Where is the best place to book a scuba diving holiday?
I’m based in London and have just got my PADI Openwater Diver Cert. I’m keen for me and a buddy to go on a diving break – but don’t know the best way to go about it. Are there any London clubs that organise such trips (either in or outside the UK) or any holiday companies that specialise in diving jaunts? Or is it better to get a standard hoilday to a scuba resort (i.e. Sharm El Sheikh) and organise the dive trip when I’m there?
You can get some really good bargains in Egypt on the Red Sea coast at this time of year. There are several diving holiday organisations which arrange trips. I have used Tony Backhurst Scuba (web site at www.scuba.co.uk) many times. They cater for both experienced & inexperienced divers. You could even go for your Advanced Open Water cert whilst you are there as this consists mainly of experience dives with only a tiny bit of additional bookwork- practical stuff rather than theory. Personally, I would arrange my diving before going to be sure you can get booked in. You can also chat to them here about the sort of diving you want to do etc etc before you go. There are many many other places you can go around the world but Egypt is pretty jacked up for divers with some very good prices too. The groups going there are mainly divers so the airlines etc are very familiar with diving equipment luggage etc. If you want to go as part of a bigger group then best to contact your local dive centres- or the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC) has clubs just about everywhere-their web site is www.bsac.com & you will be able to get details of all the clubs in your area.
taba the red sea
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ebay
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I know of several scuba clubs in Northern England, but none in the south…but certainly, they’re out there. I am quite sure that they would be able to direct you to a great destination best suited for your current skill level. I know my cousins used to go to Minorca (Menorca) for diving, but they’ve got quite a few dives under their belt, so I’m not sure if it’s good for you personally.
Hopefully, you’re pretty comfortable in the water…meaning, after a few minutes of "holy cow" and adjusting to new surroundings, you’ll get to enjoy what the dive site has to offer – without being completely overwhelmed with time left, depth, etc. (but certainly, be aware)
Red Sea, as another answerer mentioned, might be good…but I’ve been hearing reports of warming killing off a lot of the coral there…and where there’s no coral…no fish. I live in the US now, and haven’t met anyone that could tell me the inside divers story. So this is where a dive group/club would be handy. It’s a great way to glean info for destinations, gear, etc.
I’d contact a local dive shop, and inquire about local clubs they know of (and they will).
Should you consider a trip across the pond, I recommend the drift diving in Cozumel Mexico (off the Yucatan Penninsula, across from Cancun). Their marine park is fairly well preserved (minimal hurricane damage), lots of fish, but not so many big animals. Diving is easy, & the staff is usually friendly. Water is warm (1.5mm wetsuit, max! needed) , vis is usually pretty good 100 ft +. DO NOT GO IN JUNE through late AUGUST. Not unless you like ungodly heat. Best time to go, I found, was around easter. 18 trips there. Yep, I like it.
Have fun! Hope you enjoy your trip.
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me, former dive instructor (read: educated rookie) who travelled quite a bit before I bought the money pit.
I scuba diving in Kauai, Hawaii because there many exotic fish and there is B.E.A-utiful scenery.
Hope this helps 😉
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You can get some really good bargains in Egypt on the Red Sea coast at this time of year. There are several diving holiday organisations which arrange trips. I have used Tony Backhurst Scuba (web site at http://www.scuba.co.uk) many times. They cater for both experienced & inexperienced divers. You could even go for your Advanced Open Water cert whilst you are there as this consists mainly of experience dives with only a tiny bit of additional bookwork- practical stuff rather than theory. Personally, I would arrange my diving before going to be sure you can get booked in. You can also chat to them here about the sort of diving you want to do etc etc before you go. There are many many other places you can go around the world but Egypt is pretty jacked up for divers with some very good prices too. The groups going there are mainly divers so the airlines etc are very familiar with diving equipment luggage etc. If you want to go as part of a bigger group then best to contact your local dive centres- or the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC) has clubs just about everywhere-their web site is http://www.bsac.com & you will be able to get details of all the clubs in your area.
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Try Explorers.
If you want a real scuba diving experience then you should go to Sharm el Sheikh.
I was down there in Christmas 2005 and it was absolutely wonderful. Some of the dive sites in the Red Sea are out of this world.
The Red Sea is the nearest Tropical Ocean to the UK and in the winter the temperature is 22 degrees centigrade rising to 29 degrees centrigrade in the summer. The best time of year to go down there is during the winter. It averaged about 25 degrees centigrade when I was last there. In the summer it can get very hot. Often 45 degrees centigrade or higher!!
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http://www.explorers.co.uk/
I went diving when i was in the Cayman Islands and it was awesome
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In terms of beauty of the environment, I would definitely say the Caribbean (Cancun, Cozumel, etc.)
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I know you’re based in London – but there is an excellent dive centre in St Albans who have regular trips to Sharm – there is one in early Feb and they organise your flights, accomodation and diving for about £600 for a week. I went with them last year and they are an actual diving club – very friendly. There were about 16 of us in the end. They also use the best diving centre in sharm (red-sea-diving college) so you can be assured that you’ll have the best service when you are there.
Their website is http://www.rec-n-tec.co.uk
They recently had a review in sport diver by the way.
Happy Diving!
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Would suggest Red Sea Diving College in Sharm el Sheikh or better suited to beginners, their sister company Red Sea Waterworld in Taba Heights. Both are in Sinai Egypt and Red Sea College has won the award for Best Diving Centre in the World for the last 4 consecutive years by readers of Diver magazine (UK Market). Longwood Holidays and Peltours both offer holidays to these resorts.