News
New and improved Divi Flamingo Beach Resort to be unveiled at DEMA
Attendees at the 2015 DEMA Conference will be among the first to preview the new and improved Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino, which has recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation. The resort improvements will be on display at booth #2136, where streaming video and photography will showcase the total-property upgrade.
To celebrate the debut of Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino’s new amenities and showcase the resort’s spectacular dive operation, representatives from Divi Resorts will be offering great dive and vacation offers exclusively for DEMA attendees. Additionally, guests who visit the booth will be entered to win a complimentary seven-night stay for two with unlimited shore diving.
The update to Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino includes a multitude of improvements to the rooms, such as new furniture, lighting, appliances, artwork from local artists and upgraded bathrooms, as well as to the resort’s exterior, which has received new paved pathways and landscaping. Divi Dive Bonaire, the resort’s PADI 5-Star and SSI dive operation, has debuted a brand new dive shop and retail space, complete with upgraded classrooms featuring the latest technology.
A new 36’ Newton dive boat as also been added, making it the sixth boat in the Divi Dive Bonaire fleet.
The resort’s pools have been redone and now include plush daybeds for poolside lounging, and a sun-lounge deck with drink service has opened. There is a new beach in front of the casino, featuring food and drink service, ocean access and furniture. The new pureocean restaurant has opened, offering fresh, buffet-style cuisine under an airy pavilion for breakfast daily and themed dinners three nights per week. The resort’s other restaurant, Chibi Chibi, has also undergone renovations that include new furniture, painting, lighting and more, in addition to delicious new menu items. Chef Antonio Bruni, who was recently hired as Divi Flamingo’s Executive Chef, will be developing new menu concepts for both restaurants in the coming months. The entire resort renovation was completed in September 2015 and provides a fully enhanced experience for guests at Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino. The resort offers the best shore and boat diving on Bonaire, plus a fantastic oceanfront location that is only a short walk from the buzzing town of Kralendijk, where guests can enjoy shopping, dining and nightlife.
Even if you are unable to attend DEMA, you can preview some of the resort enhancements and access Divi Resorts’ special dive packages by clicking here.
To reserve, call 1-800-367-3484 FREE to speak to a Vacation Specialist, available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (ET). For more information about Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino, click here.
Gear News
Scubapro Free Octopus Promotion 2024
Free Octopus with every purchase of a SCUBAPRO regulator system
Just in time for the spring season, divers can save money with the FREE OCTOPUS SPRING PROMOTION! Until July 31st SCUBAPRO offers an Octopus for free
with every purchase of a regulator system!
Get a free S270 OCTOPUS with purchase of these combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with A700
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with S620Ti
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with D420
MK25 EVO Din mit S620Ti-X
Get a free R105 OCTOPUS with purchase of the following combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with G260
MK25 EVO or MK17 EVO with S600
SCUBAPRO offers a 30-year first owner warranty on all regulators, with a revision period of two years or 100 dives. All SCUBAPRO regulators are of course certified according to the new European test standard EN250-2014.
Available at participating SCUBAPRO dealers. Promotion may not be available in all regions. Find an authorized SCUBAPRO Dealer at scubapro.com.
More information available on www.scubapro.com.
Blogs
Northern Red Sea Reefs and Wrecks Trip Report, Part 3: The Mighty Thistlegorm
Jake Davies boards Ghazala Explorer for an unforgettable Red Sea diving experience…
Overnight, the wind picked up, making the planned morning dive a bit bumpy on the Zodiacs to the drop point on Thomas Reef. There, we would dive along the reef before descending through the canyon and then passing under the arch before ascending the wall with a gentle drift. The site provided great encounters with more pelagic species, including shoals of large barracuda, tuna, and bigeye trevally.
Once back on the boat, it was time to get everything tied down again as we would head back south. This time, with the wind behind us, heading to Ras Mohammed to dive Jackfish Alley for another great gentle drift wall dive before then heading up the coast towards the Gulf of Suez to moor up at the wreck of the Thistlegorm. This being the highlight wreck dive of the trip and for many onboard, including myself, it was the first time diving this iconic wreck. I had heard so much about the wreck from friends, and globally, this is a must on any diver’s list. Fortunately for us, there was only one other boat at the site, which was a rarity. A great briefing was delivered by Ahmed, who provided a detailed background about the wreck’s history along with all the required safety information as the currents and visibility at the site can be variable.
Kitting up, there was a lot of excitement on deck before entering the water and heading down the shoreline. Descending to the wreck, there was a light northerly current which reduced the visibility, making it feel more like the conditions that can be found off the Welsh coast. At 10m from the bottom, the outline of the wreck appeared as we reached the area of the wreck which had been bombed, as our mooring line was attached to part of the propeller shaft. Arriving on deck, instantly everywhere you looked there were many of the supplies which the ship was carrying, including Bren Carrier tanks and projectiles that instantly stood out.
We headed around the exterior, taking a look at the large propeller and guns mounted on deck before entering the wreck on the port side to take a look in the holds. It was incredible to see all the trucks, Norton 16H, and BSA motorcycles still perfectly stacked within, providing a real snapshot in time.
Overall, we had four dives on the Thistlegorm, where for all of the dives we were the only group in the water, and at times, there were just three of us on the whole wreck, which made it even more special, especially knowing that most days the wreck has hundreds of divers. Along with the history of the wreck, there was plenty of marine life on the wreck and around, from big green turtles to batfish, along with shoals of mackerel being hunted by trevally. Some unforgettable dives.
The final leg of the trip saw us cross back over the Suez Canal to the Gobal Islands where we planned to stay the night and do three dives at the Dolphin House for the potential of sharing the dive with dolphins. The site, which included a channel that was teeming with reef fish, especially large numbers of goatfish that swam in large shoals along the edge of the reef. These were nice relaxing dives to end the week. Unfortunately, the dolphins didn’t show up, which was okay as like all marine life they are difficult to predict and you can’t guarantee what’s going to be seen. With the last dive complete, we headed back to port for the final night where it was time to clean all the kit and pack before the departure flight the next day.
The whole week from start to finish on Ghazala Explorer was amazing; the boat had all the facilities you need for a comfortable week aboard. The crew were always there to help throughout the day and the chefs providing top quality food which was required after every dive. The itinerary providing some of the best diving with a nice mixture of wreck and reef dives. I would recommend the trip to anyone, whether it’s your first Red Sea liveaboard in the Red Sea or you’re revisiting. Hopefully, it’s not too long before I head back to explore more of the Red Sea onboard Ghazala Explorer.
To find out more about the Northern Red Sea reef and wrecks itineraries aboard Ghazala Explorer, or to book, contact Scuba Travel now:
Email: dive@scubatravel.com
Tel: +44 (0)1483 411590
Photos: Jake Davies / Avalon.Red
-
News3 months ago
Hone your underwater photography skills with Alphamarine Photography at Red Sea Diving Safari in March
-
News3 months ago
Capturing Critters in Lembeh Underwater Photography Workshop 2024: Event Roundup
-
Marine Life & Conservation Blogs2 months ago
Creature Feature: Swell Sharks
-
Blogs2 months ago
Murex Resorts: Passport to Paradise!
-
Blogs2 months ago
Diver Discovering Whale Skeletons Beneath Ice Judged World’s Best Underwater Photograph
-
Gear Reviews3 months ago
Gear Review: Oceanic+ Dive Housing for iPhone
-
Marine Life & Conservation2 months ago
Save the Manatee Club launches brand new webcams at Silver Springs State Park, Florida
-
News3 months ago
World’s Best Underwater Photographers Unveil Breathtaking Images at World Shootout 2023