News
Introducing MY Big Blue
Pharaoh Dive Club owners Clare and Steve have been working and diving all around the Red Sea for close to 30 years. Over the last 10 years, they have built and developed the multi award-winning Roots Red Sea, which has put El Quseir on many diver’s bucket lists. They have now expanded their horizons even further and launched their own safari boat MY Big Blue.
Clare and Steve have managed and operated safaris since the early 1990’s where they worked with Chris Scott and Peter Collings pioneering liveaboard safaris in the Red Sea on board the Xanadu. From the tip of the Gulf of Aqaba down to the Sudanese border and back up again through the Gulf of Suez, they have experience of diving to all corners of the Egyptian Red Sea. Its therefore no surprise that they finally decided to launch their own boat to take complete control of their safari operations.
Dive Deck
As you would imagine with that much experience, Big Blue has been designed to provide a perfect base for diving. The first consideration was space: space to eat, space to sleep, space to shower and, of course, space to dive. Big Blue offers all these in trumps. She is a massive 38m long and 7m wide which would normally mean you could expect the license for groups to be 30 to 40 divers! Big Blue offers a maximum of 24 berths.
Lounge
Diving on MY Big Blue is also different, there would be no point in giving you lots of space on the boat to then throw you in the water as a group of 24 divers! Everything is at a relaxed, no -rush pace; the divers are set into four groups of up to six and sent out at intervals. Of course if you are a bigger group and want to dive together that is also fine. Their simple mantra is what’s the rush to get in, we have all day, take your time and enjoy the uncrowded dives!
As a principle supporter of the military charity Deptherapy, making sure Big Blue was ideally suited for divers that use wheelchairs was high on the priorities. Accordingly the main deck is completely accessible with two designated cabins for wheelchair users and, most importantly, divers with disabilities are more than welcome on board.
Mobility Cabin
There is so much disruption to dive travel around the world at the moment, making planning very difficult for everyone, but there is also the feeling that divers are desperate to get back in the amazing Red Sea. For this reason, Big Blue have planned to start the 2021 season on the 6th March with two back-to-back trips with a ‘March Madness’ 15% discount special offer.
- 6th March 2021 – HRG to HRG – Northern Wrecks Tour – £665pp sharing excluding flights
- 13th March 2021 – HRG to HRG – Safaga and Brothers Tour – £765pp sharing excluding flights
Should there still be Covid restrictions that cause cancellation to flights or your government bans travel to Egypt the trips are 100% refundable or transferable.
What a perfect opportunity to book your worry-free return to the Red Sea!
To find out more contact info@mybigblue.com or check out www.mybigblue.com
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 7th 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.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- 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 29th 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 26th November until the 7th 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
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.
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.
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.
Dynaskins are made largely from recycled plastic bottles.
The drysuit RS-351 for men and RS-352 for women are now available at your DYNAMICNORD dealer and in the online store.
Colors men and women: Black-Blue and Black-Burgundy
Sizes men: XS-4XL incl. intermediate sizes MS, MT, MLS, MLT, LS, LT, XLS, XLT, 2XLS, 3XLS, 4XLS
Sizes Women: XS-XL incl. intermediate sizes MS, MT, LS, XLS
DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.
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