News
Eggcellent offers from the Scuba Travel Team
UK-based Tour Operator have a great Easter Egg Facebook Competition this weekend. Check out the Scuba Travel Facebook page to enter their “guess the egg” competition – each day they will be posting a photo of different marine life eggs – identify which egg it is and you’ll be in with a chance to win a Scuba Travel voucher every day!
There’s also some fantastic dive holiday deals! Happy Easter!
Emperor Serenity from £1595
Jim is back from his amazing adventure on Emperor Serenity where he was spoilt with sightings. He dived with sharks and manta in abundance from the luxurious Emperor Serenity – read his trip report on the Scuba Travel blog and get a taste for what’s in store if you book one of these beauties:
- 29th April – Best of the Maldives Itinerary £1645
- 13th May – Best of the Maldives Itinerary £1595
The Maldives are a must see location for all divers. Watch manta as they come to be cleaned, schools of fish in breathtaking numbers on the edge of the drop off or zip through the channels on a speedy drift. Serenity gives you the opportunity to dive the best sites and discover a dream destination from the comfort of a contemporary, sleek liveaboard.
Read more about Serenity here…
Carpe Diem – 20th April – £1945
Carpe Diem combines superb service, exceptional diving and on board comfort at affordable prices. The large saloon features a big flat screen and audio system and is a great area for briefings. Outside of the lounge is an outdoor seating area. The meals are served al fresco in the dedicated dining area on the upper deck. After diving, enjoy the sun deck to soak up some rays or relax in the shade.
The popular Best of the Maldives itinerary delivers what it says on the tin. 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.
Dive Komodo on Mermaid 2 – £2895
Join the experienced crew on this diver friendly, steel-hulled liveaboard to cruise the big fish hotspots of Indonesia. The food on board is a hearty mix of Thai and western dishes, all served in the main deck dining room. Mermaid 2 has everything on board to make her your home away from home as you cruise the Indonesian islands.
Komodo National Park is a must see for all photographers and videographers with excellent viz all year round and an enviable selection of exotic and far flung dives.
- 17th May – Save £200 only £2895
- 09th June – save £200 only £2895
Komodo Dragons, manta and sharks await beneath the seas of Komodo Island, with speedy drift dives and bio diversity being the highlights of these outstanding pristine reefs.
Tempest – 21st April Wrecks & Reefs – only £795
Book by 7th April! The flexible Wrecks and Reefs itinerary offers the best of both worlds, iconic wreck dives and breathtaking reef dives every day. Fill your log books with dive sites such as the Thistlegorm, Shark and Yolanda, Abu Nuhas and Tiran, as well as the stunning drop offs of Ras Mohammed.
- 21st April – Wrecks and Reefs
Tempest is a well loved liveaboard in the Red Sea and with only 12 places on board she is smaller than most. A popular choice, she boasts a friendly atmosphere and a spacious and comfortable stay.
Scuba Seraya, Bali – only £1595
What an amazing price to dive in Bali! The intimate Scuba Seraya resort is a popular choice with Scuba Travel’s customers who come back year after year. This resort is totally set up for divers in lush gardens on their private beachfront. Soak up the Balinese sun in your outside bathroom or pull up a chair on your veranda, with partial sea or volcano views.
- 14th April – Save £300 only £1595
- 9th June – Save £300 only £1595
Bali is an excellent Indonesian diving destination with rich reef dives, cool critters a plenty, and you are only moments from the famous Liberty wreck. It’s a laid back location with bags to offer divers and non divers alike! Price includes return flights, 7 nights full board, morning boat dives and unlimited housereef dives in the afternoons – a deal not to be missed!
Whales & Orcas at Bunaken Oasis!
The beautiful Bunaken Oasis Luxury Resort has had some very special visitors recently. Some of the oceans larger inhabitants have swung by to check it out with orcas spotted last week and a sperm whale this week WOW – we wonder who will turn up next?!
- 3rd May – save £350, only £2795
- 17th May – only £2895
This 5 star luxury resort on Bunaken Island delivers outstanding service both on land and in the sea. Set amid tranquil gardens, meander between the spa and freeform infinity pool. At the end of each relaxing day, the multi-level cocktail bar is the place to be before you make your way to dinner. Explore Bunaken’s stunning wall dives and coral fields, with optional mangrove and muck diving to boot.
Turks & Caicos Aggressor – save £600, only £1495
The Turks & Caicos Aggressor sleeps 18 guests in a range of well appointed cabins. At the end of the day, put your feet up with a sundowner at the wet bar. The freshly made food is served up in the dining area and the sun deck has a choice of shady and sunny spots so everyone can relax in peace between dives.
- 28th April – Save £600 Only £1495
- 12th May – Save £600 Only £1495
The Turks & Caicos Aggressor is a special kind of diving holiday in the Caribbean. Sail between the endless cays and islands in complete comfort, breaking up your day only to dive. The Provo to Provo itinerary offers outstanding wall diving with plenty of chances for pelagics from the comfort of your Aggressor liveaboard.
Oman Aggressor – only £1845 excl. flights
This is a fantastic introductory offer to dive the hot new region in Oman. Diving highlights are undoubtedly the opportunity to see the resident population of humpback whales but the islands are a paradise of untouched dive sites where whale sharks, dolphins, turtles, reef sharks and big balls of reef fish wait on pristine, unspoilt reefs.
- 21st April – save £750
- 2nd June – save £750
- 14th July – save £750
The Oman Aggressor is a fantastic 45m liveaboard with a range of stylish cabins all boasting aircon and ensuite bathrooms. For relaxation after your dives you have the choice of the large sundeck with shade, a jacuzzi and bar, or the spacious saloon area. Enjoy a variety of local Omani and international cuisine from the onboard chef.
Dive with a purpose – with the Carpe Fleet
There is a growing school of thought that the Maldivian ‘big three’ – whale sharks, manta rays and turtles – react to the changes in the monsoon seasons by moving to sites on the leeward side of the atolls. In May 2018, Carpe Novo will become a research platform for biologists from the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme providing them, and 20 lucky guests, an unprecedented opportunity to explore this phenomenon. The goal of this particular Dive with a Purpose expedition is to begin the 2018 southwest season’s data collection, documenting the movements of these iconic, yet enigmatic, animals.
The Rescue a Reef trips on Carpe Vita are accompanied by a Reef CPR marine biologist. Join these special weeks to help identify and remove crown of thorns from reef eco systems. All training will be given on board.
- 25th May – Whale Research
- 14th July – Rescue a REEF
- 8th Sept – Rescue a REEF
Give us a call on 0800 0728221 to find out more about these exciting expeditions!
To find out more about Scuba Travel and the dive holidays they offer call 0800 0728221, email dive@scubatravel.com or visit www.scubatravel.com.
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.
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.
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