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 All the holiday news...
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If you're a keen wreck-diver but pushed for time, the option of a four-day "Long Weekend" charter in Scapa Flow with Karin skipper John Thornton is now on the table. "With more demands on leisure time, more of our divers are giving Scrabster a miss and driving straight to Aberdeen instead," said Thornton. "It does make sense because of the distance and time saved." The Thursday 5pm sailing from Aberdeen on North Link Ferries gets divers to Kirkwall by 11pm. "This means that on Friday, you go diving."
www.scapaflow.com, www.northlinkferries.com
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Sea Bees Diving in Phuket, Thailand has two "wacky offers" until October. Book 12 nights at the Sea Bees Palm Garden Dive Resort (from US $46 a night for two) and a three-day diving package costs only £1 per bungalow. Or simply request a 20% discount on any dive package. From January next year, Sea Bees is running four special safaris to dive sites in the Koh Lanta National Marine Park aboard the liveaboard Genesis. Though the Similan Islands are better known, it says these southern islands represent an insider tip. It reports frequent sightings of whale sharks, as well as dramatic underwater scenery and abundant fish life. Hin Daeng, it says, provides the "biggest vertical drop" in Thailand, while Hin Muang is a hot spot for manta rays and grey reef sharks. Koh Ha has underwater caves and rich macro life. Onboard nitrox is free, and you can do a nitrox course on board. Safaris cost from US $480 for a three-day trip.
www.sea-bees.com
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Following sustained pressure from the original National Diving Centre at Stoney Cove, and a change of ownership, the NDC at Tidenham, Chepstow has inserted the word "Activity" into its name to become the NDAC. The new owner, Exhibitor Ltd, says that NDAC has been working closely with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, and has provided additional signage and a red pontoon to indicate the deep end of the quarry. Diving beyond 30m is no longer allowed in a semi-drysuit or without a torch or a redundant gas supply. A tagging trial is also to be introduced.
www.ndac.co.uk
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Marine biology, photography and DPV courses are being added to Anthias Diving's normal programme of scenic and wreck diving off northern Sardinia this autumn (right). Diving on the edge of the National Marine Park of La Maddalena, the centre promises that visibility is exceptional in October and November. It says its fast boats put a huge range of sites around the Corsican and Sardinian coasts within easy reach. Sardinia has daily flights from the UK and Anthias can organise accommodation and transfers as well as diving. The centre also hires out cameras and DPVs. A 10-dive package costs from £185, the marine Biology course £114 and the underwater photography course £135.
anthias@anthiasdiving.com
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With two expeditions to Norway fully booked this year, Jack Ingle plans to lead a third group of 12 divers to Aalesund from 17-23 November. The dives are on "excellent" WW2 wrecks in the 30-50m range, including the Konsul Carl Fisser and Barcelona. Water temperature should be around 13¡C. The cost of £480 includes five days' hardboat diving (two dives a day), self-catering accommodation, air and twin-sets and stage cylinders. Flights via Oslo to Aalesund can be expected to cost around £200.
020 86506089
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The 14-passenger Utila Aggressor liveaboard has joined the famed Aggressor fleet and starts Saturday-to-Saturday charters this month. It will allow divers to sample the sheer walls and sea mounts surrounding the small Caribbean island of Utila, which has become associated in recent times with sightings of migrating whale sharks. Guests stand a chance of getting to snorkel with them. Prices start at $1495 per person, excluding flights. Meanwhile, the North Sulawesi Aggressor, which can accommodate 18 divers, is due to start operations in Indonesia at the start of next year. The well-equipped 107ft vessel will explore areas such as the Bunaken National Marine Park, Manado Tua and Bangka Island, with dives on some spectacular and well-populated walls promised. UK tour operator Dive Worldwide is offering a 10-day trip, including flights from London, overnight hotels and seven days' all-inclusive aboard the vessel for £2499.
www.aggressor.com, www.diveworldwide.com
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On the subject of Indonesia, the Pelagian liveaboard, which has operated in the Red Sea and Thailand as well as Indonesia, is moving its base to the Wakatobi Dive Resort in the Tukang Besi Islands, south-east of Sulawesi. It will carry divers to the biodiverse coral reefs, walls, pinnacles, ridges and sea mounts previously not easily accessible from the resort. Guests usually fly to Wakatobi via Bali, from where they land at the resort's private airstrip to be transferred directly to the Pelagian. The Wakatobi Dive Resort features more than 12.5 miles of protected reefs.
pelagian.wakatobi.com
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The Palms Villa Resort and Wild Turtle Dive Safari are offering a year-round seven-dive Dive Tobago package. Guests spend seven nights in a luxury three-bedroom villa with private pool, terrace, air-conditioning and TV/DVD, plus two dives at Speyside, two at Sister Rocks, a reef dive at Mount Irvine and two Atlantic reef drift dives. The price is from US $1675 per person sharing (excluding flights and transfers). You can also opt for a Big Three package with Wild Turtle - that means sharks, rays and turtles.
www.thepalmstobago.com
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The Sand Dollar Condominium Resort, based on the Bari Reef in Bonaire, is offering week-long packages for US $695 per person, based on six people in a three-bedroom apartment. The price includes seven nights' accommodation with breakfast, six boat dives and unlimited shore-diving, and use of a rental vehicle throughout. Flights are extra. Elsewhere in Bonaire, the Golden Reef Inn has a similar high-season offer until 30 April next year. Again you get seven nights' accommodation with breakfast, six boat dives and unlimited shore-diving with Wannadive Divers and a four-door pick-up, plus transfers, but for the price of $595 per person if there are 10 or more in your group, and $645 per head for smaller groups, based on double occupancy. For bigger groups, the resort says it can arrange reduced air fares.
www.divesanddollar.com, www.goldenreefinn.com
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Eco Divers is offering Instructor Development Courses on demand in North Sulawesi, following the appointment of Steve & Janet Prior (below) to manage the dive centre at Tasik Ria Resort, Manado. The couple have been involved in the diving industry for more than 18 years, with Steve founding Chelmsford-based Adventures in Diving and managing Emperor Divers in Hurghada.
www.eco-divers.com
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"Whale shark mania" is how the Werner Lau Diving Centre on Vilamendhoo, in the Maldives' south-east Ari Atoll, describes the season between July and November, as there is always a chance of spotting these gentle giants around the island. It further claims that your chances of getting to dive or snorkel with either manta rays or whale sharks at favoured sites around the island is almost 100%!
www.wernerlau.net
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