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Get FREE underwater photography coaching and great travel deals for Mexico, PNG and Truk with Indigo Safaris
Dive travel specialist Indigo Safaris are currently offering some unmissable deals on trips to Mexico and Papua New Guinea, where you can hone your underwater photography skills with trip leader and UWP pro Christopher Bartlett at no extra cost.
MEXICO – SEA OF CORTEZ – JUNE 2023 & JUNE 2024
The Sea of Cortez is home to many different and exciting migrations of megafauna, including one of Indigo Safari’s favourites, the Munk’s Pygmy Devil Ray (Mobula munkiana). More commonly known as mobula rays, this iconic species gathers in the tens of thousands (not a misprint!) twice a year, with peak season from May to July, in the waters from Cabo San Lucas around to La Paz. Join Indigo Safaris’ mobula and Orca tour to witness this extraordinary mobula ray migration, along with some rarely encountered guests… and to ensure you don’t miss a thing, there is a dedicated spotter aircraft on hand.
5 Superior Suites at $4200 USD per person including tax
1 Premium Suite at $4830 USD per person including tax
$65 USD port fee paid on board
Inclusions: Accommodation, all meals (continental breakfast, breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert), non-alcoholic beverages and snacks, daily room service, towels and onboard facilities such as the hot tub and lounge… and lots of fun!
Exclusions: Airport transfer, bar, gift shop, crew gratuities, internet access, $65 port fee.
Please note that this is predominantly a snorkeling trip, with an optional day of diving on the last day.
There are only 2 spots left for June 10th-17th 2023, and limited availability in 2024 on this highly sought after bucket-list experience.
3rd – 10th June 2023: FULL
10th – 17th June 2023: 2 berths superior cabin
15th-22nd June 2024: 4 superior berths available
22nd – 29th June 2024: 2 premium berths and 4 superior berths available
For more information on this trip, visit https://www.indigosafaris.com/orcas-and-mobulas-sea-of-cortez.html
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – MV FEBRINA ESCORTED PHOTOGRAPHY TRIP
Simply the best reef diving you will probably ever do. Christopher from Indigo Safaris dives around the world every year running escorted dive trips and checking out suppliers and writing and shooting for dive mags. He’s been visiting here since 2011, and can safely say you will not find more variety, more abundance, and so few divers (none) anywhere on this planet. 75% of the world’s hard coral species are found here, thousands of described fish and invertebrate species call this part of the world home, as do more that are yet to be described, as well as a few mega-rarities like Coleman’s pygmy seahorse. The corals are in amazing condition, and the abundance of pelagic fish like horse-eye jacks and pickhandle barracuda is phenomenal.
Papua New Guinea 10-night Liveaboard trip from 3rd–13th September for the best reef diving in the world: $4490 USD per person sharing (includes 1 night free and 10% off)
For more information on this trip, visit https://www.bestofpng.com/mv_febrina_escorted_photography_trip_2023.html
Combine with the amazing Goroka Festival with Indigo Safaris, THE Goroka Festival specialists: https://www.bestofpng.com/goroka-festival-and-sing-sing-tours.html
TRUK LAGOON – PACIFIC MASTER LIVEABOARD
Built of steel, the Pacific Master is the newest liveaboard yacht to ply the waters of this lagoon, welcoming aboard 20 guests. Four decks provide ample space for relaxation, dive equipment and camera preparation, whilst the experienced crew ensures you receive only the highest quality service on your diving holiday.
29th October to 7th November 2023
Pacific Master: 10% off, from $2835
9 nights, only 20 clients on board! Dive the sunken Japanese WW2 fleet, now covered in beautiful corals and surrounded by prolific fish life. Tech divers also catered for.
For more information on this trip, visit https://www.indigosafaris.com/truk_liveaboard_2023.html
For more information about these trips or to book, contact Indigo Safaris now:
UK +44 7713342729
USA +1 718 312 8777
France +33 668 74 97 05
WhatsApp: +33668749705 or +44 7713342729
For a week at the end of February I was invited to sample the diving with Orca Dive Club based at the Breakers Diving and Surfing Lodge by courtesy of SOMABAY.
Somabay covers an entire peninsula and is home to several resorts as well as residential compounds. Somabay caters for scuba diving as well as many other sports, including windsurfing, golf, sailing, go-carting, horse riding and many other activities.
All the activities are of a world-class standard and any or all of these can be booked directly from The Breakers.
I took Easyjet from Bristol (UK) to Hurghada. Easyjet are not by any means my favourite airline but the flight was cheap and direct (except for the surprise extra £48 I was charged at the gate for my carry-on bag).
I was met at Hurghada airport by a driver and car and taken to the Breakers 28 miles (45Kilomaters) south along the coast. Once at the hotel I was too late for an evening meal and so a basic meal was delivered to my room. That and a beer from the fridge and I was fast asleep.
Early the next morning after breakfast I arrived for my rep meeting at the Orca Dive Center for 8.00am. I was immediately made to feel welcome, and after brief introductions I got some dive gear from the store, had a chat with my dive guide Mohamed and got ready to try the house reef situated at the end of a very long wooded pier where all diving gear and divers are taken out by buggies.
Once at the end of the pier, a helping hand from staff makes sure your gear is set and then it’s a short walk to the very end where you can either climb down a ladder of simply jump in the water next to the reef. The house reef extends both north and south giving a very easy and safe dive with plenty to see. At this time of the year the water temperature was a constant 22 degrees Centigrade and there was little or no current, so there were no issues in swimming back to the pier.
Quite a few divers were in dry or semi-dry suits, but being from the UK and used to the cold I found a 3mm wetsuit with a 3mm neoprene vest quite comfortable. Even after 50 years of diving I still find that first dive of a trip slightly nerving until I am actually underwater and then all becomes relaxed and I ease into auto diving mode. There was plenty to see with many of the Red Sea favourites along the way.
After the dive and a buggy ride back to the hotel for a very good buffet lunch I was back in the water, once again on the house reef for an afternoon dive.
Check in for part 2 tomorrow when Jeff gets on a day boat and dives a few of the off-shore reefs.
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.
In an interview recorded exclusively for Scubaverse.com, Jeff Goodman interviews Jeremy Higson from Sea to Sky about the itineraries the tour operator offers in Oman.
For more information about diving in Oman, contact Sea to Sky now:
Email: hello@mysetaosky.co.uk
WhatsApp: + 39 379 236 7138
Website: www.myseatosky.co.uk
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