Red Sea 2012
Aboard MY Blue Pearl - TRIP FULL

Date: September 12th - 19th

Sailing from: Marsa Alam - Port Ghalib

Charter: St. John's & Fury Shoal

Max. Number of divers: 20

Cost: £995

There has been a lot of interest in a Red Sea trip for next year. So we have reserved the liveaboard Blue Pearl which can take a maximum of 20 divers. We have been aboard the Blue Pearl in the past and found her to be a very good boat with a good crew.

Prices have risen over the past few seasons especially the cost of flights but we've managed to keep the price below the £1000 barrier (just). We looked at another boat called exocet initially but gave up on that one when the price came in at over £1400. The average going price for a southern charter is around £1200.

Built in November 2003, at a length of 36m and a beam of 8m, Blue Pearl cruises all routes from North to South taking in the most famed and sought after itineraries from the classical Northern Wrecks & Reefs down to the marine parks of St. Johns, The Brothers, Daedalus, Zabargad & Rocky offering you up to 18 dives per week (6 days).

Liveaboard Tech Spec
Length 36 m / Beam 8 m
2 x Caterpillar each 764 PS 3412C 12 cylinders
2 x Kohler: 70kw with sound shield
2 Desalination units
8 x deluxe twin cabins with en-suite
2 x deluxe double cabins with en suite
Individual air-conditioning in all cabins
Dive deck with hot water showers
3 Impressive sun decks on different levels
Fire alarm & CO2 fire fighting system
Zodiac(s) with 25 hp outboard
max. of 20 pax

Elegant in design both inside and out Blue Pearl and her crew will offer you not just the warmest of welcomes but some of the best diving the Red Sea has to offer.

Cuba 2013
Jardines De La Reina

Date: Between January and April 2013

Sailing from: Jucaro

Charter: The islands of Jardines de la Reina south of Cuba

Max. Number of divers: 8

Cost: £2300 (approx)

Trip Information: 12 days 11 nights including: International flights; Five nights in a Havana hotel (B&B); Six nights full board accommodation on the liveaboard including 12 dives; Road transfers between Havana and Jucaro; Diving licence for Los Jardines National Park.

Description: An astounding archipelago of no less than 250 coral islands and islets, Jardines de la Reina is a protected environment and National Marine Reserve with 75 miles of mangrove-fringed coral reefs and one of the last untouched diving areas in the world!

At Jardines de la Reina, an almost pristine archipelago of 250 virgin coral islands, some 60 miles into the Caribbean Sea off the South-Western coast of Cuba, await the discerning diver!

A National Marine Reserve, with access restricted to only 700 divers per annum, this really is a completely undeveloped natural wilderness. With 75 miles of mangrove fringed coral islands, this is truly one of the last untouched reef systems in the diving world.

And it is undoubtedly one of the very best shark-diving destinations there is!

To read a DiverNet article on diving in Jardines de la Reina - CLICK HERE

Palau/Philippines 2014
Landmark Marina Hotel
Fish & Fins Dive Centre
with optional Manila stopover

Date: January/February 2014

Diving: Based at the Landmark Marina Hotel, Palau

Dive Centre: Fish n Fins

Max. Number of divers: Unlimited

Cost: £2450

At the centre of the Micronesian Archipelago, half way between Guam and the Philippines, lies the tiny island nation of Palau. Palau is a string of 340 or so islands stretching across 325 miles of ocean and surrounded by a considerable barrier reef. Just eight of these islands are inhabited, the largest of these being Babeldaob.

Famous for its scenic beauty above and below the water, Palau is a diver's paradise offering a tremendous variety of dives including World War II wrecks, schooling sharks at 'Blue Corner', and the stunning coral formations that make up the 'Blue Holes'.

Palau is situated just a few degrees north of the Equator, outside of the typhoon belt, and so offers superb diving all year round, with water temperatures averaging 28C and in generally excellent visibility.

Landmark Marina and dock side restaurant opened on May 27, 2007 located in a beautiful Lagoon at the southwest corner of Koror Island. The resort is designed with spectacular views and special consideration was made during design to keep all of the guests comforts in mind. The package below includes10 nights accommodation with breakfast, 8 days diving with tanks and weights and return airport transfers.

A private dock is built for the enjoyment of guests. The convenience of the dock allows guests to relax while enjoying the marine activities without having to be troubled by the annoyance of transportation.

The excellent Fish n Fins dive centre has a fleet of very comfortable and fast boats that will whisk you off on an exhilerating journey through the lush green limestone rock formations to a wealth of glorious dive sites and drop offs. The dive guides are extremely experienced and Nitrox and technical diving is available.

The dive boats set off for a full day's diving of two or three dives per day, with a packed lunch served on a beautiful rock island beach, and normally returns to shore around 4pm.

Please note: The prices quoted are for 2012. They may change for 2014.
The exact dates to be determined in the near future.

In September 2011 we ran a trip to Baa Atoll in the Maldives. The main purpose of this expedition is to have close encounters with Manta Rays and Whale Sharks. The plan is to visit Baa Atoll. There is a site in this atoll where mantas and whalesharks are frequently seen in large numbers. The following gives some idea of what we can expect to find on this expedition.

Hanifaru, an island located in Baa Atoll in the Maldives Archipelago, is one of the world's most important sites for the majestic manta ray. Each year between May and November the tide works its magic to suck krill and other plankton into Hanifaru Bay. The tiny creatures then become trapped and form an irresistibly thick soup. This delightful offering attracts manta rays from all over the Maldives and they converge here to feed in their hundreds.

Hanifaru, is an uninhabited island with a natural underwater bay -locally known as 'Vandhumaafaru Adi'- famous for whale sharks. The bay, known to divers as 'Aquarium' is home to a large numbers of whale sharks, grey sharks, manta rays and sting rays, is also a nursery for these species.

The National Geographic Magazine exclusively reported on this phenomenon in their July 2009 issue. It covers the work of marine biologist Guy Stevens and features photographs by photographer Thomas Peschak.

Stevens, who has been running the manta ray research project from the Four Seasons Landaa Giraavuaru resort for the past five years, says, "Hanifaru is one of the last places on the planet where manta rays and whale sharks still roam in numbers reminiscent of times gone by".

In a giant step towards protecting these threatened creatures the Maldives Government has proclaimed the waters around Hanifaru in Baa Atoll a marine protected area (MPA). This and the creation of two other MPAs, An'gafaru also in Baa atoll and Maamigili in the South Ari atoll, demonstrates the Maldives government's forward thinking in marine conservation.

Here is a copy of a recent email from Lisa on MV Sea Queen:

Hi Pete

Yep, thats were we go and have done for the past three years. I know Guy Stevens. All my best video footage of Whale Sharks & Mantas are from Hani Faru and that's where you will go when you come back out on Sea Queen.

It's an amazing place i just love Baa.. all our best sightings have been around Sept/Oct.

Best fishes Lisa

Another email from someone who has already done the Hanifaru trip:

We've been going to the Maldives for the last 10yrs (safe to say we like it) and for the last 4yrs we've gone with Maldives Scuba Tours and for the last visits we also used Sea Queen with Lisa & Dave. As you know they go out of their way to ensure that a great holiday is had with some fantastic dives...mind blowing.

Last year we went back to Hani Faru and had 65+ Mantas putting on one hell of a performance for over an hour and then in came an 8m Whale Shark. The year before we had another Manta overload and not 1, not 2, but 5 Whale Sharks who stayed around for 2.5hrs for those who were snorkelling - and this was on day 1 ... awsome!

In July we're are off to Huvadhoo with Lisa & Dave but staying on Sea Spirit (stayed before with Tracey & David) so it was great to read your comments and to check out the great pics - the other year Lisa was pointing out the Ribbon Eels and everyone could see them except me so your pic did make me laugh lol!

I agree with your comments regarding the trips being worth every penny; MST really do know their stuff and "afternoon cake" really does go down well following the last dive of the day.

I aslo like the fact that the boats are smaller and the fact there there is'nt 25+ divers but a smaller size group of divers that all manage to get 'their space' but manage to come together to catch up about the day or just to listen to Dave on the guitar - added bonus.

Happy & Safe Diving
Kasha

Some useful web links:

National Geographic

Save Our Seas Foundation

Bluepeace Blog

YouTube - Hanifaru

Maldives Dive Travel - Blog