News
Awesome Black Friday deals from Scuba Travel
UK-based dive tour operator Scuba Travel are offering some fantastic discounts as part of their Black Friday deals, but hurry – you only have until 5.30pm GMT tomorrow (Friday 25th November) to take advantage of these offers.
Here are the details:
Belize / Belize Aggressor / Save £1000
After landing in Belize City you will be taken to the boat. You have 7 nights on board on a full board basis. A 12lt tank and weights, soft drinks and local beer and wine are included. 5 fully guided dives a day.
Dive the biggest Blue Hole in the world and the sublime reefs around Lighthouse Reef and Turneffe Island at one of the all time great diving destinations. No dive log is complete without a diving holiday to Belize. And now you can experience the second largest barrier reef in the world on board Aggressor’s luxurious Belize liveaboard. Follow in the footsteps of scuba diving’s forefather and experience for yourself the rich and thrilling wall dives that made Belize one of Jacques Cousteau’s favourite diving destinations.
Find out more about this trip here.
Cayman Islands / Cayman Aggressor / Save £500 – Now only £2996
After landing in Grand Cayman you have 1 night in a hotel plus 7 nights on board on a full board basis. A 12lt tank and weights, soft drinks and local beer and wine in your package. Up to 5 fully guided dives a day on offer.
Enjoy gin clear water with no currents as you sail all 3 of the Cayman islands in one trip with plenty of rays, turtles, schooling fish and lavish corals and sponges. The Cayman islands are the quintessential Caribbean diving destination. Sail in complete comfort between Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac in one faultless liveaboard holiday that melds wreck and reef diving to perfection.
Find out more about this trip here.
Red Sea / Hurricane / 3rd May / Only £995
7 nights full board – All fees, 12 L tank & weights and free nitrox included. All trips are fully guided with 2 expert guides. Package includes flights with Thomson from Gatwick and transfers plus day use room and lunch at a hotel on the last day.
Sublime reef diving in the southern Red Sea with the most experienced team, on board the stable steel hulled Hurricane. Avoid long transfers with Scuba Travel’s direct flight to Marsa Alam. Dive the famous Daedalus Reef, Rocky Island and St Johns. Big drops offs and big fish at Daedalus make this an itinerary to remember. Combine with the unique coral formations at St Johns and Fury Shoal and you have an outstanding dive holiday, far from the crowds.
Find out more about this trip here.
Maldives / Serenity Liveaboard / 6th January / Save £350 – Now £1995
7 nights full board, average of 3 fully guided dhoni dives per day. All marine park fees, 12lt tank and weights are included in your package as well as FOC nitrox. Flights are with Sri Lankan although Scuba Travel are able to book a variety of scheduled flights.
All diving is done from Emperor Serenity’s large 19.8m dhoni tender, giving you more living space on board and getting you to the perfect dive spot every time. She is rebreather-friendly and offers free nitrox and four dive guides. Non-divers are very welcome and get a free snorkelling kit + $50 voucher to spend on board.
Find out more about this trip here.
Indonesia / Bunaken Oasis Dive Resort / Save £1000
Enjoy 5-star luxury at Bunaken Oasis Dive Resort on secluded Bunaken Island.
From Manado you will be taken to the resort. Standard package includes 7 nights on a full board basis in a traditional villa (2 people sharing) with free laundry. 3 boat dives a day with free nitrox and unlimited house reef diving. Return flights from Heathrow.
This boutique dive resort has been lovingly designed and built by British couple Simon & Elaine Wallace, who had 1 simple goal – to create a dive resort whose every aspect meets your exacting requirements for quality and 5-star service, both on land and in the sea.
The Bunaken National Park is famous the world over for startling drop offs, drift dives and inviting warm waters. Snorkelers and divers alike can experience the magic of the Marine Park. Eagle rays, ribbon eels, turtles and wrasse are common whilst baracuda and jacks swarm over the hard corals.
Find out more about this trip here.
Red Sea / Cyclone Liveaboard / 7th January / Now only £695
Spend 7 nights on board on a full board basis. Classic itinerary in the Northern Red Sea with up to 22 fully guided dives. Return Easyjet Flights from Gatwick, all marine park fees, 12lt tank, air fills and weights are included in your package.
Cyclone is a true Red Sea classic liveaboard that easily meets the high standards of Scuba Travel’s modern Red Sea liveaboards.
Beat the winter blues with a trip to the Red Sea this January for some winter sun and stunning diving. Cyclone will be setting sail from Hurghada and travelling north to visit the iconic wrecks and reefs dive sites.
Find out more about this trip here.
Red Sea / Whirlwind Liveaboard / 19th March / Only £925
From Hurghada spend 7 nights on board on a full board basis. Up to 22 fully guided dives over the week. All marine park fees, 12lt tank, air fills and weights are included. Sunday departure with regional flights from LGW, Manchester or Birmingham.
Wrecks and Reefs is the itinerary for any diver wanting to see the best of the Northern Red Sea – no matter what experience level you have, see what has made Egypt’s Red Sea such an unmissable destination in 1 week of adventure. With world class wreck dives and breath taking reef dives every day, why not take a trip to the best of both worlds. Endlessly flexible, Wreck and Reefs has become a classic route. And yet no two trips are ever the same. The route can be adapted easily to ensure you visit the right dive sites… at any time of the year. The underwater scenery is ever changing and guaranteed to leave you breathless.
Find out more about this trip here.
Maldives / Leo Liveaboard 14th January / Now only £1895
7 nights on board on a full board basis. Leo dives the seasonal hot spots with an average of 3 fully guided dhoni dives a day. All marine park fees, 12lt tank and weights and FOC nitrox included. Return flights with Sri Lankan.
This is always a popular year round itinerary. Dive the classic sites that made the Maldives so famous. Focusing on the hottest sites around Male & Ari atolls, there are pelagics a plenty, with manta, sharks and even whalesharks.
Leo is light and bright Maldives liveaboard that runs weekly departures to dive the classic Best of the Maldives. She’s a popular choice with divers. Snorkellers are also welcomed on board, and will receive a free snorkelling kit and $50 on board voucher to spend.
Find out more about this trip here.
To find out more about Scuba Travel and the dive holidays they offer, visit www.scubatravel.com.
Gear News
Introducing the TR-80, IR-50 and CS-30 Regulators from DYNAMICNORD
Whether you are a beginner or a professional diver – with the three new main regulators from DYNAMICNORD, everyone will find their favourite regulator. They all look super stylish.
Excellent performance with the TR-80
Quality and performance are the be-all and end-all for regulators. It is not for nothing that the TR stands for Tec Reg. The innovative design of the TR-80 guarantees absolute reliability – even in ice-cold waters.
Perfect breathing effort at 0.8 J/l / certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / structural design made of solid brass for best cold protection / membrane-compensated design with dry seal of the first stage / reduced exhalation effort thanks to optimized exhalation membrane and bubble deflector / adjustable Venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort / innovative design of the front cover prevents free-flow in strong currents or when diving with scooters / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 LP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Amazing underwater adventures with the IR-50
The IR-50 is the top regulator for advanced and experienced divers. Natural breathing is the essence of this regulator.
Ideal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / compensated membrane / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort/ outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
The Workhorse – our CS-30
For diving centres and diving beginners – the workhorse stands for strong construction, reliability and robustness. Perfect for your training.
Optimal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /recommended for diving in waters above 10 degrees / non-compensated piston / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) / outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 1 HP and 3 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Octopus OP-30
The OP-30 is the ideal addition to all DYNAMICNORD regulators. It is identical in construction to the CS-30.
The TR-80, IR-50, CS-30 (DIN & INT) regulators and the Octopus OP-30 are available from DYNAMICNORD dealers and in the online store.
DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.
Marine Life & Conservation
Paul Watson Released as Denmark Blocks Japan’s Extradition Bid
Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
-
News2 months ago
Iconic SS United States to become the World’s Largest Artificial Reef
-
News3 months ago
Book Review – 52 Assignments: Underwater Photography
-
Gear News3 months ago
DYNAMICNORD – New German diving brand enters the British market
-
News3 months ago
Exploring Cenote El Pit: A Diver’s Dream
-
Gear News3 months ago
Try BARE drysuits (and maybe even win one!) this Friday with Sea & Sea at North West Dive Fest
-
Marine Life & Conservation3 months ago
Book Review: Coral Triangle Cameos
-
Blogs3 months ago
Dive the Egyptian Red Sea this Autumn with Regaldive
-
News3 months ago
2024 Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition Announced