As the internet helps to open our eyes to different destinations our ideals of the perfect holiday are equally becoming more extravagant and exotic. Adventure sports holidays are becoming more common; showing up more and more in the press, scuba diving holidays are especially being shown more interest than ever before. The market is prepared for this and affordable diving holidays are becoming more accessible through online travel portals such as Active Diving and suchlike. Google maps and social networks are creating guides to every dive site on the earth evermore expanding the possibilities achievable during a weeks holiday. Planning these holidays when aiming for far flung places can sometimes becoming exhausting in themselves, especially to destinations which are relatively undeveloped. Small but knowledgeable tour operators are becoming the leaders in this area, helping those who seek out the more wild adventures and richer experiences through their well connected ground liaisons and experience of the particular destinations.
Online tour operators offer packages and opportunity to allow someone else to deal with the minute details so that you can get on with your diving holiday amongst family and friends. Travelling might be fun for some but for many, it is a passion too. People love to travel to various diving destinations and spend months planning for their dream diving holiday. Diving holidays are for divers the best part of the year where one can plan out a long break from the usual hectic schedule and make a visit to a new exciting world.
Diving holidays can be done on a budget or equally luxurious; some tour operators offer special deals for certain destinations or promote discounted holidays through their online newsletters. Famous destinations such as The Red Sea’s Thistlegorm and The Blue Hole are popular all year around however airlines often offer cheaper flights if purchased in advance so it may be worth looking into booking your flights as soon as possible if you want to save some money and avoid the crowds across the dive sites it would be worth asking a diving tour operator about low season in your chosen destination. Equally travelling out of season for some of the diving holiday destinations will allow you to book cheaper accommodation and thus you can spend more on your actual diving excursions.
The divers interested in the more popular destinations for diving holidays can get a rough estimate of the total travel package by giving their requirements to an online tour operator. Online tour operators can plan a diving holiday for the diver’s needs and needs and budget. Diving holiday packages are frequently updated on a regular note where various affordable packages and deals are available for the most popular destination.
Most online reviews are generated by recent divers and travellers so that unbiased recommendations and information can be provided to the readers. Travel blogs are also popular online offered in order to encourage divers to visit the destination and enjoy their diving holidays with their loved ones.
Booking the holiday is the easy bit, choosing the destination initially however can be daunting – so much choice!! I usually try to decide what I want to get out of the diving holiday and then take it from there. There's plenty of room for spontaneous exploring when you're under the surface. You'll find new, colourful species of fish, coral and dozens other interesting things to attract your attention. The excitement of exploring the unexpected is a large part of the fun. But the only way to do that safely and intelligently is to plan your dive well in advance. Planning your diving holiday requires taking a number of items into account. When you pick the diving holiday location, you’ll need to consider transportation time and costs, legal restrictions and so forth. Diving a lake 10 minutes from home obviously requires an entirely different set of criteria than flying thousands of miles, then taking a boat out in the Red Sea.
In order to ensure the best conditions from your diving holidays throughout the year it is important to check out the expected weather conditions for the time of year, in Dahab generally the conditions stay the same but I would still recommend checking the forecast.. If you plan to recover underwater items you will need to investigate the laws regarding treasure hunting and export. You'll need to research local support for tank refill, equipment repair and so forth.
Being fit and a good swimmer are not prerequisites to learning scuba diving, but both help, according to Sophie Rennie, a BSAC national instructor who holds a Masters degree in exercise physiology. “A day diving can be tiring so you need some cardiovascular fitness,” she said. “Also the equipment can be heavy.”
I recommend bicep and triceps curls, with elbows tucked into the sides of your ribcage, lift a barbell or two dumb-bells slowly towards the chest. Do not bring the weights right up to the chest between repetitions as this gives the muscles a rest. Do 12-15 repetitions, building up to three sets, and increase the weight as you become stronger. Following with regular sit ups to strengthen your stomach muscles in preparation for the diving holiday of a lifetime.
Once your booked up and raring to go its worth preparing physically for the diving to come, Many of the 400 UK schools tailor courses to suit the busy lives of their customers equally offering training before departure so that once you arrive in your diving holiday destination your can thoroughly enjoy the diving available. Intensive courses can be held over five days but in most clubs lessons are held one night a week for about six weeks, after which there is an open-water session. Provided he or she qualifies, the ocean diver can then practise the sport to a depth of 20 metres almost anywhere in the world.
To find out more about diving holidays across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit Active Diving and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (03/08/08)
That’s all for now on Booking Diving Holidays
Showing posts with label Diving Holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diving Holidays. Show all posts
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Diving sharm – The Wrecks
Diving sharm is a must for anyone who is serious about exploring the underwater world, wreck diving especially is the place whereby the world above the water amalgamates perfectly with the aquatic world to create an awe-inspiring locality of marine life, colours and seemingly new worlds. Diving sharm is, in my opinion the pinnacle of where our everyday world blends with the depths of the ocean.
Wreck diving in the red sea, especially when Diving sharm opens your eyes to feasts amongst the Sinai Peninsula whereby the amount of wrecks present for divers to investigate is endless. Diving sharm offers perhaps the two most famous sunken shipwrecks in the world, the Thislegorm and the Dunraven. Known for the thrill they create when diving as well as the pristine condition and almost untouched state in which the red sea has preserved these vessels.
Diving sharm to dive the Thislegorm is well worth it, the ship lays at anchor awaiting further orders and directions from its previous commander, Great Britain. Once a supply vessel, she was laden heavily with an array of military equipment en route to North Africa to replenish British troops with ammunition and vehicles. Sunken by an attack from a German bomber in the late evening of 6th October 1941, the bombs took out the number four hold, ripping the stern apart. Resulting in the sunken treasure which holds some of the most wonderful aquatic life visible when Diving sharm.
Diving sharm is an experience which every diver should explore; the Thislegorm is integral to the overall experience. 126m long with a beam of 17.5m, once with the capability of carrying 4898 tons. She lies on a sandy plain at 30m, with parts of her bridge coming to just 17m. Safety is imperative when diving this piece of history, the currents are strong and the tidal directions can vary greatly, ascent and descents on rope secured by the wreck are obligatory.
Diving sharm for the wreck itself is undisputedly the number one dive site in the world featuring a vast array of military hardware ranging from anti aircraft and bren guns, airplane wings, ammunitions and shells, railway carriages and tenders, Wellington boots, trucks and motorcycles.
Diving sharm for the Thislegorm is awe-inspiring in itself, however additionally the Dunraven offers something slightly different. She was a steam and sail powered vessel en route from Bombay to Newcastle transporting spices and timber when she met with the horse shoe reef at Sha'ab Mahmud. The ship hit the reef after an allegedly drunken dispute involving the Captain, his wife, and his First mate, and caught on fire. The shipwreck has been underwater for more than 130 years; its contents were stripped of by a team of archaeologists in the 80s. Now it resembles a large cave. Inside divers can find schools of yellow goat fish and Giant morays. Due to its long time underwater the hull that is on the top is encrusted with corals and full of marine life, such as schools of bat fish, nudibranchs, pipe fish and the very rare ghost pipe fish.
Diving sharm for its wrecks induces a haze of adrenaline induced speechlessness which is incomparable to any other diving experience, a must for the premier position on any divers must see list.
Author: Emma Parker (11/08/08)
To find out more about Diving sharm and other areas across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.ActiveDiving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (03/08/08)
That’s all for now on Diving sharm
Wreck diving in the red sea, especially when Diving sharm opens your eyes to feasts amongst the Sinai Peninsula whereby the amount of wrecks present for divers to investigate is endless. Diving sharm offers perhaps the two most famous sunken shipwrecks in the world, the Thislegorm and the Dunraven. Known for the thrill they create when diving as well as the pristine condition and almost untouched state in which the red sea has preserved these vessels.
Diving sharm to dive the Thislegorm is well worth it, the ship lays at anchor awaiting further orders and directions from its previous commander, Great Britain. Once a supply vessel, she was laden heavily with an array of military equipment en route to North Africa to replenish British troops with ammunition and vehicles. Sunken by an attack from a German bomber in the late evening of 6th October 1941, the bombs took out the number four hold, ripping the stern apart. Resulting in the sunken treasure which holds some of the most wonderful aquatic life visible when Diving sharm.
Diving sharm is an experience which every diver should explore; the Thislegorm is integral to the overall experience. 126m long with a beam of 17.5m, once with the capability of carrying 4898 tons. She lies on a sandy plain at 30m, with parts of her bridge coming to just 17m. Safety is imperative when diving this piece of history, the currents are strong and the tidal directions can vary greatly, ascent and descents on rope secured by the wreck are obligatory.
Diving sharm for the wreck itself is undisputedly the number one dive site in the world featuring a vast array of military hardware ranging from anti aircraft and bren guns, airplane wings, ammunitions and shells, railway carriages and tenders, Wellington boots, trucks and motorcycles.
Diving sharm for the Thislegorm is awe-inspiring in itself, however additionally the Dunraven offers something slightly different. She was a steam and sail powered vessel en route from Bombay to Newcastle transporting spices and timber when she met with the horse shoe reef at Sha'ab Mahmud. The ship hit the reef after an allegedly drunken dispute involving the Captain, his wife, and his First mate, and caught on fire. The shipwreck has been underwater for more than 130 years; its contents were stripped of by a team of archaeologists in the 80s. Now it resembles a large cave. Inside divers can find schools of yellow goat fish and Giant morays. Due to its long time underwater the hull that is on the top is encrusted with corals and full of marine life, such as schools of bat fish, nudibranchs, pipe fish and the very rare ghost pipe fish.
Diving sharm for its wrecks induces a haze of adrenaline induced speechlessness which is incomparable to any other diving experience, a must for the premier position on any divers must see list.
Author: Emma Parker (11/08/08)
To find out more about Diving sharm and other areas across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.ActiveDiving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (03/08/08)
That’s all for now on Diving sharm
PADI Open Water Course in Dahab
Dahab is a small town on the southeast coast of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. Formerly a Bedouin fishing village, northeast of Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab is still considered to be one of the Sinai's most treasured diving destinations. The nearest international airport is located at Sharm el-Sheikh. To scuba dive in Dahab is many a divers dream however to learn to scuba dive by completing your PADI Open Water course there is a chance of a lifetime – offering you the opportunity to learn in one of the most richest diving areas in the red sea. You can dive in Dahab without certification as part of an introduction to scuba diving called a Discover Scuba Diving course however it is highly recommended, the 20 hour PADI Open Water course (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) is completed. The PADI Open Water course teaches the basics of scuba diving across a few days. The PADI Open Water course will instruct students on how to prepare gear, to breathe properly, descend and ascend safely and avoid common dangers. They will also teach you how to clear your mask, use your regulator properly, life-saving tips and much more. Once you have completed the PADI Open Water Course you are an entry-level scuba diver allowing you to dive in an environment under your instructor’s supervision and guidance.
Embarking upon the PADI Open Water Diver Course can lead to a lifetime of great adventures on vacation or around the corner from home. To take part in the PADI Open Water Course you will need to be in good health with no major health problems as well as being comfortable in the water and have basic swimming skills (nothing extreme – 200 meter swim at you leisure and a 10 minute float on the surface (any way up)). Mentally you need a mature attitude and the self-discipline to follow the guide-lines and principles required for safe diving.
The minimum ages for scuba certification is 10 for the Junior Open Water (adult supervised diving), and 15 for the Open Water Diver. These certifications show that you successfully completed the course according to the training standards and requirements established by PADI. Dive centres require a person to be a certified diver or in training before they will rent or fill scuba tanks for you, or let you participate in scuba activities. There is a “Discover Scuba Diving” (DSD) program which allows you to dive one day under the direct supervision of an instructor for the experience without the certification but the diving is extremely limited.
The PADI Open Water course consists of 3 segments: Confined water dives, Knowledge development and Open water dives. Each plays an important role in learning to dive. When you're certified as an Open Water diver you'll be able to dive to 60 feet / 18 meters (40 feet / 12 meters for 10-12 year olds) whenever you're accompanied by a fellow of the same or higher certification level (the other diver must be 18 or older for Junior Open Water divers). You don't have to be accompanied by a Divemaster or Instructor, but can be if you'd prefer. You're also eligible to do the Advanced PADI Open Water Course and many specialties.
The PADI Open Water course is usually taught over 3 to 5 days in dive vacation destinations such as Lanzarote or the red sea (Active Diving: http://www.activediving.co.uk) , but can also be taught over weeks or even months if taken as a part-time course. The course content is the same but the daily workload is much greater, although still quite manageable, on the shorter course.
The fun begins in the confined water dives, during which you will apply dive principles, and learn and practice dive procedures and skills. You’ll do this either in a swimming pool or in body of water with pool like conditions under your instructor’s guidance and supervision. There are 5 confined water dives that correspond with 5 knowledge development sections.
Knowledge development establishes the principles and basic information that all divers need to have fun diving safely. It’s divided into 5 bite sized segments that you’ll complete primarily on your own time or in the classroom alone by using the PADI Open Water course manual and video to guide you. For each segment your instructor reviews and elaborates on the material, applying what you’re learning to your specific needs and the local dive environment. A short quiz at the end of each section in the manual confirms that you have picked up the information that you need from that section.
The Open Water certification is a full entry level certification you earn by successfully completing the entire PADI Open Water course. The certification qualifies you to:
• Dive independently (with a certified diving buddy) while applying the knowledge and skills that you learned in this course, within the limits of your dive training and experience......
• Get air fills, rent scuba equipment and other service for scuba diving.
• Plan, conduct and log open water no stop (no decompression) dives when equipped properly and accompanied by a buddy in conditions which you have training and or experience.
• Continue your diver training with a specialty dive in the PADI Advanced Open Water program, and or in PADI specialty course.
The word Dahab is Arabic for gold and is possibly a reference to the geographic locality; gold washed down from the desert mountains may have accumulated on the alluvial flood plain where the town was built. The name may also be a reference to the colour of the sands to the south of the town itself. Some locals attribute the name to the colour of the sky, just after sunset. Either way the destination of Dahab is a gem within Egypt and should definitely be on a divers must see list. Many of the reefs in Dahab are within walking distance from your accommodation, the majority of the higher class hotels offering house reefs to use for unlimited diving.
To find out more about diving holidays across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.ActiveDiving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (08/08/08)
That’s all for now on the PADI Open Water course
Embarking upon the PADI Open Water Diver Course can lead to a lifetime of great adventures on vacation or around the corner from home. To take part in the PADI Open Water Course you will need to be in good health with no major health problems as well as being comfortable in the water and have basic swimming skills (nothing extreme – 200 meter swim at you leisure and a 10 minute float on the surface (any way up)). Mentally you need a mature attitude and the self-discipline to follow the guide-lines and principles required for safe diving.
The minimum ages for scuba certification is 10 for the Junior Open Water (adult supervised diving), and 15 for the Open Water Diver. These certifications show that you successfully completed the course according to the training standards and requirements established by PADI. Dive centres require a person to be a certified diver or in training before they will rent or fill scuba tanks for you, or let you participate in scuba activities. There is a “Discover Scuba Diving” (DSD) program which allows you to dive one day under the direct supervision of an instructor for the experience without the certification but the diving is extremely limited.
The PADI Open Water course consists of 3 segments: Confined water dives, Knowledge development and Open water dives. Each plays an important role in learning to dive. When you're certified as an Open Water diver you'll be able to dive to 60 feet / 18 meters (40 feet / 12 meters for 10-12 year olds) whenever you're accompanied by a fellow of the same or higher certification level (the other diver must be 18 or older for Junior Open Water divers). You don't have to be accompanied by a Divemaster or Instructor, but can be if you'd prefer. You're also eligible to do the Advanced PADI Open Water Course and many specialties.
The PADI Open Water course is usually taught over 3 to 5 days in dive vacation destinations such as Lanzarote or the red sea (Active Diving: http://www.activediving.co.uk) , but can also be taught over weeks or even months if taken as a part-time course. The course content is the same but the daily workload is much greater, although still quite manageable, on the shorter course.
The fun begins in the confined water dives, during which you will apply dive principles, and learn and practice dive procedures and skills. You’ll do this either in a swimming pool or in body of water with pool like conditions under your instructor’s guidance and supervision. There are 5 confined water dives that correspond with 5 knowledge development sections.
Knowledge development establishes the principles and basic information that all divers need to have fun diving safely. It’s divided into 5 bite sized segments that you’ll complete primarily on your own time or in the classroom alone by using the PADI Open Water course manual and video to guide you. For each segment your instructor reviews and elaborates on the material, applying what you’re learning to your specific needs and the local dive environment. A short quiz at the end of each section in the manual confirms that you have picked up the information that you need from that section.
The Open Water certification is a full entry level certification you earn by successfully completing the entire PADI Open Water course. The certification qualifies you to:
• Dive independently (with a certified diving buddy) while applying the knowledge and skills that you learned in this course, within the limits of your dive training and experience......
• Get air fills, rent scuba equipment and other service for scuba diving.
• Plan, conduct and log open water no stop (no decompression) dives when equipped properly and accompanied by a buddy in conditions which you have training and or experience.
• Continue your diver training with a specialty dive in the PADI Advanced Open Water program, and or in PADI specialty course.
The word Dahab is Arabic for gold and is possibly a reference to the geographic locality; gold washed down from the desert mountains may have accumulated on the alluvial flood plain where the town was built. The name may also be a reference to the colour of the sands to the south of the town itself. Some locals attribute the name to the colour of the sky, just after sunset. Either way the destination of Dahab is a gem within Egypt and should definitely be on a divers must see list. Many of the reefs in Dahab are within walking distance from your accommodation, the majority of the higher class hotels offering house reefs to use for unlimited diving.
To find out more about diving holidays across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.ActiveDiving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (08/08/08)
That’s all for now on the PADI Open Water course
PADI Open Water Course
The first thing that often comes to mind at the thought of learning to scuba dive is images of James Bond wearing fins and attacking the villain, or even Jacques Cousteau investigating the newfound creatures surrounding coral reefs world wide.
Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) developed rapidly after the war and sport diving arose in tandem. Tanks, regulators and other gear formed the nucleus of an activity that is now practiced anywhere there is more than two feet of water. From the 1960s to the present, buoyancy compensators, wetsuits and dry suits, along with a host of supplemental gear has been developed to allow almost anyone to take part in scuba diving.
Certification isn't required, however it is highly recommended, the 20 hour PADI Open Water course (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) can teach the basics of scuba diving across a few day. The PADI Open Water course will instruct students on how to prepare gear, to breathe properly, descend and ascend safely and avoid common dangers. They will also teach you how to clear your mask, use your regulator properly, life-saving tips and much more. Once you have completed the PADI Open Water Course you are an entry-level scuba diver allowing you to dive in an environment under your instructor’s supervision and guidance.
Embarking upon the PADI Open Water Diver Course can lead to a lifetime of great adventures on vacation or around the corner from home. To take part in the PADI Open Water Course you will need to be in good health with no major health problems as well as being comfortable in the water and have basic swimming skills (nothing extreme – 200 meter swim at you leisure and a 10 minute float on the surface (any way up)). Mentally you need a mature attitude and the self-discipline to follow the guide-lines and principles required for safe diving.
The minimum ages for scuba certification is 10 for the Junior Open Water (adult supervised diving), and 15 for the Open Water Diver. These certifications show that you successfully completed the course according to the training standards and requirements established by PADI. Dive centres require a person to be a certified diver or in training before they will rent or fill scuba tanks for you, or let you participate in scuba activities. There is a “Discover Scuba Diving” (DSD) program which allows you to dive one day under the direct supervision of an instructor for the experience without the certification but the diving is extremely limited.
The PADI Open Water course consists of 3 segments: Confined water dives, Knowledge development and Open water dives. Each plays an important role in learning to dive. When you're certified as an Open Water diver you'll be able to dive to 60 feet / 18 meters (40 feet / 12 meters for 10-12 year olds) whenever you're accompanied by a fellow of the same or higher certification level (the other diver must be 18 or older for Junior Open Water divers). You don't have to be accompanied by a Divemaster or Instructor, but can be if you'd prefer. You're also eligible to do the Advanced PADI Open Water Course and many specialties.
The PADI Open Water course is usually taught over 3 to 5 days in dive vacation destinations such as Lanzarote or the red sea (Active Diving: http://www.activediving.co.uk) , but can also be taught over weeks or even months if taken as a part-time course. The course content is the same but the daily workload is much greater, although still quite manageable, on the shorter course.
The fun begins in the confined water dives, during which you will apply dive principles, and learn and practice dive procedures and skills. You’ll do this either in a swimming pool or in body of water with pool like conditions under your instructor’s guidance and supervision. There are 5 confined water dives that correspond with 5 knowledge development sections.
Knowledge development establishes the principles and basic information that all divers need to have fun diving safely. It’s divided into 5 bite sized segments that you’ll complete primarily on your own time or in the classroom alone by using the PADI Open Water course manual and video to guide you. For each segment your instructor reviews and elaborates on the material, applying what you’re learning to your specific needs and the local dive environment. A short quiz at the end of each section in the manual confirms that you have picked up the information that you need from that section.
At the end of the knowledge development section there is a 50 question examination (in leisurely conditions) which covers all of the 5 knowledge review sections and your instructor will go through this with you for “reinforced” learning.
You’ll make 4 Open Water Dives. Prior to completing your PADI Open Water course, you’ll meet specific learning objectives that you’ll read about in the Open Water Divers manual.
The instructors and students you meet will often have useful suggestions and fascinating stories to tell about the exciting places they've dived. Australia's Barrier Reef, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Caymans, Thailand and dozens more sites around the globe have all been explored.
The Open Water certification is a full entry level certification you earn by successfully completing the entire PADI Open Water course. The certification qualifies you to:
• Dive independently (with a certified diving buddy) while applying the knowledge and skills that you learned in this course, within the limits of your dive training and experience......
• Get air fills, rent scuba equipment and other service for scuba diving.
• Plan, conduct and log open water no stop (no decompression) dives when equipped properly and accompanied by a buddy in conditions which you have training and or experience.
• Continue your diver training with a specialty dive in the PADI Advanced Open Water program, and or in PADI specialty course.
To find out more about diving holidays across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.ActiveDiving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (08/08/08)
That’s all for now on the PADI Open Water course
Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) developed rapidly after the war and sport diving arose in tandem. Tanks, regulators and other gear formed the nucleus of an activity that is now practiced anywhere there is more than two feet of water. From the 1960s to the present, buoyancy compensators, wetsuits and dry suits, along with a host of supplemental gear has been developed to allow almost anyone to take part in scuba diving.
Certification isn't required, however it is highly recommended, the 20 hour PADI Open Water course (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) can teach the basics of scuba diving across a few day. The PADI Open Water course will instruct students on how to prepare gear, to breathe properly, descend and ascend safely and avoid common dangers. They will also teach you how to clear your mask, use your regulator properly, life-saving tips and much more. Once you have completed the PADI Open Water Course you are an entry-level scuba diver allowing you to dive in an environment under your instructor’s supervision and guidance.
Embarking upon the PADI Open Water Diver Course can lead to a lifetime of great adventures on vacation or around the corner from home. To take part in the PADI Open Water Course you will need to be in good health with no major health problems as well as being comfortable in the water and have basic swimming skills (nothing extreme – 200 meter swim at you leisure and a 10 minute float on the surface (any way up)). Mentally you need a mature attitude and the self-discipline to follow the guide-lines and principles required for safe diving.
The minimum ages for scuba certification is 10 for the Junior Open Water (adult supervised diving), and 15 for the Open Water Diver. These certifications show that you successfully completed the course according to the training standards and requirements established by PADI. Dive centres require a person to be a certified diver or in training before they will rent or fill scuba tanks for you, or let you participate in scuba activities. There is a “Discover Scuba Diving” (DSD) program which allows you to dive one day under the direct supervision of an instructor for the experience without the certification but the diving is extremely limited.
The PADI Open Water course consists of 3 segments: Confined water dives, Knowledge development and Open water dives. Each plays an important role in learning to dive. When you're certified as an Open Water diver you'll be able to dive to 60 feet / 18 meters (40 feet / 12 meters for 10-12 year olds) whenever you're accompanied by a fellow of the same or higher certification level (the other diver must be 18 or older for Junior Open Water divers). You don't have to be accompanied by a Divemaster or Instructor, but can be if you'd prefer. You're also eligible to do the Advanced PADI Open Water Course and many specialties.
The PADI Open Water course is usually taught over 3 to 5 days in dive vacation destinations such as Lanzarote or the red sea (Active Diving: http://www.activediving.co.uk) , but can also be taught over weeks or even months if taken as a part-time course. The course content is the same but the daily workload is much greater, although still quite manageable, on the shorter course.
The fun begins in the confined water dives, during which you will apply dive principles, and learn and practice dive procedures and skills. You’ll do this either in a swimming pool or in body of water with pool like conditions under your instructor’s guidance and supervision. There are 5 confined water dives that correspond with 5 knowledge development sections.
Knowledge development establishes the principles and basic information that all divers need to have fun diving safely. It’s divided into 5 bite sized segments that you’ll complete primarily on your own time or in the classroom alone by using the PADI Open Water course manual and video to guide you. For each segment your instructor reviews and elaborates on the material, applying what you’re learning to your specific needs and the local dive environment. A short quiz at the end of each section in the manual confirms that you have picked up the information that you need from that section.
At the end of the knowledge development section there is a 50 question examination (in leisurely conditions) which covers all of the 5 knowledge review sections and your instructor will go through this with you for “reinforced” learning.
You’ll make 4 Open Water Dives. Prior to completing your PADI Open Water course, you’ll meet specific learning objectives that you’ll read about in the Open Water Divers manual.
The instructors and students you meet will often have useful suggestions and fascinating stories to tell about the exciting places they've dived. Australia's Barrier Reef, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Caymans, Thailand and dozens more sites around the globe have all been explored.
The Open Water certification is a full entry level certification you earn by successfully completing the entire PADI Open Water course. The certification qualifies you to:
• Dive independently (with a certified diving buddy) while applying the knowledge and skills that you learned in this course, within the limits of your dive training and experience......
• Get air fills, rent scuba equipment and other service for scuba diving.
• Plan, conduct and log open water no stop (no decompression) dives when equipped properly and accompanied by a buddy in conditions which you have training and or experience.
• Continue your diver training with a specialty dive in the PADI Advanced Open Water program, and or in PADI specialty course.
To find out more about diving holidays across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.ActiveDiving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (08/08/08)
That’s all for now on the PADI Open Water course
Scuba diving in the red sea
Think of scuba diving and images of James Bond wearing fins and sneaking up on the villain come to mind. Or, maybe your first thought is of Jacques Cousteau investigating the creatures of a coral reef. Both scenarios have entered popular culture for good reason - both reflect the adventure and wonder that characterize scuba diving. Over the last ten years awareness in scuba diving has grown in leaps and bounds, red sea diving is becoming the Mecca for many European travellers.
Though many regard Jules Verne's description of underwater diving as pure science fiction, equipment-assisted diving had been around for more than 100 years earlier. But it wasn't until the WWII years when Emile Gagnan, with some help from a then-obscure French navel lieutenant - Jacques Cousteau - invented the first scuba gear, the Aqualung.
To anyone standing on its shore and gazing out across its heavenly waters, the Red Sea may seem to be a mislabelling. Its blueness is eternal and anything less red cannot be fantasized. The Red Sea, where the desert meets the ocean, is truly one of the planet’s most exotic and fascinating natural seascape environments. The Red Sea is located between Asia and Africa. At its most northerly point forms the Sinai Peninsula and stretches over 1000 miles south to join the Indian Ocean, between Ethiopia and Yemen. In the north and west are desert plains, while in the south a mountainous region (2642 meters high), which is part of the mountain range stretching from deep in Saudi Arabia, across the Sinai and then into Nubia of the African continent. Red sea diving holds an oasis of living creatures, reefs, and coral formation. Its use as a highway between East and West has attracted man since the beginning of time.
Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) developed rapidly after the war and sport diving arose in tandem. From the 1960s to the present, buoyancy compensators, wetsuits and dry suits, along with a host of supplemental gear was born or advanced. Red sea diving requires a lot more than just selecting good equipment, basic physiology and physics, safety practices, venomous sea creatures are just a few of the essential topics of study. Anyone who 'just wants to get down there' won't be stopped by anyone... but the deep. The sea will claim them quickly enough.
Young children can be taught the basics, using SASY (Supplied Air Snorkelling for Youth) and other child-oriented gear. Teens to the mature can participate in diving and see all that the fascinating coral reefs and ocean depths have to show whilst red sea diving. Even elderly novices, with proper precautions, can safely enjoy shallow dives and see sights found nowhere else on Earth.
Certification isn't required, but is highly recommended. A good scuba diving class can teach anyone willing to learn in a few hours how to prepare gear, to breath properly, descend and ascend safely and avoid common dangers. You'll learn to clear your mask, use your regulator properly, life-saving tips and much more. http://www.activediving.co.uk offer red sea diving holidays where people of all ages and experience the wonders of the sea.
A 20-hour course from a PADI red sea dive club (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) whom are a recognized school can teach you skills useful your entire life. The cost is a few hundred pounds, but certification - once gained - is good for life. From there you can discover dive sites all over the world, some of the most diverse being located in south Africa and Lanzarote.
As a bonus, you'll learn to select dive gear. A mask, regulator, buoyancy compensator (BC), dive watch or computer, air supply (snorkel or tank) and fins are essential. But you'll also learn to judge wetsuits and dry suits, knives or guns, and you can even pick up a lot of tips about underwater photography. Instructors are always experienced divers, from experience with travelling with Active Diving I have found that always use the more experienced and established dive centres to ensure their customers have local guides with thorough knowledge of the area.
Because of movement of the in the Earth’s surface about 30 million years ago red sea diving is now possible. In that time, the Arab peninsula started to part from Africa along a thin break line which was filled by the ocean’s water. However, "Mother Nature" did not stop there. Twenty million years ago another geological movement started. The Arab peninsula which parted from Africa, started to move to the north. That movement struck resistance in Turkey and swung to the east, and another break line was formed. This one stretching all the way from the northern part of Israel, through the Jordan valley to the Dead Sea, and finally through the Gulf of Eilat to Ras Mohamad at the southern point of the Sinai. The young age of the Gulf of Eilat is what makes it so deep, 100 meters in Dahab and 1800 meters north of the Straits of Tiran. On the other hand, the old Gulf of Suez is relatively shallow, with a 85 meters maximum depth. The Red Sea is still widening at about one-half inch per year, the rift is the youngest region of continental breakup on the planet, allowing geologists to learn about processes that occurred in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans hundreds of millions of years earlier.
Water temperatures for Red Sea diving remain unusually constant year round, averaging 22C in the summer. Low pressure systems develop in the Sahara Desert and draw hot dry east winds from Asia which cause the temperature to rise frequently along with sand storms. At the same time, lows develop over the Red Sea, bringing moist cold air from the south and creating clouds, haze, and more often rain. The northern land mass is the primary influence over temperature in the gulf, but this decreases to the south the closer you get to open sea. The open sea’s cooling effect creates an interesting temperature pattern: maximum summer temperatures are lower in the south while minimum temperatures are higher in the north with the opposite occurring during the winter. In any case, the coldest moth of the year is January and the warmest months are July and August. Red Sea diving is notorious among seafarers for its high speed surface winds and aggressively short irregular motion. It may be calm on the inward shore, but journeys to exposed sites like The Brothers islands, a remote off-shore site east of El Quseir, can be perilous and boats have been seen literally to fall apart under the force of the journey.
Cargo vessels, oil tankers, fishing boats, and passenger liners all move their trade across this great waterway, but for many, the true enchantment of the Red Sea is hidden just below its surface. Red sea diving opens your eyes to over 1000 species of invertebrates and around 200 recorded coral types to be found. Moreover, the Red Sea boasts over a thousand species of fish, more species than any other proportional body of water. Not surprisingly, therefore, Red Sea diving is considered by many to offer the very best of the marine world. The Red Sea diving attracts photographers, marine scientists, and leisure seekers from all over the world, hoping to experience and explore the incalculable wonders of the colourful, abounding marine life and the Red Sea’s lavish coral reefs. In places, the exceptional living reef stretches way out to sea, forming a elaborate system of caves, lagoons, gardens, and plateaus. Some of these coral summits plunge dramatically thousands of feet to the ocean floor. Red Sea diving is not all a delight however, as it has its troubles which you will have to stay away from. There is minimal danger from marine animals in the Red Sea, and with a little common sense, even these dangers can be eliminated. Some of the marine animals are dangerous to touch, others dangerous to eat, and some are dangerous to come face to face with. There are fire corals and stinging hydroids which can be extremely painful if accidentally touched as well.
Snorkelling is a popular way to view the edge of the reef, especially for those with limited confidence in their swimming ability. Sharks, manta rays, turtles, and eels will take pieces of bread from your hand, and brilliantly coloured schools of fish team all around in bewildering colour. However, most divers will tell you that there is nothing to beat the thrill of experiencing the depth of the reef and the abounding marine life to be found Red Sea diving. The lure of the reef is such that many novice divers become totally "hooked" and cannot imagine why they have never joined in the fun before. Furthermore, when asked to compare their local diving conditions with those in the Red Sea, they find it a "paradise" with clear visibility, little wave action, and warm temperatures all year long.
Red sea diving relies on the water as does the rest of Egypt, Surrounding cities are totally dependent on it for household and industrial supplies, and tremendous desalination plants are in operation. These supply drinking water which has been purified to a high standard, as well as non-potable domestic water. Sea water is also used in large quantities by oil refineries and cement works situated along the coastline. The danger of pollution is always present in the Red Sea, particularly from oil spillage. A Royal Decree forbids the discharge of any pollutant substances, including oil, within 100 miles of the Saudi Arabian coastline.
Currently, the areas of the Eastern Desert and around the Red Sea have received a great deal of overdue attention. A joint expedition from the University of Delaware and Leiden University and Leiden University has been working at the ancient Red Sea port of Berinike. The past season the Delaware-Leiden team excavated in two areas, opened a total of seven trenches, and found four public buildings. One of the sites contained offering tables, an incense burner, a stela stand and an almost life-size bronze figure of a cloaked woman clasping a snake. Scraps of colourful textile from the Fourth and Fifth centuries A.D. have also been found. In addition, evidence of trade appears in the form of imported coconuts, pepper, and rice. So, while the edges of the Red Sea are being explored, the sea itself is being plunged in a survey of sunken wrecks. The Institute for Nautical Archaeology in Egypt, is continuing the underwater survey started last season, plotting the locations of shipwrecks along the Red Sea coast.
Red sea divers understand first hand that it cannot be compared to anywhere else in the world. Even the leisured gazer, speculating the inaccessible blue/red abnormality, can be said to have been given something to think about. The underwater amazement of the Red Sea remains a living tapestry of resounding corals and exotic fish, waiting for you to discover its secrets.
To find out more about diving holidays across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.ActiveDiving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (04/08/08)
That’s all for now on Red Sea Diving
Though many regard Jules Verne's description of underwater diving as pure science fiction, equipment-assisted diving had been around for more than 100 years earlier. But it wasn't until the WWII years when Emile Gagnan, with some help from a then-obscure French navel lieutenant - Jacques Cousteau - invented the first scuba gear, the Aqualung.
To anyone standing on its shore and gazing out across its heavenly waters, the Red Sea may seem to be a mislabelling. Its blueness is eternal and anything less red cannot be fantasized. The Red Sea, where the desert meets the ocean, is truly one of the planet’s most exotic and fascinating natural seascape environments. The Red Sea is located between Asia and Africa. At its most northerly point forms the Sinai Peninsula and stretches over 1000 miles south to join the Indian Ocean, between Ethiopia and Yemen. In the north and west are desert plains, while in the south a mountainous region (2642 meters high), which is part of the mountain range stretching from deep in Saudi Arabia, across the Sinai and then into Nubia of the African continent. Red sea diving holds an oasis of living creatures, reefs, and coral formation. Its use as a highway between East and West has attracted man since the beginning of time.
Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) developed rapidly after the war and sport diving arose in tandem. From the 1960s to the present, buoyancy compensators, wetsuits and dry suits, along with a host of supplemental gear was born or advanced. Red sea diving requires a lot more than just selecting good equipment, basic physiology and physics, safety practices, venomous sea creatures are just a few of the essential topics of study. Anyone who 'just wants to get down there' won't be stopped by anyone... but the deep. The sea will claim them quickly enough.
Young children can be taught the basics, using SASY (Supplied Air Snorkelling for Youth) and other child-oriented gear. Teens to the mature can participate in diving and see all that the fascinating coral reefs and ocean depths have to show whilst red sea diving. Even elderly novices, with proper precautions, can safely enjoy shallow dives and see sights found nowhere else on Earth.
Certification isn't required, but is highly recommended. A good scuba diving class can teach anyone willing to learn in a few hours how to prepare gear, to breath properly, descend and ascend safely and avoid common dangers. You'll learn to clear your mask, use your regulator properly, life-saving tips and much more. http://www.activediving.co.uk offer red sea diving holidays where people of all ages and experience the wonders of the sea.
A 20-hour course from a PADI red sea dive club (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) whom are a recognized school can teach you skills useful your entire life. The cost is a few hundred pounds, but certification - once gained - is good for life. From there you can discover dive sites all over the world, some of the most diverse being located in south Africa and Lanzarote.
As a bonus, you'll learn to select dive gear. A mask, regulator, buoyancy compensator (BC), dive watch or computer, air supply (snorkel or tank) and fins are essential. But you'll also learn to judge wetsuits and dry suits, knives or guns, and you can even pick up a lot of tips about underwater photography. Instructors are always experienced divers, from experience with travelling with Active Diving I have found that always use the more experienced and established dive centres to ensure their customers have local guides with thorough knowledge of the area.
Because of movement of the in the Earth’s surface about 30 million years ago red sea diving is now possible. In that time, the Arab peninsula started to part from Africa along a thin break line which was filled by the ocean’s water. However, "Mother Nature" did not stop there. Twenty million years ago another geological movement started. The Arab peninsula which parted from Africa, started to move to the north. That movement struck resistance in Turkey and swung to the east, and another break line was formed. This one stretching all the way from the northern part of Israel, through the Jordan valley to the Dead Sea, and finally through the Gulf of Eilat to Ras Mohamad at the southern point of the Sinai. The young age of the Gulf of Eilat is what makes it so deep, 100 meters in Dahab and 1800 meters north of the Straits of Tiran. On the other hand, the old Gulf of Suez is relatively shallow, with a 85 meters maximum depth. The Red Sea is still widening at about one-half inch per year, the rift is the youngest region of continental breakup on the planet, allowing geologists to learn about processes that occurred in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans hundreds of millions of years earlier.
Water temperatures for Red Sea diving remain unusually constant year round, averaging 22C in the summer. Low pressure systems develop in the Sahara Desert and draw hot dry east winds from Asia which cause the temperature to rise frequently along with sand storms. At the same time, lows develop over the Red Sea, bringing moist cold air from the south and creating clouds, haze, and more often rain. The northern land mass is the primary influence over temperature in the gulf, but this decreases to the south the closer you get to open sea. The open sea’s cooling effect creates an interesting temperature pattern: maximum summer temperatures are lower in the south while minimum temperatures are higher in the north with the opposite occurring during the winter. In any case, the coldest moth of the year is January and the warmest months are July and August. Red Sea diving is notorious among seafarers for its high speed surface winds and aggressively short irregular motion. It may be calm on the inward shore, but journeys to exposed sites like The Brothers islands, a remote off-shore site east of El Quseir, can be perilous and boats have been seen literally to fall apart under the force of the journey.
Cargo vessels, oil tankers, fishing boats, and passenger liners all move their trade across this great waterway, but for many, the true enchantment of the Red Sea is hidden just below its surface. Red sea diving opens your eyes to over 1000 species of invertebrates and around 200 recorded coral types to be found. Moreover, the Red Sea boasts over a thousand species of fish, more species than any other proportional body of water. Not surprisingly, therefore, Red Sea diving is considered by many to offer the very best of the marine world. The Red Sea diving attracts photographers, marine scientists, and leisure seekers from all over the world, hoping to experience and explore the incalculable wonders of the colourful, abounding marine life and the Red Sea’s lavish coral reefs. In places, the exceptional living reef stretches way out to sea, forming a elaborate system of caves, lagoons, gardens, and plateaus. Some of these coral summits plunge dramatically thousands of feet to the ocean floor. Red Sea diving is not all a delight however, as it has its troubles which you will have to stay away from. There is minimal danger from marine animals in the Red Sea, and with a little common sense, even these dangers can be eliminated. Some of the marine animals are dangerous to touch, others dangerous to eat, and some are dangerous to come face to face with. There are fire corals and stinging hydroids which can be extremely painful if accidentally touched as well.
Snorkelling is a popular way to view the edge of the reef, especially for those with limited confidence in their swimming ability. Sharks, manta rays, turtles, and eels will take pieces of bread from your hand, and brilliantly coloured schools of fish team all around in bewildering colour. However, most divers will tell you that there is nothing to beat the thrill of experiencing the depth of the reef and the abounding marine life to be found Red Sea diving. The lure of the reef is such that many novice divers become totally "hooked" and cannot imagine why they have never joined in the fun before. Furthermore, when asked to compare their local diving conditions with those in the Red Sea, they find it a "paradise" with clear visibility, little wave action, and warm temperatures all year long.
Red sea diving relies on the water as does the rest of Egypt, Surrounding cities are totally dependent on it for household and industrial supplies, and tremendous desalination plants are in operation. These supply drinking water which has been purified to a high standard, as well as non-potable domestic water. Sea water is also used in large quantities by oil refineries and cement works situated along the coastline. The danger of pollution is always present in the Red Sea, particularly from oil spillage. A Royal Decree forbids the discharge of any pollutant substances, including oil, within 100 miles of the Saudi Arabian coastline.
Currently, the areas of the Eastern Desert and around the Red Sea have received a great deal of overdue attention. A joint expedition from the University of Delaware and Leiden University and Leiden University has been working at the ancient Red Sea port of Berinike. The past season the Delaware-Leiden team excavated in two areas, opened a total of seven trenches, and found four public buildings. One of the sites contained offering tables, an incense burner, a stela stand and an almost life-size bronze figure of a cloaked woman clasping a snake. Scraps of colourful textile from the Fourth and Fifth centuries A.D. have also been found. In addition, evidence of trade appears in the form of imported coconuts, pepper, and rice. So, while the edges of the Red Sea are being explored, the sea itself is being plunged in a survey of sunken wrecks. The Institute for Nautical Archaeology in Egypt, is continuing the underwater survey started last season, plotting the locations of shipwrecks along the Red Sea coast.
Red sea divers understand first hand that it cannot be compared to anywhere else in the world. Even the leisured gazer, speculating the inaccessible blue/red abnormality, can be said to have been given something to think about. The underwater amazement of the Red Sea remains a living tapestry of resounding corals and exotic fish, waiting for you to discover its secrets.
To find out more about diving holidays across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.ActiveDiving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (04/08/08)
That’s all for now on Red Sea Diving
diving in sharm el sheikh
The location most commonly referred to when discussing any scuba diving destination has to be diving in sharm el sheikh. The red sea boasts some of the best diving in the world, the diving in sharm el sheikh offers a variety of dive sites from reefs and walls to wrecks. Situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula it marks where the red sea and the gulfs of Suez and Aqaba split in two. Diving is readily available everywhere, there are nearly fifty dive Centres in the region ensuring the opportunity cannot be missed.
Directly located on the eastern Red Sea coast, it is one of the best liked place for divers thanks to many diving sites accessible in a few minutes from the majority of accommodation. Liveaboards are common however unnecessary for the more popular dives in the area. The diving in sharm el sheikh is famous for its transparent and mild water, the abundance of colours and the presence of many different kinds of coral. Not to mention when diving in sharm el sheikh the abundance of marine life is astounding from sharks to dolphins and turtles.
Another massive attraction for those wanting to go diving in sharm el sheikh is the temperature of the water, its good all year round making diving and snorkelling possible constantly. In the depths when diving in sharm el sheikh it is very easy to find a number of wrecks. In these waters besides all the bentonic species it is very easy to meet big pelagic, tiny fishes, barracudas and sharks.
In Sharm el Sheikh, both diving and snorkelling can be rewarding just by stepping out from the beach or your house reef as part of the accommodation, which is a common occurrence. There are great reefs in Na'ama Bay, Ras Um Sid and Shark's Bay. But you will soon see plenty of offers for short or long excursions. Not only does this offer variation, but also experiences that should not be missed. When joining an excursion for snorkelling and diving in sharm el sheikh remember to note that the value for snorkellers can sometimes be limited. Many visitors diving in sharm el sheikh take dive courses while there. The quality of the courses vary somewhat, but many are of good quality. For many foreigners, prices are attractive, but not for all. Western countries with many dive centres, often offer better prices as well as better preparation for cold-water diving. If you do choose to take a course whilst there I recommend seeking a PADI or BSAC registered centre, Active Diving have a handful of outfits across the Red Sea and will be able to help you arrange this before you leave the UK (http://www.activediving.co.uk, 087 123 11 122).
More Europeans learn to dive here than anywhere else in the world and diving is ideal for beginners. Whatever your experience, dive centres require you to do one local dive before they will take you on a boat trip in order to give you an opportunity to orient yourself to Red Sea diving. The popularity of some of the more popular sites when diving in sharm el sheikh does mean that the water can get rather crowded, particularly once the day boats arrive. The dive sites are diverse and covered in coral formations and a range of marine life, including jacks, snappers and barracudas. The areas covered by Sharm are from the Straits of Tiran through to the marine park of Ras Mohammed. The Straits of Tiran have four circular reefs rising out of deep water and surrounded by steep drop offs. Ras Mohammed has steep coastal cliffs that drop away underwater to depths of over seventy metres. There are coral gardens that are shallow and calm as well as some excellent drifts in strong currents. For the more advanced diver, with day boats going as far as the wreck of the Thislegorm if you are willing to get up early for a four-hour boat trip. There is also the possibility of diving the Dunraven, which takes 2 1/2 hours by boat.
When not diving, if you have not had enough of the water it is possible to snorkel, swim, and do other water sports such as parasailing and banana boat rides. The resorts are quite lively with restaurants, bars, discos and shops and food and drink is relatively cheap. There are also various organised day trips such as quad biking or jeep safaris in the Sinai desert, trips to Mount Sinai and the 6th Century St Catherine’s Monastery. Close to the resort is a nature reserve where there are lakes and mangroves.
Author: Emma Parker (11/08/08)
To find out more about diving in sharm el sheikh and other areas across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.ActiveDiving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (03/08/08)
That’s all for now on diving in sharm el sheikh
Directly located on the eastern Red Sea coast, it is one of the best liked place for divers thanks to many diving sites accessible in a few minutes from the majority of accommodation. Liveaboards are common however unnecessary for the more popular dives in the area. The diving in sharm el sheikh is famous for its transparent and mild water, the abundance of colours and the presence of many different kinds of coral. Not to mention when diving in sharm el sheikh the abundance of marine life is astounding from sharks to dolphins and turtles.
Another massive attraction for those wanting to go diving in sharm el sheikh is the temperature of the water, its good all year round making diving and snorkelling possible constantly. In the depths when diving in sharm el sheikh it is very easy to find a number of wrecks. In these waters besides all the bentonic species it is very easy to meet big pelagic, tiny fishes, barracudas and sharks.
In Sharm el Sheikh, both diving and snorkelling can be rewarding just by stepping out from the beach or your house reef as part of the accommodation, which is a common occurrence. There are great reefs in Na'ama Bay, Ras Um Sid and Shark's Bay. But you will soon see plenty of offers for short or long excursions. Not only does this offer variation, but also experiences that should not be missed. When joining an excursion for snorkelling and diving in sharm el sheikh remember to note that the value for snorkellers can sometimes be limited. Many visitors diving in sharm el sheikh take dive courses while there. The quality of the courses vary somewhat, but many are of good quality. For many foreigners, prices are attractive, but not for all. Western countries with many dive centres, often offer better prices as well as better preparation for cold-water diving. If you do choose to take a course whilst there I recommend seeking a PADI or BSAC registered centre, Active Diving have a handful of outfits across the Red Sea and will be able to help you arrange this before you leave the UK (http://www.activediving.co.uk, 087 123 11 122).
More Europeans learn to dive here than anywhere else in the world and diving is ideal for beginners. Whatever your experience, dive centres require you to do one local dive before they will take you on a boat trip in order to give you an opportunity to orient yourself to Red Sea diving. The popularity of some of the more popular sites when diving in sharm el sheikh does mean that the water can get rather crowded, particularly once the day boats arrive. The dive sites are diverse and covered in coral formations and a range of marine life, including jacks, snappers and barracudas. The areas covered by Sharm are from the Straits of Tiran through to the marine park of Ras Mohammed. The Straits of Tiran have four circular reefs rising out of deep water and surrounded by steep drop offs. Ras Mohammed has steep coastal cliffs that drop away underwater to depths of over seventy metres. There are coral gardens that are shallow and calm as well as some excellent drifts in strong currents. For the more advanced diver, with day boats going as far as the wreck of the Thislegorm if you are willing to get up early for a four-hour boat trip. There is also the possibility of diving the Dunraven, which takes 2 1/2 hours by boat.
When not diving, if you have not had enough of the water it is possible to snorkel, swim, and do other water sports such as parasailing and banana boat rides. The resorts are quite lively with restaurants, bars, discos and shops and food and drink is relatively cheap. There are also various organised day trips such as quad biking or jeep safaris in the Sinai desert, trips to Mount Sinai and the 6th Century St Catherine’s Monastery. Close to the resort is a nature reserve where there are lakes and mangroves.
Author: Emma Parker (11/08/08)
To find out more about diving in sharm el sheikh and other areas across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.ActiveDiving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (03/08/08)
That’s all for now on diving in sharm el sheikh
Sharm el Sheikh diving
The Egyptian city of Sharm el Sheikh holds a plethora of wonders; however the most priceless beauty of all is hidden beneath the water. The lethal combination of the sea, sand and sun creates a place of beauty and a paradise for the majority of watersports lovers, diving especially. Sharm El Sheikh diving is perhaps the most accessible in Egypt, often the first port of call for divers looking to experience The Red Sea.
It’s an established fact that Sharm el Sheikh diving is a diver’s paradise. With a bounty of marine flora and fauna the divers get to enjoy some of the best sites below the sea. The place has more than fifty diving spots but scuba is essentially offered at the best diving destinations which are well equipped with modern apparatus.
The red sea boasts some of the best diving in the world, Sharm el Sheikh diving offers a large amount of this with a vibrant and varied underwater life throughout. The first port of call for Sharm el Sheikh diving is Na'ama Beach, Shark's Bay, Sharm El- Moya, Ras um Sid, and the Terrazina Beach. The Tiran Island is an excellent scuba diving spot at Sharm el Sheikh. Don't be disappointed if you are not a professional diver, there are many tour operators in the UK whom can arrange courses for when you arrive (Active Diving: http://www.activediving.co.uk). Equally there are plenty of dive schools in the area for once you arrive, it is definitely worth getting your PADI Open Water certification either before you arrive of once your there to ensure you can sample some of the best diving in Egypt.
Exploring the spectacular reefs of Ras Nourani under the guidance of expert divers leaves an indelible impression on the minds of the visitors ensuring Sharm el Sheikh diving is a memorable experience for all. Sharm el Sheikh diving is unsurpassed in Egypt and renowned for diving across the globe. The red sea had been a source of wonder and mystery throughout the world for various reasons, however it is now a particularly interesting site because of a plethora marine treasures hidden beneath its emerald waters.
Sharm el Sheikh diving is most definitely in the land of dreams, filled with crystal clear water, splendid corals, awesome underwater vegetation and atypical Piscean species which will not only please your eyes but present you with an opportunity of witnessing some of the best surprises in the sea.
Within 2 hours of Sharm el Sheikh diving is the Tiran and Ras Mohammed reefs, two of the most renowned diving spots in the world. Ras Mohammed is the southern tip of Sinai Peninsula, where the Gulf of Aqaba meets the Gulf of Suez. Ras Mohammed is another destination where the underwater reefs drop to seventy metres. The Straits of Tiran are perhaps the best of Scuba diving spots with its four stupefying circular coral reefs. You will find schools of barracuda and a variety of sharks. It may be worth arranging a diving safari with a dive school in order to get away from the sometimes overcrowded dive sites allowing you to catch a glimpse of less popular sites:
- Active Diving
- Red Sea Diving College
- Red Sea Diving Safari
- Oonas Dive Centre
Most of the Sharm el Sheikh diving spots have to be reached by a boat. Not to worry, because the calm waters of the red sea ensure the area is suitable for amateurs and experienced divers alike. The dive sites are endowed with intricate coral formations and an assortment of marine life like snappers, jacks and barracudas. The shallow coral gardens around are also interesting to be explored. For the expert scuba divers the Thistlegorm or the Dunraven, a bit far away from the coast are the ideal spots of relaxing and looking over the wonderful sea life. All in all I would recommend a visit to Egypt for the Sharm el Sheikh diving alone, the fact that the city offers a plethora of alternative activities, nightlife and a culture that welcomes anyone and everyone ensures that your experience will be a memorable one.
To find out more about diving holidays across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.ActiveDiving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (08/08/08)
That’s all for now on Sharm el Sheikh diving
It’s an established fact that Sharm el Sheikh diving is a diver’s paradise. With a bounty of marine flora and fauna the divers get to enjoy some of the best sites below the sea. The place has more than fifty diving spots but scuba is essentially offered at the best diving destinations which are well equipped with modern apparatus.
The red sea boasts some of the best diving in the world, Sharm el Sheikh diving offers a large amount of this with a vibrant and varied underwater life throughout. The first port of call for Sharm el Sheikh diving is Na'ama Beach, Shark's Bay, Sharm El- Moya, Ras um Sid, and the Terrazina Beach. The Tiran Island is an excellent scuba diving spot at Sharm el Sheikh. Don't be disappointed if you are not a professional diver, there are many tour operators in the UK whom can arrange courses for when you arrive (Active Diving: http://www.activediving.co.uk). Equally there are plenty of dive schools in the area for once you arrive, it is definitely worth getting your PADI Open Water certification either before you arrive of once your there to ensure you can sample some of the best diving in Egypt.
Exploring the spectacular reefs of Ras Nourani under the guidance of expert divers leaves an indelible impression on the minds of the visitors ensuring Sharm el Sheikh diving is a memorable experience for all. Sharm el Sheikh diving is unsurpassed in Egypt and renowned for diving across the globe. The red sea had been a source of wonder and mystery throughout the world for various reasons, however it is now a particularly interesting site because of a plethora marine treasures hidden beneath its emerald waters.
Sharm el Sheikh diving is most definitely in the land of dreams, filled with crystal clear water, splendid corals, awesome underwater vegetation and atypical Piscean species which will not only please your eyes but present you with an opportunity of witnessing some of the best surprises in the sea.
Within 2 hours of Sharm el Sheikh diving is the Tiran and Ras Mohammed reefs, two of the most renowned diving spots in the world. Ras Mohammed is the southern tip of Sinai Peninsula, where the Gulf of Aqaba meets the Gulf of Suez. Ras Mohammed is another destination where the underwater reefs drop to seventy metres. The Straits of Tiran are perhaps the best of Scuba diving spots with its four stupefying circular coral reefs. You will find schools of barracuda and a variety of sharks. It may be worth arranging a diving safari with a dive school in order to get away from the sometimes overcrowded dive sites allowing you to catch a glimpse of less popular sites:
- Active Diving
- Red Sea Diving College
- Red Sea Diving Safari
- Oonas Dive Centre
Most of the Sharm el Sheikh diving spots have to be reached by a boat. Not to worry, because the calm waters of the red sea ensure the area is suitable for amateurs and experienced divers alike. The dive sites are endowed with intricate coral formations and an assortment of marine life like snappers, jacks and barracudas. The shallow coral gardens around are also interesting to be explored. For the expert scuba divers the Thistlegorm or the Dunraven, a bit far away from the coast are the ideal spots of relaxing and looking over the wonderful sea life. All in all I would recommend a visit to Egypt for the Sharm el Sheikh diving alone, the fact that the city offers a plethora of alternative activities, nightlife and a culture that welcomes anyone and everyone ensures that your experience will be a memorable one.
To find out more about diving holidays across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.ActiveDiving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (08/08/08)
That’s all for now on Sharm el Sheikh diving
Scuba Diving Holiday in Mozambique
Mozambique, often referred East Africa's jewel hosts a plethora of undiscovered islands of are perfection – pure and simple. Mozambique often heard of in the news is only known to divers perhaps as one of the least explored scuba diving holiday destinations.
Now that every Tom, Dick and Gary enjoys their scuba diving holiday in the Maldives or Mauritius for half-term, those who like to take their Indian Ocean ‘straight up’ (hold the plasma TVs) must look further afield. If you can live without the glitz and the golf courses during your scuba diving holiday, Mozambique has 3,000km of squeaky-soft virgin beach – about 2,997km of which is footprint-free. The underwater world is even more to dream about for your scuba diving holiday.
‘Unspoilt’ is more than just an idea here; you can see the pristine-ness, on coastline fairydusted with a rainbow of seashells: hundreds and thousands of them, exquisitely shaped and in every shade from blush pinks to the inkiest indigo blues. It’s an awesome sight for anyone, as a scuba diver the sight creates a fluster of excitement for what is basking in the water below only to be discovered during the scuba diving holiday. This must have been what the rest of the world looked like before souvenir stallholders plundered the sands to make shell necklaces for shell-suited tourists.
Mozambique’s virginal state is cause for only muted celebration, however. There are no hawkers because there are no shops. There are no shops because there is no money. A civil war that raged through the 1980s denuded a destination that was once the continent’s most glamorous playground. So the pure shores immortalised in song by Bob Dylan (although, apparently, he has never actually visited) became a forgotten paradise, just as mass tourism began to bite deep elsewhere. However if your willing to go to the edge of Africa for an experience that will stay with you forever, then giving up shops and cheesy souvenirs is a welcome price to pay for the scuba diving holiday of a lifetime.
The upside is eco. Having slept through the big-hotel-building of its neighbours, Mozambique has woken up just in time to start from scratch, to a much more ethical template – as the great, green hope for responsible scuba diving holiday tourism. The country is sprouting stylish, environmentally-savvy lodges, each one garnishing its Robinson-Crusoe beaches with designer details and sustainable ideals that appeal to eco-warrior A-listers such as Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as honeymooners in search of the ultimate hideaway.
Happily, it’s a bit like having to choose between Daniel Craig and George Clooney during your scuba diving holiday – you can’t really go wrong. In the far north are the seductive charms of the Quirimbas archipelago: 32 breathtaking bouquets of 1,000-year-old baobab trees, and creamy sands, wrapped up with mangrove ribbons and drizzled across Perrier-clear waters busy with incredible marine life.
The villagers may be dirt poor (most live on 50p a day) but, as everywhere in Mozambique, they smile shyly as we saunter through streets radiating faded grandeur. Nobody begs. I stayed at Casa Lisa on my first night and from there I travelled to Tofo and stayed at Casa John (do you see the connection), the lodge is beautifully surrounded by the soundtrack of the ocean providing a unique serenity. I was told that i could leave my door and windows open when I slept, I had to anyway the lodges run an eco friendly program whereby all air-con is turned off at night.
The best underwater buzz during your scuba diving holiday is the Bazaruto archipelago in the south, which also offers the (admittedly remote) chance to swim with one of only three remaining populations of dugongs – the strange ‘sea cows’ thought to have been behind a thousand medieval ‘mermaid’ sightings. Active Diving (http://www.activediving.co.uk/) offer guaranteed scuba diving holidays to swim with these amazing creatures in Mozambique as well as with Whale Sharks – the gentle giants of the sea.
With a bit of hope and just a little luck, Mozambique will fare better than other newly developed scuba diving holiday destinations. The scenery certainly merits it; the citizens definitely deserve it; but, so far, only a few of us foreigners know about it.
To find out more about diving holidays across Mozambique, The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.ActiveDiving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (04/08/08)
That’s all for now on a Mozambique scuba diving holiday
Now that every Tom, Dick and Gary enjoys their scuba diving holiday in the Maldives or Mauritius for half-term, those who like to take their Indian Ocean ‘straight up’ (hold the plasma TVs) must look further afield. If you can live without the glitz and the golf courses during your scuba diving holiday, Mozambique has 3,000km of squeaky-soft virgin beach – about 2,997km of which is footprint-free. The underwater world is even more to dream about for your scuba diving holiday.
‘Unspoilt’ is more than just an idea here; you can see the pristine-ness, on coastline fairydusted with a rainbow of seashells: hundreds and thousands of them, exquisitely shaped and in every shade from blush pinks to the inkiest indigo blues. It’s an awesome sight for anyone, as a scuba diver the sight creates a fluster of excitement for what is basking in the water below only to be discovered during the scuba diving holiday. This must have been what the rest of the world looked like before souvenir stallholders plundered the sands to make shell necklaces for shell-suited tourists.
Mozambique’s virginal state is cause for only muted celebration, however. There are no hawkers because there are no shops. There are no shops because there is no money. A civil war that raged through the 1980s denuded a destination that was once the continent’s most glamorous playground. So the pure shores immortalised in song by Bob Dylan (although, apparently, he has never actually visited) became a forgotten paradise, just as mass tourism began to bite deep elsewhere. However if your willing to go to the edge of Africa for an experience that will stay with you forever, then giving up shops and cheesy souvenirs is a welcome price to pay for the scuba diving holiday of a lifetime.
The upside is eco. Having slept through the big-hotel-building of its neighbours, Mozambique has woken up just in time to start from scratch, to a much more ethical template – as the great, green hope for responsible scuba diving holiday tourism. The country is sprouting stylish, environmentally-savvy lodges, each one garnishing its Robinson-Crusoe beaches with designer details and sustainable ideals that appeal to eco-warrior A-listers such as Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as honeymooners in search of the ultimate hideaway.
Happily, it’s a bit like having to choose between Daniel Craig and George Clooney during your scuba diving holiday – you can’t really go wrong. In the far north are the seductive charms of the Quirimbas archipelago: 32 breathtaking bouquets of 1,000-year-old baobab trees, and creamy sands, wrapped up with mangrove ribbons and drizzled across Perrier-clear waters busy with incredible marine life.
The villagers may be dirt poor (most live on 50p a day) but, as everywhere in Mozambique, they smile shyly as we saunter through streets radiating faded grandeur. Nobody begs. I stayed at Casa Lisa on my first night and from there I travelled to Tofo and stayed at Casa John (do you see the connection), the lodge is beautifully surrounded by the soundtrack of the ocean providing a unique serenity. I was told that i could leave my door and windows open when I slept, I had to anyway the lodges run an eco friendly program whereby all air-con is turned off at night.
The best underwater buzz during your scuba diving holiday is the Bazaruto archipelago in the south, which also offers the (admittedly remote) chance to swim with one of only three remaining populations of dugongs – the strange ‘sea cows’ thought to have been behind a thousand medieval ‘mermaid’ sightings. Active Diving (http://www.activediving.co.uk/) offer guaranteed scuba diving holidays to swim with these amazing creatures in Mozambique as well as with Whale Sharks – the gentle giants of the sea.
With a bit of hope and just a little luck, Mozambique will fare better than other newly developed scuba diving holiday destinations. The scenery certainly merits it; the citizens definitely deserve it; but, so far, only a few of us foreigners know about it.
To find out more about diving holidays across Mozambique, The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.ActiveDiving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (04/08/08)
That’s all for now on a Mozambique scuba diving holiday
Booking a Diving Holiday in Mozambique
Mozambique is a relatively unknown destination for anything other than diving holidays. The divers are happy with this, the destination conjures up some idea of an undeveloped, entirely non-commercialised sleepy town whereby the life and diving are easy and fluid. You wont be mistaken once your arrive. Mozambique as a destination is coming on in leaps and bounds, buoyed by the diving holidays industry the are is starting to thrive. Planning your escape to the area is a little more taxing than buying a train ticket into London however with the utilization of an adventure sports tour operator or a specialist diving holidays specialist the getaway can be easy to plan and prepare for. Active Diving (http://www.activediving.co.uk, 087 123 11 122) offer an excellent customizable package to Mozambique and they have the local knowledge to share over the telephone. If your thinking of visiting Mozambique give it a Google, the area is highly undeveloped and perfect for the escape you have been dreaming of.
Online packages offer you the opportunity to allow someone else to deal with the minute details so that you can get on with your diving holiday amongst family and friends. Travelling might be fun for some but for many, it is a passion too. People love to travel to various diving destinations and spend months planning for their dream diving holiday. Diving holidays are for divers the best part of the year where one can plan out a long break from the usual hectic schedule and make a visit to a new exciting world.
Diving holidays can be done on a budget or equally luxurious; some tour operators offer special deals for certain destinations or promote discounted holidays through their online newsletters. The online tour operators are knowledgeable about each diving destination and can give you advice as to which destination and diving package is best to suit your needs and ability, as well as information about the top tourist spots, history of the place and other interesting information about the diving holiday destination.
The divers interested in visiting the popular diving destinations can get a rough estimate of the total travel package by giving their requirements to an online tour operator. Online tour operators can plan a diving holiday for the divers needs and needs and budget. Diving holidays on tour operator websites are frequently updated with deals relating to accommodation and new destinations however generally the prices will fluctuate only as a result of flight prices therefore if you find a company with lots of knowledge and competitive prices I would be hesitant to keep searching, local knowledge is the key to these far away shores.
Most online reviews are generated by recent divers and travellers so that unbiased recommendations and information can be provided to the readers. Travel blogs are also popular online offered in order to encourage divers to visit the destination and enjoy their diving holidays with their loved ones.
You'll need to check out the expected weather conditions for the time of year in Mozambique. If you plan to recover underwater items you will need to investigate the laws regarding treasure hunting and export. You'll need to research local support for tank refill, equipment repair and so forth.
On a week-long dive so far from home, you'll do well to have a backup location. You probably won't have the time and money to switch from, say, Mozambique to Madagascar. Diving in Mozambique is an adventure in itself. The corals are bursting with colour and the water is teaming with life. The majority of the packages available for Mozambique are planned specifically around seeing whale sharks and manta rays.
To find out more about diving holidays across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.ActiveDiving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (03/08/08)
That’s all for now on Booking Diving Holidays
Online packages offer you the opportunity to allow someone else to deal with the minute details so that you can get on with your diving holiday amongst family and friends. Travelling might be fun for some but for many, it is a passion too. People love to travel to various diving destinations and spend months planning for their dream diving holiday. Diving holidays are for divers the best part of the year where one can plan out a long break from the usual hectic schedule and make a visit to a new exciting world.
Diving holidays can be done on a budget or equally luxurious; some tour operators offer special deals for certain destinations or promote discounted holidays through their online newsletters. The online tour operators are knowledgeable about each diving destination and can give you advice as to which destination and diving package is best to suit your needs and ability, as well as information about the top tourist spots, history of the place and other interesting information about the diving holiday destination.
The divers interested in visiting the popular diving destinations can get a rough estimate of the total travel package by giving their requirements to an online tour operator. Online tour operators can plan a diving holiday for the divers needs and needs and budget. Diving holidays on tour operator websites are frequently updated with deals relating to accommodation and new destinations however generally the prices will fluctuate only as a result of flight prices therefore if you find a company with lots of knowledge and competitive prices I would be hesitant to keep searching, local knowledge is the key to these far away shores.
Most online reviews are generated by recent divers and travellers so that unbiased recommendations and information can be provided to the readers. Travel blogs are also popular online offered in order to encourage divers to visit the destination and enjoy their diving holidays with their loved ones.
You'll need to check out the expected weather conditions for the time of year in Mozambique. If you plan to recover underwater items you will need to investigate the laws regarding treasure hunting and export. You'll need to research local support for tank refill, equipment repair and so forth.
On a week-long dive so far from home, you'll do well to have a backup location. You probably won't have the time and money to switch from, say, Mozambique to Madagascar. Diving in Mozambique is an adventure in itself. The corals are bursting with colour and the water is teaming with life. The majority of the packages available for Mozambique are planned specifically around seeing whale sharks and manta rays.
To find out more about diving holidays across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.ActiveDiving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (03/08/08)
That’s all for now on Booking Diving Holidays
Diving Holidays in Marsa Alam
Marsa Alam is a destination that few have heard of, those who partake in diving holidays however are more than familiar with the area of Egypt. Egypt itself has been an established holiday destination for years as a result of owning one of the seven wonders of the world however Marsa Alam is a whole new kind of Egypt – its prime purpose in creation see Diving holidays are showing up more and more in the press, creating more interest in scuba diving than ever before, equally affordable diving holidays are becoming more accessible through online travel portals such as Active Diving and suchlike.
Diving holidays can be done on a budget or equally luxuriously; some tour operators offer special deals for certain destinations or promote discounted holidays through their online newsletters. Famous destinations such as The Red Sea’s Thistlegorm and The Blue Hole are popular all year around however airlines often offer cheaper flights if purchased in advance so it may be worth looking into booking your flights as soon as possible if you want to save some money and avoid the crowds across the dive sites. Equally travelling out of season for some of the diving holiday destinations will allow you to book cheaper accommodation and thus you can spend more on your actual diving excursions.
Online adventure sports tour operators are incredibly knowledgeable in regards to diving holidays, the destinations, the instruction and what will be seen once under the water. I would recommend staying away from the larger tour operators who lack local knowledge – find a provider whom can give you the local insight into the waters and surrounding area. They can give you advice as to which destination and diving package is best to suit your needs and ability, as well as information about the top tourist spots, history of the place and other interesting information about the diving holiday destination.
The divers interested in visiting destinations for popular diving holidays can get a rough estimate of the total travel package by giving their requirements to an online tour operator. Diving holiday packages are frequently updated on a regular note where various affordable packages and deals are available for the most popular destination.
Most online reviews are generated by recent divers and travellers so that unbiased recommendations and information can be provided to the readers. Travel blogs are also popular online offered in order to encourage divers to visit the destination and enjoy their diving holidays with their loved ones.
On a week-long dive so far from home, you'll do well to have a backup location. You probably won't have the time and money to switch from, say, Marsa Alam to Hurghada. There are more than 25 inshore and offshore reefs in the Marsa Alam area that Active Diving offer as part of their packages, offering you the choice of more than 50 different dive profiles, as well as many snorkelling opportunities full of adventure and discovery. There are 8 shore diving sites that offer more than 16 different dive profiles for divers who prefer pure shore diving (package with unlimited house reef diving and 10 guided truck dives). However more and more dives are done as in-range speedboat or daily boat dives. For this Active Diving offer an in-range shore diving package with unlimited house reef diving, 6 guided truck dives and 4 guided in-range speedboat dives.
Once your diving holidays are booked up and raring to go its worth preparing physically for the diving to come, Many of the 400 UK schools tailor courses to suit the busy lives of their customers equally offering training before departure so that once you arrive in your diving holiday destination your can thoroughly enjoy the diving available. Alternatively you can learn how to dive or advance your techniques once you arrive at your holiday destination, learning how to dive as part of your diving holidays will not only increase the magic of your first experience under the water but will enrich your entire holiday as you relax and develop away from home.
To find out more about diving holidays across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit Active Diving and quote: ART_***
Author: Emma Parker (03/08/08)
That’s all for now on Booking Diving Holidays
Diving holidays can be done on a budget or equally luxuriously; some tour operators offer special deals for certain destinations or promote discounted holidays through their online newsletters. Famous destinations such as The Red Sea’s Thistlegorm and The Blue Hole are popular all year around however airlines often offer cheaper flights if purchased in advance so it may be worth looking into booking your flights as soon as possible if you want to save some money and avoid the crowds across the dive sites. Equally travelling out of season for some of the diving holiday destinations will allow you to book cheaper accommodation and thus you can spend more on your actual diving excursions.
Online adventure sports tour operators are incredibly knowledgeable in regards to diving holidays, the destinations, the instruction and what will be seen once under the water. I would recommend staying away from the larger tour operators who lack local knowledge – find a provider whom can give you the local insight into the waters and surrounding area. They can give you advice as to which destination and diving package is best to suit your needs and ability, as well as information about the top tourist spots, history of the place and other interesting information about the diving holiday destination.
The divers interested in visiting destinations for popular diving holidays can get a rough estimate of the total travel package by giving their requirements to an online tour operator. Diving holiday packages are frequently updated on a regular note where various affordable packages and deals are available for the most popular destination.
Most online reviews are generated by recent divers and travellers so that unbiased recommendations and information can be provided to the readers. Travel blogs are also popular online offered in order to encourage divers to visit the destination and enjoy their diving holidays with their loved ones.
On a week-long dive so far from home, you'll do well to have a backup location. You probably won't have the time and money to switch from, say, Marsa Alam to Hurghada. There are more than 25 inshore and offshore reefs in the Marsa Alam area that Active Diving offer as part of their packages, offering you the choice of more than 50 different dive profiles, as well as many snorkelling opportunities full of adventure and discovery. There are 8 shore diving sites that offer more than 16 different dive profiles for divers who prefer pure shore diving (package with unlimited house reef diving and 10 guided truck dives). However more and more dives are done as in-range speedboat or daily boat dives. For this Active Diving offer an in-range shore diving package with unlimited house reef diving, 6 guided truck dives and 4 guided in-range speedboat dives.
Once your diving holidays are booked up and raring to go its worth preparing physically for the diving to come, Many of the 400 UK schools tailor courses to suit the busy lives of their customers equally offering training before departure so that once you arrive in your diving holiday destination your can thoroughly enjoy the diving available. Alternatively you can learn how to dive or advance your techniques once you arrive at your holiday destination, learning how to dive as part of your diving holidays will not only increase the magic of your first experience under the water but will enrich your entire holiday as you relax and develop away from home.
To find out more about diving holidays across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit Active Diving and quote: ART_***
Author: Emma Parker (03/08/08)
That’s all for now on Booking Diving Holidays
Diving Holidays in Dahab
Diving Holidays in Dahab
As the internet helps to open our eyes to different destinations our ideals of the perfect holiday are equally becoming more extravagant and exotic. Adventure sports holidays are becoming more common; showing up more and more in the press, scuba diving holidays are especially being shown more interest than ever before. The market is prepared for this and affordable diving holidays are becoming more accessible through online travel portals such as Active Diving and suchlike. Google maps and social networks are creating guides to every dive site on the earth evermore expanding the possibilities achievable during a weeks holiday. Planning these holidays when aiming for far flung places can sometimes becoming exhausting in themselves, especially to destinations which are relatively undeveloped. Small but knowledgeable tour operators are becoming the leaders in this area, helping those who seek out the more wild adventures and richer experiences through their well connected ground liaisons and experience of the particular destinations.
Online tour operators offer packages and opportunity to allow someone else to deal with the minute details so that you can get on with your diving holiday amongst family and friends. Travelling might be fun for some but for many, it is a passion too. People love to travel to various diving destinations and spend months planning for their dream diving holiday. Diving holidays are for divers the best part of the year where one can plan out a long break from the usual hectic schedule and make a visit to a new exciting world.
Diving holidays can be done on a budget or equally luxurious; some tour operators offer special deals for certain destinations or promote discounted holidays through their online newsletters. Famous destinations such as The Red Sea’s Thistlegorm and The Blue Hole are popular all year around however airlines often offer cheaper flights if purchased in advance so it may be worth looking into booking your flights as soon as possible if you want to save some money and avoid the crowds across the dive sites it would be worth asking a diving tour operator about low season in your chosen destination. Equally travelling out of season for some of the diving holiday destinations will allow you to book cheaper accommodation and thus you can spend more on your actual diving excursions.
The divers interested in the more popular destinations for diving holidays can get a rough estimate of the total travel package by giving their requirements to an online tour operator. Online tour operators can plan a diving holiday for the diver’s needs and needs and budget. Diving holiday packages are frequently updated on a regular note where various affordable packages and deals are available for the most popular destination.
Most online reviews are generated by recent divers and travellers so that unbiased recommendations and information can be provided to the readers. Travel blogs are also popular online offered in order to encourage divers to visit the destination and enjoy their diving holidays with their loved ones.
Booking the holiday is the easy bit, choosing the destination initially however can be daunting – so much choice!! I usually try to decide what I want to get out of the diving holiday and then take it from there. There's plenty of room for spontaneous exploring when you're under the surface. You'll find new, colourful species of fish, coral and dozens other interesting things to attract your attention. The excitement of exploring the unexpected is a large part of the fun. But the only way to do that safely and intelligently is to plan your dive well in advance. Planning your diving holiday requires taking a number of items into account. When you pick the diving holiday location, you’ll need to consider transportation time and costs, legal restrictions and so forth. Diving a lake 10 minutes from home obviously requires an entirely different set of criteria than flying thousands of miles, then taking a boat out in the
In order to ensure the best conditions from your diving holidays throughout the year it is important to check out the expected weather conditions for the time of year, in Dahab generally the conditions stay the same but I would still recommend checking the forecast.. If you plan to recover underwater items you will need to investigate the laws regarding treasure hunting and export. You'll need to research local support for tank refill, equipment repair and so forth.
Being fit and a good swimmer are not prerequisites to learning scuba diving, but both help, according to Sophie Rennie, a BSAC national instructor who holds a Masters degree in exercise physiology. “A day diving can be tiring so you need some cardiovascular fitness,” she said. “Also the equipment can be heavy.”
I recommend bicep and triceps curls, with elbows tucked into the sides of your ribcage, lift a barbell or two dumb-bells slowly towards the chest. Do not bring the weights right up to the chest between repetitions as this gives the muscles a rest. Do 12-15 repetitions, building up to three sets, and increase the weight as you become stronger. Following with regular sit ups to strengthen your stomach muscles in preparation for the diving holiday of a lifetime.
Once your booked up and raring to go its worth preparing physically for the diving to come, Many of the 400 UK schools tailor courses to suit the busy lives of their customers equally offering training before departure so that once you arrive in your diving holiday destination your can thoroughly enjoy the diving available. Intensive courses can be held over five days but in most clubs lessons are held one night a week for about six weeks, after which there is an open-water session. Provided he or she qualifies, the ocean diver can then practise the sport to a depth of 20 metres almost anywhere in the world.
To find out more about diving holidays across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit Active Diving and quote: ART_***
Author: Emma Parker (03/08/08)
That’s all for now on Booking Diving Holidays
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