta and an overnight, before your flight to Sorong, where you board Mermaid 2. Your holiday package is based on a deluxe cabin on a full board basis. All trips are fully guided by expert dive guides and include 12lt tank, air fills weights, full board, soft drinks. 15lt tanks are available free of charge but must be pre-booked. At the end of your trip, you will return to Sorong and fly back to Jakarta. All Sorong transfers are included. To pay on board are Raja Ampat park fees (200 euros), alcohol, additional kit hire, nitrox (120 euros), excess baggage on the local flights and any souvenirs and private guiding services. UK passport holders can obtain an Indonesian tourist visa FOC on arrival.
This holiday excludes international flights to Jakarta CGK. Do ask for a competitive quote to add flights from a number of UK airports to your holiday. If you plan to book your own flights, please check with your travel before finalising any tickets to ensure that you have sufficient time to make your domestic flight connections.* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking
Bali
On the 26 of April go critters crazy in Bali for £1595 including flights
Save £300 Dive Tulamben and the incredible critter dives of Bali with the team from Scuba Seraya! Your Bali adventure includes 7 nights in a maisonette on a full board basis (excluding drinks). Enjoy 10 boat dives in the morning (Tulamben region) plus unlimited, unguided shore diving for 5 afternoons. Flights are typically from Heathrow but we can book most major scheduled airlines including regional departure options. UK passport holders no longer need to pay for a visa on arrival in Bali. Excluded are local marine park fees, additional dives, special trips, nitrox or any meals or drinks outside of your full board package.
Bali manages to deliver Indonesia’s stunning reef systems, packed with critters, at an affordable price. Most dives here are reef dives and there is no one better to guide you through than the team at Scuba Seraya. Photographer? This is an ideal choice. Small groups, unhurried service and experienced dive guides are just some of the attractions!
Many divers start with the house reef Seraya Secrets and Noisy Reefs. Drop in and the coral gardens open up. Here you can find a huge range of exotic macro life… frogfish, zebra crabs, ghost pipefish, mimic octopus to name but a few! The house reef is just the start. Alam Anda, Batu Niti, Jemeluk, Gili Selang – there are sites aplenty. No trip is complete without a dive on the Liberty wreck. This vast cargo ship sits almost on the beach and is perfect for all experience levels. Vast schools of jacks and goatfish swirl around the wreck. Descent to the bow and you will find a coral encrusted gun next to a pygmy sea horse sitting on his sea fan.
Click here to book your Bali adventure
* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking
Siladen Resort and Spa
Price from £2345
Luxury dive holiday in the heart of Bunaken National Park
Save £300 Barefoot luxury with Siladen resort and dive centre from £2345. Your holiday includes flights from Heathrow to Manado with Singapore Airlines, airport transfers, 7 nights garden view villa (full board, 2 people sharing), 17 air boat dives. Upgrade to nitrox for only £80. Local taxes are prepaid. Water, tea, and coffee are available free of charge, and fresh juices also free of charge during breakfast. wifi is free throughout the resort. To pay locally are any drinks not included in your board basis, laundry, land excursions, Diving extras such as special trips to Bangka or Manado Bay, private guiding, kit hire, courses will all be billed in resort. UK passport holder can obtain and FOC visa on arrival.
The Marine Park is known for its rich macro life and is mostly characterized by wall dives rich in hard and soft corals. Pelagics such as reef sharks (black tip, white tip), eagle rays, barracudas, tuna, napoleon wrasses and turtles are also a common sight. There are over 50 dives sites within easy reach of the Resort. All dive sites around the 5 islands of the Marine Park are wall dives whereas dive sites alongside the coast of North Sulawesi are mostly dark sandy slopes with corals. A wreck is also available for diving in the Manado bay.
Offer applies to selected dates
* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking
Caribbean
Price: £1375
Explore the islands of Saba and St. Kitts and save £300 this 18th of May
A unique voyage through some of the most exclusive Caribbean islands onboard Caribbean Explorer 2 – dive St Kitts and the remarkable Saba Island with up to 5 dives a day! You have 7 nights on board on a full board basis (twin/double share cabin). Local, social servings of alcohol are included, along with soft drinks. A 12lt tank, air fills and weights are included in your package with up to 5 dives a day on offer (except first and last day). All trips are fully guided with expert guides. The last night Friday dinner is not included in your cruise. The crew will help with reservations and recommendations. To pay locally are the departure tax, fuel surcharge $80, park fees $115, nitrox $150 per week, optional land tours, 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 holiday excludes international flights to St Kitts SKB. At the end of your trip, you need to fly St Kitts from St Maarten. We are 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. Do be aware that if your flight routes through the USA you must have an ESTA prior to travel.
Don’t miss this great opportunity, click here to book your place
Maldives
Price: £1050
Pelagic Magic in the Maldives onboard Emperor virgo and Save £245
Experience Oman onboard the Oman Aggressor and save £900
A truly magical itinerary for divers that love reef diving and abundant biodiversity. You have 7 nights in a deluxe stateroom on a full board basis, including all soft drinks and a limited selection of local beer and wine with your evening meal. There are master cabin and suite upgrades available. simply ask your travel consultant at the time of booking. Over a 7 night trip, you can clock up an impressive 25 dives. 12lt tank, air fills and weights are included in your package. All trips are escorted with 2 expert divemasters. There is a USD200 Port/Marine Park fee per person to be paid on board. Excluded are the Oman entry visa, alcohol, additional kit hire and any onboard souvenirs. Please let us know if you would like to prebook any PADI courses on board or have any dietary requirements. Diner on Friday evening is not included, although the crew will assist with recommendations and reservations. Transfers will be pre-booked but have to be paid for locally in cash USD35 per person per way – the transfer time will be advised locally.
This holiday does not include any international flights to Muscat airport MCT. We are 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.
* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking
Only 6 places left. Click here to book your spot
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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