News
Visit Oxford… and explore an Indonesian diving paradise with Dive Worldwide
Join Dive Worldwide in Oxford on Tuesday 4th October for a virtual tour of one of the world’s most pristine reefs situated off the tropical island of Onemobaa in Indonesia’s south-east Sulawesi. The free-to-attend evening will be led Dr. Richard Smith, an acclaimed photographer and expert in the marine life of the Coral Triangle region. During the Oxford evening he will uncover the vibrant activity found under Onemobaa’s calm waters which play host to fascinating and diverse marine wildlife.
Taking place at the Four Pillars Oxford Thames Hotel (Henley Road, Sandford-on-Thames, OX4 4GX) at 7pm, this sociable evening will be a great opportunity to meet like-minded dive and travel enthusiasts and share stories. There will also be a team of dive experts available to provide first-hand knowledge of the finest dive spots around the world.
Burford-based marine biologist Dr. Smith has been fortunate enough to spend several years at Onemobaa’s Wakatobi Resort where he conducted the first ecological research on pygmy seahorses. In August 2018 Dr. Smith will be leading a trip to Wakatobi Dive Resort for the clients of Dive Worldwide, the exclusive UK agents for the Resort. Constructed by local artisans using traditional methods, the Wakatobi Dive Resort embraces sound eco-tourism principles while offering modern comforts and top quality diving.
Wakatobi, widely considered to have one of the best house reefs in the world, is often described as a liveaboard with a built-in beach. There are several dozen easily accessible dive sites with incredible marine diversity; from miles of pristine, breathtaking drop-offs, walls and slopes to ridges, caverns, caves and seamounts. The expansive house reef, less than 100 metres from the shore, is considered by many to be the world’s most healthy and bio-diverse. The short swim takes snorkellers over a bed of turtle grass and isolated coral heads leading to the shallow drop-off, a colourful wall abounds with corals and critters. Highlights include frog fish, blue ringed octopus, blue spotted stingrays, ghost pipefish, gorgonians, sponges and a variety of colourful reef fish.
All will be welcomed to the Discovery Evening (from 7.00 – 9.30pm) where complimentary refreshments will be served. Places are limited and can be booked by emailing events@diveworldwide.com or by calling 01962 302 087.
To find out more about Dive Worldwide visit www.diveworldwide.com.
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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