Getting closer to the diving action of the week
Egypt: This week the southern Red Sea has been the place to be – no doubt! You name it, divers have seen it. Everyone’s favorites Manta have been spied on Elphinstone and sharkies are out in force just about everywhere else! Now is the time for hammerheads and Grand Sea Serpent saw them at the Daedalus and Rocky. The silkies too remain – a thrilling encounter under the boat on your safety stop to end a perfect dive. Bliss.
Maldives: Have you heard about the Maldivian Manta Project? Pro Divers, Kuredu are part of a nationwide team in the Maldives that are working to identify the manta that are so frequently seen in their waters. In the past few months over 144 manta have been individually recorded and named (Myfanwy, Fairy and Fikry are the newest!). Even better news are they are recording repeat sightings, proving Kuredu’s manta are healthier than ever!
Philippines: the latest cruise on Philippine Siren and divers were just blown away by the stunning sights. Be it admiring the bio-luminescent critters glowing through the night’s sea or giant barrel sponges adoring the reefs. Turtles, sharks and eagle rays at more than one dive site along the way as well as a host of small beasties that only the sharpest eyes can spot. Spectacular from beginning to end… who wants to come home when the diving is that good??!
Fed up of just reading the news?
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Even more moorings protect the Southern Red Sea reefs
If you love diving the Red Sea, you will be pleased with the new moorings in the deep south. HEPCA have just completed their annual maintenance of the moorings installed in the Southern Red Sea, from Elphinstone all the way down to St Johns.
These moorings are an essential part of efforts to maintain the pristine reefs of the Deep South and ensure that they remain a diver’s delight. So next time you pull up to a reef on your Red Sea holiday, you can be sure your boat is playing their part in ongoing conservation efforts.
In total Hepca’s team visited 15 dive sites including Elphinstone, Abu Dabab, Shaab Marsa Alam and Samadai (dolphin house). Over 27 existing moorings were repaired and nearly 12 new lines were sunk. These new moorings mean that dive boats no longer have to throw anchors or tie directly onto the reef, saving the environment for our viewing pleasure!
There is no better time to dive the southern Red Sea than the summer
And with our incredible special offers, you can save pounds too!
Call the travel team on 0800 072 8221 today
Go online with our secure server
We are always on the look out for ways to make the booking process even easier for our customers and our new Manage My Booking facility makes staying on top of your holiday even easier than ever.
When you make your initial booking you will be sent a password that enables you to log on to our secure server. From here you can access all those little extras that make life all that bit easier including booking your airport parking, off setting your carbon emissions and downloading a medical statement. Forgotten your flight numbers? Why not print off a copy of your itinerary!
You may have noticed too that there are some new airline regulations. All airlines now require Advance Passenger Information (API) such as your passport number and date of birth before you get to check in. Simply go into the booking management screen and you can enter these at your convenience… from the comfort of the sofa or at your desk with a spare 5 minutes. We understand that this is sensitive data so you can be confident that your information is wholey private and secure to those on your booking only.
And once your tickets are ready (the exciting bit before you go) we will send you an email to let you know. You can then download tickets directly from the website for your trip. Just print and go!
Booking your holiday has never been easier and now you can stay on top of the final details too.
We hope you find this new function useful!
Any questions about this or any other aspect of the trip, just call the travel team on 0800 072 8221
Pack well and you can save pounds
In a world of seemingly shrinking baggage allowances, how you pack can save unpleasant stress and cost at the airport check in desk. No one wants to start their holiday off on the wrong foot, so take a few minutes to think about your luggage before you leave the house. With our top tips you can enjoy a hassle free flight and get your holiday of to a great start…
1) Know your limits!
Be sure to ask what you baggage allowance is at the time of booking. Often tickets won’t show any extra allowances you are entitled to as a diver and what is printed on your ticket can differ from your actual allowance. Most charter airlines also allow you to prebook excess baggage up to 4 days before you fly. This will always work out cheaper than paying excess on the day (remember to print the receipt and take it with you).
2) How many bags?
New European regulations being introduced mean that no one bag can weigh more than 23kgs. Not all airlines are enforcing this at the moment but get into the habit of splitting up your luggage so you keep each bag under 23kgs.
3) Take only what you need!
It’s easy to overpack for your holiday (we have all done it!). Remember that on most liveaboards at least one towel will be in your cabin and you won’t need any shoes for the week. If your dive gear is heavy (especially regs or BCDs) you can treat yourself to one of the modern new lightweight options. Or leave your gear at home and rent for the week. We can arrange all of your kit rental in advance so you are guaranteed it is on board.
4) Buy duty free!
Shampoo, conditioner, sun tan lotion, a couple of books – all of this quickly adds up in your bag. But there are no restrictions on how much you carry onto the plane so picking up these bits and pieces once in duty free can free up essential kilos in your hold baggage.
5) Have a practice pack
It might sound a bit over the top but it is surprising how quickly your bag fills up if you pack at the last minute. Taking your time to work out what is essential and what you can leave behind in advance of your trip really pays off. Not only will it help you work out if you need to prebook any excess in advance but it also means you don’t get to your destination only to realise you have left that vital bit of kit behind.
Call the travel team on 0800 072 8221 if you have any questions
And Lee is off to check it out!
Sky Dancer in the Galapagos is changing names and will as of this June, no longer be running as a Peter Hughes boat. The newly named Galapagos Sky will be the same boat and crew as currently run their excellent trips. But to see for ourselves just what makes this one of the best boats to be on in the Galapagos, Scuba Travel’s very own Lee is off to test it out.
What does she think of this? In her words:
“You don’t get a chance to head to the Galapagos for work very often so when I was asked if I wanted to go, the only question I asked was was when? And as the Sky Dancer becomes Galapagos Sky, I jumped at the opportunity to see for myself just what makes this liveaboard so special. Is it the brilliant creature comforts on board? The excellent levels of service? Knowledgeable dive guides? I am hoping it is all of this and more!
So here I am, huge smile on my face, really excited, raring to go with not too long to wait as my trip starts on the 5th June. I’ve booked my parking through Scuba Travel. Check. My flights are all booked with Iberia (Heathrow to Madrid, short stop in Madrid then onto Guayaquil). Check. I’ll spend my 1st night at the Oro Verde hotel. Check. Then the really excitement begins, the following day I’ll join the flight across to San Cristobel where I’ll board Galapagos Sky for a week of pure diving adrenalin.
The Galapagos has always been at the top of my dive hit list (isn’t it up there in the top 10 for most people?) This is one action packed itinerary! I am expecting sharks, sharks and more sharks… not to mention the rays, sea lions and penguins, that’s before we starting thinking about the land animals – the list just goes on of what I am hoping to see.
But in the meantime I need to get my kit out, serviced and oh I’m sure I can find something new to take with me – best go and see Jo and Karin at Oxygene to see what I can find……..”
