There are just 2 places remaining on this trip from the 9-16th September. Blue Seas will be following a Daedalus, Zabargad and Rocky itinerary and this very special price includes flights from Manchester, transfers, 7 nights full board accommodation and 6 days liveaboard diving. For full details of our September Specials please click here
The original B2B arm of Viking Airways went into administration yesterday 17 August 2010. If you have arranged your flights direct with Kiss or one of the sister companies of the group Flight Option then please consult the CAA website at http://www.caa.co.uk
The airline carrier Viking Airways has been unaffected by this collapse and continues to trade and fly. However you should check with your flight provider the exact status of your reservation.
Oonasdivers staff acted promptly last night and have arranged alternative flights for their guests who were originally booked via Kiss Flights. The new flights have been purchased at Oonasdiver’s expense as it is obliged to do under its ATOL licence agreement ATOL 4032. A full refund has been given to the very few guests for whom Oonasdivers has been unable to make satisfactory alternative flight arrangements.
Our offices are open as normal for any travellers who may have concerns about their tour.
The Red Arrows at Airbourne
Thank you to everyone who visited our stand at Eastbourne Airbourne this year. It was great to meet so many divers and adventure travellers. The air displays were amazing and we had a fantastic view of the flying spectacle from the Oonasdivers tent. A successful 4 days and the weather held up for most of the time – always a bonus!
With a maximum of 14 divers M.Y Juliet is a unique liveaboard offering space and comfort for your next diving holiday. With a fantastic crew and experienced dive guide you are sure to be pampered both above and below the water. A favourite for small groups and clubs, as proved by the number of groups and individuals who return year after year.
Her dive itinerary has plenty of variety and includes the very best coral reefs and islands between the Tiran and Gubal Straits as well as Ras Mohamed. Wreck dives are weather dependent; however she usually covers Sha’ab Abu Nuhas, famous for the Giannis D cargo vessel and the Carnatic, a 100-year-old wine cargo wreck, the Rosalie Moller and the S.S. Thistlegorm in Sha’ab Ali.
For further information please click here and to check availability and prices please click here
Dr Alex Tattersall is an award winning underwater photographer and the founder of UnderWaterVisions/Nauticam UK. He began diving in the early 1990s in Venezuela and Australia becoming instantly addicted to the wonders of the marine environment. He picked up his first camera in Taiwan in 1999 and has since gone on to win a number of underwater photography awards including the coveted ‘Best of Show’ in the British Society of Underwater Photographers print competition.
This workshop is designed both for novice and moderately experienced UW photographers and, alongside the exploration of ‘technical’ areas of photography such as exposures, compositions, and camera settings, will impart how a greater understanding and sensitivity to the behaviour of marine life can enable anyone to take award winning photos. You do not need the latest, most expensive equipment to get photos that you are truly happy with. This course will also give you the opportunity to try some of the latest photo post-processing software to get the best final results from the shots you take.
Dates 19th – 26th November Price £799
Price includes flights, transfers, 5 nights BVR B&B, 2 nights Freedom IV full board 6 days diving.
After some very successful workshops held earlier this year at Marsa Shagra, Oonasdivers & Jeff Goodman are pleased to announce future 2010-11 dates.
Marsa Shagra’s and Marsa Nakari’s locations lend themselves perfectly to the surroundings needed and marine life desired to compliment such an exciting workshop. Unlimited diving enables unlimited opportunity to capture the diverse and wonderfully colorful marine life on Shagra’s and Nakari’s extensive house reefs.
You don’t need expensive equipment to make exciting underwater wildlife films, this workshop is ideal for beginners through to the semi pro.
This workshop is a combination of understanding your camera, researching your subject, creating a story and taking good video while at the same time being aware of how everything will come together in the edit.
Great footage can easily be spoilt by bad editing.
The courses will be held at our Southern Villages Marsa Shagra and Marsa Nakari on selected dates during November and December 2010 and February 2011. Up to 10 guests will be able to learn from one of the best underwater cameramen in the industry. You will need your own video camera and housing for filming and a laptop with associated equipment for editing, why not share a camera with a friend and enjoy the experience together !
Jeff has over 30 years’ experience in wildlife and underwater filming. Credits include the BBC, Channel 4, National Geographic, Discovery, Animal Planet and many others. Twice nominated for BAFTA Award Cameraman and won Montana Festival Best Series Director/Cameraman.
Workshop date are as follows
24th November – 1st December 2010 – Southern Dive Village Marsa Nakari Marsa Alam
1st – 8th December 2010 – Southern Dive Village Marsa Shagra Marsa Alam
9th – 16th February 2011 – Southern Dive Village Marsa Shagra Marsa Alam
For further details please contact us on info@oonasdivers.com for our PDF info sheet and tour & workshop prices.
In March 2011 MV Giamani will be sailing to the Andaman Islands. While they are virtually unknown, the Andaman Islands are a large group of over 500 islands sitting around 280 miles to the north west of Phuket in the Bay of Bengal, and large is the word. The islands cover an area of approximately 3000 square miles of land and ocean. While they are much closer to both Thailand and Myanmar they are in fact an Indian territory, as you will realise the moment you step foot on them. Surprised you’ve never heard of them?
Well now you can dive there!! The islands are very slowly opening up to scuba divers and you can be among the first to experience them aboard MV Giamani.
With just 3 charters departing the 11 – 19th March, the 20-28th March and the 29th March – 6th April make sure you reserve your place! A typical itinerary for this tour would be as follows:
Day 1 – Depart London Heathrow
Day 2 – Arrive Port Blair and 1 night hotel B&B in Port Blair
Day 3 – Embark MV Giamani for a 8 day / 8 night cruise
Day 11 – 1 night hotel B&B in Port Blair
Day 12 – Depart Port Blair and fly to Chennai (Madras) and 1 night hotel B&B
Day 13 – Depart Chennai and arrive London Heathrow
For further information about this tour please call 01323 648924 or e-mail info@oonasdivers.com
Dugong at Marsa Abbu Dabbab
Marsa Abbu Dabbab has been under threat to deveopers in the Southern Red Sea. Their plan was to create artificial lagoons by diverting water from the bay into the “wadis.” This would be accomplished by creating 15m wide channels leading to large lagoons, which will be dug out just behind the bay of Marsa Abu Dabbab.
Thank you to everyone who has signed the petition.
Mr. Hossam has been personally monitoring the situation in Marsa Abu Dabbab and we are pleased to announce that we have made significant progress. HEPCA has decided to pull out of the project and are planning to move their research center south to either Hamata or Abu Ghussun.
Concorde group is currently building their planned resort, but for the time being the plans to expand the bay have been halted.
The Red Sea Rangers, HEPCA, the CDWS, and many other organizations and individuals have rallied together against the proposed changes to the bay. There is too much at stake for all of us and we have a vested interest in protecting the precious marine life of Marsa Abu Dabbab. Just a few days ago we have spotted 2 dugongs! The rangers have initiated a full monitoring program of the dugongs in the south in order to begin compiling data and reports for further lobbying and research.
To help save the future of this wonderful natural bay and its inhabitants please log onto facebook and go to MAD GREEN TURTELS by Jeff Goodman. Sign up here http://mgste.epetitions.net/
Please click here for further information on our tours to this area.
Don’t miss BBC presenter Miranda Kreskovnikoff’s article in July’s issue of DIVER magazine where she visits Dive Urge in Dahab with her young family where they had a fantastic time above and below the water!
Thank you to Gama Hussin, dive guide at Marsa Shagra - Red Sea Diving Safari for sending in this fabulous shot of 2 Dugongs grazing on the sea grass at Marsa Abu Dabbab yesterday afternoon, May 25th.
Please click here for further information on our tours to this area.
It is estimated that there is less than a dozen dugongs living along the entire stretch of coastline from Quseir to the Egyptian/Sudanese border.
A clumsy and slow moving creature, the dugong spends its life grazing on sea grass patches scattered along the coastline. Of the 12 species of sea grass found in the Red Sea dugongsfeed on only two types. Due to their selective eating behaviour coupled with human influences such as habitat degradation, the dugongs of the southern Red Sea are now under threat.
Unsustainable tourism development in the south continues to drive these shy and reclusive mammals away from the coastline, and many of their grazing grounds are now feeling the impact of mass tourism. Marsa Abu Dabbabis a case in point with the recent announcement to create an ambitious new tourism project. Three 5 star resorts (total of 5,000 rooms) and a 120 boat marina are just some of the plans for the bay of Marsa Abu Dabbab.
To help save the future of this wonderful natural bay and its inhabitants please log onto facebook and find MAD GREEN TURTELS by Jeff Goodman.
Sign up here Marsa Abu Dabbab petition