News
Scuba Travel Black Friday dive holiday deals now available
It’s Black Friday tomorrow and UK-based Tour Operator Scuba Travel has some fantastic holiday deals. All of these offers must be booked by 5pm on 27th November. For all their amazing offers please click here – check below for a select few to get you tempted!
Red Sea I Whirlwind I Daedalus and Rocky I 30 November I Save £255 – £995 inc flights
Come face to face with pelagics in the Southern Red Sea with the most experienced team onboard Whirlwind. The Daedalus and Rocky itinerary mixes up big fish encounters with plenty of macro and reef fish to interest even the most seasoned diver. You get to spend more time than ever exploring these undeniably stunning reefs, avoiding long transfers with our direct flight to Marsa Alam.
Whirlwind has everything the modern diver could want on board. The dive deck is one of the most impressive aspects – no more kitting up in a crowd on this boat! And for your relaxation between dives, there are two sundecks and a jacuzzi. Catch some rays, relax with a book or enjoy the hot tub. The saloon is kitted out with a modern entertainment system and a well stocked bar. Quite simply no element of this liveaboard has been overlooked. From sun up to sun down, Whirlwind is the perfect home away from home in the Egyptian Red Sea.
Package includes return flights to Marsa Alam 18 fully guided dives, all fees, 12 L tank & weights and FREE NITROX.
Bali I Scuba Seraya I 7 nights I 6 January I Save £300 – £1725 inc flights
Dive Tulamben and the incredible critter dives of Bali with the team from Scuba Seraya! Bali manages to deliver Indonesia’s stunning reef systems, packed with critters, at an affordable price. Many divers start with the house reef Seraya Secrets and Noisy Reefs. Drop in and the coral gardens open up. Here you can find a huge range of exotic macro life… frogfish, zebra crabs, ghost pipefish, mimic octopus to name but a few! The house reef is just the start however. Alam Anda, Batu Niti, Jemeluk, Gili Selang – there are sites a plenty. No trip is complete without a dive on the Liberty wreck. This vast cargo ship sits almost on the beach and is perfect for all experience levels.
Scuba Seraya is an intimate resort with only 12 rooms, set in lush gardens on the beach front. This really is a diver’s resort. But you do not have to forgo your creature comforts! There is a freshwater pool and beachside massage service for those chill out days. The beach is for the exclusive use of guests. The restaurant is right by the sea, and serves freshly prepared Indonesian and Western meals. The whole atmosphere at Scuba Seraya is understated elegance. Relax and forget about the world as you dive from your very own corner in paradise.
Package includes return flights, 7 nights full board, 10 morning boat dives and unlimited unguided shore diving in the afternoon.
Maldives I Virgo I Sharktastic itinerary I 7 January I Save £300 – only £1295 boat only
Sharktastic is a special itinerary packed with sharks, manta and whalesharks. Focusing on Male as well as Vaavu, Meemu and South Ari atolls, this seasonal itinerary has been designed with plenty of big fish action as you visit the Maldives’ famous channel and wall dives. Hop your way through these picture perfect atolls, diving with pelagics all the way.
Virgo sleeps only 18 divers over 30m, which has made her popular with those that prefer smaller groups on board. The main deck there is a large air conditioned saloon with welcoming sofas. Meals are served buffet style and seated at a large table. This is a fun, social boat to be on! The bar on board is fully licensed so you can enjoy your favourite tipple as the sun sinks over the horizon. The upper deck is a hub for most people in between dives, with loungers to relax on and enjoy the Maldives drifting by.
This is a boat only price but does include Male airport transfers, 7 nights full board up to 17 fully guided dives and FOC nitrox.
Red Sea I Cyclone I Winter Warmer I 21 January I Save £195 – only £850 inc flights
Join Mario on his Winter Warmer™ tour and beat those winter blues with a week of dedicated Red Sea underwater photography, focusing in particular on the varied macro and wide angle opportunities at Gubal and Tiran. This will be a great all round trip, suitable for all abilities, and Mario will be on hand morning, noon and night, dishing out any help and advice you might need. Once you’ve taken the shots you will probably want to tweak and edit them so most evenings there will be assistance with using Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop to make the most of your digital creations.
Cyclone is 32m from bow to stern and her sturdy wood hull is a stable home away from home. Cyclone features the tried and tested lay out of all Tornado Marine Fleet vessels. The all important dive deck is spaciously laid out so everyone can kit up without fighting for space. Head to the main deck dining room at meal times and an outstanding feast awaits. The upstairs saloon is complete with bar and the plasma screen is a focal point at the end of the day or during surface intervals. Or escape from it all on extensive sun deck, complete with sun beds and jacuzzi.
Included in this fantastic price are return flights to Hurghada, 7 nights full board and up to 22 fully guided dives.
Sudan I Royal Evolution I Sudan North I 22 February I Save £350 – only £1545 inc flights
Dive the very best, classic dive sites in Sudan-Sha’ab Rumi, Sanganeb and the stunning Umbria wreck. This 1 week itinerary Sudan North is guaranteed to impress! The walls are deep and plateaus an ideal stage for shark watching. Add to this the beautiful wreck dives at the unique Umbria and Con Shelf II and you are guaranteed an incredible Sudan liveaboard, packed with excitement and variety. These are classic dives and a must see for any diver in Sudan.
Royal Evolution is a sleek 39m. Between the two sun decks and enormous saloon there is always a peaceful corner for relaxing. The bar and jacuzzi form the social hub. The back dive deck has more space that you could want, with individual cubby holes for storing your gear between dives and charging batteries, as well as a large camera table with air gun in the middle of the deck. Years of hard earned experience led to the conception of Royal Evolution and she welcomes in a new era of Red Sea liveaboards in Egypt and Sudan.
Price includes return flights, 7 nights full board and expert dive guides.
Maldives I Emperor Serenity I Best of the Maldives I 6 May I Save £500 – only £1295 boat only
The Best of the Maldives does just what it says on the tin – you dive the best and most famous dive sites of the Maldives in a single week of sublime liveaboard diving across Male and Ari atolls. This is a dive holiday in the Maldives to remember that hits all the seasonal hot spots of North Male, South Male and Ari Atoll.
Emperor Serenity is a contemporary, spacious liveaboard where fine accommodation and service is standard. This sleek liveaboard features open air dining area at the stern of the main deck. Several sofas and tables await you inside the air-conditioned saloon for relaxing or watching TV. The Upper deck boasts a covered and open area ideal for watching photos and footage from your diving or just relaxing, star gazing and soaking up the wonderful Maldivian atmosphere. The sundeck is perfect for catching some sun or having a nap.
Price includes 7 nights full board including a glass of wine with dinner and up to 17 fully guided dives.
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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