Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Philippines: Learn to Dive

...FOR FREE! (*)

A Summer Special not to miss, especially if you are looking to learn in warm tropical seas with plenty of colourful coral and fish and great hospitality.

Moalboal is a small town 55 miles  south west of Cebu City in the Visayas region of the Philippines. Once a fishing village, Panagsama Beach is now a popular dive area. With diving possible all year round, there are about 25 recognised dive sites and many more being discovered all the time.

The range of diving is excellent, with vertical walls, a cathedral like cave, healthy coral reefs and plenty of macro in the way of pygmy seahorses, ghost pipe fish and frogfish to keep everyone happy.

Pescador Island is a short boat ride away - it's here that you'll be mesmerised and enchanted by the resident sardine bait ball, a unique diving experience.

You want more? Well, Oslob is just down the road. Complete your course and if you have time, take a day trip here (local supplement) and you've got a very good chance of a whale shark encounter!

Learning to dive is an amazing experience, especially when it's free! (*)



Stay at Turtle Bay Dive Resort during September 2013 and your PADI or SSI Open Water Course is on the house. Of course, you will need to pay for the manual and your certification, but this is an opportunity not to be missed!

Summer Special - Learn to Dive for FREE! (*)
Learn to dive in warm clear tropical waters with amazing marine life for free. What more do we need to say?!

Depart UK:  11, 18 or 22 Sep 2013
Duration:     10 Days
Prices From: £1765 per person

Includes: return flights from the UK, 7-nights at Turtle Bay Dive Resort (FB), Full PADI or SSI Open Water Course, all tuition and equipment, transfers and a half day trip to Kawasan Falls. Based on two people travelling together.

(*) Excludes: PADI/SSI Manual, Registration (Certification Fee), Marine Park Fees (where applicable)

Learn to Dive - Book NOW!
Call the Dive Team on 0845 130 6980 or email us.

The Philippines have diving opportunities for all-from the wrecks of Sangat to the whale sharks of Sogod Bay. Learn more about creating your own adventure here.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Oman: Summer Spectacular

The summer may be a little hot for most, but it's a spectacular time in Oman - specifically the Daymaniyat Islands.
 
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this group of nine small islands are renowned as the jewel in the crown of diving in the Gulf of Oman. The diving here features natural walls, drop-offs, reefs, swim-throughs and caves. The coral and marine life is abundant and home to prolific numbers of tropcial fish, sting rays, leopard sharks and it's this time of year when you have the best chance of a whale shark encounter.
 
The Saman Explorer liveaboard is in its second season of running week long safaris in this region, which also includes the famous dive sites near Muscat, such as the Fahal Islands and the wreck of the Al Munassir, popular amongst UK divers who would normally dive this from a local resort.
 
We have had reports from the boat that the whale sharks have recently arrived in the area, so if you're looking of somewhere to dive in September, this could be for you!
 

Whale Shark, Extra Divers, Daymaniyat Islands, Oman
Photo Credit: Extra Divers Oman
 

Summer Spectacular
Explore the popular dive sites around Muscat and hope for a whale shark encounter in the Daymaniyat Islands on board the Saman Explorer.
 
Depart UK: 13 Sep
Duration: 9 Days
Prices From: £1595 per person
 
Includes: return flights from the UK, 6-nights on board the Saman Explorer (FB), 1-night at Al Sawadi Beach Resort (HB), up to 4 dives per day (including night dive), tanks, weights and transfers.
 
Book your Summer Spectacular
Call the Dive Team on 0845 130 6980 or email us.
 
Oman has plenty of diving opportunities throughout the year. Learn more here.

Please note:
The holy month of Ramadan began on 10 July 2013.
Ramadan Kareem to all our local suppliers.
 

Thursday, July 4, 2013

South Africa: Sardine Run 2013

One of nature’s great events,

this annual underwater spectacle is one not to miss!

 
http://www.diveworldwide.com/holiday/sardine_run.html
© Alexander Safonov - Sardine Run South Africa - ScubaAddicts

Escaping the cold waters of the Cape, thousands of sardines head north hugging the coastline of southern Africa, making their way up to KwaZulu-Natal. They’re following their food source, which is being driven north by the currents; more of an extended range than a migration. This, is the famous Sardine Run.

These massive shoals (up to 40 metres deep and 9 miles long) are a spectacle in themselves, but it’s enhanced by the hundreds of predators arriving on mass for their feeding frenzy. The extravaganza includes birds, dolphin, sharks, game fish and whales, all there for their fast food fill of sardines. To witness part of this would be an amazing feeling; would you know where and what to look at?

We look forward to feedback from our clients who have visited recently and witnessed this amazing wildlife event. For now, let’s catch up with Shona’s (ScubaAddicts) recent report on underwater action from their base in Port St. Johns, right in the thick of things!

“The sardine run has been amazing this year, definitely one of our best ever.

Loads of bait balls, amazing whales breaching, double breaches i,e. with two whales breaching at the same time.

Lots of great sharks, copper sharks, dusky sharks and bull sharks. The gannets have been putting on a great show diving through the bait balls, whilst the dolphins have been working the bait balls and keeping them around for long periods of time. 

To top it off we have had many sightings of sail fish with the bait balls.

The action is not very far out to sea, it is all within our limits to where our boats can go. Sometimes it is all happening just outside the river other times we travel around a lot more”.


Sardine Run packages are available in June and July. Of course, there’s still time to head over this year, but if you’re looking for a Sardine Run experience in 2014, we recommend booking soon. It’s extremely popular!
 
These dive adventures can be booked through Dive Worldwide. What’s more, as the focus is on sharks, they are part of our ‘shark infested’ programme, helping raise vital funds for Bite-Back throughout 2013.


Contact the Dive Worldwide Dream Team

Email or call 0845 130 6980 to book an adventure of a lifetime.