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Head to the sunshine with the latest holiday getaways from Scuba Travel
Warm water, fantastic marine encounters and beautiful sunshine is just the tonic you need at this time of year. Choose from one of these great value holiday getaways from the Scuba Travel team:
Dive the Wrecks & Reefs of the Red Sea
With world class wreck dives and breathtaking reef dives every day, why not take a trip to the best of both worlds. Endlessly flexible, Wrecks & Reefs has become a classic itinerary which visits some of the most iconic dive sites that Egypt has to offer, as well as a few lesser known beauties. The underwater scenery is ever changing and guaranteed to leave you breathless.Your package includes return flights from Gatwick and transfers, 7 nights on a full board basis, at least 20 fully guided dives and marine park fees. At the end of your stay you will have day use of a hotel and buffet lunch while you wait for your flight home.
14th April on Whirlwind only £1195 incl. flights or 21st April on Cyclone only £1095 incl. flights.
Pelagic Magic in the Maldives
With a special focus on the whalesharks of Ari Atoll, this itinerary gives you the opportunity to get face to face with these gorgeous beasts. There are plenty of chances to fill your log book with shark and manta sightings and between your pelagic encounters, the reef dives will not disappoint. Choose to dive this itinerary from the stylish 35m liveaboard Leo with capacity for 24 and spacious communal areas, or the more traditional charming Atoll which sleeps only 12. This package is Boat Only but includes return Male transfers, 7 nights full board, free Nitrox and up to 17 fully guided dives (including 1 night dive).
26th May on Leo now only £1345 or 27th May on Atoll now only £995.
Galapagos Aggressor
The Galapagos is a true wish list destination for nearly every diver. Hammerheads are the first and foremost attraction, schooling in vast numbers around the submerged pinnacles of Wolf and Darwin. Galapagos sharks are common and white tips hide in the reef from the larger predators. If you like your fish even bigger, whalesharks are often seen in the blue, with manta, mobula and eagle rays. This place is home to unforgettable diving which you cannot find anywhere else on the planet.
3rd May, 10th or 17th May – Dive the Galpagos and save £900.
Galapagos Aggressor 3 brings a new level of comfort for her divers. The 16 divers on board are split between the lower deck deluxe cabins and upper deck master cabins. Enjoy a variety of American feasts, barbecues and local cuisine to refuel after each incredible day’s diving.
Oman Aggressor – Introductory Offer – Save £750, only £1845
Book now to discover the Jewels of Oman and the thrill of diving in this hot new region. Diving highlights are undoubtedly the opportunity to see the resident population of humpback whales but the islands are a paradise of untouched dive sites where whale sharks, dolphins, turtles, reef sharks and big balls of reef fish wait on pristine unspoilt reefs.
The Oman Aggressor is a fantastic 45m liveaboard with a range of stylish cabins all boasting aircon and ensuite bathrooms. For relaxation after your dives you have the choice of the large sundeck, with shade, a jacuzzi and bar, or the spacious saloon area. Enjoy a variety of local Omani and international cuisine from the onboard chef. Package is Boat Only and includes 7 nights in a deluxe stateroom on a full board basis incl. soft drinks and local beer and wine with your evening meal, and up to 25 fully guided dives.
Bunaken Oasis – Save £350, from £2895
Escape to this stunning 5 star luxury dive resort on Bunaken Island. There are only 12 large, traditionally built private villas and each boasts its own unique vista out over the beach towards the mainland. The majority of the villas have king double beds, with an additional 2-bedroom family villa. Twin beds available on request. No detail – no matter how small or seemingly insignificant – has been overlooked in the building of Bunaken Oasis Dive Resort. Feast on mouthwatering, gourmet Asian and western cuisine produced by the resident chef.
With easy access to over 50 superb dive sites, the variety of diving at Bunaken Oasis resort is incredible. Watch out for further information on their new free diving and Tek offers. This is a purpose built dive resort and as such, everything you need is right here on site. Choose between 3 boat dives per day or 2 morning boat dives and an afternoon spent exploring the house reef (subject to conditions).
Package includes International flights, transfers, 7 nights on a full board basis in a traditional villa, 17 boat dives, free Nitrox and free house reef diving.
Shark Quest – 25th April – Save £150, only £1165
Join the recently refitted Hurricane liveaboard in the southern Red Sea for the incredible Shark Quest itinerary!
Come face to face with pelagics in the Southern Red Sea with the most experienced team, on board the stable steel hulled Hurricane. Avoid long transfers with a direct flight to Marsa Alam. Dive fewer sites for less at the famous Daedalus Reef, Brothers Islands, Rocky or Elphinstone, dependant on the best shark activity.
Package includes return flights from Gatwick and transfers, 7 nights full board, free nitrox and up to 18 guided dives.
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.
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.
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.
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