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 All the holiday news...
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The Coiba Archipelago Expedition heads for the unexplored Isla Coiba off Panama for three weeks from 5 April 2005, led by famed explorer Colonel John Blashford-Snell - and you can join in. The jungle island had been a penal colony since 1918 but the convicts were recently moved to the mainland. Coiba and 38 smaller uninhabited islands are being developed as Coiba National Park, containing the second largest coral reef in the central-eastern Pacific and a habitat for a wide range of fish, dolphins, humpback and sperm whales year-round. A team of 12 divers, including archaeologists, geologists, surveyors, botanists and marine biologists is sought, though you don't need to have such a skill. The cost? £2950.
Scientific Exploration Society, 01747 854898, www.ses-explore.org
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Visit Dahab on the Sinai's Red Sea coast and learn to dive. A PADI Open Water course costs £315 to DIVER readers, and that includes hotel accommodation. Then cross the Gulf of Aqaba to Jordan for a visit to the city of Petra and four days of wadi-bashing in 4x4s for £299 extra.
On The Go Tours, www.onthegotours.com
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Oonasdivers celebrates 20 years of operations with a glossy new diving-holiday brochure featuring old favourites such as the liveaboard mv Coral Queen in the Red Sea, and an old Red Sea operator since relocated to Thailand with a new boat, mv Colona VI. Other new vessels in the Red Sea include mv Sea Flower and, for those not so sure about life on the ocean waves, there are "eco-villages" in the south and Oonas Dive Club in Na'ama Bay. Destinations Malta, South Africa and Mozambique also feature in the brochure.
Oonasdivers, www.oonasdivers.com
Beginning on 3 December through to the beginning of February, divers can experience art in an unusual setting. The work of Dutch artist Fred Ros will be sunk in the sea around the Caribbean island of Bonaire and, as divers approach the site of the underwater museum, they will be met by a scuba-equipped cashier ready to punch their admission tickets. Guests will then swim through the museum area, waterproof catalogue in hand. Located off Bogos Beach at the Eden Beach resort, visiting hours will be afternoons and evenings and the entrance fee will be US $5.
Fred Ros, www.40feetunderwater.com
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Aficionados of the DiveQuest brochure will already know that next year's edition is now published. Almost a coffee-table book rather than a humble brochure, this mighty annual event contains 190 pages, with not only holidays outlined in detail complete with line drawings of marine life, but a luscious colour gallery of underwater photographs to get you drooling.
DiveQuest 01254 826322
Jack Ingle is again planning what he says is some of the best diving on the south coast of the UK for next season. He is organising three-day trips departing from Littlehampton aboard technical-diving boats Voyager and Defiant, and intends to visit wrecks such as the Moldavia, the P&O liner sunk in 1918; the Mexico, a wreck often smothered in fish; the British Commerce, sunk before 1914; and the Duke, a cargo vessel from the Victorian age. All lie in less than 50m. The fee of £310 includes B&B, lunch, nitrox, deco gases and support divers.
Jack Ingle, email: jack@jackingle.co.uk
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The Cayman Islands might have been subjected to some inclement weather recently but the dive centres on Little Cayman and Cayman Brac were largely unaffected and those on Grand Cayman have been busy tidying up and rebuilding after Hurricane Ivan. The tourist board says that an extensive marine survey of its dive sites, including famous attractions such as Stingray City (above), shows that minimal damage was sustained. Most dive lodges and hotels are expected to reopen this month, and dive tourism will, it is hoped, make a speedy recovery. BA offers direct flights from Heathrow four days a week.
Cayman Islands Department of Tourism 020 7491 7771, www.caymanislands.co.uk
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