News
Divetech Enters New Phase in Dive Travel and Service to Grand Cayman
New headquarters, new website, new toll free number, new reservations department, new on-island partners…
Divetech is ready for the 2016 season
Divetech, one of Grand Cayman’s premier dive operators, is moving its headquarters to their Lighthouse Point dive shop, home of the Guardian of the Reef. At the same time, Divetech is launching a dedicated dive travel department as part of a 2016 expansion plan to accommodate growth, development and customer demand. The company is partnering with a number of hotels, condos and bed & breakfasts on the island to offer more package choices for divers this coming year. The plan also includes ending Divetech’s relationship with Cobalt Coast and closing its dive shop there on December 1st after 15 years.
“We’ve enjoyed our partnership at Cobalt Coast but for some time, our customers have asked for other properties on the island, and we’ve listened to them,” said owner Nancy Easterbrook. “To all of our customers, we want to let them know to contact us directly for their diving, but they can also now book dive and room packages with us.”
The company is hiring additional staff for its reservations department and introducing new software to make bookings more efficient. Divetech has also launched a new website (www.divetech.com) which includes some of the dive packages and services, plus a new toll free number 1 877-946-56581 877-946-5658 FREE.
Divetech’s 2016 dive packages include rooms, diving, and unlimited shore diving, with options for breakfast, meals, airport transfers and concierge services. Quotes for individuals & groups will be provided with the same Divetech attention to detail and commitment to excellent dive service.
“We want to be a one-stop shop for both industry travel professionals and consumers,” says Easterbrook. “Divetech is going into this whole-heartedly and we’re serious about providing excellent travel services, as we have done with diving for more than 20 years. This is the natural next step for us and we are excited! We value our relationships with our travel partners, dive shops and Wholesalers, and will continue to offer customers their choice on how to book their diving vacation. Divers wishing to stay at alternative hotels or condos are welcome, as always of course. Complimentary shuttle service is available for boat diving, and now for shore and night diving too.”
Divetech’s headquarters will include a new 75 foot x 30 foot sea pool now being built at Lighthouse Point and opening Dec 1st. This will introduce a new level of dive training adventures and the pool will be open to all Divetech divers. The sea pool is ocean fed, and will be a unique one-of-a-kind training pool for diving, providing calm waters and access to the incredible shore diving off Divetech’s Lighthouse Point ocean front condos.
To book a dive package with Divetech e-mail reservations@divetech.com or call their toll free number 1-877-946-56581-877-946-5658 FREE.
About Divetech
Divetech is an IANTD Platinum Facility / TDI/SDI Instructor Trainer Facility / PADI 5-Star Resort / PADI TecRec Facility / PADI Project Aware Center / SSI Resort / IANTD & SSI Free Diving Center / BSAC Resort / National Geographic Center/ Scuba Rangers Club / Universal Training Facility / PADI Swim School / DAN Technical Field Research Station with full service dive operator headquartered at Lighthouse Point on Northwest Point Road in West Bay just a few miles north of the hustle and bustle of Seven Mile Beach. Considered one of Grand Cayman’s leading dive operations, Divetech has been providing quality dive services since 1994. It has earned a reputation as the place to go in Grand Cayman for quality training from kids to trimix with 18 Instructors on staff.
For more information, visit www.divetech.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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