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Latest dive deals from Scuba Travel

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If you’re in need of a holiday, check out the latest dive deal from UK-based Tour Operator Scuba Travel.

Dive the Northern Red Sea wrecks onboard Whirlwind – 17th August only £1045

Save £350 and Get Wrecked in the Red Sea. Sail away on the ever-popular, award-winning Whirlwind. Departing from Hurghada, you will spend 7 nights onboard on a full board basis. Explore the distinctive stern of the Giannis D, the fascinating cargo of the majestic Thistlegorm and coral encrusted structures of the Carnatic during this wreck-tastic week.

Whirlwind has to be one of our favourite Red Sea liveaboards. She has everything you could want onboard. The dive deck is one of the most impressive aspects – no more kitting up in a crowd! There are a camera table, 2 rinse tanks and plenty of space for all your dive kit. Relax between dives on one of the large sundecks.

Click here to book this holiday or call 01483 411590

* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking


26th July dive the famous Moalboal and Pescador island from Kasai Village Dive Resort for only £2495 including flights

Save £300 – This summer special package includes 18 AIR boat dives around Moalboal and Pescador or on the famous house reef. Once you arrive in Cebu you will be picked up and taken by land and the Kasai Village resort. Your package includes 7 nights in a pool view room on a full board basis.

Turtles, incredible macro life and the resident sardine run makes Moalboal one of the top dive destinations in the Philippines.

Click here to book this holiday or call 01483 411590

Kasai Village Dive resort and spa is nestled in one of Cebu’s diving meccas – Moalboal. Pescador is only a short ride away. Dive over 30 sites with options for new divers through to technical divers. House reef and boat diving await and there is a range of action-packed day trips for those dry days! Under the water or above it, this is an exclusive getaway perfect for those looking to escape the daily grind and demanding crowds.

* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking


This 28th July go critter hunting with Lembeh Resort – Only £3175 including flights

Save £250 – Lembeh’s premier muck and critter dive centre Lembeh Resort. See for yourself why divers love Lembeh resort. Nudibranches, octopus, shrimp, frogfish and many other fascinating little critters await you in Lembeh, the muck capital of Indonesia. Your SUMMER special includes 17 air dives and 7 nights in a garden room in on a full board basis (2 people sharing).

Click here to book this holiday or call 01483 411590

The diving in Lembeh straits is usually referred to as muck or critter diving. This is a unique experience, driven by the desire to find those unique and strange beasties that are so common in this part of Indonesia. Enter a world underwater filled with mimic octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, every kind of frogfish and pygmy sea horses… to name but a few of the special sightings. What a lot of people don’t realise is that there are also several coral sites, where you can get some stunning reef scenes.

* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking


The Best of the Maldives on board the luxurious ScubaSpa. This 7th September – only £1595

Dive the iconic Male and Ari atolls for big fish thrills onboard the luxury liveaboard Scubaspa. Divers will love the 15-17 dives a week on offer, or relax with the 8 spa treatment package. The choice is yours!

The Best of the Maldives does just what it says – manta, whale sharks, sharks, turtles, channel dives, thilas… and so much more! Classic Maldives.

Scubaspa takes Maldives liveaboards to a whole new level. She’s a classy lady with an undeniable wow factor. Total relaxation is guaranteed with first-class comfort and service. Whether you are there for the diving, spa and yoga or just to get away from it all, this is an unforgettable holiday of a lifetime onboard a genuinely luxurious vessel

This holiday excludes international flights to Male. Scuba Travel is 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.

Click here to book this holiday or call 01483 411590

* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking


This 31st August – Explore magical Oman onboard Oman Aggressor for only £1395

Save £1000 on this truly magical itinerary for divers that love reef diving and abundant bio-diversity. The Daymaniyat Islands are the jewels for diving in the Gulf of Oman. The reefs themselves are beautiful, with hard and soft corals drenching the walls and sea bed. Nudibranchs and seahorses hide from prying eyes. Look out for honeycomb morays, stingrays and leopard sharks. Lose yourself as jacks snapper and batfish swirl around you at the Aquarium. Divers regularly see both green sea turtles & hawksbill turtles. The summer months are the best time to see passing whale sharks, bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins and even sometimes humpback whales can be encountered.

Oman Aggressor sleeps only 22 divers across a whopping 45m liveaboard. There are 3 types of cabins to choose from, deluxe, master or the suite. The saloon area is not just the hub of life when not diving or snorkelling. This is a modern, airy communal space, where the all important meals are served. The menu aboard is varied and plentiful, with a variety of Omani feasts and local cuisine. There is a complete photo video centre for anyone with a camera, a large sun deck with shading, a jacuzzi, chaise lounges and deck chairs and bar. The dive deck is on the main deck level.

This holiday does not include any international flights to Muscat airport MCT. Scuba Travel is 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.

Click here to book this holiday or call 01483 411590

* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking


This 5th September dive Dive Raja Ampat onboard the incredible Dewi. Only £3945

Save £1500 SPECIAL NORTH RAJA AMPAT EXPLORATION ITINERARY.

A 10-night itinerary – this is pure diving escapism. Your trip starts on arrival in Jakarta before your onward flight to Sorong, where you board Dewi. Your holiday package is based on a deluxe stateroom with all meals, snacks and beverages.

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.

Dewi brings true 5 star liveaboard holidays to Indonesia’s most pristine and remote dive sites. Despite its old-world design, echoing the schooners and sailboats, Dewi is a thoroughly modern dive boat with all mod cons and creature comforts.

The Raja Ampat Discovery is the dream itinerary if you want to try something new. With so much still to be explored, you can witness new dive sites and undiscovered marine species. There is much still to discover. Raja Ampat lies at the heart of the coral triangle and the reefs are in pristine condition.

Click here to book this holiday or call 01483 411590

* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking


This 27th September dive the incredible Tulamben region in Bali from Scuba Seraya. Only £1545 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.

Scuba Seraya is an intimate resort with only 12 rooms, set in lush gardens on the beachfront. Soak up the Balinese sun in your veranda, with partial sea or volcano views.

Scuba Seraya sits next to world-class dive sites, and as such, this really is a diver’s resort. But you do not have to forgo your creature comforts! There are a freshwater pool and beachside massage service for those chill out days. The beach is for the exclusive use of guests. The restaurant is right by the sea and serves freshly prepared Indonesian and Western meals. The whole atmosphere at Scuba Seraya is understated elegance. Relax and forget about the world as you dive from your very own corner in paradise.

Click here to book this holiday or call 01483 411590

* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking


During the month of August, save £2200 and dive with the great white sharks of Guadalupe Island onboard Socorro Vortex. Now only £2095

AUGUST ONLY – Save £2200! Great white thrills under the water, pure, unadulterated luxury above… experience Guadalupe on the elegant Socorro Vortex. There are usually 3 full days with the great whites – this is a cage experience. Our liveaboard package is based on in a lower deck cabin on a full board basis with a selected of local beer and wine.

Socorro Vortex sets the new standard for luxury liveaboard scuba diving, effortlessly blending 5-star service with surface-side elegance. At an impressive 42m and with only 14 guests, this modern vessel has all the ingredients you need to make your adventure in Guadalupe one you will never forget.

The Great Whites of Guadalupe itinerary does just what its name implies. The professional and highly experienced team will give full briefings and instructions so you can get in the water with the utmost safety and get face to face with these incredible creatures.

This holiday excludes international flights to San Diego. 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.

Click here to book this holiday or call 01483 411590

* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking


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

Marine Life & Conservation Blogs

Creature Feature: Dusky Shark

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In this series, the Shark Trust will be sharing amazing facts about different species of sharks and what you can do to help protect them.

This month we’re taking a look at the Dusky Shark, a highly migratory species with a particularly slow growth rate and late age at maturity.

Dusky sharks are one of the largest species within the Carcharhinus genus, generally measuring 3 metres total length but able to reach up to 4.2 metres. They are grey to grey-brown on their dorsal side and their fins usually have dusky margins, with the darkest tips on the caudal fin.

Dusky Sharks can often be confused with other species of the Carcharhinus genus, particularly the Galapagos Shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis). They have very similar external morphology, so it can be easier to ID to species level by taking location into account as the two species occupy very different ecological niches – Galapagos Sharks prefer offshore seamounts and islets, whilst duskies prefer continental margins.

Hybridisation:

A 2019 study found that Dusky Sharks are hybridising with Galapagos Sharks on the Eastern Tropical Pacific (Pazmiño et al., 2019). Hybridisation is when an animal breeds with an individual of another species to produce offspring (a hybrid). Hybrids are often infertile, but this study found that the hybrids were able to produce second generation hybrids!

Long distance swimmers:

Dusky sharks are highly mobile species, undertaking long migrations to stay in warm waters throughout the winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, they head towards the poles in the summer and return southwards towards the equator in winter. The longest distance recorded was 2000 nautical miles!

Very slow to mature and reproduce:

The Dusky Shark are both targeted and caught as bycatch globally. We already know that elasmobranchs are inherently slow reproducers which means that they are heavily impacted by overfishing; it takes them so long to recover that they cannot keep up with the rate at which they are being fished. Dusky Sharks are particularly slow to reproduce – females are only ready to start breeding at roughly 20 years old, their gestation periods can last up to 22 months, and they only give birth every two to three years. This makes duskies one of the most vulnerable of all shark species.

The Dusky Shark is now listed on Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS), but further action is required to protect this important species.

Scientific Name: Carcharhinus obscurus

Family: Carcharhinidae

Maximum Size: 420cm (Total Length)

Diet: Bony fishes, cephalopods, can also eat crustaceans, and small sharks, skates and rays

Distribution: Patchy distribution in tropical and warm temperate seas; Atlantic, Indo-Pacific and Mediterranean.

Habitat: Ranges from inshore waters out to the edge of the continental shelf.

Conservation status: Endangered.

For more great shark information and conservation visit the Shark Trust Website


Images: Andy Murch

Diana A. Pazmiño, Lynne van Herderden, Colin A. Simpfendorfer, Claudia Junge, Stephen C. Donnellan, E. Mauricio Hoyos-Padilla, Clinton A.J. Duffy, Charlie Huveneers, Bronwyn M. Gillanders, Paul A. Butcher, Gregory E. Maes. (2019). Introgressive hybridisation between two widespread sharks in the east Pacific region, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 136(119-127), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2019.04.013.

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Join Pharaoh Dive Club for Red Sea Splash Family Summer Camp in August 2024

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family summer camp

3rd AUGUST 2024  – 1 or 2 WEEK PROGRAMMES

Daily water programme with Snorkelling & Scuba Diving.

Beginners or qualified, something for all.

Leave the kids with the Splash Team for days of Excitement, Fun & Adventure!

family summer camp

BOOK NOW: INFO@PHARAOHDIVECLUB.COM / TEL: +44 7598 329059 or +20 100 6822000

There are various options for accommodation with options for 2, 3, 4 or 5 guests.

Eco Huts provide accommodation for families of up to 4. The best option to enhance the adventure and closest to camping with basic facilities. For August we will provide central air cooling for all the Eco Huts.

family summer camp

Deluxe Chalets are only suitable for 2 guests. Fully air conditioned rooms with private bathroom and other facilities.

family summer camp

Boutique Rooms are available for families of up to 5.
Individual bespoke rooms fully air conditioned with private bathroom and other facilities.

Eco Huts: £675 per adult / £425 per child / Under 8 FREE of charge
Deluxe Chalet: £830 per adult / £505 per child / Under 8 FREE of charge
Boutique Room: £925 per adult / £550 per child / Under 8 FREE of charge

BOOK NOW: INFO@PHARAOHDIVECLUB.COM / TEL: +44 7598 329059 or +20 100 6822000

This is a truly unique opportunity to have a Family Desert Adventure totally away from it all! You will be based at the remote Roots Red Sea on the coast of the Egyptian Eastern Desert, 140km south of Hurghada city.

family summer camp

Red Sea Splash main focus is Snorkelling & Scuba Diving but that’s not all, we provide a rounded week of activities in support.

Pool& Field Games – Arts & Crafts
Marine Biology Workshops
Cultural Activities – Orienteering Adventures

Roots Red Sea have established strong links with the local communities of Hamerwain  & El Quseir affording our guests to have a true taste of the local culture, SPLASH CAMP embraces this opportunity and bring in the local children to join in the fun with our adventure seekers.

family summer camp

During the day, families are welcome to take part in all activities together or the kids can be left with the SPLASH CAMP team while the parents enjoy the facilities or go diving themselves!

family summer camp

At the end of the day, its family time while the SPLASH CAMP team take a break. For those with the energy, there are family evening activities planned a few evenings.

Open Air Movie Night – Desert Star Gazing Walk & Talk
El Quseir Evening City Tour

The second week is very special, we head off on the Big Blue for a liveaboard safari around Fury Shoals.

family summer camp

BOOK NOW: INFO@PHARAOHDIVECLUB.COM / TEL: +44 7598 329059 or +20 100 6822000

U-8 Splash Club

Sadly we can’t offer Scuba Diving to the Splash Club but we can have lots of fun Snorkelling & Free Diving!

Splash Club includes:

Certified Snorkel Course – Marine ID Games – Intro to Free Diving
Arts & Craft Sessions – Adventure trails – Cultural Playtime – Pool Games

family summer camp

U-12 Explorer Club

In addition to an exciting snorkelling and Free Diving Programme in the Splash Club we can take you under the water on SCUBA to a whole new world of fun and wonder. If you are under 10 your first breath under water will be as a Bubblemaker and continue with daily Seal Team Missions. From 10 we will complete a Discover Scuba Diving experience in the amazing Red Sea. Alternatively we offer a full junior certification programme to become an international qualified Scuba Diver.

family summer camp

U-16 Adventurer Club

For qualified Scuba Divers regardless of age it’s the Adventurer Club and exploration of the local reefs and marine life. There will be 2 dives every day with the Open Ocean marine field station team who will introduce you to Red Sea marine life and workshops on marine research. Alternatively there are opportunities to continue your scuba diving certifications with our instructional team.

family summer camp

Parents are welcome to join the club activities and join the courses.

BOOK NOW: INFO@PHARAOHDIVECLUB.COM / TEL: +44 7598 329059 or +20 100 6822000

Big Blue might seem like the new kid on the block, but the team behind the highly acclaimed liveaboard is far from that. They have been running Red Sea safaris since the late 1980’s and were in fact part of the early pioneers who ventured out to the unknown on vessels that in today’s world, really shouldn’t have left the harbour! It’s that experience and the years of operating the award-winning Roots Red Sea resort which truly set Big Blue apart from the crowd!

family summer camp

Large lounge area, spacious sun deck and terrace deck.

family summer camp

Airy restaurant with five tables with up to six chairs per table, serving a varied and delicious menu with special dietary requirements catered for.

family summer camp

The spacious cabins have side by side beds and a large walk in wet bathroom.

family summer camp

Ample dive deck for divers & snorkelers.

family summer camp

Safety is everyone’s priority, whether you are relaxing on board, swimming, snorkelling  or diving.

On board Big Blue is fitted with smoke alarms, emergency lighting and a fire alarm system. The lower corridor has a full-size door fire exit at the bow and open stairs to the stern. There are evacuation plans in each room along with life jackets, glass breaker tool and a fire extinguisher.

BOOK NOW: INFO@PHARAOHDIVECLUB.COM / TEL: +44 7598 329059 or +20 100 6822000

Red Sea Splash at Fury Shoals is a very rare opportunity to get involved with marine biology expedition for children and adults. Open Ocean biologists are on board to provide fascinating and entertaining facts about the marine life you will see. The team will provide workshops on marine life identification and survey methods both of which, should you wish, you will have the chance to put into practice during your safari.

family summer camp

The week is open to snorkelers, scuba divers and non divers too!

Fury shoals is perfect for first time mariners as it offers plenty of protection from the weather.

We board at Port Ghaleb on Saturday evening and prepare to set sail early on Sunday morning.

family summer camp

Heading south, our first day will be diving the reefs of Abu Dabbab before sailing overnight to reach our ultimate destination the Fury Shoals.

Here we will spend four days swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving amazing reefs. This includes guaranteed DOLPHIN encounters at Sataya Reef!  After the last dive we haul anchor and head back to Abu Dabbab for our final two dives before disembarking our boat BIG BLUE.

family summer camp

Camp Extension Cost*
Adult £650 per adult
Under 16 £350 per child

BOOK NOW: INFO@PHARAOHDIVECLUB.COM / TEL: +44 7598 329059 or +20 100 6822000

FURTHER INFORMATION – INFO@PHARAOHDIVECLUB.COM

TEL: +44 7598 329059 or +20 100 6822000

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Experience the Red Sea in May with Bella Eriny Liveaboard! As the weather warms up, there’s no better time to dive into the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea. Join us on Bella Eriny, your premier choice for Red Sea liveaboards, this May for an unforgettable underwater adventure. Explore vibrant marine life and stunning coral reefs Enjoy comfortable accommodation in our spacious cabins Savor delicious meals prepared by our onboard chef Benefit from the expertise of our professional dive guides Visit our website for more information and to secure your spot: www.scubatravel.com/BellaEriny or call 01483 411590 More Less

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