Archive for the ‘Special Interest Tours’ Category

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New Photo Workshop at Sharks Bay

Friday, July 30th, 2010

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.

Posted in Oonasdivers News, Sharks Bay Dive Village, Special Interest Tours | No Comments »

Director & Award Winning Cameraman Jeff Goodman Workshops

Friday, July 30th, 2010

After some very successful workshops held earlier this year at Marsa Shagra, Oonasdivers & Jeff Goodman are pleased to announce future 2010-11 dates.

Jeff Goodman, director and award-winning cameraman is to lead a series of workshops aimed at improving the art of underwater video production at our fantastic Southern Villages Marsa Shagra and Nakari.

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.

 

Posted in Dive Courses, Oonasdivers News, Red Sea Diving Safari - Marsa Shagra, Special Events, Special Interest Tours | No Comments »

8 Day / 8 night Andaman Islands Special aboard MV Giamani

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

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

Posted in Liveaboards, Special Interest Tours | No Comments »

Shark School 2009

Monday, September 14th, 2009
View of Marsa Shagra

View of Marsa Shagra

For the third year in a row, Dr. Erich Ritter’s Sharkschool was again a success with a record number of participants in 2008. Erich had a lot of new information and everyone involved was very pleased with the workshops outcome. Participants experienced 2-days of up-close encounters with Oceanic White Tips sharks, followed by a nightly lecture about shark behavior and the way they interact. Only by understanding Shark behavior can we understand that these animals are not vicious killers, but beautiful giants that play in an integral role in the sustaining of our oceans eco-systems.

If you are interested in joining the 2009 Shark School Workshop on either 13 – 20 November or 20 – 27 November (Gatwick/Hurghada) at Marsa Shagra then call Oonasdivers on (01323) 648924 and visit the Sharks School website.

Posted in Red Sea Diving Safari - Marsa Shagra, Special Interest Tours | No Comments »

Photo Workshop Winners!

Monday, September 14th, 2009

Congratulations to the winners of the Mark Webster’s Underwater Photo Workshop on Board Blue Planet 1 on 2 – 9 September 2009

If you are interested in joining the workshop on 1 – 8 October 2010, please get in touch info@oonasdivers.com (01323) 648924

Posted in Competitions, Special Interest Tours | No Comments »

Congratulations Yvonne & Barney

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Oonasdivers & Red Sea Dive Safari would like to congratulate our long time friend Yvonne on her recent marriage to Barney.

After a beautiful wedding back here in Blighty, Yvonne & Barny spent their honeymoon at Marsa Shagra where they were given the wonderful opportunity to renew their wedding vows in the amazing setting of the house reef. We hope you will all enjoy their wedding video and join us in wishing them a happy, healthy & wealthy future together.

Posted in Oonasdivers News, Red Sea Diving Safari - Marsa Shagra, Resort News, Special Interest Tours | 1 Comment »

Mark Webster’s Photographic Workshop Winning Photos

Monday, July 27th, 2009
Giannis D in natural light

Giannis D in natural light

Oonasdivers are proud to present the winning photos from Mark Websters Photographic Workshop held on board M.Y. Blue Planet 1 taking a Northern Wrecks & Reefs route 15th – 22nd May.

The winning photographer, Alan Larsen, happily describes how he managed to capture this amazing shot:

“The photo was taken on Giannis D in mid afternoon with completely natural light. The equipment I used was a Nikon D200 in Subal housing with Tokina 10-17mm lens at 10mm. Settings were 1/6 sec at f3.5 on ISO400. (Basically crank up the ISO; open up the aperture to its widest; slow the shutter speed; hold your breath; …and hope!)”

Alan had experimented with similar settings before which saw him win the BSoUP/Diver print competition overseas category at LIDS at the end of March for his cave shot taken at Jackfish Alley July 2008.

2nd Place Valerie Reid

2nd Place Valerie Reid

 Both 2nd & 3rd place were taken by Valerie Reid, both of Valerie’s shots were taken at Ras Mohammed with a Nikon D200 in a Seacam housing with a 10-17mm fish eye zoom lens.

“This was my first time to work with this 10-17mm lens. I really enjoyed the trip – this was my third time with Mark and the Blue Planet Fleet, I will probably join him in November” Valerie stated.

 

3rd Place Valerie Reid

3rd Place Valerie Reid

Mark Webster is holding another workshop to the South & Ras Banas departing 2nd September 2009, for further details and tour factsheet contact us on info@oonasdivers.com

Posted in Competitions, Dive Courses, Special Interest Tours | No Comments »

Dr Erich Ritter’s Shark School

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
Carcharhinus Longimanus

Carcharhinus Longimanus

For the third year in a row, Dr. Erich Ritter’s Sharkschool was again a success with a record number of participants in 2008. Erich had a lot of new information and everyone involved was very pleased with the workshops outcome.

Participants experienced 2-days of up-close encounters with Oceanic White Tips sharks, followed by a nightly lecture about shark behavior and the way they interact. Only by understanding Shark behavior can we understand that these animals are not vicious killers, but beautiful giants that play in an integral role in the sustaining of our oceans eco-systems.

During the 4-day program that was developed by Ritter, the participants learn all they need to know about the behaviour of different species of sharks and how to be a safer diver while diving with them. Key goal of the program is to make the participants aware that there is no such thing as shark attacks, only shark accidents.

There are no dangerous sharks, only dangerous situations, knowingly or unknowingly created by humans because they do not understand shark behavior, Dr Ritter therefore focuses on understanding of shark behaviour. The workshops takes place during the season of the Longimanus on Elphinstone.

During the program you will take 6 dives on Elphinstone, at least one of these dives will be with Dr Ritter or his assistant.

The workshop program covers:

  • Evolution,
  • Biology (senses, mating, birth and juveniles),
  • Ecology & Food Chain
  • Shark-Human Interaction
  • Myths, fears and phobias
  • Long lining, Finning, Nets, Trade & Sales / Stop Finning, Stop Sales
  • Longimanus special

Workshop 1 – 15th- 18th November ,Workshop 2 – 19th – 22nd November, Workshop 3 – 23rd – 26th November, Max. number of participants is 20

If you are interested in joining the 2009 Shark School Workshop at Marsa Shagra then call Oonasdivers on (01323) 648924 and visit the Sharks School website.

Posted in Red Sea Diving Safari - Marsa Shagra, Special Interest Tours | No Comments »

Mark Webster Reviews Marsa Shagra

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

Marsa Shagra

Below is an excerpt taken from this months issue of Underwater Photographer Magazine by our Underwater Photographic Workshop leader Mark Webster. This monthly magazine is free to download and you can subscribe here. Each issue contains trip reports along with hints and tips on camera use as well as a whole host of equipment advice and reviews.

“When this dive operation was first established with only tent accommodation staying here would have been quite rustic. Now the resort has developed significantly and offers four levels of accommodation – two in tents and two in rooms and chalets.

There are still parts of the resort which retain that campsite feel, and there is even a Bedouin café on the beach by the tented section to give you that Lawrence of Arabia feeling in the evening. However, the latest developments provide excellent facilities including a well appointed restaurant with seating inside and an open dining terrace overlooking the bay.”

To read more simply subscribe and download, Mark’s 4 page article can be found starting on page 51.

Posted in Oonasdivers News, Red Sea Diving Safari - Marsa Shagra, Special Interest Tours | No Comments »

Congralulations to Yasser!

Sunday, May 17th, 2009
Pyramids of Cairo with smiling camel!

Pyramids of Cairo with smiling camel!

Congratulations to Yasser Gouda, owner of M.Y. Juliet who can now offer classical and Religious tours with his new venture,  Sky Egypt Tours.

Of course M.Y. Juliet continues to be the very popular northern liveaboard for all you M.Y. Juliet fans out there!

Posted in Non diving activities, Special Interest Tours | No Comments »

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