Happy Christmas Everyone !
Scuba Travel are sending season’s greetings to everyone and hope that 2009 has been a good year for you and your dive buddies. The whole team wish you all the best for 2010. Yet in spite of the rapidly approaching celebrations, December has been a blustery and turbulent month with floods, snow storms and of course, your local high street! With dark skies and gloomy news, you would be forgiven for not feeling too festive yet.
But never fear, Scuba Travel are here to bring some sunshine into your life. There is no reason why you have to stop diving over the winter holidays. Indeed, nothing can beat a healthy dose of sunshine and of course splashing into warm waters. Forget your winter blues as you float over a pristine reef and admire the marine life. Be it in the Maldives, Red Sea or further afield, beat the winter blues and call the travel team today.
Latest Holiday Offers
Grand Sea Serpent – just £1095
Trip Details: Return flights from Gatwick, 6 nights on Grand Sea Serpent, 1 night in a hotel, Marine park fees, plus hire of tank and weights.
From 30th December – 6th January 2009 BOOK THIS TRIP >
Monsoon only £1795
Trip Details: Return flights from Gatwick , Seaplane transfers, 7 nights onboard the boat plus a 12ltr tank and weights.
From 10th January – 18th January 2009 BOOK THIS TRIP >
Philippines Dive Safari £1995
Trip Details: Return flights , transfers and all accommodation on a full board basis, diving and hire of a 12ltr tank and weights.
From 15th May – 28th May 2009 BOOK THIS TRIP >
Indonesia Dive Safari £2150
Trip Details: Return flights , transfers and all accommodation on a full board basis, diving and hire of a 12ltr tank and weights.
From 14th Aug – 28th Aug 2009 BOOK THIS TRIP >
Eclipse In The Maldives
On the 15 January 2010, at approximately 12 o’clock noon, one of the best places in the world to see the annual solar eclipse will be in the Maldives. This event won’t happen again in the Maldives for another 6000 years – this is definitely one for your log book!
An eclipse of the Sun (or solar eclipse) can only occur during a New Moon when the Moon passes between Earth and Sun. If the Moon’s shadow falls upon Earth’s surface, we see some portion of the Sun’s disk covered or ‘eclipsed’ by the Moon. The instant of greatest eclipse is estimated to occur at 07:06 UTC (coordinated universal time) when the eclipse magnitude will reach 0.9190. At this instant, the duration of annularity is 11 minutes 8 seconds, the path width is 333 kilometers and the Sun is 66° above the flat horizon formed by the open ocean. Such a long annular duration will not be exceeded for over 1000 years (3043 Dec 23). The central track will continue northeast where it finally encounters land in the Maldives at approximately 07:26 UTC. The capital city Male will experience an annular phase lasting approximately 11 minutes. This is the longest duration of any city having an international airport in the eclipse track.
Scuba Travel have several options for the Maldives during this period so you can experience this once in a lifetime event first hand! We will be conducting a unique night dive in the middle of the day from our exclusive Maldives liveaboards, Orion and Monsoon. This is a dive that cant be done anywhere else on the planet! The eclipse will last approximately 11 minutes and is estimated to be a 91% eclipse. This is sure to provide an interesting dive – what will the marine life do ?
• Monsoon – Solar Eclipse / Northern Atolls – £1795 – more info
• Orion – Solar Eclipse / Maldives Expedition – £2295 – more info
For those that want to experience the eclipse overland we have a range of Maldives Dive Resorts to choose from. From here you can enjoy the eclipse from the comfort of a sun lounger on the beach or comfort of your own private balcony. This event is going to be something to talk about for years to come whether your a diver or non-diver !
• Kuredu Island – Maldives Solar Eclipse – from £1795 – more info
• Komandoo Island – Maldives Solar Eclipse – from £1895 – more info
• Bandos Island – Maldives Solar Eclipse – from £1995 – more info
To discuss your Maldives Solar Eclipse holiday call our dive holiday experts on 0800 072 8221 or 01483 271 765.
Get away in May
When picking a holiday there can feel like there are so many factors. Which country to visit? Hotel or liveaboard? And then the all important when should I go? We try to make the decision process as easy as possible with bags of info on our website or DVD, but sometimes you want to ask people who have actually lived and visited your chosen destination… and that is where the travel team come in.
We are often asked when the best time of year is to visit the Red Sea and after a quick poll here in the office the answer was definitely MAY! North or South, May has an awful lot to offer divers. Firstly we all liked the fact that the weather is so much warmer than here in Blighty but has yet to get to the summer highs. Relaxing with a cool drink to watch the sun set over the sea is the perfect end to a brilliant day’s diving but it is made all that bit better when you are in shorts and tshirt!
Secondly, the diving is off the scale in May. This is typically the end of the Spring, during which the fish have all been busy mating. The water is full of schooling juveniles. Float mid water and watch a school of young barracuda practice hunting on small glass fish – it’s mesmeric. Or if macro is your thing, the sharp eyed can find some of the smallest baby nudibranch. And of course, whenever you get an abundance of baby fish you get bigger fish. Larger pelagics tend to come close to the reefs when food is plentiful so this is the time of you get fabulous shark and ray encounters. Dolphin too dart around on the drop offs, chasing tuna.
It is important to remember that some marine species are seasonal. So if there is a particular shark or other fish you want to find, it’s worth planning your trip to coincide with their optimum season. But if you are looking for a month that has it all in the Red Sea, you cannot go wrong with May.
Check out our schedule here >
Facebook Photo Competition
Join our facebook fan page and keep up to date with all the latest happenings from Scuba Travel HQ. Trip reports, weekly sightings, new exciting destinations.. it is all posted here. We also love to see your pics and videos. Our fan page is an excellent place to look if you want to see just what everyone else has been up to on their recent trips. This is your space to find fellow dive buddies and share your memories.
The fan page is also home to our monthly photo competition. You don’t need to be a pro to enter. We are looking for images that make us laugh, are imaginative or just capture the mood of the dive. Each month there is a £50 Scuba Travel voucher up for grabs. December’s theme is clownfish and there is still time to get your entry in. So up load your pics today and you could find a lovely extra Christmas pressie in the post.
ENTER THE COMPETITION HERE >
Georgies Trip Report
When I was asked to go on a fact finding mission on Whirlwind, Wrecks and Reefs, I more then happy to accept the mission… I woke up bright and early on the 6th of December said goodbye to Sophie the dog, launched my bags into the car and the mission commenced.
It was a wet soggy ride to Gatwick but once inside the airport there was no queue. It was so easy to check my bags in then I was off to enjoy some early morning shopping in Gatwick south. This was my first Monarch flight – the staff were efficient and friendly and accommodating. I definitely would fly again with them. And on this flight I made the first of many new friends. A few rows down the plane was a man sitting in a Whirlwind T shirt. I went over and asked if he was going on the Whirlwind? He said yes. He was Dave (Dave it was a real pleasure to meet and dive with you). Dave and I departed the aircraft together and met the rest of our group. Introductions were made – Annie and Bob who are very loyal customers, not to mention fantastic divers and an absolute pleasure to spend a week with. The laughter began…
READ THE FULL STORY HERE >
New for 2010
We are continually expanding our range of resorts and liveaboards to bring you an ever changing raft of destinations. Variety is the spice of life after all! So we are pleased to announce two new Red Sea resorts.
Oonas Dive Club and hotel have a loyal following of regulars that keep going back from the first class service and friendly atmosphere. Oonas Dive Club have been working in Sharm for 20 years so they really do know the area back to front. Their dive boats are well kitted out and the thoughtful team ensure that the emphasis is on personal service and small groups. With the hotel on site, you have everything you could ever need at your fin tips. Even better they are in the heart of Sharm in Naama Bay so you can enjoy all of the entertainment and restaurants that Sharm has to offer within a few minutes of your hotel room.
Nesima Dive Club and hotel are no less experienced. This dive team have logged thousands of dives along Dahab’s shore and are a full PADI teaching facility. Nesima have been operating in Dahab since it all began and have a prized sea front location that will appeal to divers and non divers alike. The hotel has a traditional feel with high standards. If you are looking for something a bit special in Dahab then Nesima is a fantastic choice.
Check out our schedule here >
