News

Book before the end of September for some great holiday deals

Published

7 years ago

September 25, 2017

Book before the end of September to save on South Africa and Indonesia… plus lots more fantastic diving holiday deals from our friends at UK-based Tour Operator Diverse Travel.

Indonesia: Emperor Raja Laut Special Introductory Offer 2017/2018

Komodo, Raja Ampat, Banda Sea | Beautiful traditional Dutch schooner-style yacht

Literally just launched, a special introductory offer on the new Emperor Indonesia’s MY Emperor Raja Laut debuting this September.

Emperor Raja Laut is a beautiful traditional Dutch schooner-style sailing yacht now under the renowned Emperor Divers’ brand. She has 12 berths and a high level of service with seven crew and two dive guides. Sailing the iconic diving areas of Raja Ampat, the Banda Sea and Komodo National Park. Prepare to dive or snorkel with mantas, hammerheads, whale sharks and macro life. Or combine with land tours to meet the infamous Komodo dragon.

Price from £2999 including:

7-night package (also 12-nights available) to Raja Ampat based on twin share
Return international flights – London Heathrow to Manado
Return domestic flights – Manado to Sorong
Airline departure taxes
7 nights shared cabin, 3 meals a day, afternoon snacks, 1 cocktail party on a local island, unlimited drinking water, tea, coffee, guide, 12 litre air tanks, weights
2 nights Half Board – Manado Novotel Airport Hotel
All transfers according to itinerary
Full ATOL Protection

Departures between 14 December 2017 and 02 May 2018.

See all Diverse Travel special offers here

Dive Mythical Sudan | 04 – 11 March 2018 | Save up to £125

Plus the first 10 bookers will receive free Nitrox fills (First come, first served basis. Nitrox-certified divers only).

Follow in Cousteau’s footsteps! Dive his Conshelf II underwater habitat and famous Shaab Rumi reef with its sharks and colourful drop-offs and Sanganeb’s northern and southern plateaus. The Umbria, considered to be one of the finest wreck-dives on the planet and then south of Port Sudan where different species of sharks are found.

* Number of dives may vary according to itinerary weather conditions. Minimum diving level: PADI Advanced Diver (or equivalent) with minimum 50 logged dives. Diving is permitted upon presentation of a valid certification card AND proof of adequate insurance covering risks related to diving activities.

Price from £1495 based on sharing a twin cabin including:

Return flights from London Heathrow to Port Sudan on Saudia (via Jeddah) or Emirates/Fly Dubai (via Dubai)
7 nights’ full board accommodation in shared cabin
Transfers between Port Sudan airport and liveaboard
Dives: first day 2 dives; then 3 dives a day; last day 2 dives and return to Port Sudan
Sodas, espresso, cappuccino, water, tea & coffee
Robes and towels provided during the safari

Not included: Sudan Visa US$175/person; Government taxes and local agent fee 197 EUR pp; Booking of a specific cabin: 50 EUR pp/week; 15L tank: 40 EUR/week; Equipment rental; Guided dive: 8 EUR/dive; Alcoholic drinks; Crew tip (70 EUR recommended/week).

Booking deadline: 31 October 2017

See all Diverse Travel special offers here

Best of Red Sea | Emperor Asmaa I 9 – 16 Nov 2017 – Save £75

Dive the best top three sites in this area: Big and Little Brothers, Daedalus Reef and Elphinstone. These islands offer stunning wall diving and attract a diverse array of marine species and large pelagics. Large tuna, jacks and snappers cruise in the blue, accompanied by occasional hammerheads, silvertips, silky and oceanic white tip sharks and mantas. Even the rare thresher shark can be found here.

7 nights from £1049 per person including flights from London – save £75!

Price is per person based on sharing a twin cabin and includes:

Return international flights – London Gatwick – Hurghada
20kg hold baggage allowance
7 nights in shared cabin (last night either on board or in a hotel)
6 day’s diving, guide, 12 litre tanks, weights
Full board & soft drinks, red wine with dinner
Environmental tax
Marine Park fees and port departure fees
Free Nitrox (subject to availability)
Airport transfers
Full ATOL protection

See all Diverse Travel special offers here

Oman Red Dhow | 7 – 14 October | from £1565

Just 80 miles from Dubai is Oman’s little-known Musandam Peninsula – an area of outstanding natural beauty. Dramatic vertical cliffs in meandering bays plunge into the azure seas below, giving Musandam the affectionate nickname, ‘the fjords of the Gulf’. Deep and cool upwelling water provide a rich plankton soup attracting a huge variety of marine life; whale shark, sun fish, pilot whales, lobsters, hawksbill, green turtles, huge schools of snapper, barracuda and jacks. Critters galore are also in abundance making Musandam a macro-photographer’s delight.

Red Dhow is a 76ft boat with 6 standard double cabins (2 cabins sharing 1 bathroom) and two ensuite cabins. She takes no more than 14 guests.

Price from £1565 based on sharing standard twin cabin including:

Return economy class flights departing from London to Dubai (flights from other UK airports can be arranged)
7 nights’ onboard the Red Dhow in an en-suite cabin with Full Board (breakfast, lunch & dinner), water, tea & coffee, PADI Instructor and/or Divemaster on board (acting as a dive guide) with up to 3 guided day-dives per day and return airport transfers
ATOL and full financial protection

See all Diverse Travel special offers here

Fiji Volivoli Offer | Book 7 nights, pay for only 5

Volivoli Beach Resort | Fiji | 2 nights FREE

PLUS 2 FREE dives
PLUS FREE Nitrox*

Fiji has so very much to offer from the diving to nature, beautiful beaches and welcoming local people. Here lies a perfect blend of white sandy beaches, coral reef, a sunny year-round climate and that friendly Fijian hospitality and culture.

A pearl of Fiji, Volivoli Beach Resort is tucked away on the northernmost tip of Viti Levu and promises guests a welcoming relaxed indulgence. Being just a short boat ride from the enticing dive sites of Bligh Waters the Resort is family-run by the Darling family who have over 20 years’ experience of diving in these waters. Probably one of the best locations in Fiji for a diving holiday, Volivoli Beach is home to Ra Divers, a fully certified PADI and SSI Dive Resort with over 18 years’ experience.

Conditions of offer: Travel dates: Until 31st March 2018

See all Diverse Travel special offers here

South Africa | 9 nights | Aliwal Shoal Diving + Great White Cage Diving, Cape Town

The best of both worlds; diving the iconic Aliwal Shoal and then onto the great magnet of South Africa, cage diving with great whites!

Price – £1999 per person based on sharing a twin/double room including:

Return international flights to Durban return from Cape Town on Emirates (via Dubai)
6 nights’ Full Board in twin/double room, Blue Ocean Resort, Umkomaas
8 dives: 6 Aliwal Shoal reef dives (2-tank morning trips) + 2 Baited Shark Dives
Round trip airport transfers from Durban King Shaka International Airport
One-way domestic flight Durban to Cape Town
3 days’ Cape Town car hire (Avis VW Polo TSI B Plus + GPS)
3 nights’ B&B, Mountain Facing Room, Quayside Hotel, Simon’s Town (Cape Town)
2 Seal Island Cage Dive Trips
Government taxes
Full ATOL Protection

Price does not include daily conservation levy of R114 (approx. £7).

These offers must be booked before 30 September 2017
Travel must take place before 31 December 2017

See all Diverse Travel special offers here

Indonesia I Manado + Lembeh Combo | Last Minute Offer

Eco Divers. From just £1850 with diving, flights, accommodation

Dive two of the world’s greatest dive places with an award-winning dive centre and here’s your recipe for holiday happiness.

Home to a huge concentration of unusual marine species as well as reef sharks, turtles, eagle rays, Napoleon wrasse, even dugong and orca!

Most sites are within easy reach from your hotel and yet they’re never crowded. The reefs of Bunaken National Marine Park are rich and unspoilt with abundant soft coral and fish life whilst the Lembeh Strait is arguably the best place in the world for macro photography.

10 nights from £1850 per person including:

International return flights – London Heathrow on Singapore Air/SilkAir via Singapore
30kg baggage allowance
5 nights’ sharing air-conditioned Superior Room, Mercure Manado Resort
5 days’ boat diving Bunaken (up to 2 guided day-dives per day*) with cylinders & weights
5 nights’ sharing air-conditioned room, Eco Divers Resort Lembeh
4 days’ boat diving Lembeh Strait (up to 3 guided day-dives per day) with cylinders & weights
Full Board Meal Plan including mineral water
All local transfers according to the itinerary
Government taxes
Full ATOL protection

* Upgrade to 3-dive package: £23/day

Valid for stays between 01 – 30 September and 24 October – 30 November 2017

See all Diverse Travel special offers here

For more information or to book, call Diverse Travel on Freephone 0800 915 4436, email info@diversetravel.co.uk or visit www.diversetravel.co.uk.

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Marine Life & Conservation

Shark Trust launches Oceanic 31 Shark Art Auction

Published

21 hours ago

November 1, 2024

Shark Trust

After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7^th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.

People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:

https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction

It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.

: Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter

: Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs

: Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead

: Oceanic Whitetip by ATM

: Silky Street by ScapaJoe

The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.

One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29^th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.

Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:

https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24

Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26^th November until the 7^th December. Entry is free.

Find out more here:

https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31

Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”

Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction

Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden

Gear News

Introducing the RS Series Drysuit from DYNAMICNORD

Published

3 days ago

October 30, 2024

Team Scubaverse

Cozy and warm in cold water.

It’s drysuit season all year round. With the new RS series premium drysuits from DYNAMICNORD, divers are perfectly equipped for all cold waters.

The sophisticated cut of the RS drysuits allows complete freedom of movement, providing maximum comfort. The high-quality 350 g/m² ripstop material with double ripstop zones on the elbows, knees, and crotch protect ensures extreme robustness as well as long life.

drysuit drysuit

The suit’s features leave nothing to be desired: A high-quality TiZip zipper, easily adjustable inlet and outlet valves, upgradeable with electrically heated underwear, HP bottleneck cuffs made of high-strength latex on the wrists, a 3mm neoprene neck cuff for maximum comfort, a 7mm hood with air outlet and 3mm boots made of double-sided, cross-layered neoprene with ankle straps and fin strap stoppers and a protective but very flexible sole.

drysuit

Noteworthy is the Molle fastening system, which can be used in a variable and compatible manner. This way, the two detachable leg pockets can be attached easily, safely and comfortably.

Alterations of boots to a different shoe size or adjustments to neck or wrist cuffs are done free of charge at the own DYNAMICNORD service centre in Germany in only a couple of days.

The matching Dynaskins made with high-quality Polartec® technology are available in various designs. As an undersuit under the drysuit, as a single suit in warm waters or as a two-piece suit. Polartec® technology’s main features are neutral buoyancy, breathablilty and quick-drying.

drysuit