Dive in Style

A Fish(er) in Water

2012-02-07T02:03:00.000-08:00

It is difficult to ignore the fact that myname very conveniently mirrors my fascination and love of the marine world!Coincidence? Or perhaps some deep-rooted, inherited subconscious and thereforeinevitable? Either way, water has played a prominent part in my life frombottoms-up in rock pools as a toddler to learning to dive at the age of twelveto a degree in Marine Biology.

Over the last few years I have taken asmuch time as possible outside study to explore both above and below the water. Whatis so exciting to me and particularly with diving is that you have never seenit all and no dive is the same (and in a lot of cases even vaguely similar).This summer I spent some time in Central Americawhich is a perfect example of the sheer variety. While one day I was diving inthe crystal clear waters of Mexico’s Cenotes, weaving in and out of stalactitesand stalagmites, just a few days later I was surrounded by what seemed likemillions of black tip sharks and a hammerhead (huge bonus as this was virtuallynumber one on my must-see list!) off the coast of Belize. The possibilities areendless and this in itself makes diving all the more thrilling.

After my first three weeks at Dive in Style, I have come to learn that this, in fact, could not be more true: lots ofexciting destinations and many more to discover. So far I have been writing uplots of itineraries - very useful for getting to know some of our destinations whilealso making me very envious, working on the social media side of things andresearch for new and exciting trips soon to be added to our repertoire.

Having had a small taster of Original Travel life at the Christmas party in December, and now a full three weeks,there is no doubt that it is a great place to work. With constant games ofrock, paper, scissors to see who makes the tea and music playing in the background(arrival of ipod speakers today very exciting – Magic FM has a very limitedplaylist!) there is a lot of fun to be had. Having said this, Neill’s obsessionwith Prince could prove rather testing!

Dive in Style – the First Full Year

2012-01-06T01:22:00.000-08:00

Neill, head of Dive in Style, looks back at the company’s first full year and forward to an exciting 2012.

As we steam ahead into 2012 I thought it important to pause for a minute to look back at the past year to think about the things we have achieved (or failed to achieve!) in the first full year of Dive in Style’s existence (we launched in April 2010).

We are still a very young company and as we, along with every other small business, try to navigate a difficult economic environment I think we can be proud of what we have been able to achieve in a short space of time. Dramatic growth in sales and the building of a solid and loyal customer base mean we, along with our parent company, Original Travel, are bucking the trend and long may that continue.

What am I most proud of looking back at the year? Without a doubt the quality of the relationships we have been able to develop with our clients – we aim to deliver the best service of any tour operator out there and I hope our clients feel we are succeeding!

There are things that we haven’t been able to achieve – the new website is still being developed (it is nearly here I promise!), which is frustrating and my big trip to Papua New Guinea has not generated as many bookings as I would hope (come on, it’s amazing!) but overall the victories far outweigh the defeats.

Looking to the year ahead, I am even more excited than I was this time last year. We have a solid base of customers to build on, we have a new member of staff starting next week (welcome Louisa), the new website, an exciting new line of adventure trips to release (watch this space...) and much more. Bring on the rest of 2012!

Twenty Years in the Turks and Caicos

2011-11-16T04:05:00.000-08:00

Dive in Style founder Tim Simond shares some of his thoughts on the Turks and Caicos Islands, a remote Caribbean chain he has visited many times over the past two decades.

Twenty years ago these scraps of low lying scrub were an almost forgotten relic of the British Colonial Empire, indeed the first cars only appeared in these islands a little over 40 years ago; truly, the forgotten Caribbean when I first discovered them longer ago than I care to recall! Since that time there has been an explosion of development, some of it reckless and ill conceived, but there are still remote pockets that host some of the best white sand beaches and azure waters you could hope to find.

Twenty years ago, as you sped across the miles of shallow sandbanks to the best dive sites, French Cay, Sand Bore Channel and West Sand Spit, your boat would cleave through a carpet of eagle rays feasting on the shallow conchs. Needless to say, the conchs are now all fished out and so the eagle rays have retreated to deeper waters but they are still regular visitors.

Grace Bay is home to a legion of excellent resorts, such as the lovely Point Grace, fronting onto a relatively busy but perfect strand of white sand regularly voted amongst the world’s top ten, but if you want something more removed from the mainstream then Amanyara has the answer with the local dive boat often picking you up right from the beach. Venture a little further afield and really get away from it all at the Meridian Club on Pine Cay, a 15-minute boat ride from Big Blue, the islands premier dive operation, or if diving is less important, the more distant celeb filled Parrot Cay.

As to the diving, the principle thrill here is wall diving with the reefs dropping away thousands of feet beneath you where you will find green and hawksbill turtles, eagle rays, grey reef sharks, the occasional great hammerhead and even the fast disappearing goliath grouper; over the twenty years I have visited the islands, I have seen them all here. Add in Jo Jo the local friendly Dolphin who often seeks out the company of humans, and even the possibility of a passing humpback whale or whale shark and you have some of the best diving in the Caribbean.

Extraordinary Snorkelling Expeditions

2011-11-02T06:04:00.000-07:00

Controversial as it may sound from dive experts, we believe that you can often get as much pleasure from snorkelling as you can from diving. In fact, sometimes snorkelling is the best way to view the underwater world. With this in mind we have been researching the globe for original and exciting snorkelling trips and here are some of the best we have found:

Blue whales in Sri Lanka
From late April to early June, the largest animal to have ever graced the earth, the blue whale, can be found in the waters off Sri Lanka. With the help of expert guides, spotter planes and a little bit of luck, you can get in the water with these giants, measuring up to 100ft. Combine the whales with some exploration on land in this fascinating country and you have the makings of a very special holiday.

Humpback whales in the Caribbean
Every year from January to March, humpback whales come to Silver Banks in the Dominican Republic to give birth to their young. Snorkelling while a mother and calf swim below you is breathtaking. Whether you charter your own supremely luxurious boat and crew or join a scheduled trip, this is special. And why not add on some diving, rest and relaxation on the Turks and Caicos at the end of the trip to recover?

Leopard seals in Antarctica
There aren’t many trips more exciting than a trip to Antarctica. February and March is the time for encounters with leopard seals and you can both dive and snorkel with these beautiful creatures. They may look menacing with their big teeth but if you are sensible you can safely have a lot of fun with them in the water. Then of course there is the stunning scenery of Antarctica to enjoy.

Whale sharks worldwide
There are a few places around the world where you can be virtually guaranteed encounters with the largest fish in the sea, the whale shark. From East Africa and East Asia to the Caribbean and Indian Ocean, if you know where to look (and we do) you can jet off for a snorkelling trip with these gentle ocean giants.

These are just a few of the extraordinary snorkelling trips we can now organise with our swiftly growing network of expert guides from around the world. Even the most adventurous of divers will be thrilled by these adventures.

New Trips Uncovered

2011-09-19T09:47:00.000-07:00

At Dive in Style, we spend our lives researching new and exciting destinations so you don't have to. We will soon be launching a new website with lots of new trips but here's a taster of what's to come. These trips are perfect whether you want to dive, snorkel, or just relax.

Mo untains and Reefs in Papua New Guinea
Mention that you are planning a trip to Papua New Guinea and you will likely be met either with a blank stare followed by the question, “is that in Africa?” or warnings about marauding cannibals. This is truly one of the least explored parts of the world; invest the effort in getting there however and you are in for a treat. Not only is it home to some of the world’s best diving, but the fascinating culture found in the interior of the country is worth the trip alone.

Private Dive Safari in Oman
Still an unspoilt gem in the Middle East away from the crowds that flock to the Red Sea. Stunning desert scenery and a coastline that is home to some fascinating diving. How about a completely private desert and diving safari onboard your own private yacht and private tented camps that redefine the meaning of the world camping? This is a completely unique way to see the country.

Private Island Luxury in the Philippines
Traditionally, the Philippines is not thought of as a luxury destination. It used to be that if you wanted to dive the best spots in the country that you had to make do with a fairly average resort. Well this is no more. The very best hotel to stay at is the stylish Amanpulo on the island of Pamalican. And if you want something completely different, the brand new private island of Ariara in Palawan offers small groups the opportunity to enjoy their own little slice of paradise.

Remote Eastern Indonesia
While there remains a lot for travellers to explore in better known parts of the Indonesian Archipelago such as Bali and Lombok; for divers and those in search of real adventure, it is to the east that all of the action is to be found. From luxury liveaboard dive adventures in search of the dragons and manta rays of Komodo National Park to the far eastern reaches of the country around Sulawesi and West Papua, this is one of the foremost diving regions in the world and is still relatively untouched by tourism.

The Secret Bahamas
Think of the Bahamas and normally visions of high rise American style hotels come to mind. Look a little deeper however and you can find some real gems. To prove it, we sent our company founder there last month and he came back having found what he claims to be the best all-round resort in the Caribbean (and this from a man who has been travelling there for years). It’s called Fowl Cay and consists of just six villas. What’s more, you get a private speedboat for the duration of your stay which you can use to explore the incredible diving and snorkelling that awaits in the waters around the resort.

Papua New Guinea - The Final Frontier

2011-06-16T04:19:00.000-07:00

Tell most people you are planning a trip to Papua New Guinea and there are likely to be two initial reactions; the first, and most likely response will be a blank stare followed by the question “is that in Africa?”, and the second will likely be “don’t they eat people there?”. “No” and “no” should be the response.

It is just such mystery and misunderstanding that surrounds this fascinating country that prompted me to head out there to see for myself last month. What I found is one of the most fascinating countries I have been to.

Forming one half of the second largest island in the world (after Greenland) to the north of Australia and stretching from Indonesia in the West out into the Pacific in the East, this vast country has a huge amount to offer travellers that want something exciting and adventurous.

For many people, the reason to travel to Papua New Guinea is the world-class diving to be found in the waters surrounding both the mainland and the island provinces. These waters are widely acclaimed as being some of the most diverse and pristine diving environments in the world. And I can assure you it doesn’t disappoint.

The biggest draw is the diversity; the Coral Triangle, in which the country is located, has both the highest coral, and highest reef fish diversity in the world. Almost regardless of what you are looking for as a diver, you will find it here, from the pristine coral of Walindi in West New Britain, the strong currents and big fish at Kavieng in New Ireland or the WWII wrecks of Rabaul in East New Britain.

Add into the mix crystal clear water and the fact that you are almost guaranteed to be the only people at each dive site, and you have everything you need for a diving holiday the likes of which it is very hard to find anywhere in the world today.

But it’s not just the diving that draws people to Papua New Guinea; what you find on land is equally fascinating, and again, it’s all about diversity, both in terms of people and wildlife.

There are over 800 active languages spoken today and in each different part of the country you can experience completely different cultures and traditions that are still felt and lived more strongly than nearly anywhere on the planet, largely because it’s only relatively recently that much of the country was explored by outsiders.

The mountainous inland of the country called the Highlands remained completely untouched until the 1930s until three Australian brothers went looking for gold and found one million people living there. Some areas remained untouched until as late as the 1960s. There’s so much to explore here and any trip to Papua New Guinea should include some of the cultural highlights if possible.

And then there is the wildlife. The biggest draw is the birds and twitchers will have a field day with the country being home to 38 of the 43 known species of the stunning Bird of Paradise. The country is still so remote and unexplored that many undiscovered species of plants and animals are thought to exist in the interior.

Admittedly it’s a long way from the UK, but with an increasing number of flights from Singapore direct to the capital, Port Moresby, it’s not that much further than, say, a trip to Bali. And what lies in store for the visitor is a travel experience like no other.

I could keep writing and writing but I must stop. Get in touch to find out more.

Meet the Bunny Fish

2011-04-01T03:28:00.000-07:00

Yes it may seem strange at first, but with fish out there called batfish, squirrel fish, rabbitfish and lionfish to name a few, this is just another one to add to the list. Recently discovered off the coast of Easter Island, in the southern Pacific Ocean, scientists are eagerly trying to work out if it shares any traits with the carrot loving creatures we are more familiar with on land.

Russian marine biologist Alastairovitch Poulainovski and his team of scientists discovered this, what they believe to be a new species, during a period of dives off Easter Island. At first they couldn’t believe their eyes. “It’s unusual to see a fish hopping along the sea floor and at first we thought the nitrogen from all our continuous diving was playing tricks on our minds...” Delving a little further they realised that it is indeed a new species and policies are underway to add it to the native pacific-ocean species list.

Artist's impression (Slavic Wolf) of the bunny fish.

Strangers of the Deep

2011-03-23T04:06:00.000-07:00

Most of us are familiar with the television programmes exploring the deep blue sea and unearthing strange, often sometimes alien like creatures such as anglerfish or the deep sea squid.

What most of us don’t know however is that you don’t have to be part of a BBC research team to get up close and personal with these weird and wonderful creatures. All you need to do is dive (or even snorkel!)

Here we take a look at some of the strangest critters out there and where you can go to find them…

Take a trip to Australia, (but not to the Great Barrier Reef) and you may just stumble across a Leafy Sea Dragon. Found from Kangaroo Island in the south, to Julien Bay in the west, its name is derived from its resemblance to the mythical dragon. Covered with lobes of skin that give camouflage by making it appear like a piece of floating seaweed, they are mainly found between 4 and 15m of water.
Strange fact: Leafy Sea Dragons have no teeth. They are also officially protected by the Federal Government of Australia.

Located a bit closer to home, Frogfish are found in almost all subtropical and tropical oceans around the world (except the Mediterranean) however your best bet to find them is in the north-east of Sulawesi, where scuba divers have already found nine different species. These stocky, plump, high-backed, non streamlined fish are not the most attractive on a reef, but there’s something weirdly captivating about them that almost makes you feel sorry for them, like this one taken off the waters from Amanpulo in the Philippines Archipelago.
Strange fact: Frogfish can expand their stomachs to swallow animals up to twice their size.

The ribbon eel is sometimes thought to be angry or aggressive, because its mouth is often open, appearing ready to strike. In reality, the eel is simply breathing. Easily recognised by its expanded nostril on top of its mouth, juveniles are jet black with a yellow dorsal fin, while females are yellow with a black anal fin with white margins, and adult males are blue with a yellow dorsal fin and face. Find them while staying at the spoling Amanwana, to the east of Bali.

Strange fact: The males of this species can change sex to become females.

A lot more exotic than your usual sea cucumber, the Sea Apple is found living on coral reefs in Indo-Pacific waters and Palau. These remarkable creatures feed on plankton mainly at night time to prevent predators from attacking their tentacles.
Strange fact: When stressed, Sea Apples can release their internal organs and sometimes a toxin too into the water.

The ocean sunfish, or Mola Mola, is native to tropical and temperate waters around the globe. Resembling a fish head with a tail, with a flattened body, they can be as tall as they are long. Find these strange but peaceful creatures at Amankila.

Strange fact: Despite their large size, their diet consists mainly of jellyfish.

Sea dragon photo: divegallery.com
Sea apple photo: wikipedia

Interning in Style

2011-02-09T09:03:00.000-08:00

Amber, intern extraordinaire looks back on her time so far at Dive in Style and discusses what it’s like to be an intern here.

Firstly, I can’t believe it’s already been five months! Having never worked in the travel industry before, I’ve loved learning about new destinations and ways of working; the fact that Dive in Style is still in start-up phase makes it even more interesting.

The team behind Dive in Style clearly have a passion for travel and for making sure that clients have the best experience possible and it’s great to be a part of that. Being a member of a small team has a lot of advantages; I have been able to work on a variety of projects with a greater degree of independence than I would get elsewhere.

So, what are the most enjoyable parts of my job? I’ve enjoyed creating holiday itineraries, but this is twinned with jealousy over the luxurious and mainly tropical destinations that our clients’ visit, and whilst not normally a very technical person, I think the project I’ve enjoyed the most is getting involved in social media. From Facebook and twitter, to YouTube and regular blogging, I’ve really enjoyed interacting with so many different people online (I hope that doesn’t sound too geeky!) It’s a great way to get our message out and we even made a booking through twitter!

The other project I’ve really enjoyed is defining our responsible tourism strategy. As a marine biologist with a passion for marine conservation, this is right up my street. The project is still in the pipeline at the moment, but I’m hoping that in a few months we will be able to reveal to our clients’ the exciting opportunities that lie ahead, but until then I’ll have to keep this quiet…

As with every job, there are ups and downs and I’m going to be honest in saying there are some things that I don’t enjoy doing as much as others! Finding flights for clients can be quite stressful, especially to more distant destinations, but I’m lucky that so far I’ve only made one round of tea for the office!

Having worked previously in the city, there are stark contrasts between these offices, and I have to say, I prefer this one hands down – the radio is on, the team is great fun, one of the founders of Original Travel’s dog is sitting on my lap, (another one just did a wee on the floor near my desk!), and home is just a short walk down the road (which makes the work drink sessions easier)!

New Year, New Dive in Style

2011-02-02T03:02:00.000-08:00

In an ongoing series of blogs about what it’s like to launch and run a new business (it’s been a while since the last one though!) Neill, head of Dive in Style, looks back at 2010 and ahead to what 2011 might have in store.

It’s now been just under 10 months since we launched Dive in Style. Built on the success of the best-selling book Dive in Style and being part of award-winning Original Travel, I had a bit of a head-start on most people launching and running a new business and I think this leg up (thanks Tim and OT!) has been a great help in establishing a business all involved can be proud of.

Looking back at 2010, I am surprised by what we have been able to achieve; a level of sales that surpasses what I expected (I must admit I had visions of myself sitting at my desk willing the phone to ring!), the successful launch of exciting new products and a sense that we are building relationships with clients that will continue to grow, are just some of the highlights.

There have been failures too; we have not yet launched in America as we had hoped, and I think we still have some way to go to perfect our product and the information we provide to clients (‘perfect’ is probably an unattainable ambition) but overall I think we have moved quickly in the right direction.

We have lots of exciting plans for this year: a new website that allows us to better showcase our product (definitely coming), an app for the iPhone and iPad that could be really special (hopefully coming, needs funding!) and the development of some really unique and exciting new trips for clients as we find the time to get out there and explore new areas of interest. This final point is really important as we must keep the service and products we offer our clients innovative and interesting.

I am really excited about what 2011 has in store. There are certainly challenges, not least of which is the need to balance dealing with sales and enquiries and doing enough marketing to make sure that enquiries keep coming in once you have dealt with the ones on your plate right now (a challenge for all small businesses)! But I’m confident that with a bit more hard work we have a successful and exciting year in store.

Walking in Old Footsteps (and some diving…)

2011-01-06T08:43:00.000-08:00

I am not really an outdoor pursuits kind of person, but standing at the top of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, I couldn’t have been more excited. I was about to become one of the few privileged people to track the mountain gorillas in Uganda.

Crawling through the undergrowth, monkeys and parrots above, biting ants at our ankles, we knew we were soon to be face-to-face with our ancestors.

A cloud of flies and the noise of branches snapping were the first clues that we had found them, but nothing could have prepared me for the moment the guide peeled back some vegetation revealing a massive silverback taking a nap. We spent an hour with the gorillas; my favourite was a playful teenager they call “King Kong” who at one point looked like he might attack before being swatted away by one of the elder gorillas they call the “Peacekeeper”.

As well as the gorillas, Uganda has some other hidden gems, and has the benefit of being less touristy than neighbouring Kenya. White river rafting the Nile in Jinja through rapids worryingly named things like Dead Dutchman, and watching lions climb trees (amazing) are just a couple of the highlights that have made Uganda a favourite of mine.

The only box left for me to tick on this holiday was to dive, and a week on Diani Beach down the coast from Mombasa was the place to do it. A deep dive surrounded by barracuda, with morays poking their heads out of the cracks was a good start. The day before a group had seen a whale shark and manta rays at this site but no such luck for me (again).

Having not been in the water for a while this was a good start. I only had time for one more but it was a goodie, with Eagle Rays, Lionfish and all manner of life darting amongst the corals. The visibility was great, the water warm and while this was perhaps not the best diving I have ever done, I loved it all the same. The fresh coconut and mango in the surface interval probably helped!

If you’re thinking of diving in East Africa, do think about combining it with the gorillas.

Oman Desert and Diving Adventure

2010-12-30T04:21:00.000-08:00

Nothing quite beats diving when no-one else is around and it is exactly that prospect that saw me heading to the Sultanate of Oman before Christmas on a research trip (or glorified holiday!).

First stop was the Musandam Peninsula, a tiny part of Oman separated from the main country by the UAE, where I spent three nights at the stunning Zighy Bay. As you approach the hotel over the mountains you realise how remote this part of Oman is as you see nothing but pink-hued cliffs dropping into the ocean. The hotel itself couldn’t be more inviting – a rustic yet luxurious hideaway; a place to really get away from it.

And beneath the waves, the sea is teaming with life. This is due to the large amount of plankton in these waters which lowers the visibility but brings more life. So much so that the week before I arrived, the elusive whale shark had been playing with the divers for two days (no such luck for me – I am sure they are avoiding me!).

Unfortunately all of the decent dive sites are about 45 minutes by fast boat from the marina as the red tide (red plankton that takes the oxygen out of the water) has damaged the reefs close by. Not to fear though as the brand new dive centre and team are well equipped to get you out to the best sites in comfort. The best thing about it? No-one around for miles – this still felt like adventure diving which is becoming more and more rare.

From the Musandam, I travelled to Muscat to try out the diving there. Again, much like the Musandam, the visibility was not great but the fish life certainly was. And a great wreck dive at Bandar Kheyran, swimming in pitch dark through the hull with just my dive buddy for company was an unforgettable experience. Unfortunately due to choppy conditions, I couldn’t make it to the Daymaniyat Islands, which are the jewel in the crown of diving in Oman. I will have to save that for my next trip!

While in Muscat I stayed at the Chedi which is a stylish and beautiful hotel, very different to Zighy Bay but just as special. If you visit, just wait until nightfall when the place comes alive with fire and light the likes of which I have not come across at other hotels.

Another reason for the trip to Oman (other than a well-deserved holiday) was to check out a new trip where people can have the ultimate private diving experience from private yachts and luxury tented camps on the desert coast around Muscat. Watch this space for a unique and exclusive trip…

The Best Diving in the Med?

2010-12-08T09:38:00.000-08:00

Having dived a few times in the Med, I have never been particularly impressed. So it was with a mixture of excitement and a small dose of pessimism that I travelled to the tiny island of Gozo next to Malta. I had heard great things and wanted to find out for myself.

So, after work on Thursday I made my way to Heathrow to catch a delayed flight to Malta. The delay meant I missed my ferry from Malta to Gozo and I didn’t arrive at my hotel until 5am. Not a great start to the trip considering I had to be up at 8.30am to go diving.

All was forgotten when I got into the water for the first dive; a wreck called MV Karwela that lies in around 40m of water off the south coast of Gozo. We had originally tried to get to Dwejra to dive the Inland Sea and Blue Hole, two of Gozo’s most famous sites but work on the roads stopped us. Again, this didn’t matter as we descended down to the Karwela with 40m visibility and not a diver in sight. After several minutes exploring the wreck we came up to about 10m where we spent a while playing with some very friendly cuttlefish.

Next up was a dive in Xlendi Bay where I got to sample another Gozitan speciality, cave diving. Again, it didn’t disappoint as the underwater scenery was stunning.

When I wasn’t diving I spent my time checking out farmhouses and hotels that Dive in Style clients might like. I found some fantastic properties suitable for people whether they want a bit of 5-star pampering, or a secluded break in a private villa for families and friends. I think families in particular would like this trip as it’s easy to get to and the parents can dump the kids with a babysitter while they go out diving.

Great diving, three hours flight from the UK, accommodation to suit most tastes and great food (I particularly liked the Gozitan speciality of deep fried goat’s cheese) make this a fabulous little island. Add to this almost guaranteed sunshine and warmth from April to November and it’s a winner. I shall return!

Taking the Plunge – Two Perspectives on Learning to Dive

2010-12-02T06:23:00.000-08:00

Neill, Head of Dive in Style, and Amber, Intern Extraordinaire recount their very different experiences of learning to dive.

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Amber
I’m an Aquarius so water is in my blood and I couldn’t wait to get qualified and take the plunge. So aged 16, I teamed up with a local PADI centre to get qualified. I spent the following two weekends in a classroom and in the local pool completing all the pool and theory work.

The fact that I was standing on the edge of a slightly dilapidated pool in an oversized t-shirt (I think it had Garfield on it!) feeling a little self-conscious disappeared as soon as I took that giant stride into the pool and took my first underwater breath.

Despite sounding like Darth Vader, the moment I was in the water, all the heavy equipment became weightless and I loved every second of it. My instructors were fantastic at making sure everyone was happy and performing their skills to the standard expected, and all of the classroom theory became worth it.

Then came the open water bit. Let’s just say I wouldn’t recommend diving in Portsmouth in November in a wetsuit! One good thing I suppose is that after that experience is that it makes all the wonderful ones I have had since even better.

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Neill
My first experience of diving was very different to Amber’s. I was on a boat on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia on Boxing Day 1998. Asked if I wanted to try a dive, I immediately said yes. Three of us were taken down to a bar beneath the boat and told to hold on so see whether we liked the sensation of being underwater. The two other people I was with had a few problems but I had never felt more comfortable. And so it began.

As soon as I got back to dry land I signed up to do my Open Water and Advanced in Airlie Beach on the Whitsundays. The sun was shining, the visibility was great, there was incredible coral and marine life everywhere, and to top it all off I developed a childish crush on my ex-model instructor. I dread to think how she felt about the chubby 18 year-old hanging on her every word.

Each dive was better than the next and the Advanced, which I completed on a liveaboard, was amazing. The only slightly negative of the whole thing were the post-qualification celebrations back on dry-land which, in typical Brit-in-Oz style ended up horribly debauched.

So my first experiences of diving set the scene for the last 12 years of obsessive diving, and I haven’t looked back.

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Dive in Style is offering a Free PADI Open Water Course to all clients booking a trip before the end of April 2011 for travel in 2011. Terms and conditions apply.

Looking for the next big thing

2010-11-17T01:38:00.000-08:00

Imagine a place where going from Italy to Tanzania takes about three minutes. No, this is not a futuristic time machine, but rather the phenomenon that is the World Travel Market.

Held throughout last week at the ExCel Centre (which TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson once described as “so far to the East of London that it might as well be in Poland”) the scale of this place has to be seen to be believed.

It’s here where all industry players stand under one roof (albeit a giant roof!) – from over 5,000 exhibitors to 50,000 travel industry professionals. As a new company, we thought that Dive in Style should also go and check it out to meet with the people we already work with, but also (and perhaps more importantly) to find new and interesting destinations that might be of interest to clients.

Indeed, our two outings didn’t disappoint, and we have a few new ideas up our sleeves. Some of the standout destinations we are considering include:

· A couple of stunning East African diving destinations, such as a stunning lodge off the northern coast of Kenya, and another made up of tree houses on Mafia Island, off Zanzibar; environmentally friendly, unique and a great place to spot whale shark!

· If your looking for something really adventurous, how about a liveaboard in the Antarctic – encounters with leopard seals would surely be unforgettable?!

· If the idea of ice diving isn’t for you, then a trip to the azure archipelago of Los Roques off the coast of Venezuela could be another option;

· Then there’s Samoa and Tonga and all the diving possibilities that these South Pacific Islands hold.

The list could go on and on as we are always on the lookout for new and exciting destinations. If you can think of any that you have been to or would like to go to, please get in touch as we always like to chat.

In the meantime, we are back at our desks, armed to the brim with brochures and business cards, and also the rather strange memory of meeting the ‘World’s Smallest Man,’ an unusual marketing strategy at the stand for Nepal, trying to make these exciting projects a reality. Dive in Style could soon be expanding, so watch this space…

Leopard seal: National Science Foundation

Tim's Top Picks: Winter Diving

2010-11-08T09:08:00.000-08:00

Tim Simond, author of best-selling Dive in Style shares his top picks for holiday destinations to escape the UK winter to the world’s most stylish dive destinations.

As your garden begins to pile up with dead leaves, the trees begin to bare their branches and you question whether you can last another evening without the heating on, what better time to turn dreams of sunny climes and azure seas into a reality? The magic of flight - whereby you enter a metallic silver tube in freezing conditions and emerge 8 hours later blinking in 30 degree heat - is a transformation we often take for granted. With UK temperatures today hitting freezing, it’s time to get that essential dose of winter sun in the diary. So where would I want to go to escape the extreme British winter? Here are my top five picks for exceptional diving and stylish accommodation....

Peter Island, British Virgin Islands
With one of the world’s best climates and longest seasons, endless white sand beaches and perfect turquoise hued waters, what is there not to like about the Caribbean? Add to this political stability, the sub-zero crime rate of a private island and world-class wreck dive of HMS Rhone and the result is Peter Island in the British Virgin Islands. This large private island has a superb spa for après-dive, private villas to rent and its own harbour; a two minute walk from breakfast to the dive boat.

Amanpulo, Philippines
Amazingly, this is still a real secret and one well worth discovering in the depths of the UK winter. Occupying its own private island and surrounded by a sensational and scarcely believable fine white powdery beach, one of the beauties of Amanpulo is that, virtually whatever the weather, one side of the island is always calm enough to dive so storms never prevent you getting underwater. In typical Aman style, guests enjoy acres of space, supreme privacy in pavilions sprinkled up the hillside or on the beach, unbeatable food in striking locations and pristine waters teaming with a fascinating range of marine life. This is simply the most wonderful resort, so very different from anything else in this archipelago.

Zighy Bay, Oman
Home to the worlds’ most unusual check-in, via hang glider, this Six Senses resort is right out there and tucked up in the Northern Oman anomaly that is the Musandam Peninsula. Modelled on a Berber village, clustered around a burbling ‘spring’ and vast freeform pool, Zighy Bay is also home to our favourite dining experience, the Edge, perched high above the resort in this remote outpost. In true Six Senses style, Zighy Bay offers faultless service, sensational themed food of constant variety and unusual dive sites under vertical red cliffs that tumble directly into the sea.

Maroma, Mexico
Despite flying into the Spring Break Mecca that is Cancun, your final destination could not be more of a contrast. This is pure escapism approached through 500 acres of former coconut plantation and greeted with the warm welcome from ‘La Familia Maroma’. With lush mature gardens and a 2-mile sandy beach, the position is dream-like and so too is the diving.

The diving offers stacks of variety, from calm reef dives to exploring nearby Cenotes, and Maroma’s 7,000 ft spa offers ultimate in après-dive relaxation.

Lizard Island, Australia
This has been a top Australian destination for years and continues to be so. Right up on the Northern Great Barrier Reef, a short hop from Cairns, this island is inhabited exclusively by this stylish lodge resort together with a marine research station and a staggering 24 beaches! Explore them with your own outboard-powered dinghy for picnicking and snorkelling with Green Turtles and 100+year old clams; your treat before venturing deeper for the finest fields of coral I have ever seen and probably arguably the best part of the Barrier reef. Your dive experience is topped off by the best dive lunch of your life, moored out at the world famous Cod Hole or Dynamite Pass.

For more information please visit Dive in Style or call 020 7978 0505

The “Grand Tour” Part I

2010-11-04T03:25:00.000-07:00

Last week I set out on the road to visit a number of PADI 5-star dive centres around the UK. The aim was to meet the people working in our industry face-to-face and to find places where Dive in Style clients can learn to dive in style.

So at the crack of dawn last Thursday, off I set in my sister’s borrowed (and extremely old) Ford KA for the first leg of the “grand tour”, armed with a box full of Dive in Style books and (thankfully) a satellite navigation system. Over the next 12 hours I visited five dive centres in Kent and Essex spending about four hours at the centres and eight hours driving.

Friday was much the same. A slightly later start was followed by another five dive centre visits in Surrey, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. A visit to the Dive Show in Birmingham via a night in Peterbrough (which for some strange reason I thought was vaguely en route from Oxford to Birmingham… it isn’t!) was the icing on the cake.

So what did I learn from this trip? First and foremost I found that there are a lot of passionate people out there running dive centres and trying to make a living in often tough circumstances. The rise of the online retailer has put a big dent in kit sales, and the recession has stopped people travelling and diving so much. Despite this, the people I met largely remain upbeat and are constantly looking for innovative ways to make their businesses a success.

I also found that the quality of dive operations is highly variable. The PADI 5-star rating doesn’t necessarily mean that the dive centre is of the highest quality. That may be a little unfair to say as I did not see the training in action but it is my impression. The vast majority were great and I would have no problems sending clients there, but for some I would think twice…

All in all, it was a very successful trip. I got to meet some good people I hope to work with in the future and I saw a lot of the country in the most beautiful autumn colours. I think I would quite enjoy being a travelling salesman.

On the downside I ate a lot of motorway food which is not good for my waistline (but quite fun).

Next up part II of the “Grand Tour” as there are still many counties left to visit…

The World's Prettiest Slugs

2010-10-29T01:40:00.000-07:00

Nudibranchs, sometimes more commonly known as “sea slugs” are some of the hardest creatures to spot on a dive. Although related to snails, these colourful little creatures have ditched the homes they carry on their backs as they have evolved. Similar to land snails, nudibranchs also leave a slime trail, full of chemicals, which can warn other slugs of danger, or be used to find a mate.

Ranging from 20 to 600mm, it is believed that only half the total number of nudibranch species have been discovered so far, despite this numbering an impressive 3,000 or so to date. The largest nudibranch ever recorded was a 52 cm Spanish Dancer, found in the Red Sea.

Rarely in a hurry, some nudibranchs are solar-powered (or ‘photosynthetic’ for the more scientifically minded out there), living off the sugars that are produced by the sunlight absorbing algae in their bodies, but all breathe through their gills which form tufts on their backs. In fact, their name is derived from the Greek words “nudus” and “brankhia,” meaning “naked gills”.

Barely being able to tell between light and dark, nudibranchs use chemical signals instead to locate objects (food and one another) using a pair of ‘oral tentacles’ which look like horns on their head. If time is of the essence, nudibranchs can release their muscular foot to swim or tumble along in a current, enabling them to cover large distances compared to their size.

Don’t be fooled by their sweet appearance, as being soft bodied animals, nudibranchs have come up with some rather impressive modes of self defence to protect themselves from predators. Not only can they be tough-skinned, bumpy and abrasive, some also harbour toxic secretions and stinging cells. Only a few species are capable of making their own poisons, most actually pilfer them from the foods that they eat. Nudibranch species that eat toxic sponges for example, will alter and store the toxins in their bodies and release them from skin cells when they are disturbed.

They have cannibalistic features too, by rearing up like a cobra to engulf their kin (normally a different species.) Despite all of this, it has been known that some humans eat these creatures, although when the experience is likened to “chewing an eraser” it’s not high on the list of delicacies I would like to try!

Lacking any physical defence mechanisms and being soft bodied organisms, nudibranchs have become prime candidates for their uses in marine pharmacology and biotechnology (the application of biological knowledge and techniques to develop products or otherwise benefit humans.) Already it is estimated that 24% of marine natural products come from nudibranchs and their relatives, the sea hare, with particular focus at the moment for their uses in anti-cancer drugs.

As hermaphrodites, nudibranchs have both male and female organs. To mate, two nudibranchs come together side by side and exchange sperm sacs through a tube, a process that can last from seconds to a whole day depending on the species. Either way, it is not a romantic affair – they will separate and go their own ways before laying 1 to 6 egg masses in anti-clockwise spirals, some containing up to two million at a time. As most nudibranchs do not live longer than a year, this number of eggs is essential.

So where can you see these amazing animals?
Thriving in warm and cold waters, and even around sea vents, your chance to see these creatures is high, if you’ve got the eye for it and can spot them camouflaged that is! From stripes to polka-dots, from bright blue to pink, nudibranchs display a wide variety of colors and patterns. Indonesia, Micronesia and the Philippines are well known for their vast range of nudibranchs; as is Mozambique and Sharm El Sheikh.

They don't bite you, emit a foul odor, sneak up behind you, or otherwise ruin your day. Plus, when you see a variety you haven't seen or recognised before, you may be revealing a new species so make sure you have your camera to hand!

Despite their somewhat simple body forms, it is fair to say that there is more than meets the eye with these creatures, but here at Dive in Style , we love them!

The Best Dive of My Life

2010-10-19T01:15:00.000-07:00

After my first year at university I decided I needed a well earned three-month trip to South America. So aged 20 and full of the confidence of the youth, I packed my bags and what little money I had been able to save by working as a labourer at a petrochemical plant, and set off all on my lonesome for a trip to Ecuador and Colombia. I had no real idea what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go, but that’s why it was so exciting…

The one thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to go diving, and the mystical Galapagos Islands were top of my hitlist. I had heard tales of the expense of getting to the islands but I was sure I could do it on the cheap - where there’s a will there’s a way and all that - so I bought flights from Quito, the capital of Ecuador, and off I went.

I had only been diving for a year and a half but in my normal obsessive way I had already racked up some 100 dives and had qualified as a PADI Dive Master. I had a vague idea that someone might employ me as a Dive Master in the Galapagos and I had very noncommittal emails from a dive shop owner to that effect. When I arrived however, my services were not needed. Quite understandable as I was still a relative novice, wasn’t there for long, and the diving around the islands can be very challenging.

Instead I decided to join a boat tour of the islands and to dive for fun. This would have been easy had I had a lot of cash but as I was travelling on a shoestring it meant a long wait in the main town of the islands, Puerto Ayora, heading to the travel office every morning to see if there were any last minute spaces on a boat. After about a week, during which time I spent a lot of time alone on the beach or eating alone in cafés, I found a suitably cheap trip to join and the adventure really began.

I was the only diver on the boat but one of the crew was a divemaster so we piled 8 tanks on board (this was not a dive boat and there was no recompressor) and off we went. All of the dives were spectacular and the snorkelling was just as good. In fact, I had two of the most incredible experiences of my life just snorkelling: the first was when I saw two penguins hunting fish shoot right past me and the other was when I found myself completely alone with a playful seal and her cub; I may have been imagining it but I swear we were playing a game of dare, she would do a somersault and then watch expectantly until I too did one too, before swimming off with her cub and then coming back for more time and time again. Pretty special.

And then there was the dive of my life. On the final morning of the trip, the Dive Master and I decided we would go for a dawn dive. So at 6am he awoke me from my slumber, we packed our gear onto the tiny RIB and off we went with the boatman. We soon found ourselves hovering over an immense extinct underwater volcano and it was time to get in the water.

So together, just the two of us, we kitted up and jumped in. As we descended there was nothing to see and after about 5 minutes the Dive Master signalled that we should go up. Upon reaching the surface he told me we were in the wrong place! Going against much of what PADI teaches you about safe diving, we motored on to another spot and jumped in the water again. This time it was different…

As we descended, the currents were swirling and there was life everywhere. We went down to about 25 metres, grabbed on to a rock and just watched, mesmerised as nature unfolded before us. All manner of creatures were out for their morning feed. There were countless sharks – Galapagos sharks, white-tips – more than I have ever seen in one place. And there were an unbelievable number of turtles.

And the best thing about it? It was just the two of us. In a volcanic crater. In the Galapagos. At dawn.

After about 30 minutes it was time to return to the surface, leaving this magical world behind. As we motored back to the main boat the sun was rising in the sky and we were back before the others had even woken up.

Not a bad story to tell over breakfast.

Divemastering - What it takes to become a Dive Master

2010-10-14T07:07:00.000-07:00

It’s very easy to place professional scuba divers in the “dive bum” category where for men, long hair, a distinct lack of t-shirts, and replacing most words with “chilled” or “dude” becomes second nature (I’m not sure what the stereotype for women is!) However, as I found out, becoming a PADI Divemaster is more demanding (physically and mentally) than it sounds.

I graduated from Newcastle University in the summer of 2009, just at a time when finding a job was not going to be easy. However all was not lost and I wasn’t going to let the recession dampen my summer. It actually coincided quite nicely with a little plan I had been hatching to take a leisurely two month holiday in order to pursue one of my favourite hobbies – scuba diving.

So off I went to the Greek island of Corfu, the most northern island of the seven Ionian Islands, located on the west coast of Greece in the Ionian Sea where I am fortunate enough to have spent almost all of my childhood holidays. After a couple of days getting used to the scorching heat, I went to see my friend Angelo who runs the local dive school, Corfu Divers. The very next day I found myself as a Divemaster in training and part of a group of people who were to become great friends of mine. I was already a Rescue Diver when I arrived having already completed my Open Water (in Portsmouth, in November, in a 3mm wetsuit!), Advanced (in Sharm El Sheikh) and first aid qualifications.

So what does the course actually entail?

A big part of the course is the theory – which you need to help answer numerous questions from clients but also to learn more about the physics behind diving and reinforce the need for safety and knowing your limits. Mapping the dive site is also part of the test and this is vital to improve your local knowledge and to give clients the confidence to dive with you. As a very social job (you can meet 10 to 15 new people almost every day) being confident and having a laugh are also crucial.

The bit of course that people dread the most is the “stress test” where you undergo a complete equipment change with your instructor (whilst buddy breathing – where you share breathing apparatus) on the sea floor (image on left). It’s very difficult not to become stressed, but it’s a great way to use all of the skills that you have developed during the course, and once completed, is very satisfying!

As with many dive centres, a big bonus of having Divemasters around is that they become the instructor’s donkey (if the instructors can get away with it anyway!) What my instructor, Mark, didn’t realise was that I was about as useful as a donkey in a NSPCA advert – it took me a long while to get used to lugging heavy tanks up and down the rocky terrain of the dive site (if you were to meet me you would see that I am not the burliest of people!), but by the end of my first week, I was beginning to feel like the female version of Arnold Schwarzenegger (without the accent). I will also never forget when Angelo made me carry him out of the water for the fourth time as part of a drill for the rescue course skills and got angry with me when I nearly fainted. Let’s just say that he is typically Greek – a lot of fried food has passed his mouth, and not enough salad… However, all of this manual labour is forgotten when you are lucky enough to do 2 to 3 dives each day whilst getting people hooked on a sport that you already love!

If I had one recommendation other than to do the course itself, I would suggest doing it in longer than 4 and a half weeks – 12 exams, a lot of water and stamina skill demonstrations made for long, but nonetheless rewarding days! Oh, and be pre-warned, many dive centres may spring a final surprise on you on the day you qualify – the “snorkel test” where alcohol is poured down your snorkel as quickly as you can manage! Why not think about starting off your PADI adventure by learning to dive - you might even end up as a Dive Master yourself one day!

Deep Horizon Oil Disaster Part II: Cleaning Up Their Act

2010-10-05T01:59:00.000-07:00

Four months on from our blog entitled Deep Horizon Oil Disaster: What Next? We thought now would be a good opportunity to look at the potential impact that the world’s largest accidental marine oil spill has had on the marine environment, so we’ve been doing some reading!

Apart from the obvious unsightly effects associated with the spill of 5 million barrels in the Gulf of Mexico leading to vast slicks in the ocean; the indirect effects and those that we can’t physically ‘see’ could be the most damaging. The Mississippi river delta is one of the world’s richest river deltas, home to economically important shrimp & oyster fisheries, turtles, birds and various other species. Consisting of a variety of environments such as open bays, canals, salt & brackish marshes and freshwater swamps, the Louisiana Wetlands are (were?!) one of the most productive ecosystems in North America.

Reported effects of the oil spill so far include fish eggs and larvae that are at risk of being coated in microscopic particles of oil, which will persist up the food chain with consequences that scientists are still not sure of. Fishing grounds were shut around the Macondo oil well, and many fishermen found themselves involved in the cleaning up process as they tried to save the environment that their livelihoods so depend on. Even some of the chemicals used in the clean up process have since been reported as being toxic. Such ‘dispersants’ work by breaking down the oil and making it less cohesive so therefore rather than sitting on the water’s surface it sinks, but this only begs the question in my mind: out of sight, out of mind?

It is still difficult to asses with actual numbers the true extent of the damage caused, especially as the oil can differ so much in how it is deposited on the coast depending on weather patterns, but it’s fair to say that the results do not create a pretty picture. Considering that scuba divers still report evidence of oil from the 23 year old Ixtoc I spill (600,000 barrels of oil) also in the Gulf of Mexico does not fill us with hope. The impact of Deepwater Horizon still needs to be assessed on a range of levels (coastal, oceanic, benthic (sea floor), and inland (knock on effects on humans) and also at a range of scales (long & short term; local & regional) and also on a species and ecosystem level.

Does this spill mark the end of deepwater oil
drilling? The odds are not in our favour. Due to shrinking onshore oil reserves and technological advancements leading to discoveries of offshore oil, a rush was ignited towards drilling in deep water. Before the Deepwater Horizon disaster, big oil spills had become something of a rarity, with tankers considered to be the main threat to the marine environment. Even the American federal agency that regulated the offshore drilling environment in the Gulf of Mexico claimed that the chances of a blowout were less than 1%. As fate would have it, they were wrong.

After much finger pointing over the blame, many factors were attributed to the devastation that was caused. It would be fair though to argue, as many do, that we are all to blame due to our own appetite for oil in the age of “the hydrocarbon man”. In this instance, the cost of oil is not just reflected in the price at the petrol station.

For all of us who love to scuba dive, the news of the Deepwater Horizon blow out was devastating. Sadly the question remains in many people’s minds of when, not if, the next spill will occur. Hopefully we will have learnt from our mistakes and the clear up response will be much more coherent to prevent the oil from not only damaging the environment, but quite possibly becoming part of it.

Photo Credits: Oiled brown pelicans: IBRRC. Deepwater Horizon on fire: US Coast Guard.

Drunk on Depth

2010-09-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

Nitrogen narcosis, derived from the Greek word Narke is loosely translated as the “temporary decline or loss of senses and movement.” Like any other adventure sport, scuba diving comes with some associated risks. Nitrogen narcosis or getting “narked” is one of them.

Nitrogen narcosis is related to the increased solubility of gases in body tissues due to being subjected to increased pressures at depth. Likened by many scuba divers as a similar feeling to being drunk, nitrogen narcosis is also known as “Martini’s Law” with the rough guide that it is the equivalent of drinking one martini on an empty stomach for every 10 feet that you descend! The effects of nitrogen narcosis normally occur at depths of around 30m (100 feet) and below and it is not possible to develop a tolerance to the effects, however, the symptoms are completely reversible by ascending to shallower depths. Learn more through this video about nitrogen narcosis and its effects.

At depth, nitrogen narcosis affects the body by leading to a loss of decision making, and the ability to focus, along with impaired judgement, multi tasking and co-ordination. If you have ever taken the PADI Advanced Open Water course, you may well remember being given a series of mental tests under timed conditions on land, and then underwater at depth to compare judgment. My own test whilst on a diving holiday in Sharm el Sheikh 5 years ago did not really go to plan. On land I had no problems writing the alphabet backwards in a respectable time, but underwater, my instructor wrote on the slate that I should draw a heptagon. I was never a natural mathematician at school, and so my hesitation led to my instructor believing that at 30m down, I was narked (when in reality even on land it takes me a long time to work out how many sides are on a heptagon – is it 5?!).

Whilst nitrogen narcosis can be very serious as some divers have a disregard for normal dive practices, if you know your limits, have good equipment and dive under supervision, the effects can be reversed almost immediately by ascending a little shallower. Most divers with a decent number of deep dives under their belt will I’m sure be familiar with getting “narked” and often have funny anecdotes to recount. Tales of offering fish oxygen from the alternative air source (the spare breathing apparatus) are common, as are accounts of euphoria and uncontrollable giggles (not great for your air consumption!). A personal favourite of ours here at Dive in Style is a diver that we know who uses depth and the effects of narcosis to write poetry on his dive slate as he believes it is here that his mind is at its most relaxed!

As with most things in life, safety comes first, however if you enjoy getting drunk but can’t stand the hangovers, maybe scuba diving is the hobby for you!

Photo: Joe Burch

Wreck Heads

2010-09-21T02:53:00.000-07:00

Wreck diving can give as much excitement to a scuba diver as a roman coin does to a treasure hunter wielding a metal detector.

Not only do wrecks form part of our underwater cultural heritage, they really give a sense of a story behind them just from the way they lie on the sea floor, or poke their bows out of the silt waiting to be explored. Descending down to a serene wreck site can sometimes make you forget about the violent history that is behind many of the ships. That is until you see metal parts twisted out of shape by the force of explosions; heavy hatch covers blown off the cargo holds and gaping holes in the side of the ship.

It also happens that wrecks create some of the best diving as they provide habitats to various different species of fish and coral alike, which use the nooks and crannies as safe houses from predators, and decorate the metalwork into colourful patterns. It’s hard to get the threatening sense of a deck gun when it looks more like a stuffed toy covered in sea anemones.

Wreck diving can also give a sense of achievement to the diver as you are required to have special skills to overcome the new challenges that a sunken ship can present you. PADI offer the Wreck Diving speciality course to make sure that you are fully qualified to take advantage of all that a wreck can present you. This is because penetration diving (submerging yourself into the wreck itself) can come with some associated risks.

Due to the fact that wrecks often act as “artificial reefs” for many species, they in turn become hot spots for fishing activity. Any nets that get caught on the wrecks therefore pose entanglement threats to divers. The small spaces can make manoeuvring inside a wreck difficult at the best of times, and sharp piece of lose metal could also cause injury. It is worth noting that insurance upgrades are often needed before wreck diving to ensure that you are fully covered. Don’t let this put you off though as the rewards are well worth the risks!

As you leave a wreck site after an exhilarating dive, it often feels strange that so few people have the chance to explore these ‘underwater museums’. Sometimes though it is all too easy to get caught up in the adventure of the dives and forget about the sacrifice and peril of the many men and woman who served on ships.

As the marine world celebrated 25 years since the discovery of the Titanic on the 1st September this year, now seems like a better time than any to try your hand at wreck diving. Why not stay at the luxurious Four Seasons Resort, Sharm El Sheikh and visit the SS Thistlegorm (pictured), renowned as one of the top wreck dives in the world, perhaps due to her strong ingredients of war, heroism and tragedy. The voyage of this British armed merchant navy ship was cut short when she was sunk by German bombers on 6th October 1941. First discovered by Jacques Cousteau in the early 1950’s, it’s not surprising he did not disclose her location. With a maximum depth of 32m, in warm waters with high visibility, and containing all manner of interesting objects such as motorbikes and trucks (!) this is a wreck dive not to be missed, or indeed forgotten.

Another to put on the hitlist is the RMS Rhone, a British Royal Mail steam ship that was hit by one of the Caribbean’s natural disasters – a mighty hurricane. Sunk on 29th October 1867, The RMS Rhone came to her fate in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) after colliding into Black Rock Point. Deemed “unsinkable” and despite being only 230m away from safety, only 23 people survived out of 146 aboard this ship. If you only have time for one dive in the BVI, make this it. With little of the wreck still enclosed, it is a fairly easy wreck dive, and easy accessible from Peter Island.

Rest assured that some extremely famous wrecks can also be found closer to home. Scapa Flow, a stretch of water located in the Orkney Islands, Scotland is a natural harbour, used as a navy based to control entrances to the North Sea during both world wars. With a scuppered fleet of 10 battleships, 5 battlecruisers, 5 cruisers and 32 destroyers to explore, you might just even forget about the cold water!

Photo: woodym555.

A (Blue) Hole New World

2010-09-14T05:54:00.000-07:00

Blue Holes, or offshore flooded caves are aptly named for the dramatic contrast between the dark blue waters of their depths and the lighter blue of their shallower waters. They are underwater sinkholes that were formed during glaciations when sea levels were much lower than today. As sea levels rose, the caves were flooded, leading to the creation of these ocean abysses.

Such dramatic marine landscapes can be hosts to a wealth of marine life and create a dive that is truly unforgettable. I certainly haven’t forgotten ascending from the stalactites at 40m in the Blue Hole in Belize, doing a safety stop amongst circling grey reef sharks. Other famous offshore blue holes include those in Dahab, Egypt; San Lawrenz, Gozo and the Bahamas.

And then there are the inland blue holes such as Stargate, found on Abaco Island in the Bahamas. These are a very different kettle of fish both in terms of what they have to offer and how difficult they are to dive. Actually understanding how they are formed is a science in itself! A layer of freshwater (from rainfall) sits on top of the denser seawater below, which in turn prevents any immediate contact with oxygen. This creates a layer in which only bacteria can thrive, and these bacteria produce toxic hydrogen sulphide as a waste product.

Diving through this toxic layer is not for the faint hearted, or indeed the untrained. Tales of skin itching, tingling or dizziness are common. Some divers report the smell of rotten eggs as the gas penetrates their skin pores and metabolises through the lungs. It makes sense then that diving something like Stargate requires as much preparation as preparing to climb Everest and should only be undertaken by professionals.

It’s probably a fair question to ask why do these divers risk so much to dive these hostile environments? They are not just adrenaline junkies. Funded by the National Geographic, a group of scientists embarked on the Bahamas Blue Hole Expedition where they tallied up about 150 dives over 7 different Bahamian islands. The rationale behind this expedition was to uncover many of the secrets that these depths hold on our limited understanding of geology, water chemistry, biology and even astrobiology (the study of life in the universe). As these blue holes are able to preserve bones and skeletons owing to their anoxic (oxygen absent), sheltered conditions, it’s easy to see why they act like magnets for scientists all over the world. Its just a shame that not even these environments are untouched by our human footprint. With rising sea levels linked to global warming, this expedition could be the last of its kind as inland blue holes are threatened by the risk of flooding.

Contact us to find out how you can dive an offshore blue hole (it seems best to leave the inland blue holes to the experts!)

Think less Cirque du Soleil, more Cirque sur L’eau….

2010-09-07T01:34:00.000-07:00

It’s hardly surprising that this aqua spectacle is called Le Rêve (French for “The Dream.”) The 92 strong cast of athletes in this provocative performance may come from 17 different countries dotted around the globe, but they all have one thing in common: They are all certified scuba divers.

Why? This is no ordinary stage. The domed Wynn Theatre in Las Vegas holds an impressive 1.1 million gallons of water, 15 underwater speakers as well as many of the props for the performance. The performance follows the 'everyman' character Wayne as he tries to follow his dreams without leading down the path of temptation. Strong acrobatics and impressive scenery sets help the story come alive. Since its opening in 2005, The Wynn Theatre has surely got to be one of the most, if not the most technologically developed stages in the world. Not only does it take 12 hours to fill the pool, the water is kept at a constant temperature of 89°F and gets filtered four times a day. Add in the extra 16 scuba divers (and 32 air tanks) that are required for each show and logistically you are almost ready to go. Just don’t forget about the waterproof make-up, shoes with holes in them so that the water drains out and the costume repairs that happen every 2 weeks…

Don’t believe what you’re reading? This is the best part. Contact us and you could, (for a small fortune – tickets do not come cheap) gain the unparalleled opportunity to dive the live show yourself! With a maximum depth of 26 feet, it’s fair to say that you will be immersed at the forefront of all the action!

The man behind this dream is founder and artistic director, Franco Dragone. I think its fair to say that he has pushed the boundaries of theatre as the modern world knows it, which was of course his intention. He wanted to make people think and evoke emotion. Whatever your opinion, I can’t imagine that there will be many other opportunities to mark down in your LogBook that you were inches away from synchronised swimmers doing the tango in red high heels…

Photo: Gunther Hagleitner

Diving in Style Responsibly - How and Where?

2010-08-11T08:29:00.000-07:00

What exactly is eco diving or snorkelling? To qualify as an ‘eco resort’ the guiding issue is that the hotel should have a minimal impact on the environment. And so it is the same with divers and snorkellers who can tend to treat the sea and the coral reefs as an endlessly renewable resource seeing as how there appears to be just so much of it.

However, as everyone should be aware, our oceans are under threat from warming, acidification and pollution and so we need to do our bit to impact as little as possible while benefiting from all it has to offer. In this piece we look at some simple rules divers and snorkelers can follow to minimize their impact on the marine environment, as well as sharing a few picks for places they can stay that are not only stylish (we are called Dive in Style after all) but are also making a real effort to improve their environmental credentials. These are not ‘eco-resorts’ per se, and there are many hotels and boats out there that may be further ahead in their ‘eco qualifications’, but these are hotels that we have visited and feature in Dive in Style that we would applaud for their efforts, and luxury!

So, let’s start with how people can dive responsibly. The reality is that you don’t need to do very much! All you need to do is follow a few simple rules and you will be well on your way:

- Don’t walk or stand on the coral - it is a living organism and if someone millions of times heavier than you was to stand on you, you would not care for it!
- Don’t touch the coral and don’t wear gloves unless for a specific purpose (such as cold water diving) as this can tempt you to touch things that you should not.
- Don’t bang the coral with your tank and be spatially aware - practice perfecting your buoyancy as it makes your diving more enjoyable and also you use less air.
- Don’t chase sea life, you will never get closer to it. Imagine how you would react when chased by something the relative size of an Elephant?
- Don’t pick up shells-beautiful though they are, quite often they are hosting either a crab or the original mollusc and even if they are conclusively empty, they will provide either a home or safety from attack for a myriad of creatures.
- Don’t leave anything behind. Finish a dive with everything you started with, and if you can, pick up any rubbish, plastic bags, fishing line etc. you find and put in your BCD.

Do all this and you will be a responsible diver. The next question is where you can stay that will also make a difference; somewhere that has a minimal impact on its environment and indeed where its very existence gives back to the local community. And one where you can also Dive in Style. Here are my picks:

Soneva Fushi, Maldives
Of all the resorts I have visited, this is probably the very best example. This amazingly stylish resort on a private island in Baa Atoll is eco through to its roots. The whole concept is based around SLOW LIFE (Sustainable, Local, Organic, Wholesome, Learning, Inspiring, Fun, Experiences). This idea of ‘Intelligent Luxury’ proves you really can have your cake and eat it. Organically. With just 65 rooms this resort captures the very essence of castaway fantasy and were Robinson Crusoe a hotel developer, this would be his dream. Amazingly this utterly luxurious hotel which offers accommodation for nearly every pocket aims to become carbon neutral by 2011, helped on its way by the recent installation of the country’s first solar farm. And as for the diving...

Frégate Island Private, Seychelles
At first glance, this island hideaway seems to be the most unlikely eco resort you could imagine. Set on a truly stunning speck of an island with one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, there are just 16 vast and luxuriously appointed suites, each with their own infinity edge pool. From its solar powered golf buggies to its photo voltaic solar panels Frégate Island Private is fast becoming a leading example of how to establish a balanced coexistence between man and nature yet when you look at it, this is hard to believe.

Wakatobi, Indonesia
Truly in the middle of nowhere, hanging like an earring off the southern tip of Sulawesi in the Banda Sea in Indonesia, you would have expected the reefs here to have been perfect when this small resort was established in 1995. This was not the case as even then they were starting to show the stress of man’s influence. The Collaborative Reef Conservation Program was developed in consultation with local leaders and village elders and was designed to motivate the people living within the Wakatobi region to realize the intrinsic value of the reefs and to inspire the villages to take an active role in protecting the marine ecosystem. Cooperation between local fishermen and visiting divers is promoted by generating an income from tourism that is channelled directly back into the community. Starting with just 6 kilometers, the success of the project has been such that the ‘park’ has now been extended to over 20kms. And as for the reefs, simply stunning and truly some of the best in the world whether you snorkel or dive. Indeed the ‘house reef’ does claim to be the best in the world and I have yet to find better.

Amanwana, Indonesia
To have an Aman resort feature in this list seems extraordinary as the mind naturally conjures up soaring pavilions, vast spas and a host of unecological elements. Amanwana, however, is different, very different. Offering just 20 ‘tents’ that will redefine your understanding of the word, this low impact resort is carved out of wilderness forest, and is both a nature and marine reserve 15 kilometres off the coast of Sumbawa, east of Bali. Surrounded by the turquoise waters and untouched reefs of the Flores Sea, and close by the incomparable diving and dragons of Komodo, this is eco luxury at it’s best as you lie in your tent and hear Monkeys playing on your roof. A few days here and then a trip on the Amanikan (the Aman boat) to the marine, nature and World Heritage site of Komodo is a holiday of a lifetime and as for the diving and snorkelling, truly some of the very best in the world.

Get Out of that Rut

2010-08-03T01:12:00.000-07:00

It seemed that there was little to differentiate one year from another: get up, go to work, come home and then occasionally go on holiday. And so it went on until one day I really woke up and decided we needed a change, a real change, as a rut had opened under the wheels of our lives as we were almost willing time away until that next trip.

So just what was it that my wife and I both actually enjoyed doing?
Scuba diving, travel, photography, luxury resorts was a good start but then who wouldn’t and how could I possibly weave these into a business or job?

It sounded a ridiculous proposition but I started thinking. Diving was a sport that was moving up-market and yet I knew there was no information out there as to where you could enjoy fabulous diving and snorkelling whilst ensuring that any non divers had an equally brilliant holiday. And where could you do it ‘in style’ – not sitting around on plastic chairs looking awkwardly fat clad in wet neoprene?

I felt there was a gap in the market for a book. But would anyone be interested in publishing it and more importantly could I take good enough photographs?

Amazingly my first choice publisher received my proposal with enthusiasm, believed my ridiculous claims concerning my abilities, warned me there was no money in it and thus Dive In Style was born, our house was sold and in short, life was going to enjoy a ‘sea’ change as we rolled out of the rut.

A rented flat, no day job – was I making the right decision, casting us adrift on the sea of life?

It was a worrying period haunted by the unknown, but then is that not really when life is at its best, when you are excited by the vast planes of opportunity, shadowed by fears, and with only yourself at the controls to navigate?

All forms of risk taking bring their reward as you face up to the fear of failure released from the safe boundaries of your former life.

Slowly the book began to take shape as the concept was warmly received by the hotels I had selected, and then I felt that just perhaps I was on to something when the incomparable Aman group agreed to be a part. Now, could I deliver let alone would the book sell?

So after sending out over a hundred questionnaires and trolling through the replies, chasing reluctant PR reps and regurgitating my memories of trips past, I finally reduced them to a shortlist of some thirty resorts.

Next up was devising the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to visit them all, working in over a hundred flights, trying for the right weather. All that had to fit in with hotel availability, packed with the guilty knowledge that this short list had to be whittled down even further to an initial 26, dependant on what we found.

This, as you can imagine, was a marathon task with endless false starts, until finally, arrangements made, my day of reckoning arrived and I had to confront my fear of inadequacy with camera and pen, relying and praying for nature and the weather to cooperate for the four short days we would be staying at each resort.

Most of you will be thinking ‘what a wonderful adventure’, and so did we as we set off, until I realised what I had undertaken and the reality of what I had contracted to deliver in such a short timeframe dawned on me.

No prizes for sympathy, but endless travelling. Over a hundred flights and wrangles with security trying to keep film out of scanners, time changes, diving, photographing, researching, writing, photographing underwater – all whilst trying to get nature to turn up and model and the sun to shine (the most oft encountered phrase was ‘the weather is never normally like this’ as yet more rain slashed down).

But still it was a million miles better than sitting in front of a computer, although I also had to do all of that as well as I downloaded, checked and backed up endless discs on a faulty CD drive. My office had become a 5 star resort!

Three years and over 50,000 copies in six languages later (which apparently means it just scrapes into best seller territory for coffee table books) I was surprised when Thames and Hudson, my publisher, asked me if I was prepared to do a follow up.

Naturally flattered and now with a little more self belief off we set again and eighteen months later, the new edition of Dive In Style together with it’s website has just been published. To explore the site just click this link: Dive In Style

Exciting, worrying, sleepless nights and no financial payback so far, but a big plus in the life experience box and for now we are clear of that rut!

The Joys of UK Diving

2010-07-15T01:42:00.000-07:00

I must start by saying that I have always been somewhat of a fair-weather diver. I have been qualified for many years and have been extremely fortunate to have dived some incredible locations around the world. However (and perhaps because I have been so spoiled) I have been a little wet (no pun intended) when it comes to UK diving with a handful of dives in Cornwall being all I have to show for nearly 13 years of diving.

It's not that I am against the idea of diving in the UK. In fact I have long thought how much I would like to dive sites such as the wrecks of Scapa Flow or St. Abbs; by all accounts there are some truly spectacular sites that I have long been missing out on. It's more that, for whatever reason (time, weather...you name it), I have always found an excuse not to get involved and have satisfied myself instead with the odd couple of weeks each year here and there in the tropics.

So it was with a mixture of excitement and slight trepidation that last weekend I finally decided to complete my drysuit diving course in Somerset. In a quarry.

A great friend of mine who is also a diver was visiting from Japan and we decided this would be a good opportunity to get out there and do something that we had often discussed during our university years. So, bright and early on Sunday morning we hopped in the car and drove to Vobster Quay Inland Diving Centre in the exotic destination of Somerset.

Vobster Quay is an old quarry that is now an impressively kitted out dive location, well set up for dive training. After a bacon butty and cup of tea, our dive instructor ran us through the briefing, we pulled on our drysuit for the first time (believe me, it is very difficult to look cool in a drysuit - just look at the photo!) and jumped in the water to practice some skills.

After a few minutes, and having satisfactorily completed the skills (despite a few minor teething problems that saw me inflating myself until I looked a little like the Michelin Man) it was time to swim out into the open water for our first taste of drysuit diving. And it wasn't half bad.

Admittedly neither of us saw a single fish but we did see an old Ford Escort, an airplane, a snail and, bizarrely a giant plastic wizard. Odd but interesting. And yes it was cold; at depth it got as low as 4 degrees which was a little painful on the hands which were not covered by the drysuit. But for me, half the joy of diving is simply being in the water, experiencing something utterly different to my everyday life, and this certainly fitted the bill.

I don't think I will ever become as passionate about UK diving as I am about diving in more exotic parts of the world (I wouldn't fun dive in a quarry put it that way!) but I am open to being convinced and now that I am qualified to dive with a drysuit, I am equipped and fully intend to get out there to see what the waters around this country have to offer.

Next stop the Outer Hebrides in August. I'll let you know how I get on...

Tim's Top Picks: Worldwide Snorkelling Destinations

2010-07-01T02:05:00.000-07:00

In his ongoing series of blogs, Dive in Style author Tim Simond shares his top destinations for snorkelling.

Dive in Style is not just for divers, as it says on the tin ‘Chill – Snorkel - Dive’. Not everyone is a diver, nor particularly ever wants to be, but the pull of turquoise-hued waters beckons to all and surely your interest must be piqued by what lies beneath the waves.

All you need to enjoy much of what a diver experiences is a mask and snorkel, ideally a pair of fins, and of course sun block on your back to avoid the burn. It is so simple, and yet there is little information out there about where the best places are to snorkel around the world.

Having snorkelled at all of the destinations in Dive in Style, it has not been easy to reduce to just a few but here are my top picks for snorkelling:

Silver Banks, Turks and Caicos Islands
Simply the best snorkelling experience you will ever have - guaranteed. You lie in the water and deep beneath you glimpse the outline of a 40ft humpback whale feeding her calf who then slowly rises to the surface and swims within mere feet of you, admiring the admirers. You heart is caught between fear and awe as nowhere else can I think of in the animal kingdom where a mother allow humans to be in close contact with her baby. Truly wonderful, but only wonderful for a few weeks of the year when the whales come to the Silver Banks on their endless migratory cycle.

Lizard Island, Australia
Acres and acres of utterly pristine coral gardens, the best I have ever seen. And when you tire of the coral (if indeed that is possible) you can float above the famous Cod Hole and come within inches of giant potato cod. Closer to home, indeed just off the beach are the amazing clam gardens, a riot of brightly hued giant clams, some even older than the first island residents who came to Lizard in the nineteenth century, and all in just a few feet of water.

The snorkelling options at Lizard Island are numerous and varied. How about a peaceful snorkel with green turtles whose polished shells suggest they are catered for by the attendant hotel staff, followed by a wicker basket picnic on a deserted beach? Or perhaps a guided snorkel with a marine biologist? When you are finished here I can assure you that you will want to learn to dive!

Four Seasons Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
The great thing about the Red Sea is that is has many fringing reefs which mean shallow waters, waters floodlit with endless sunlight and so bringing to life this amazing underwater flower stall. Little Crack, a dive spot accessed on a day trip from the hotel is a brilliant snorkel as you float just a few feet above the divers in translucent waters and a veritable kaleidoscope of colours alive with fish. It is literally breathtaking. Elsewhere, you can follow the reefs above the divers and possibly see more in the first six feet than most divers see in 60.

Soneva Fushi, Maldives
For the nervous snorkeler, this is the perfect place. You can hover in a mere two foot of water, whilst your head can peer over the gentle drop off to the wonders beneath. For the more adventurous you can dive down to mix it with the grazing turtles. In 1998 the house reef surrounding this perfect resort offered simply stunning snorkelling and then El Nino arrived and it is true to say things have never been the same as regards the coral. However, nature is doing a remarkable repair job and whilst still a long way from how they were, in an extraordinary manner the reefs still seem to play host to the same plethora of marine life, and floating along the drop-off remains a wonderful experience.

Turtle Inn, Belize
A snorkelling encounter with the gentle giant of the sea, the whale shark, is something never to be forgotten. Here, in a marine park off the barrier reef, you are virtually guaranteed many magical moments as, set to a now well understood and established time-clock, the whale shark come to gorge on the clouds of snapper eggs. Yes you can dive as well, but as these wonderful creatures normally swim just beneath the surface, you might even find yourself having a better view snorkelling.

Wakatobi, Indonesia
This is utterly superb snorkelling with coral ‘gardens’ that really fulfil the meaning of the word, a sort of underwater Chelsea flower show with nature awarded ‘best in show’. Literally perfect reefs with both hard and soft corals and endless marine life. Described as having the best house reef in the world, there is little I can really add to that, except that the beach is not bad either!

Dive in Style: An Intern's Perspective

2010-06-16T08:38:00.000-07:00

In the second of a series of blogs from the Dive in Style team, Jennifer Rafinon, indispensable intern at Dive in Style and Original Travel gives her perspective of what it’s like to work here.

Writing this gives me a good opportunity to really think about my work at Dive in Style by questioning why it’s good for me to work here and what I have learned, as well as to write about the types of projects I have worked on and what it’s like to be part of a new business.

My Dive in Style adventure, as I like to call it, started at the beginning of May. As part of my Master’s degree in Management and Marketing, I have been completing an internship at Original Travel and it has been a pleasure to find myself involved in the development of a new brand in the form of newly launched Dive in Style.

I have to admit that I am not a diver. I have dived a couple of times in my life and have spent a lot of time snorkelling in La Reunion and Mauritius and have always been captivated by my encounters with marine life in the underwater world where time seems to stand still and everything takes on a new dimension. So, it was with excitement that I approached this opportunity to learn more about diving.

Working at Dive in Style with Neill has been a fantastic experience so far. The biggest reason for this is that I have been part of launching a new brand from scratch, something that I find very exciting. My ultimate career goal is to run my own company in the travel industry so this experience will be invaluable in the future.

Another reason why I have enjoyed my time at Dive in Style so much is that it has allowed me to put into practice much of the theory I have learned at university. Much of my work here is focused on marketing activities such as developing partnerships with environmental organisations to further our responsible tourism strategy; researching advertising opportunities; contact database management; and research on market positioning. So I am able to see how marketing works, and the impact it can have, in a real business environment.

By far the biggest project I have been involved in so far has been the translation of the content for La Plongée Chic, the Dive in Style sister site for clients in France, Belgium and Switzerland. Being French, I was placed in charge of this monster project and it provided me with a fantastic opportunity to learn more about diving and the underwater world. I also learned a lot about web development (about which I knew very little before!).

All in all, it’s been a pleasure working at Dive in Style so far, challenging, but a pleasure all the same! I believe in the concept and hope we can make it the success I feel it deserves to be.

Stay tuned for further instalments in this series of blogs about goings on at Dive in Style…

Tim’s Top Five: ‘If I Had Just Five Trips Left in Me’

2010-06-10T08:52:00.000-07:00

In this blog, part of a series by Dive in Style author Tim Simond, he presents his top five destinations where people can experience world-class diving at the same time as staying in some of the world’s most stylish hotels.

‘So just what is the best place you’ve been?’ and, ‘where is the best diving?’ are the questions fired at me on endless occasions. I try to explain that there is simply no best, especially when it comes to diving, or indeed hotels, as it all depends what you are looking for. For this blog I have done my best to decide where I would go if I had just five more trips left in me.

Having now visited some 100 countries, I can hopefully claim to have some degree of objectivity, but the question is if I could revisit just five locations, which would they be? There are choices where the hotel takes precedence and others where the diving does and I will look at these in later blogs, but for now here are my absolute top five, a combination of both, all of which are covered in far more detail in the latest edition of Dive In Style:

Soneva Fushi, Maldives
I cannot really add much to Neill’s blog, nor what I say in the book, but that this has been a favourite of mine for well over 10 years, even before I dreamt up Dive in Style. Amazingly it just gets better and better and has simply the best dive operation I know of run by the same team for the past 15 years, so yes, they really know these waters better than anyone else. Add to that the incredible range of stylish accommodation for all budgets, backed up by the timeless Six Senses dining, spa, service and attention to detail and please someone tell me how it gets any better? In fact writing about it reminds me I need to return.

Wakaya, Fiji
A new find and a very spoiling one. Expensive, but with only 10 rooms, if you want one of the ultimate private experiences, this is it. Everything here is totally laid back and you are constantly warmed by the incredible friendliness of the Fijians, the world’s nicest people - it is simply not possible to feel unhappy with them around. This private island is private in every sense of the word and that includes both the reefs and the diving and if there are four of you in the water, that’s considered a bit of a crush. The reefs are perfect and un-dived, the sea life extravagant and exotic and all just five minutes from the dock.

Amanwana, Indonesia
Really out there in the middle of nowhere in ‘tents’ that totally destroy and undermine the meaning of the word, and this on top of some of the world’s best diving all backed up by the incomparable Aman service; indeed this has to be considered an anomaly in the Aman portfolio, but thankfully it is so. And if you really want to spoil yourself, add on a five-day cruise to the islands of Komodo with their 11ft ‘Dragons’ on the Aman’s new boat, Amanikan, and whether you dive or not, you will have the holiday of a lifetime

Lizard Island, Australia
Just one word – coral. If you want to see how all the world’s reefs must once have looked, you have to dive or snorkel Ribbon Reef 10. Simply startling and literally breathtaking. Add in the amazing resort with some of the best dining you can imagine, the best diving/snorkelling lunch on the planet and some of the largest fish you will ever see, and the message is simple: just go.

Vamizi, Mozambique
Another new one and home to the dive of my life, Neptune’s Arm. Again, really in the middle of nowhere with just a dozen rooms, and if Robinson Crusoe could fantasise about the perfect hotel, this would be it. Amazing beach, vast cool open rooms, total peace surrounded by and immersed in nature and getting better every year, now with the addition of its latest beach bar opening up the other side of the island. Time to return.

Here’s a thought if you are looking for the ultimate round the world dive trip? I challenge you to find one better than these five destinations. What a trip that would be!

Dive in Style: The First Few Weeks

2010-06-06T11:47:00.000-07:00

In a series of regular blogs, the Dive in Style team will discuss what it’s like to be part of a new business; the highs and lows of the entrepreneurial world as well as general goings on at Dive in Style HQ. To kick us off, Neill Ghosh, Head of Dive in Style, looks back over the first few weeks of the company’s existence.

It’s been an eventful first few weeks for Dive in Style. I joined the company in early April with the remit of building on the success of the best-selling Dive in Style book by launching a diving-focused tour operator, as a part of award-winning Original Travel with the aim of helping people turn the hotels and diving featured in the book into a holiday reality.

For a long while I had wanted to do something entrepreneurial in an area of work I am passionate about, and after several years in the corporate world, I decided that now is the time. By pure coincidence, Original Travel and Tim Simond, the author of Dive in Style, were at the very same time looking for someone to set up and run Dive in Style. A chance meeting led to interviews and business plans and here I am. I’m not a great believer in fate, but things seem to have slotted nicely into place.

Across the coming weeks and months, I plan to share my personal experiences of setting up and running a new business, as well as discussing the key milestones along the Dive in Style journey, in the hope that it might be of interest to others going through similar things, and indeed to learn from the experience of others who might read this blog.

So, what have we achieved in the first few weeks? Let me start by stating our aim, which is to position Dive in Style as the premier website and travel service for people wanting to dive, snorkel or just relax at the world’s best spots at the same time as staying in the most luxurious accommodation, and, if wanted, to be able to do so as a family whether divers or not. An ambitious goal, but if you lack ambition, then what would be the point?

Achieving this goal is going to take time, and a lot of work, and the first few weeks have been about laying the foundations of success and making sure that the fundamentals are in place. Key achievements have included launching two websites, Dive in Style for the UK market and La Plongee Chic for the French, Belgian and Swiss markets; developing our supplier relationships; building the database of contacts; sending out our first ever newsletter; and finalising the medium-term marketing plan. It’s been a busy time!

All in all, I’m pleased with the way the first seven weeks have gone. There have been ups (unexpected volume of bookings and enquiries very early on and a research trip to the Maldives!) and downs (planned launch party in the London Aquarium and first potential press trip both falling through at the last minute) but I guess that’s what it’s all about; frustration and jubilation.

So what’s next? Putting the marketing plan into action is the major priority over the coming weeks, along with developing a compelling responsible travel strategy.

Check back in from time to time if you want to see how we’re getting on and please do to comment on this blog if you have any ideas or thoughts about anything contained in this series of blogs.

In the next blog, we’ll hear from one of our hugely talented interns, Jennifer, about what working at Dive in Style means to her...

Deep Horizon Oil Disaster: What Next?

2010-06-04T08:36:00.000-07:00

With BP and the authorities still struggling to find a way to stop oil pouring into the Gulf of Mexico, we wanted to look back at what has happened so far and examine the potential long-term implications for the waters and wildlife of the region, and to try and give a jargon-free account of events (because frankly we don’t understand a lot of the terminology out there!).

Failed Attempts to Stop the Oil
On April 20, in the process of disconnecting the Deep Horizon rig a massive explosion killed 11 workers and began what has now become the largest oil spill in history. The equivalent of up to 19,000 barrels of oil a day are still flowing, contaminating an ever-growing area of some 2,500 square miles.

So what have BP tried so far to stop the flow of oil? The first attempt was to lower a huge dome over the main leak to try and to pipe the oil to the surface. This was unsuccessful.

Next, they inserted a four-inch tube into the burst pipe. This managed to siphon off some of the oil and gas but has since been removed so that efforts can continue to try and stem the flow completely.

Then came the “top kill” approach; this involved pumping heavy drilling fluids through the blowout preventer on top of the wellhead to try and reduce the flow of oil to a level where the well could be permanently sealed with cement. Despite early positive noises from BP, on May 29 they announced that this too had failed.

In its latest attempt, BP has tried to cut and remove the damaged pipe that sends oil to the surface in the hope of fitting a new cap that will divert most of the oil and gas. This too has been plagued by difficulties with the diamond blade becoming stuck and cutting a ragged hole which will make fitting a new cap all the more difficult.

What Next?
BP is currently drilling relief wells but these will not help to stem the flow of oil until August at the earliest. It remains to be seen if the company can find a short-term fix. Operating at such depth, it is a difficult job and there is a chance the oil will keep flowing for some time to come.

The US government has deployed more than one million feet of boom along the coast in Louisiana and is dropping more and more sandbags along the barrier islands and marshes to try and keep as much oil as possible away from sensitive habitats close to shore. But oil is getting through.

Long-Term Impact
With oil still flowing, it is difficult to assess what the true extent of the damage might be on the marine environment (BP has set up a $500m fund to research this). Currents and winds will force the oil slick to drift over ever-larger areas and tides will continue to bring more oil to coastal areas. All of this will have an impact on the open water, coastal areas, and marine and land habitats.

As more and more oil waste reaches the cost, it interacts with sediments such as sand, gravel, and vegetation contaminating them and reducing their ability to protect and nurture vegetation and animals. Not to mention the direct impact on animals that find themselves coated in oil or the long-term potential damage to fishing and fisheries that will have huge knock on effects for the local economy.

As the blame game continues in Washington, the world waits and hopes that the authorities and BP will be able to stem the flow of oil and begin the long and arduous clean-up operation. It is going to take a long time and the true impact on both the marine and land environments will not be known for many years.

Maldives Adventure, Part Three: Six Senses Laamu

2010-05-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

In a last of three blogs about his recent trip to the Maldives, Neill Ghosh recounts his experience at the soon to be opened Six Senses Laamu on Laamu Atoll to the south of the Maldives.

After leaving Soneva Fushi, we made the journey down to Laamu Atoll in the south of the Maldives to visit the yet to be completed Six Senses Laamu. After two plane journeys and a speedboat transfer, we arrived at the hotel in one of the remotest areas of the islands (the only hotel on this atoll) and the location did not disappoint. Sat on one of the bluest lagoons you will ever see, and away from all civilisation, this hotel promises to deliver a very different experience from the other Six Senses hotels in the Maldives. Despite its remoteness, the transfer from Malé is not too tiring. It consists of a 40-minute flight by small plane followed by a 20-minute speedboat ride.

It is somewhat hard to pass judgment on a hotel when it is not open yet, but a whirlwind tour revealed some impressive touches that suggest that this will be a welcome addition to the Six Senses portfolio: a first of its kind glass cube wine “cellar” raised above the water; the largest overwater structure in the Maldives that will serve as the communal space for the hotel, and will house such rare treats as a chocolaterie, homemade ice cream parlour and resident ‘mood jockey’ (as opposed to a disc jockey); and beautiful villas, both on land and above overwater.

What really excited me about this hotel is the location and the potential for some incredible diving. Unfortunately I was unable to get into the water as the person who will run the dive centre does not arrive for two weeks and the centre itself is not finished. But the waters around Laamu are largely unchartered from a diving perspective. Some liveaboards do pass by but the potential to be out there discovering new sites is hugely appealing. The location too, at the southern opening of the Laamu Atoll, where mantas and whale sharks are likely to be regular visitors, is a big plus.

It remains to be seen whether Six Senses Laamu will live up to the reputation of the other Six Senses hotels in the Maldives. The focus on the communal areas and a more resort-like feel is very different and may attract a different crowd but is an exciting experiment. And at a significantly lower price point, this resort is not in direct competition with Soneva Fushi and Soneva Gili. With 100 rooms, it won’t be as small and intimate as the others, delivering a different, but no less enticing experience.

We will wait and see how Laamu turns out. I for one hope to return once it is up and running. The prospect of the diving on offer is incredibly exciting and I don’t doubt that this hotel will be a welcome addition to the Six Senses, and indeed Dive in Style, portfolios.

Maldives Adventure, Part Two: Soneva Gili

2010-05-28T08:56:00.000-07:00

In the second of three blogs about his recent trip to the Maldives, Neill Ghosh recounts his experience at Soneva Gili, a Six Senses hotel on Malé Atoll close to Malé, the capital of the Maldives.

Soneva Gili, located just a short speedboat ride away from the capital of the Maldives, Malé, is Six Senses other flagship hotel in the area, along with Soneva Fushi. Arriving there from Soneva Fushi, via a whirlwind tour of the soon to be opened hotel in Laamu Atoll, I was immediately struck by the sheer size of the overwater villas. At 210 square metres for the smallest category of room, they are three times larger than my flat in London!

For me, the villas at Gili are the major selling point for the island. They are without a doubt the most stunning rooms I have ever stayed in. Sumptuously finished bathrooms and bedrooms (without being over the top) and enough outside space to swing several cats in make you feel truly special. All of the villas are overwater so you are only ever a matter of seconds from swimming in the stunningly blue waters of the lagoon on which this hotel rests. If the overwater living experience, romanticised by so many postcards we see of the Maldives is what you are looking for, then you could not do better than Soneva Gili.

If you can bear to tear yourself away from your villa (and it appears that some people just can’t, with in-villa dining being a popular option) then there are a number of activities to keep you occupied. The overwater spa, in which you stare down at the fish while you are being massaged, is as good as you would expect from Six Senses. The food, and in particular, that which is cooked up by the ever-cheerful Mikki, the hotel’s current resident Japanese chef, is fantastic and surprisingly varied for a small island – you can choose between Sense by the Beach which is the gourmet option, the overwater bar, the main restaurant, or indeed have your food delivered direct to your villa.

From a diving perspective, Ocean Leisure runs a smooth operation and there are a large number of sites in close proximity to the island. Russ, the dive leader has been on the island for nearly a year and obviously knows what he is doing. When I dived we had the reef to ourselves. The coral was surprisingly healthy, and as always in the Maldives, the fish life was abundant. On the afternoon dive, which I couldn’t join, the mantas were back again. With Soneva Gili located in a more developed part of the Maldives than Soneva Fushi or Laamu, the dive sites will not always be as uncrowded, especially when everyone wants to head to Manta Point and other popular sites. However, this team know what they are doing and there are enough sites to go round.

It is hard to call out many things I didn’t like about Soneva Gili. For me this is the sort of hotel, if for nothing more than the villas themselves, that you cannot help but be impressed with. It is very small with only 45 villas, and very private so if what you are looking for is complete rest and relaxation, staying in some of the most stunning rooms in the Maldives, and with excellent diving right on your doorstep, then you will struggle to beat Soneva Gili.

Maldives Adventure, Part One: Soneva Fushi

2010-05-28T08:40:00.000-07:00

In a first of three blogs about his recent trip to the Maldives, Neill Ghosh recounts his experience at Soneva Fushi, a Six Senses hotel in Baa Atoll to the north of the Maldives.

Almost without exception, the people I know who have visited this hotel claim it to be one of their favourite places on earth, so it was with not inconsiderable excitement that I arrived at Soneva Fushi on the first leg of my trip to the Maldives after a short seaplane transfer from the capital, Malé. I was not to be let down. The charm of this place is very subtle and from the moment you arrive it creeps upon you little by little until you are fully absorbed in what it has to offer.

Arrival is very low-key (although there were about 10 people waiting to greet us with handshakes and wide smiles) and at first glance the hotel comes across as rustic, almost basic. There are no gold taps or marble floors here. But with each passing minute, it becomes clearer and clearer what a special place this really is. Six Senses itself uses the tag line ‘Intelligent Luxury’, a phrase that only really makes sense once you have been to one of their hotels.

Everything is understated but as it should be. The rooms are filled with dark wood, sumptuous mattresses, Bose sound systems and outdoor bathrooms bigger than the average London flat; but there are no pictures on the wall, no flashy surfaces, and certainly no satellite TV. Each of the 65 villas is utterly secluded and you could easily spend a week here without knowing that anyone else exists. The hotel is set up to deliver a very private experience to guests. This is not the place for you if you want wild partying.

In terms of facilities, everything on Soneva Fushi is geared towards providing guests with unique experiences. From the celestial observatory where you can gaze up to the stars with the help of a seriously high-tech telescope, to ‘Cinema Paradiso’ where you can spend an evening watching Audrey Hepburn films on what used to be the island’s helipad while munching on home-made popcorn and Maltesers (yes homemade Maltesers...in a variety of flavours).

The fundamentals of any good holiday are all top notch too at Soneva Fushi. The food is one of the biggest plus points; with three restaurants it has some of the best choice in the Maldives with gourmet cuisine, Peruvian-Japanese fusion, and fresh seafood being just some of the highlights. Nearly everything is grown, caught or baked on or around the island and is as fresh as can be. I for one found myself eating until I physically could eat no more at each and every meal. Always a good sign.

As one would expect with Six Senses, the spa is superb and I spent an enjoyable hour being kneaded to within an inch of my life by a Thai lady whose small physique masked an almost superhuman strength, allowing her to cause a not insignificant amount of pain to every inch of my body.

And as for the diving...well, I only had time to do one dive, but what a dive it was. The dive site was less than five minutes from the island and from the second we entered the water, we were surrounded by playful manta rays (watch the videos I recorded); only the second time in my life I have seen these incredible creatures. And it would be difficult to find a better run dive operation than Soleni. Thomas, who runs the place, has been living on Soneva Fushi for over 15 years and is therefore well placed to expertly guide divers around the islands.

Reading this back, it seems I am gushing about Soneva Fushi and indeed I am. I could go on and on but I need to stop somewhere as this blog is getting out of hand already. Suffice to say that I was incredibly impressed by what Soneva Fushi has to offer. It is not for everyone, and if you are looking for more traditional luxury, then it might be best to look elsewhere. But if you are looking for a truly unique experience and unparalleled service, all wrapped up in an eco-friendly package then this may well be the place for you. Add to this some of the best food and diving that the Maldives has to offer, and I, for one, will be doing my utmost to get back to Soneva Fushi as soon as I possibly can. And for a lot longer than two days!

The Maldives: An Assault of the (Six) Senses

2010-05-27T10:23:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I flew out to the Maldives as a guest of hotel operator Six Senses to visit three of their hotels including the soon to be opened Six Senses Laamu in the remote south. My aim was to see what each has to offer both from a diving perspective, and in terms of the general holiday experience. What better time to jot down some thoughts than while sitting here on the plane on my way back home.

It’s been a whirlwind tour. Four days taking in first Soneva Fushi in the Baa Atoll in the northern Maldives, followed by Six Senses Laamu in the as yet largely untouched south, and topped off by Soneva Gili on Malé Atoll. Having been treated very well on the trip, I may be a little biased, but I have to say that all three hotels have lived up to the hype in different ways.

Here I will include only the highlights from the trip but in separate blogs I will take an in-depth look at each of the three hotels individually.

Let’s start with Soneva Fushi, which is like no hotel I have ever visited. The best way I can describe it is as Robinson Crusoe on steroids. There are no marble floors or gold taps here, rather a rustic kind of luxury that is at once so subtle you almost don’t notice it, and yet so obvious once you start to “get it”. There is so much to like about this hotel. Suffice to say that whatever aspect you look at, whether it be the food, diving, rooms or spa, you will find the utmost quality but also an approach that is refreshingly different and incredibly difficult to leave behind. It doesn’t hurt that I was surrounded by mantas on my first dive (take a look at the video)!

Now on to Soneva Gili. This hotel is all about the villas and the utmost privacy. There are only 45 villas, each of which is perched above the crystal clear blue waters of the lagoon. These are by far the most stunning rooms I have ever seen, the perfect place for a romantic getaway with a loved one. If you can bear to tear yourself away from your villa, there are a number of facilitates to keep you entertained such as the overwater spa, the fantastic seafood, not to mention the numerous dive sites that surround the island. But you might just want to sit and relax in your villa. I probably would.

Finally, Six Senses Laamu. It’s hard to pass judgment on a hotel that is not yet finished but Laamu promises something very different to its northern counterparts. The philosophy is unique to Six Senses with more of an emphasis on communal space and less on total privacy and this is reflected in the fact that there are 100 rooms both overwater and on land. The most exciting thing for me is the potential for some truly untouched diving. This is currently the only hotel being developed in the Atoll and with the south being famous for whale sharks and mantas; there is a lot to be explored.

‘Intelligent Luxury’ is the Six Senses tag line and this only really makes sense once you have visited their hotels. It’s not about being flash or showy. Quite the opposite. It’s about understated luxury and those little touches that will have you coming back for more. I for one will try and return as soon as I possibly can.

So Just What is Dive in Style?

2010-05-07T01:20:00.000-07:00

In the second of a series of regular blogs, Tim Simond, Dive in Style author and founder, explians exactly what is meant by Dive in Style.

Over the years, I have visited some 100 countries, most of them with a coastline, and so I already had a good yardstick being familiar with some of the resorts featured in the book, having stayed there in my non-diving days, let alone countless other hotels around the world. I also realised that I could use this knowledge married to my now extensive diving experience to start the search for resorts that met all my revised criteria. So just what were these criteria and just what is Dive in Style?

A luxury and preferably stylish resort suitable for families and couples
Activities for all outside of diving including such facilities as a spa where possible
Fantastic diving and snorkelling
A dive shop on site - taxis or buses in wet gear would not do
An efficient diving system including, if possible a wash down service so you are free to enjoy your holiday rather than washing up
A minimum number of dive sites within 20 minutes and more further afield if wanted
Appropriate boats and equipment for the numbers and conditions
Small groups so that you were not crowded underwater

In short the diving and the entire operation should be a reflection of the quality of the hotel.

So next it was a question of reducing well over a hundred potential resorts to a definitive short list which we then had to visit (I know, I can hear you saying poor me). This involved sending out a comprehensive questionnaire to all, seeking to find out more about their diving, their dive facilities, their staff etc etc. and then somehow reducing this to just thirty, further reduced after our visits turned up that some of them simply did not fit the criteria despite appearing to do so on paper.

Over an eighteen month period I visited some thirty resorts narrowing this down to the final 26 destinations which made up the first edition of Dive in Style, and difficult though you will find to believe, this was an exhausting process as I only had a very short window at each resort to capture all the images and information, and many times mother nature just refused to cooperate - the most often heard comment from hotel managers being ‘this is the worst weather we have ever had at this time of year’. Consequently a few resorts we actually had to revisit. Amazingly all the underwater shots were captured during our brief visits which suggests that if I saw it, so too will you.

The second edition of the book, which has just been released, further reviewed and updated these 26 hotels as well as adding new discoveries and dropping a few of the old ones either because they no longer met the criteria (only one so far) or because there was simply no room in the new book - they are however all are featured on our website.

It was quite a task trying to ensure all things to all men (and women and children), whether you dived or not, and clearly some resorts achieve these goals better than others and this is picked up in more detail in both the book and on the website under the appropriate hotels. So out of all these resorts I have visited, which are my top picks? That will be the subject of my next blog.

Twenty Years Too Late

2010-04-28T08:59:00.000-07:00

In a series of regular blogs, Dive in Style author and founder, Tim Simond, will discuss the why and what of Dive in Style, and will share his experiences of the resorts and dive sites we feature at Dive in Style.

Unfortunately I came to diving late - 20 years too late. Having travelled the world from a young age, including the Maldives when even the travel agent had to look them up on the map and the only shower was a tin can, I am still haunted by what, as a then non-diver, I did not see.

When I finally discovered what I was missing, at least I could console myself that I had already done a lot of the groundwork and so was well placed to start travelling again, this time married to both my wife and my expanding love of diving. And so I began to wander the planet, now with the goal of finding some of the best diving, and as I grew older and more able to afford it, I wanted more than a dive resort, I wanted much more comfortable hotels with all facilities and activities - I wanted my holidays to be spoiling as well as exciting.

As I became more selective, I wondered just why luxury and great diving had to be mutually exclusive, why couldn’t one have both, and why did it seem to be so difficult to find? Then talking to friends and travelling with them I began wondering why families should be excluded unless they all dived as let’s face it there was nothing in a ‘dive resort’ for those that did not.

So as I sought new holiday destinations, it was with some difficulty that I found them meeting all my new criteria. It appeared that no one was appealing to this market and consequently there was no information out there as to where you could have great diving and a great hotel, a hotel which you would want to stay at even if you did not dive, a hotel for families and couples with all the facilities you would expect. And then I wanted more, I wanted the dive facilities to be on a level with the resorts.

And so Dive in Style began.

Volcanic Eruptions and Our Oceans

2010-04-21T12:56:00.000-07:00

It’s been a hectic few days at Dive in Style HQ as the Original Travel team frantically try to ensure that all of our clients stranded abroad are getting the assistance they need. As the skies clear and the sound of planes overhead returns (let’s just hope neighbouring Icelandic volcano Katla doesn’t decide to blow any time soon), we got to wondering what the effect of the eruption might be on the world’s oceans. Thankfully, early signs seem to show that this eruption will have few negative long-term effects on the earth’s environment above or below the waves according to scientists.

So what does happen when the ash from the eruption lands on the ocean? You might think it would create a floating blanket of poison smothering the life below. In fact, according to many scientific studies, volcanic ash is good for the oceans. A 2001 report which looked at the effects of an earlier Icelandic eruption shows that the ash could act like an ocean fertilizer, feeding the waters’ most basic organisms. There’s a lot of science behind this that we, frankly, don’t understand. Let’s just say that the ash contains concentrated nutrients that feed phytoplankton, the basis of the underwater food chain. There is a chance that the present eruption has spewed out chemicals that may be harmful but we are going to look on the bright side for now in the hope of a silver lining.

We’ll leave underwater volcanic eruptions - such as the one about 93 million years ago that scientists believe led to the extinction of one-tenth of the world’s marine invertebrates - for another blog. In the meantime, take a look at this video of the deepest underwater eruption ever caught on camera.

Away We Go

2010-04-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

We've been quiet for a while but now we're back. For the last few months we've been busily preparing for the launch of the new edition of best-selling book, Dive in Style, and building a new website to coincide with the launch of the book. We are delighted to say that this is now complete. We are going to be much more active on this blog from now on as we look to keep you informed of goings on at Dive in Style, to inform you of special offers, and generally to relay any interesting tit-bits we come across in the course of our work. Stay tuned...

Dive Site

2009-11-04T03:27:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time coming, but we're proud to announce the arrival of the new Original Travel site, which is home to the updated list of Dive in Style destinations, and many more around the world. Visit the site to learn more about the best dive spots around the world, and to book holidays there with an award-winning travel company. Original Travel and Tim from Dive in Style have negotiated exclusive rates and special offers for you at the Dive in Style destinations, and don't forget the free mask and snorkel you receive when you book with us. Come on, dive in.

Turtle Inn Style

2009-06-26T03:04:00.000-07:00

Good news from our friends at the excellent Turtle Inn in Belize. This September they hope to take delivery of a brand new Pro 42-foot dive boat which will make access to the reef even quicker and more comfortable. Just a reminder - this is the reef where marine biologists now know exactly when, why and where whale sharks turn up each year. This lucky Original Traveller did one dive last April and saw eight sharks! Turtle Inn are also now involved with Alexandra Cousteau (granddaughter of Jacques) in her ongoing Blue Planet project. She will be in Belize to study the reef (the second longest in the world) and the ecological dangers facing it.

The End of the Line?

2009-06-26T02:50:00.001-07:00

A new film produced by a friend of ours at Dive in Style warns of the severe - and possibly irreversible - depletion of wild fish stocks in the world's oceans. Dubbed "the 'Inconvenient Truth' of the sea" The End of the Line is pretty harrowing in parts, but there's an upbeat finale and a simple message of how we can all do our bit to avert one of the most serious ecological disasters of this, or any, age. Needless to say there's the added concern for divers of the increased destruction of coral reefs and habitats by drag net fishing and other destructive modern techniques. If you want to see the movie, there are still screenings around the UK over the coming months, and we strongly recommend seeing it.

Boat Showy

2009-06-16T01:08:00.000-07:00

If you're a) left unsatisfied with visiting the world's finest dive destinations despite buying Dive in Style, b) lucky enough to live in a location with good diving, and c) rich as Croesus, you might want to consider buying your own diveboat. The slick aluminium-style inflatable Queensland Survey dive boat accommodates 9 divers and 1 crew member, and 20 tanks so you can race around the islands of your Caribbean archipelago in complete freedom. All this for just $59,000 AUD or around £29,000. Caribbean Archipelago not included.

The Man (or Woman) in the Frameless Mask

2009-03-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the imminent (well, October) arrival of the second edition of Dive in Style, author Tim Simond's travel partners - the award-winning travel company Original Travel - are delighted to offer the following incentive for anyone who books a Dive in Style destination via them. Anyone who books will receive, aside from the extremely competitive rates and an exclusive offer at the hotel, one Frameless mask and SV snorkel from Atomic, completely free. Generally considered the best mask on the market, this offer is only available to those who book through Original Travel.

Dive, in style

2009-02-13T08:48:00.000-08:00

Whether you are a diver, a snorkeller or just want the best in beach holidays, Dive in Style marries the ultimate in hotels and resorts with amazing diving and snorkelling from around the world. This stylish book devotes 288 pages and over 740 colour images to just 26 destinations, from the Mediterranean to the Maldives, Australia to the Caribbean. With in depth reports on the Hotels, the Dive Centres, as well as the diving and snorkelling, together with an abbreviated and convenient ‘At a Glance’ table, weather information and much more, this book will tell you all you need to know whether you are a diver, a snorkeller or just want an amazing holiday. You will also find other useful links, none more so than Original Travel. Dive in Style has worked closely with Original Travel over the last two years in putting together the destinations listed. The staff at Original Travel would be delighted to help you with all your Dive in Style holiday arrangements.