News
Latest Deals From Ultimate Dive Travel
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Ultimate-Dive-Travel.png)
In the US? Check out all the latest scuba diving holiday deals from US based tour operator Ultimate Dive Travel:
TURKS AND CAICOS EXPLORER II
$600.00 Off – 7 Nights – Double Occupancy
Package includes:
3 meals daily + between-dive snacks (except Friday evening meal)
Up to 5 dives daily Use of tanks, weights and belts All alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages August 02 -09, 2014 -$600.00 discount August 09-16, 2014 – $600.00 August 16 – 23, 2014 -$300.00 August 23 – 30, 2014 – $300.00 August 30 – Sept. 06, 2014 – $600.00 NOT INCLUDED – Airport Transfer,Port/Hotel Taxes,Fuel Surcharge, Friday Dinner |
From $1595.00 per person
BOOK NOW |
HOTEL COZUMEL WITH DIVE HOUSE
Dive Special
Package includes:
7 nights accommodations standard poolview room double occupancy
All meals, snacks and beverages including house alcoholic drink 5 days 2 tank boat dives Government hotel taxes $916.25 per person thru Aug 17, 2014 $837.50 per person Aug 18 – Nov 15, 2014 |
From $837.50 per person
BOOK NOW Valid for travel
$916.25 pp thru Aug. 17 2014 $837.50 pp Aug. 18 – November 15 2014 |
COBALT COAST GRAND CAYMAN
7 Nights Accommodations
Package includes:
7 nights accommodations, 1 bedroom suite double occupancy
Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner 6 days 2 tank boat dives and unlimited tanks for shore diving Round trip airport transfers Government hotel taxes |
From $1395.00 per person
BOOK NOW Valid for travel
$1755.00 per person July 26-Aug 30 2014 $1395.00 per person Sept 13-Dec 20 2014 |
MALUKU DIVERS INDONESIA
10% OFF Special
Package includes:
Accommodations based on double occupancy
3 meals daily 3 boat dives daily Round trip airport transfers Government hotel taxes 7 nights/ 6 days of diving $1527.00 per person |
PALAU PACIFIC RESORT
WITH FISH N FINS $1500 per person/double occupancy
Package includes:
7 nights, breakfast, 5 days 2 tank boat dives
Includes boxed lunch Free Nitrox. Round trip airport transfers and Government taxes *marine and state park fees not included |
From $1500.00 per person
BOOK NOW Valid for travel
May 7-Jul 15 2014, Oct 1-Dec 20 2014 Must book by June 15 2014 |
KASAWARI NORTH SULAWESI
7 Nights for the price of 5 Nights
Package includes:
7 nights accommodations deluxe villa double occupancy
3 meals daily Up to 18 boat dives including 1 night Round trip airport transfers Government/hotel taxes $1599.00 per person |
From $1599.00 per person
BOOK NOW Valid for travel
thru April 30, 2015 must be booked by July 8, 2014 |
TRUE BLUE BAY RESORT GRENADA
BUY 1 GET 1 – 50% off
Package includes:
Package depends on availability and cannot be combined
with any other special. 7 nights double occupancy standard room 5 days of 2 tank boat diving Continental breakfast buffet taxes and service charges |
For more information visit www.ultimatedivetravel.com.
News
Book Review: Fire on Monroe Bravo by Fred Lockwood
![the ship beneath the ice](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Book-Review.jpg)
Fire on Monroe Bravo is the latest book in the Jack Collier series by Fred Lockwood. Our story begins with our lead characters, Jack and Sandro, owners of Marine Salvage & Investigation Company, arriving on the Monroe Bravo Oil & Gas Platform in the North Sea. Having secured a contract for their vessel the MV Stavanger to act as support ship to the platform for TransGlobal Oil, our protagonists are on a celebratory visit.
However almost as soon as they arrive a series of explosions rock the platform, causing huge damage, loss of life and the very real danger of a massive human, ecological and financial disaster.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/fireonmonroebravo-683x1024.jpg)
As the danger mounts for both our heroes and the surviving workers, Jack and Sandro will have to escape the inferno, all while trying to save the platform and the men still trapped unable to help themselves.
The disaster sets the scene for the unfolding story lines following the fate of the platform and our main characters, the police investigation into a suspected terrorist act and the actions of TransGlobal Oil as they attempt to navigate the pubic outcry and financial repercussions.
In his eighth book, Fire on Monroe Bravo, Fred Lockwood delivers an explosive thriller, with plenty of above and in-water drama, and our heroes fighting for survival, what more can you ask for?
We thoroughly recommend this read and look forward to the next in the series. For more information about his book series, you can check out the reviews of his previous books here on Scubaverse.
- Title: Fire On Monroe Bravo
- Author: Fred Lockwood
- ISBN: 979-8325324536
Available in a paperback version and for Kindle from Amazon and book stores.
Blogs
Alonissos: The complete diving destination (Part 1)
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20-scaled.jpeg)
In June we were incredibly fortunate to be invited to dive in Alonissos, a small Greek Island in the Sporades island chain located in the North Aegean Sea. While I have long been a big fan of the Greek Islands as a great holiday destination, I had not had the opportunity to do any diving on previous visits and Mike and I were extremely excited to see what Alonissos had to offer both above and below the surface!
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_20230611_132718-1024x769.jpeg)
The Sporades are easily accessible via the airport in Skiathos (the first island in the chain), which is served by Jet2 flights from all major UK airports from May through October. Numerous ferries and charter boats make island hopping from Skiathos Town a breeze. After an hour boat ride, the picturesque port of Patitiri was a wonderful introduction to Alonissos, where we were met by our gracious hosts Kostas of Albedo Travel and Dias of Alonissos Triton Dive Center. Mike and I were delighted to be staying at the Paradise Hotel, aptly named for its stunning views over the sea and great location for walking to the waterfront.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_20230611_134526-1024x769.jpeg)
Alonissos is beautifully situated in the National Marine Park of Alonissos and the Northern Sporades, the largest marine protected area in Europe. The surrounding seas offer fabulous marine life, including incredibly rare species such as the Mediterranean monk seal. They boast deep walls covered in gorgonians and sponges, stunning topography with caverns, swimthroughs and pinnacles, and the first accessible ancient shipwreck from 500BC!
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_20230613_155834-769x1024.jpeg)
In locations where historical sites have been reported, the waters are largely restricted, but with collaboration between government, underwater archeologists and dive centres, incredible underwater museums are being created for a truly unique diving experience. Alonissos is home to the first of these, the Ancient Shipwreck of Peristera Accessible Underwater Archeological Site. The chance to dive into history (along with reports of healthy reef life and amazing underwater topography) meant Mike and I were keen to get in the water.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/27-1024x768.jpeg)
Our introduction to the diving around Alonissos was at the Agios Georgios Pinnacles, in the channel between Alonissos and Skopelos. This fantastic site was named “The Chimney,’ and proved to have a huge amount to see. We got to a decent depth here (over 25m), and marvelled at a colourful reef wall with a wonderful swim through whose rocky walls were absolutely covered with life. As well as brilliant topography there was no shortage of macro life here. We saw numerous nudibranchs, five different species in total. The second dive at Mourtias reef nearby was a shallower dive along a nice wall with lots of crevices. Several moray eels and grouper called this site home. We enjoyed looking in the crevices for lobster and smaller benthic life, such as cup corals and tunicates.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/30-1024x772.jpeg)
Our itinerary allowed us two dives a day with afternoons left to explore the island with our hire car and evenings to enjoy the famous Greek hospitality. This proved to be a lovely mix of in-water and land based diversions.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Sunset-chapel-1024x694.jpg)
The next days diving to the Gorgonian Gardens and Triton’s Cave was to be even better! These two stunning sites are nothing short of fabulous. The Gorgonian Gardens was a deep wall near to the Agios Georgios islands. The ever-present currents in this deep channel meant that the sea life was amazing … the namesake Gorgonian sea fans dotted the wall at a depth of 30 to 50 meters, getting ever larger the deeper we went. Above 30m was by no means less beautiful, with sponges, corals, scorpionfish, moray eels and some rare and colourful nudibranchs.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15-726x1024.jpeg)
The second shallower dive of the day was to Triton’s Cave or the Cavern of Skopelos, on the east side of that island. The spectacular rock formations had wild striations both above and below the water making a truly epic topography. The cavern entrance was at 14m, and big enough for a buddy pair, winding up to 6m and passing two beautiful windows out into the blue. Emerging from the cavern, the light at the shallower depths and the incredible rock formations made for a fantastic gentle swimming safety stop and we all surfaced by the boat with massive grins.
![](https://www.scubaverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/34-768x1024.jpeg)
Check out our next blog :Alonissos: The complete diving destination (Part 2)” to hear about our amazing dive on the 2500 year old Peristera Wreck!
Thanks to:
Alonissos Triton Dive Center https://bestdivingingreece.com/
Albedo Travel https://alonissosholidays.com/activities/
Paradise Hotel https://paradise-hotel.gr/
Alonissos Municipality https://alonissos.gr/en/
-
Blogs2 months ago
Diving With… Nico, Ocean Earth Travels, Indonesia
-
News1 month ago
Murex Bangka Announce New Oceanfront Cottages & Beachfront Dining
-
Blogs2 months ago
A new idea in freediving from RAID
-
Marine Life & Conservation1 month ago
Iceland issue millionaire whale hunter a licence to murder 128 vulnerable fin whales
-
Marine Life & Conservation2 months ago
The Shark Trust Great Shark Snapshot is back
-
News3 months ago
Charting New Waters; NovoScuba Goes Global with the Launch of their Revolutionary Dive Training Agency!
-
Gear News1 month ago
New Suunto Ocean – a dive computer and GPS sports watch in one for adventures below and above the surface
-
Marine Life & Conservation Blogs2 months ago
Book Review: Plankton