Contents this month:
• Having trouble viewing this email? View the online version here. |
Hello there! It's not too late to escape the great British summer! Come dive with me. Happy Diving, |
 |
 |
|
NEWS: Whale Sharks in Sharm El Sheikh 
Was this one of the best dives ever in the Egyptian Red Sea? Four massive whale sharks chased a huge bait ball all day long at the Middle-Garden dive site - witnessed by both wide-eyed holiday divers and incredulous dive guides. There are many who will swear that the 30th July 2008 saw the best days diving that they have ever experienced. In the past, two sites have tended to monopolise the apres-dive argument as to which is the best Sinai dive site; Some lucky divers have experienced the thrill of diving with the school of usually shy scalloped hammerhead sharks that congregate at the back of Jackson Reef in the Straits of Tiran. The ultimate hammerhead dive - in the warm summer months - can involve up to 40 of these powerful yet majestic predators. The other contender is the famed Shark Reef at Ras Mohammed, the very tip of the Sinai Peninsular. At its best, Shark Reef can be an incredible place to be with massive schools of barracuda, jacks and snappers and perhaps a silky or gray reef shark sweeping in to feed. 
This year there is competition from the "local" dive site of Middle Garden, just off from the Hyatt Regency Resort and only 1km North of Na'ama Bay. 4 whale sharks were chasing an enormous bait ball that stretched from 5 metres depth down to 22 metres. Young fish, when threatened, can sometimes be corralled by predators into a tight swirling ball that is forced to the surface in order to permit easy pickings - Large bait balls can turn the sea black. Whale sharks are filter feeders that eat plankton and small fish. The shark sucks in huge mouthfuls of water, closes its mouth and expels the water through its gills trapping anything bigger than 2/3mm diameter. Whale sharks can grow up to 12 metres in length, these were between 5 and 8 metres. 
It is assumed that this years exceptionally prolific plankton bloom in the northern Red Sea has brought whale sharks to the area in much larger numbers than in living memory. On the same day whale sharks were also seen just off the beach in Taba - at the northern extremity of the Red Sea. There have also been many more sightings of plankton-eating manta rays than in previous years. These sightings have mainly been on the local sites rather than those further away in Tiran or Ras Mohammed. 
Natalie from Red Sea Diving College said "it was an amazing underwater event, with tuna darting into the bait ball... the whale sharks were all around us and at one point I was in the vortex of the bait ball with millions of fish around me - it was as if the heavens had darkened." Some have claimed recently that the quality of diving in the Red Sea is not what it once was... nonsense... it doesn't get a lot better than this. Thanks to Mark Fraenkel from the 'Red Sea Diving College' for his report, and thanks to Roger Jenkins for allowing us to show his photographs of the day. |
||
 |
 |
|
|
|
SEYCHELLES: Whale Shark monitoring trips 
Keeping with the Whale Shark theme... if we have whetted your appetite for diving with these magnificent fish, then now is the peak whale shark season in the Seychelles. David Rowat has written the following piece on behalf of Marine Conservation Society Seychelles, of which he is president.... "The monitoring programme has been run by the Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS), with support from the Underwater Centre for 10 years and is the only organisation with Governmental approval to conduct research on this protected species in Seychelles waters." 
"The peak season for sightings is from August to the end of October with the programme concentrating on the island of Mahe where most whale sharks are found. We find the sharks using our micro-light aircraft that then directs the monitoring team onto the sharks locations. Micro-light aerial coverage is planned from August to October." "In terms of participation, the logistical support is done through local dive operators; as the Underwater Centre provide their micro-light aircraft free of charge to the programme, when possible we use these facilities (if the sharks stay in the South then we sub-contract facilities through one of the centres in the south). The whale shark trips are essentially run every day during the peak season when the sharks are found in an area we can get boats to; if the sharks are not cooperating by appearing at the surface then we cannot run the trips."
• Contact us and how to book. |
||
|
|
|
|
|
NEWS: Scuba & Travel Insurance from Aquatours 
Aquatours combined 'Travel & Scuba Insurance' has always been great value, but now it is even cheaper and is available to book online - even if you don't book one of our holidays! Can you find Travel Insurance including Scuba Diving cover (30 metre depth limit) any cheaper? Click for an online quote or to buy. Insurance is underwritten by Travel & General. Maximum age limits & Exclusions apply. Only available to UK residents. Please read policy information carefully before purchasing. Depth limit can be increased to 40 metres by paying an additional premium. |
||
|
|
|
|
|
PETE's PAGE: Wrecks - the Best of Both Worlds 
"I don't like wrecks." This has often been the response when I've offered a wreck safari to a new client, so this page is intended to enlighten those who are missing out on a great environment and experience. Having been lucky enough to dive over 1000 different wrecks, from the cold but clear waters of the Farne Islands to the wonders of Truk Lagoon, I can state quite confidently that they have all been a haven of marine life, as well as fascinating insights into the past - with one exception, the Algarve - but that's another story. In forthcoming pages I will wax lyrical about Truk, Palau and even the Maldives, but here is a tour of some of our Red Sea Wrecks' residents. LIONFISH. While the Rosalie Moller has no doubt the biggest lionfish in the Red Sea, my favourite encounters are on the little minesweeper out of Hurghada - they amass around the bow like spiders looking for a web, their quarry thousands of silversides which flow in and out of a cave - which is actually a bomb hole! 
NUDIBRANCHS. Colourful, tiny and elusive, well on the reef maybe, but in the Gulf of Suez they are common place, abundant and huge. Starting with the Zietieh, the Birchwood, and the Scalaria, the bug hunter won't be disappointed and neither will the macro photographer - as we travel north they get even bigger - the grand daddy being the glorious wreck of the S.S. Turkia. She is a shinning example of my argument, but often the nudibranchs are obscured by huge numbers of juvenile yellow fin barracuda. GLASSFISH. Swimming through a swirling mass of glass fish is an amazing experience and a great photo opportunity. The Rosalie Moller is often totally obscured from view as these tiny fish swarm together - often being attacked by marauding jacks and trevally. SOFT CORALS. While the Numidia on the Brothers is an obvious choice, the biggest and most impressive soft corals in Egyptian waters are to be found on the wreck of the El Arish. Her bow thrusters, anchor chains and bulbous nose are simply a forest of red purple and pink soft corals - and the scene extends throughout her 15 metres 
PIRANHA. "Didn't know there were piranha in the Red Sea?", well try telling that to the Sergeant Major's of the Ulysses, because they go through an amazing transformation when approach by scuba divers, how and why? - Come aboard and find out... HOLOTHURIANS. A sea cucumber, and a very unusual one which awaits the night divers on the Thistlegorm. Dive into her holds and find them - they are lime green - a colour thought to have been caused by the copper content in the wreck. REEF FISH. I have to mention for a second time the S.S. Turkia, sitting upright in a vast desert of sand - you want fish - here they are! And so my page is up - I've skimmed the surface and had to omit many of the characters that make these wrecks a living entity as well as a time capsule. They offer you the very best of both worlds - join our next wreck safari (several are mentioned on this news letter) - you will be amazed! • Click to visit our Red Sea Wreck Directory. |
||
|
|
|
|
|
SPECIAL OFFERS: Maldives
Ark Royal - Brand New live-aboard dive boat Prices are based on 2 people sharing room. • Contact us and how to book. |
||
|
|
|
|
|
SPECIAL OFFERS: Red Sea Live-aboards Not sure about live-aboards? ...not sure if an escorted trip is for you? ...not sure that you'll like wreck diving (you'll LOVE it!). 
Boat: HYATT. Boat: HYATT. 
Boat: HYATT. Our live-aboard trips include flights, taxes, airport transfers, full board, soft drinks and all diving with tank, air & weights supplied. • Information on Hyatt boat. |
||
|
|
|
|
|
SPECIAL OFFER: Maldives 2-week live-aboard 
Upon guest requests and the great success of their first 2 week trip onboard the Safari Boat 'Sheena' in July 2008, Aquatours are pleased to inform you about the next exclusive 14 day tour departing in 2009. • 22 March '09 until 04 April '09. The itinerary will include the most southerly lying and almost untouched reefs of the Maldives. Unexplored reefs, thilas and kandus in the Meemu Atoll, Thaa Atoll, Laamu and Gaafu Alifu Atoll! One particular adrenaline rush during this safari is the channel crossing "one and a Half Degree Channels" (Huvadhoo Kandu) - a broad expanse of water separating the Laamu Atoll and Gaafu Alifu Atolls. This is where you get Maldivian Diving at its best! 
White tips, Gray Reef Sharks, Napoleon Wrasse, Eagle Rays, Mantas, Leopard and Nurse sharks, schooling Tuna, Barracuda, and Thilas with beautiful un spoilt hard corals are just some of the fantastic marine life and flora you can expect to see. Don't let the opportunity to reserve one of the highly demanded spots on this exclusive safari pass you by! • Departing London on Saturday 21st March 2009. £2,676 per person, sharing a twin/double cabin. 
Additional nights maybe arranged for you to extend the trip and stay on the beautiful island of Medhufushi. Please ask for a quotation. • Information on Sheena boat. |
||
|
|
|
|
|
SPECIAL OFFER: 'Families have Fun & Learn together!' 
Families - Learn to dive together and Save ££'s! We know that Summer holidays are expensive for families, so why not learn to scuba dive together this summer and save money on the cost of PADI course fee's and materials. We are offering 10% discount on all PADI 'learn to dive' courses and accompanying PADI materials when 3 or more family members book together. This offer applies to new bookings, for travel before October 2008. • View our PADI course info. |
||
|
|
|
|
|
CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR: Jordan Don't leave it too late to book for Christmas & New Year! We still have several dates available for holidays to Jordan, but these will sell out very quickly - and hotels become full - it's only a matter of time, so don't miss out! Fri 19 December: 14 nights duration. From £1081 per person. 
Right: One of the sights of Jordan; the ancient city of Petra. You could just spend a week in Aqaba for diving, or could combine some diving with touring of the main historic & natural sights that Jordan has to offer. • View our Jordan pages for more info on this destination. • Contact us and how to book. |
||
|
|
Aquatours Ltd. Tel: 020 8398 0505 www.aquatours.com
Web Design & Marketing by Steve @ Nautilus Web.