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 All the holiday news...
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Whalesharks in Djibouti, ice-diving in Russia's White Sea, manta rays in Yap, humpback whales in Tahiti and Tonga - these are just some of the ideas for diving holidays in the new Dive Worldwide brochure. Add to that such places as Madagascar, New Zealand, Oman and South Africa, plus the more familiar diving destinations, and it may give you all the choices you need.
Dive Worldwide 0845 1306980
If you were too late to enroll on Jack Ingle's South China Seas expedition in April (What's Bubbling, December), the good news is that he's running another in September. Buy now while stocks last!
Email: jack@jackingle.co.uk
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Wexas, the UK's largest travel club, is running a trip to Chagos archipelago in the Indian Ocean from 15 April to 8 May on mv Indian Ocean Explorer. Flying via the Seychelles, 10 passengers can make the first commercial trip to this remote spot. They will be accompanied by Dr Mark Spalding, who has already run three scientific expeditions to the islands. The cost of £4250 per head includes two nights in the Seychelles, 10 days' sailing and 10 days' visiting around eight islands (not including US base Diego Garcia). E-mail: mark@mdspalding.co.uk.
Wexas, www.wexas.com
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During the first four months of the year, the waters around Mexico's Pacific Socorro Islands are home to humpback whales as well as several varieties of shark, including scalloped hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, whalesharks and silkies - plus the famous resident population of diver-friendly giant manta rays (above). The Nautilus Explorer is a Canadian-built liveaboard said to offer a high level of comfort and to be CCR-friendly. One-week trips cost around £1500, plus flights and transfers.
Nautilus Explorer, www.nautilusexplorer.com
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Fancy a trip working with researchers to tag whale sharks? Scuba World Safaris is organising an expedition for a maximum of 10 people to one of the smallest of the Bay Islands, Utila in British Honduras. Led by underwater photographer and PADI instructor Paul Shepherd, the plan is to build a database of whalesharks that visit the area at the time of coral-spawning and fish-egg-laying. The database will include DNA samples and photographs. Running from 14-30 April, the expedition costs £4235 per person.
Scuba World Safaris, www.scubaworldsafaris.com
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Portland is a favourite UK winter diving destination because there is always the chance to find sheltered water. Breakwater Diving Centre at Castletown has a buy-one-get-one-free offer until 21 March, so if you and a buddy book in for two nights at the adjacent Aqua Hotel, whichever scheduled dives you pick, the second one is free. Boats are operated under MCA regulations with experienced skippers.
Breakwater Diving Centre 01305 860269
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Hilton Worldwide Resorts plans to open 14 new resorts within the next two years, many of them in hot diving areas. This year sees openings in Barbados, Phuket, Thailand, the Maldives and Cebu in the Philippines. Runner-up in Tatler's Hotel of the Year awards was the Rangali Hilton, well known to many who visit the Maldives. The all new resort at Rangalifinohlu will have water-bungalows, beach villas with private pools, a spa village and the Ithaa underwater restaurant, set 6m below the waves.
Hilton, www.hiltonworldresorts.com/type/d.html
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