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24 Mar 2015

photography

Congratulations to Regaldive Guest Andrew Green on winning Sport Diver Photo of the Month with this incredible photo of a Mantis Shrimp taken on a Regaldive holiday to Siladen Island, Manado, North Sulawesi.

We met up with Andrew and his wife Jane at LIDS in February and they shared some of the incredible images of their diving holidays. Take a look at just a few of Andrew's amazing shots on the Regaldive Facebook page.

Andrew and Jane Green have been diving for 10 years and travel all over the world in pursuit of new diving experiences. Andrew first became interested in photography five years ago when he bought a Canon G9 which was great fun but he soon realised that he wanted to make the leap to an SLR. Andrew acquired a Nikon D7000 and Nauticam enclosure and Jane treated him to a days' one-to-one tuition with Martin Edge in Bournemouth and that took his picture quality and composition to another level.

Well he never looked back and now seeks diving holidays with the potential for the best photo opportunities! If you're a budding photographer, Andrew and Jane really recommend two centre holidays. They tend to select a location with bigger subjects for the first week and smaller the second week. A few words from Andrew:

"It's difficult to single out the most memorable sites because they have all been so wonderful - we are so privileged.  For pure photo opportunities, I think the Siladen Island Resort and Spa combination with Kungkungan Bay Resort in North Sulawesi is difficult to beat. In fact the fantastic location of Siladen Island gives a great mix of wide angle and close up on its own. Within at most 20 minutes you can be on the wonderful sheer walls of Bunaken Island or the muck dives on the Shores of Manado. However you just can't beat the Lembeh Straits for wonderful macro opportunities. During the first dive of our last visit we plunged into what looked like an uninteresting dive at TK III, only to be literally surrounded by Mimic and Wonderpuss Octopus everywhere you looked. They seemed to be fighting amongst themselves to give the best photo opportunity to us!

The Philippines was fantastic, with Malapascua having wonderful macro opportunities for Sea Horses, Mandarin Fish and giant Nudibranchs - a slight contradiction - along with the illusive Thresher Sharks of course. Alona Vida with its easy access to Balicasag was a great combination of close focus wide angle and macro photography. Similarly Dumaguete with its macro along the shore and wide angle at Apo Island was a super combination, with the added bonus of an off-gassing last day at Oslob to snorkel with the Whale Sharks. Couldn't wish for more really..."

So what's next for Andrew and Jane?

"Although we favour diving for macro opportunities, we would love to have the opportunity to dive with the giant oceanic mantas."

We can't wait to see the photos!!

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2 Mar 2015

malta, Gozo

Are you looking for an incredible diving holiday close to home? The Maltese Islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino offer award-winning diving in crystal clear waters and can be reached in as little as three hours flying time from the UK. Add to this incredible underwater topography and multiple wrecks, and it’s easy to see why these beautiful Mediterranean islands are such a hotspot for British divers.

The sheer diversity of dive sites that can be reached by boat and shore, and the suitability of many sites for divers of different experience levels, has secured the Islands’ reputation as a great all-round diving destination. Malta & Gozo are consistently voted in the top three diving destinations worldwide by readers of the British diving magazines Diver and Sport Diver.

Calm, sheltered bays, exceptional water clarity and easy shore access make for ideal conditions for beginners taking their first breaths underwater. Complex tunnels, caves and some outstanding ship, plane and submarine wrecks attract legions of experienced, deep and technical divers year after year.

Where to go

Regaldive offers divers the choice of a holiday on either Malta or Gozo:

Malta offers a cosmopolitan and lively stay, being the largest and most developed island of the three Maltese Isles. Malta’s history as a disputed land has led to an impressive collection of wrecks and the Island becoming known as the wreck capital of the Mediterranean. Dozens of wrecks, historic and artificial, mean that Malta is a key technical diving destination. However, the island is also an ideal place for beginners with plenty of sheltered coves to explore. Malta’s calm, warm waters also make for excellent visibility and superb conditions for underwater photography.

Discover Malta >

Equally photogenic, the smaller island of Gozo is an unspoilt paradise with a simple, rural charm. The action here is underwater where the spectacular scenery draws divers back to Gozo time and time again. Arches and tunnels have been carved out of the coastline and offer endless points of natural rugged beauty around its 27 mile coastline, coupled with tremendous underwater visibility. The Blue Hole is perhaps the most famous dive site of all the Islands and purportedly a favourite dive of Jacques Cousteau. There are many more caverns, tunnels and swim throughs, plus two artificial wrecks to explore at leisure, whilst Gozo is also popular with new divers, captivated by its charm.

Discover Gozo >

Above water attractions

The Maltese Islands offer plenty to keep visitors entertained after an exciting days’ diving. Guests can explore the ancient streets and stunning harbour of the World Heritage City of Valletta, named European Capital of Culture 2018. Malta's photogenic capital is renowned for its rich collection of prehistoric artefacts, the impressive Grand Master’s Palace and majestic St. John’s Cathedral. A visit to the 'Silent City' of Mdina is also a must.

Gozo is home to the world’s oldest free-standing structures, the Ggantija Temples, which pre-date even the pyramids. Also worth a visit is the picturesque hilltop citadel of Victoria (Rabat). For a true Maltese experience however, take a walk or cycle ride around the pretty villages and find plenty of hidden treasures – medieval churches, fresh local cuisine, private sandy coves, and a warm Mediterranean welcome at every turn.

Situated between Malta and Gozo, the tiny Island of Comino is just 3.5 square kilometres and car free. This Island paradise offers a lovely diversion and peaceful day visit with some of the archipelago’s prettiest coves and quiet beaches.

When to go

The Maltese archipelago is renowned for its mild climate boasting 300+ days of sunshine throughout the year and hot, dry summers. With water temperatures ranging from 15 - 25°C throughout the year, most divers opt to visit Malta during the main diving season from May to October to take advantage of calm, warmer waters that offer ideal diving conditions.

Getting there

Malta is very easy to get to from the UK with daily scheduled flights from London Heathrow and Gatwick, plus a choice of charter flights available. The flying time is little more than three hours, making these Islands an ideal choice for a short break. Regaldive offers a range of accommodation on both Malta and Gozo to suit all budgets. Choose from dive centre managed apartments for the best value and convenience, or boutique hotels for extra comforts and added style. Visitors can travel between the Islands via a regular ferry service with the journey from Malta to Gozo taking just 25 minutes.

Experience the Maltese Islands… 

Contact the Regaldive specialist team on 01353 659999 and let us help you discover this award-winning dive destination this Summer.

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The Dive Show special offers and Malta Holiday Competition are now closed.

With just a few days to go until the London International Dive Show (LIDS), the Regaldive Team is gearing up for an exciting weekend at Excel with a holiday to Gozo up for grabs, as well as tempting worldwide special offers*, many available from today!

Visit the Regaldive stand 412 at LIDS and enter our competition to win a holiday for two people to the beautiful Maltese Island of Gozo. The prize consists of two return flights from London Heathrow to Malta courtesy of Air Malta and the Malta Tourism Authority, transfers, seven nights bed and breakfast accommodation for two people sharing a double / twin room at the lovely St. Patricks Hotel in Xlendi, Gozo, ten dives with St. Andrew’s Divers Cove and a sightseeing tour of the Islands.**

Further afield, divers looking for a liveaboard holiday can benefit from some massive savings including up to 40% off last minute trips aboard S/Y Fiji Siren. Save an incredible £1,150pp on the ten night Beyond the Bligh itinerary departing on 19 February 2015, whilst a seven night trip on 2 March 2015 is discounted by £831pp to just £1,246pp. This boat only package includes seven or ten nights on a full board basis, diving (three to four boat dives per day), rental equipment, air/nitrox tanks and weights. Flights are not included but can be arranged by Regaldive. Up to 40% savings are also available on selected trips aboard S/Y Truk Siren. Call us for details.

Divers can also save on other ‘trip of a lifetime’ liveaboard holidays including up to £500pp off Galapagos liveaboards and up to £500pp on Indonesian liveaboards including the stunning sailing yacht Dewi Nusantara. Divers booking on the last few 2015 spaces aboard this luxurious vessel can also qualify for free Nitrox, worth $200pp per trip.

Closer to home, how about the Red Sea's perfect combination of great value for money twinned with guaranteed great diving. Seven night trips aboard the popular Red Sea liveaboard M/Y Asmaa start from just £799 per person, including return flights, transfers, full board accommodation, six days’ diving, air/nitrox tanks (two free nitrox fills per day), weights and Marine Park fees.

Divers looking for land-based diving can benefit from boat diving for just £26 per day in El Gouna and Sharm El Sheikh, and £29 per day in Marsa Alam and Hamata. This great value offer is available when booking with Regaldive for diving with Emperor Divers at any time during 2015. No date exclusions apply but diving must be booked by 27 February 2015. Divers can also benefit from a choice of free and half price diving deals on offer at other Red Sea resorts on selected departure dates.

Finally, the 2015 LIDS show will also be the first time that we share our stand with the Grenada Tourism Authority. Grenada and Carriacou experts will be on hand on stand 412 throughout the weekend to share their destination knowledge, diving tips and a number of exclusive show offers for holidays to the Spice Island of the Caribbean. Divers booking with Regaldive on the show weekend and before 27 February 2015 can save up to more than £300pp on Grenada diving holidays and benefit from free and half price diving deals, as well as free nights at selected hotels.


For further information, or to book, visit us at LIDS on stand 412 or call the Regaldive Team on 01353 659999.

 

* and ** - subject to Terms and Conditions - please see here

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13 Jan 2015

Tobago, trip report

Regaldive Team Member John shares his memories of his pre-Christmas trip to the stunning Caribbean island of Tobago...

Just before Christmas I had a lovely week on the beautiful Island of Tobago.  Enjoying the sun, sea and sights of the Caribbean was so much nicer than rushing around packed shops back home in search of last minute gifts.

Tobago is an island with two distinct dive styles and it makes a great choice for a twin centre holiday. Visitors opting to dive the Caribbean coast will find lovely fringing reefs and a lack of current that is well-suited to less experienced divers. In contrast, the Atlantic coastline is famed for pounding currents and plankton-rich water which attracts large pelagics and some of the best conditions for drift diving to be found anywhere.

After stepping off the BA flight that goes via St Lucia we first stayed for a couple of nights at the Crown Point end of the island. Most Regaldive guests start their twin centre holiday here at the popular Toucan Inn and although I have visited Tobago before, this was my first time to stay in this area. The location of Crown Point means access to both the Caribbean and Atlantic coastlines, although most of the dives here seem to be of a relaxed variety.

The diving started the following day with a nice little wreck called the Maverick which sits upright on the sand at 25m. The structure is covered in life and has quite an easy swim through with lots to keep the macro photographer occupied.  A nice relaxing reef dive followed afterwards with plenty of interesting life around including a giant porcupine fish and pretty flamingo tongue sea snails.

The next full day on the island was a non-diving day and an island tour was arranged. The hustle and bustle of the island’s capital, Scarborough was followed by a drive up the north coast along the winding coast road, taking in the nicely-located Grafton Beach Resort on the way. A bit further along the coast, we stopped to admire the lovely views across Englishman’s Bay. It’s great to see somewhere so beautiful that’s not had modern development imposed upon it.  The centre of the island is mountainous and covered in rainforest, the oldest protected rainforest in the Western Hemisphere.  Fortunately, back in 1764 the Tobagonian’s realised the rainforest’s worth as the main water source for the island and it is home to many picturesque waterfalls. 

The rainforest is definitely worth a visit and one of the few things I would recommend giving up a day’s diving for. It’s amazing how the forest is so thick and lush within just a few feet of the road and although we only walked for an hour or two, I could have spent a lot longer. If you are a bird enthusiast the time to go is early in the morning, a feast for both the ears and eyes apparently.  There are still plenty of birds about later in the day and it was also unusual to see a large crab going about his business, miles from the sea.

Rounding the top of the island revealed plenty more interesting coastline and villages.  At the end of the day we arrived at the small village of Speyside and checked into the Nabucco's Resort Speyside Inn. A great favourite with Regaldive guests it was fantastic to meet the team there in person at last, a very friendly lot, making for a great atmosphere.  A lovely view out into the bay from your room too!

The dive centre is on site at the Speyside Inn, so turning up to dive is quite relaxed, although the diving is considered slightly more advanced than down at the Crown Point end of the island. We had two great drift dives in the Atlantic waters around the island of Little Tobago, with plenty to see including an incredible brain coral, supposedly the largest in the world. I chose not to snooze between dives as I didn’t want to miss the spectacular views of the islands from the dive boat on the way to and from the dive sites. 

A quick look around the Blue Waters Inn followed in the afternoon. This hotel is quite new to the Regaldive programme but I’m sure will become a favourite with our guests. Having just completed a refurbishment, the resort looks very smart with modern design touches and high level, luxury service as standard. The well organised dive centre is also on site and boasts new dive boats and equipment too.

All too soon it was time to head back to Crown Point, although I enjoyed the variety of diving on offer here. Quite fittingly the highlight for me was the very last dive of the week, a site called Cove Ledge on the Atlantic side. A nice slow drift dive with turtles, half a dozen nurse sharks and my best octopus encounter in nearly 400 dives. 

Thanks to the Trinidad and Tobago Tourist Board, the Tobago Division of Tourism and Transportation and Regaldive for the opportunity to join this trip and the chance to visit beautiful Tobago. I hope to come back again soon!

For more photos of John's trip, visit the Regaldive Facebook page >

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Where in Europe can you swim with wild dolphins or look a mesmerising blue shark in the eye? Divers looking for spectacular marine encounters no longer need to travel halfway around the world with the discovery of the breathtaking Azores archipelago. These nine unique islands, virtually untouched by tourism but this week voted No.1 Global Sustainable Destination of 2014, offer world class diving opportunities in less than four hours flying time from the UK.

Unique Biodiversity

The archipelago’s remote mid-Atlantic location, perfectly positioned between the nutrient-rich currents from the north and the warmer waters of the Gulf Stream, allows for a unique biodiversity. Divers visiting the Azores can hope to encounter a vast range of oceanic species including rare blue and mako sharks, spotted, bottlenose and Risso’s dolphins, manta and devil rays and occasional whale sharks, as well as five kinds of turtle.

Coastal dive sites offer the chance to discover friendly dusky groupers, octopus and morays lurking under rocks and tiny, colourful nudibranch. Beaked whales, sperm whales, blue whales, humpbacks and false killer whales can all be spotted from the surface making any boat ride to a dive site an exhilarating adventure.

Volcanic Geological Wonders

Over the centuries, the landscape of the Azores has been etched and carved out by volcanic lava streams resulting in a unique backdrop to the incredible nature above and below water. Divers have the chance to explore labyrinthine tunnels, bubbling hydrothermal vents, canyons, caves and arches, which provide ideal photo opportunities in the clear waters. Several impressive wrecks and a ship graveyard at the Underwater Archaeological Park on Terceira encourage further discovery.

Blue Sharks and Other Highlights

It is the chance to dive with one of the ocean’s fastest fish, the captivating blue shark, which first entices most divers to the Azores. A stay on the mountainous island of Pico offers the best chance to meet small groups of these naturally inquisitive sharks at the renowned Condor Seamount. Manta rays, morays, stingrays, groupers, wrasse, parrotfish, triggerfish and damselfish are also encountered here.

Pico also affords divers easy access to Princess Alice Bank, the most famous seamount of the Azores. A lengthy boat ride is rewarded with a majestic underwater mountain falling to some 500m whose 35m tip is packed with groups of devil rays, barracuda and schools of thousands of tuna swirling in the strong currents.

Diving and More!

Equally spectacular on land, divers can immerse themselves in the rich cultural heritage and wide diversity of the Azorean islands. With each island having its own unique charm, non-diving days can be spent hiking through picturesque landscapes, climbing to waterfalls and towering volcanoes, exploring the islands’ maritime history, or simply relaxing in hot springs.

When and where to go…

Diving is at its best in the Azores during the main Summer season from May to October and Regaldive recommend that you book as early as possible to ensure availability. With flexible scheduled and charter flights, the archipelago is particularly well suited to twin centre combinations. Regaldive will plan your itinerary for the optimum experience of this exciting destination.

Choose a combination from:

The Green Island - Sao Miguel

Part of the Eastern group of islands, Sao Miguel is a fantastic introduction to the Azores. Explore the islet of Vila Franca, swim across bubbling hydrothermal vents and discover the wreck of the 100m cargo ship MV Dori. On land, enjoy Terra Nostra Gardens, hot springs, and the cosmopolitan marina of Ponta Delgada.

The Island of the Sun - Santa Maria

Laying claim as the oldest, flattest, warmest and sunniest island, Santa Maria offers the closest proximity to the challenging dive sites of Ilheus das Formigas and Dollabarat Banks. These sea mounts guarantee exhilarating dives and pelagic encounters. Dwell on history and follow in the footsteps of Christopher Columbus on land.

The Grey Island - Pico

Pico’s volcanic tip at 2351m dominates the beautiful land and seascape of the central island group. Pico’s deep waters and proximity to the mid-Atlantic ridge offer the best sightings of blue sharks, as well as the famed Princess Alice Bank. The island’s UNESCO protected 15th century vineyards offer a distraction above water.

Azores holidays start from just £699pp for a seven night package including return flights, bed and breakfast accommodation (twin share) and transfers. Diving starts from £125pp for a four dive pack.

Experience the Azores.... Contact the Regaldive team on 01353 659 999

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Booking Conditions

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: applicable to all bookings confirmed by 30 june 2018

Regaldive is a trading name of Regal Diving and Tours Limited. Regaldive ('the Company', "we", "us" and "our") accepts bookings subject to the following conditions. Except where expressly stated, these conditions only apply to tour arrangements booked by the client with the Company and which the Company agrees to make, provide or perform (as applicable) as part of their contract with the client. All references in these conditions to "tour", “holiday” "booking", "contract" or "arrangements" mean such tour arrangements unless otherwise stated.

YOUR TOUR CONTRACT

The contract is between the Company and the client ("the client" and "you" in these conditions), being any person travelling or intending to travel on a tour operated by the Company including any person who is added or substituted after booking. We both agree that English law (and no other) will apply to your contract and to any dispute, claim or other matter of any description which arises between us (except as set out below). We both also agree that any dispute, claim or other matter of any description (and whether or not involving any personal injury) which arises between us must be dealt with by the Courts of England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland only. No employee of the Company other than a director has authority to vary or omit any of these terms. No promise of a discount or refund will be binding on us unless confirmed by us in writing.

1: BOOKING & PAYMENT OF DEPOSIT

a) The deposit payable to confirm a booking will be advised at the time of booking / enquiry and depends on the package booked, flight costs, boat deposit required etc. If a booking is made 70 days or less prior to your departure date, the full payment of the cost of the holiday is required with your signed booking form. The booking is binding on the Company only when it has issued confirmation in writing. Any person submitting a booking, or on whose behalf a booking are made, is responsible for ensuring that the payment of any sums due in respect of the booking is duly made to the Company.

b) The Company reserves the right to decline any bookings.

c) The Company is not under any obligation to dispatch any tickets, vouchers or documents until full payment of the booking has been received by the Company or its authorised travel agent.

All monies paid to any authorised travel agent of the Company for your flight inclusive holiday with the Company will be held on behalf of and for the benefit of the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust subject to the travel agent’s obligation to pay such monies to the Company in accordance with the Company’s trading terms unless the Company fails. In the unlikely event of the Company’s financial failure, all monies then held by the travel agent or subsequently paid by you to the travel agent will be held by the agent on behalf of and for the benefit of the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust without any obligation on the agent to pay such monies to the Company.

Dive centres are not bonded and are not classed as an agent for the Company. The Company cannot be held responsible for any monies made payable to such dive centres. Instead, all cash payments and cheques should be sent directly to the Company.

2: PAYMENT OF FULL BALANCE

Full payment must be received by the Company not later than 70 days prior to the scheduled departure date of the holiday. In the case of non-payment of the balance by the due date, the Company reserves the right to cancel your booking and cancellation charges as stated in clause 3 will apply. Any monies paid by you to an authorised travel agent for tours operated by the Company are held by the agent on the Company's behalf. You can pay the deposit by debit card, credit card, bank transfer or cheque, and your balance by debit card, bank transfer or cheque.

3: CANCELLATION BY A CUSTOMER

When a client wishes to cancel a booking, and notification of the cancellation, which must be made in writing to the Company, is received within the period stated below, the following percentages of the entire cost of the holiday will be charged, together with the full insurance premium. However, some suppliers have conditions which require the payment of higher or different charges (including the imposition of 100% cancellation charges well in advance of the normal balance due date) which you will have to pay in the event of cancellation. You will be advised at the time of booking if this is the case for your tour. More than 70 days = loss of deposit, 70 – 42 days = 60%, 41 - 29 days = 75%, 28 - 0 days = 100%. Amendment charges and insurance premiums are not refundable in the event of cancellation.

It is strongly recommended that comprehensive travel insurance is taken out which includes cover against cancellation charges. Depending on the reason for the cancellation, you may be able to reclaim the cancellation charges (less any applicable excess) under the terms of the insurance policy. All claims must be made direct to the insurance company. In the event of the cancellation of a booking where the client is liable to pay to the Company cancellation charges in excess of the amount already paid to the Company at the time of cancellation, the client cannot transfer or add these charges to another booking or use any amounts paid to us in relation to the cancelled booking by way of part payment for another booking. Part cancellation of a booking may result in additional costs being payable by the remaining clients.

4: MODIFICATION BY THE CUSTOMER

Should you wish to make a change to an existing booking we will arrange this, subject to availability, up to 70 days of departure but will impose an administration charge of £75 per person for each item changed. Thereafter, all changes will be treated as cancellations and subject to the cancellation charges stated in clause 3. Dates of travel and / or resort cannot be modified. Any amendment charges imposed by suppliers will be charged to the customer.

5: MODIFICATION BY THE COMPANY

a) While the Company will do its best to operate all tours as advertised, it reserves the right to change and correct errors in any of the facilities, services, prices or itineraries described on our the website at any time before or after your booking is confirmed. Most changes are minor. Departure ports for liveaboards may change after confirmation and this may require a longer transfer on arrival / departure. This is classed as a minor change.

Occasionally, we have to make a significant change. If a significant change has to be made, the Company will inform the client as soon as reasonably possible, if there is time before departure. In the case of any material modification or of cancellation, the Company will, if possible, offer alternative arrangements or, if these are not acceptable, a full refund of monies will be paid. When offering alternative arrangements the Company will, if accommodation is affected, endeavour to provide an alternative in the same area. If the Company is only able to offer a lower classification of hotel it will refund the difference in the price.

b) A significant change, as mentioned in 5a above, is one which has a significant effect on the customer’s holiday, such as change of accommodation to a different resort or to any inferior classification in the same resort, a change of departure or return timings of more than 20 hours or a change of departure airport which will cause substantial inconvenience to the customer, e.g. a change between one of the four London airports would not be considered material.

c) Force Majeure: Except where otherwise expressly stated in these conditions, we regret we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of our obligations under our contract with you is prevented or affected by or you otherwise suffer any injury, damage, loss or expense of any nature as a result of "force majeure". In these conditions, "force majeure" means any event which we or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events may include actual or threatened war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, natural or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions, disease, fire and all similar events outside our control.

d) Should the Company materially modify, you then have the following alternatives: (1) Accept the change, with a credit towards the cost of an existing or future holiday with us – see the scale below (2) Select another holiday with us, with a credit - see the scale below (3) Cancel the holiday, receive the full refund plus a cash compensation - see the scale below. Scale: Notification 64 days and over, (compensation or credit) nil; between 63 to 28 days, £10; between 27 and 14 days, £20; 13 days and 1 day or notice in resort, £30.

6: CANCELLATION BY THE COMPANY

a) The Company reserves the right to cancel a tour in any circumstances but will not cancel a tour less than 28 days before the start of the holiday except for force majeure (see clause 5c), or the client's failure to make all payments (including the final balance and any surcharge) when due. Please note, some tours require a minimum number of participants to enable us to operate them (liveaboards for example). If any tour does not have the minimum number of participants required to make it commercially viable, we are entitled to cancel it. We will notify you or your travel agent of cancellation for this reason not less than 28 days before the start of your tour. If we have to cancel, we will tell you as soon as possible. If there is time to do so before departure and the cancellation does not result from your failure to pay, we will offer you the choice of purchasing another available tour from the Company (paying or receiving a refund in respect of any difference in price) or receiving a full refund of all monies paid to us. We regret we cannot meet any visa, vaccination or similar consequential costs in the event of any change or cancellation by us.

b) Similarly, you are advised only to book fully flexible transport and other arrangements which can be cancelled or changed without charge, we cannot pay any cancellation, amendment of other charges you may incur in relation to any transport or other arrangements which you have to change or cancel as a result of the cancellation of your tour. In addition, we will as a minimum, where compensation is due, pay you the compensation set out in clause 5d above depending on the circumstances and when the cancellation is notified to you or your travel agent subject to the following exceptions.

c) Compensation will not be payable and no liability beyond offering the above mentioned choices can be accepted where (1) we are forced to cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care (such circumstances are likely to include those listed in clause 5c "Force Majeure") or (2) we have to cancel because the minimum number of participants necessary for us to operate your holiday has not been reached (see above). No compensation will be payable and the above options will not be available if we cancel as a result of your failure to comply with any requirement of these booking conditions entitling us to cancel (such as paying on time).

7: THE COMPANY’S LIABILITY TO THE CUSTOMER

Bookings are accepted on the understanding that clients appreciate and accept the possible risks inherent in diving and that they undertake the holidays featured in our programme at their own volition. Each person wishing to participate in such activities may be asked by the supplier to sign additional forms and in all cases must adhere to the restrictions imposed by the supplier.

1) We promise to make sure that the tour arrangements we have agreed to make, perform or provide, as applicable, as part of our contract with you are made, performed or provided with reasonable skill and care. This means that, subject to these conditions and the other information which forms part of your contract with us, we will accept responsibility if, for example, you suffer death or personal injury or your contracted tour arrangements are not provided as promised or prove deficient as a result of the failure of ourselves, our employees, agents or suppliers to use reasonable skill and care in making, performing or providing, as applicable, your contracted tour arrangements. Please note, it is your responsibility to show that reasonable skill and care has not been used if you wish to make a claim against us. In addition, we will only be responsible for what our employees, agents and suppliers do or do not do if they were at the time acting within the course of their employment (for employees) or carrying out work we had asked them to do (for agents and suppliers).

2) We will not be responsible for any injury, illness, death, loss (for example loss of enjoyment), damage, expense, cost or other sum or claim of any description whatsoever which results from any of the following: - the act(s) and/or omission(s) of the client(s) affected or any member(s) of their party or the act(s) and/or omission(s) of a third party not connected with the provision of your tour and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable or 'force majeure' as defined in clause 5c above.

3) Please note, we cannot accept responsibility for any services which do not form part of our contract. This includes, for example, any additional services or facilities which any supplier agrees to provide for you where the services or facilities are not advertised by us and we have not agreed to arrange them as part of our contract. In addition, regardless of any wording used by us on our website, in any advertising material or elsewhere, we only promise to use reasonable skill and care as set out above and we do not have any greater or different liability to you. Any optional excursions or activities booked during your holiday do not form part of our contract as these are all arranged for you directly by the suppliers concerned – please see clause 13 Excursions below.

4) The promises we make to you about the services we have agreed to provide or arrange as part of our contract - and the laws and regulations of the country in which your claim or complaint occurred - will be used as the basis for deciding whether the services in question had been properly provided. Please bear in mind that standards of, for example, safety, hygiene, and quality may vary throughout the destinations, services and transport your tour involves and may be lower than or different to those applicable in the UK. This is particularly important where liveaboard dive boats are concerned, when the clear limitations of being on such a small vessel must be accepted. If the particular services which gave rise to the claim or complaint complied with the local laws and regulations applicable to those services at the time, the services will be treated as having been properly provided. This will be the case even if the services did not comply with the laws and regulations of the UK which would have applied had those services been provided in the UK. The exception to this is where the claim or complaint concerns the absence of a safety feature which might lead a reasonable holiday maker to refuse to take the tour in question.

5) As set out in these conditions, we limit the maximum amount we may have to pay you for any claims you may make against us. We do not, however, limit or exclude our liability for death or personal injury caused by the negligence of ourselves or our employees (providing they were at the time acting within the course of their employment). Where we are found liable for loss of and/or damage to any luggage or personal possessions (including money), the maximum amount we will have to pay you is £500 per person affected unless a different limitation applies to your claim under clause 7(6) below. You must ensure you have appropriate travel insurance to protect your personal belongings. For all other claims which do not involve death or personal injury, if we are found liable to you on any basis, the maximum amount we will have to pay you is twice the price (excluding insurance premiums and amendment charges) paid by or on behalf of the person(s) affected in total unless a lower limitation applies to your claim under clause 7(6) below. This maximum amount will only be payable where everything has gone wrong and you have not received any benefit at all from your tour.

6) Where any claim or part of a claim (including those involving death or personal injury) concerns or is based on any travel arrangements (including the process of getting on and/or off the transport concerned) provided by any air, sea, rail or road carrier, the maximum amount of compensation we will have to pay you will be limited. The most we will have to pay you for that claim or that part of a claim if we are found liable to you on any basis is the most the carrier concerned would have to pay under the international convention or regulation which applies to the travel arrangements in question were that claim made against it (for example, the Warsaw Convention 1929 as amended or unamended and the Montreal Convention 1999 for international travel by air and/or for airlines with an operating license granted by an EU country, the EC Regulation on Air Carrier Liability No 889/2002 for national and international travel by air, the Athens Convention 1974 for international travel by sea and COTIF, the Convention on International Travel by Rail). Please note: where a carrier would not be obliged to make any payment to you under the applicable international convention or regulation in respect of a claim or part of a claim, we similarly are not obliged to make a payment to you for that claim or part of the claim. When making any payment, we are entitled to deduct any money which you have received or are entitled to receive from the carrier or hotelier for the complaint or claim in question. Copies of the applicable international conventions and regulations are available from us on request.

7) Please note, we cannot accept any liability for any damage, loss, expense or other sum(s) of any description (1) which on the basis of the information given to us by you concerning your booking prior to our accepting it, we could not have foreseen you would suffer or incur if we breached our contract with you or (2) which did not result from any breach of contract or other fault by ourselves or our employees or, where we are responsible for them, our suppliers. Additionally we cannot accept liability for any expenses or losses incurred by or relating to any business including self employed loss of earnings.

8) You must provide ourselves and our insurers with all assistance we may reasonably require. You must also tell us and the supplier concerned about your claim or complaint as set out in clause 6. If you have a Complaint. If asked to do so, you must transfer to us or our insurers any rights you have against the supplier or whoever else is responsible for your claim or complaint (if the person concerned is under 18, their parent or guardian must do so). You must also agree to cooperate fully with us and our insurers if we or our insurers want to enforce any rights which are transferred.

8: CHARGES

We reserve the right to make changes to and correct errors in advertised prices at any time before your tour is confirmed. We will advise you of any error of which we are aware and of the then applicable price at the time of booking. Once the price of your chosen tour has been confirmed at the time of booking, then subject to the correction of errors, we will only increase or decrease the price in the following circumstances. Price increases or decreases after booking will be passed on by way of a surcharge or refund. A surcharge or refund (as applicable) will be payable, subject to the conditions set out in this clause, in the event of any change in our transportation costs or in dues, taxes or fees payable for services such as landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports or airports or in the exchange rates which have been used to calculate the cost of your tour.

No price surcharges will be made within 31 days of departure and no refunds will be made during this period either. If variations occur before that time, we will absorb or retain a total amount up to the equivalent of the first 2% (excluding insurance premiums and any amendment charges) of your invoiced tour cost. For variations greater than 2%, we will still absorb the first 2% in the case of increases, but will not retain it from refunds. If we impose a surcharge which means paying more than 10% of your tour price, you will be entitled to cancel your tour with a full refund of all monies paid to us except for any premium paid for insurance and amendment charges or alternatively to purchase another tour from us as referred to in clause 5 "Modification by the Company".

Any variation in cost will be calculated on the divergence from the exchange rates on which quoted prices are based. Any variation in cost will be calculated on the divergence from these exchange rates. Variation in taxes or port fees, where they are included in the package price, will be calculated and amended at cost. You have 14 days from the issue date printed on the surcharge invoice to tell us if you want to cancel or purchase an alternative tour. If you do not do so, we are entitled to assume that you will pay the surcharge. Any surcharge must be paid with the balance of the cost of the tour. Please note that tour arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your tour due to contractual and other protection in place.

9: CANCELLATION IN VIEW OF BEHAVIOUR

Clients agree to accept the authority and decisions of the Company's employees, tour leaders, representatives, and agents whilst on tour with the Company. If in the opinion of any such person(s) or any other person in a position of authority (such as, for example, an airline pilot, hotel manager, dive guide / dive instructor or dive centre manager), the health, level of fitness or conduct of a client at any time before or during a tour is endangering or appears likely to endanger the health or wellbeing of the client or any third party (including any other clients of the Company) or the safe, comfortable or happy progress of the tour, the client may be excluded from all or part of the tour without refund or recompense. Where a client is excluded, the Company will have no further responsibility towards them (including any return travel arrangements) and we will not meet any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the exclusion.

In the case of ill health, the Company may make such arrangements as it sees fit and recover the costs thereof from the client. If a client commits an illegal act (including, for example, causing any damage) the client may be excluded from the tour and the Company shall cease to have responsibility to/for them as above. No refund will be given for any unused services. When you book with us, you accept responsibility for any damage or loss caused by you or any member of your party. Full payment for any such damage or loss (reasonably estimated if not precisely known) must be made direct to the accommodation owner or manager or other supplier or to us as soon as possible. If the actual cost of the loss or damage exceeds the amount paid where estimated, you must pay the difference once known. If the actual cost is less than the amount paid, the difference will be refunded. You will also be responsible for meeting any claims subsequently made against us and all costs incurred by us (including our own and the other party's full legal costs) as a result of your actions. You should ensure you have appropriate travel insurance to protect you if this situation arises.

If you have any medical condition or disability which may affect your active participation in your tour or the tour arrangements of any other person or have any special requirements as a result of any medical condition or disability (including any which affect the booking process), please tell us before you confirm your booking so that we can assist you in considering the suitability of the proposed tour and/or making the booking. In any event, you must give us full details at the time of booking and whenever any change in the condition or disability occurs. You must also promptly advise us if any medical condition or disability which may affect your active participation in your tour or the tour arrangements of any other person develops after your booking has been confirmed.

10: TRANSFER OF BOOKINGS

If the customer is prevented unavoidably from taking his holiday by circumstances such as those which would entitle him to make a valid claim under a conventional insurance policy, then, on giving the Company notice no less than 30 days before departure, he/she will be entitled to transfer his / her booking to another person deemed acceptable to the Company. In such a case the customer and the transferees shall be jointly and severally liable for all monies due to the Company, including all charges and reasonable fees consequent upon such transfer, such as cancellation costs imposed by suppliers and charges imposed by airlines for name changes.

11: INFORMATION CONTAINED IN MARKETING MATERIAL & WEBSITE

a) The Company's website contains statements representing its honest belief that the facts as shown are correct. Every reasonable effort has been made to describe fully, and as honestly as possible, the holidays offered and every reasonable attempt will be made to supply what has been described.

b) The Company reserves the right to make changes to the information, prices and itineraries set out on the website prior to confirming a customer's booking and, provided such changes have been notified to the customer prior to his submitting a booking form or accepted by the customer after submission of the booking form prior to the Company's confirmation, then such changes shall be binding on the parties.

12: AIRLINES

The airlines and types of aircraft which are likely to be used on holidays booked by the company vary. The arrangements are not always definite at the time of booking and we cannot give you any firm information about the airline or the type of aircraft on which you will travel. Meals are also not always included in the cost of a holiday and the company can not be held responsible if a meal is not provided on any flight.

Flight times quoted are estimates only. Subject to clause 5 "Modification by the Company", we cannot accept any liability for any change, cancellation or delay in your transportation from or to the UK or during your tour whether any change, cancellation or delay is caused by adverse weather conditions, rescheduling by a transport supplier, airline or airport authority, action by air traffic controllers, mechanical breakdown, industrial action or any other event or circumstance outside our control. Where long flight delays result in lost tour time, no refunds are given by hotels or suppliers. Similarly, except where the Denied Boarding Regulations apply, airlines do not offer compensation for flight delays. It is in recognition of the above that the Company's travel insurance policy offers some monetary compensation for flight delays (usually for a delay of over 12 hours) to cover lost tour time or delayed return (not applicable to flights within a tour itinerary). However, at their discretion your carrier will endeavour to reduce the inconvenience of any delay by providing meals and accommodation, as appropriate for the time of day or night (dependent on local availability), if you are delayed for more than 12 hours. If you incur payments for such services in the event of a delay, the Company will not accept responsibility for payment unless we have given our prior consent.

If your flight is cancelled or delayed, your flight ticket is downgraded or boarding is denied by your airline, depending on the circumstances, the airline may be required to pay you compensation, refund the cost of your flight and/or provide you with accommodation and/or refreshments under EC Regulation No 261/2004 - the Denied Boarding Regulations 2004. Where applicable, you must pursue the airline for the compensation or other payment due to you. All sums you receive or are entitled to receive from the airline concerned by virtue of these Regulations represent the full amount of your entitlement to compensation or any other payment arising from such cancellation, delay, downgrading or denied boarding. This includes any disappointment, distress, inconvenience or effect on any other arrangements. The fact a delay may entitle you to cancel your flight does not automatically entitle you to cancel any other arrangements even where those arrangements have been made in conjunction with your flight. We have no liability to make any payment to you in relation to the Denied Boarding Regulations or in respect of any flight cancellation or delay, downgrading of any flight ticket or denial of any boarding as the full amount of your entitlement to any compensation or other payment (as dealt with above) is covered by the airline's obligations under the Denied Boarding Regulations. If, for any reason, we make any payment to you or a third party which the airline is responsible for in accordance with the Denied Boarding Regulations, you must, when requested, assign to us the rights you have or had to claim the payment in question from the airline. If your airline does not comply with these rules, you should complain to the CAA at www.caa.co.uk

13: EXCURSIONS

We and our representatives may provide you with information (before departure and/or when you are on holiday) about optional activities and excursions which do not form part of your pre-booked holiday arrangements and which are available in the area you are visiting. We have no involvement in any such activities or excursions which are not run, supervised, controlled or endorsed in any way by us. We have no knowledge as to whether such activities or excursions and their operators comply with local legal requirements or have any insurance. Some activities / excursions involve the risk of personal injury. They are provided by local operators or other providers who are entirely independent of us. They do not form any part of your contract with us even where we suggest particular operators / providers and / or assist you in booking such activities or excursions in any way. Where a tour leader collects payment for or otherwise assists in booking any such activity or excursion for you, we and the tour leader act solely as booking agent for the local operator / provider of the activity or excursion with whom you will have a contract. The local operator / provider’s terms and conditions will apply. We cannot accept any liability on any basis in relation to such activities or excursions and the acceptance of liability contained in clause 7(1) of our booking conditions will not apply to them. We do not, however, exclude liability for the negligence of ourselves or our employees resulting in your death or personal injury.

We do not guarantee that any optional activity or excursion mentioned on our website or elsewhere will be available to book during your holiday and / or will operate as advertised as these services do not form part of our contract and are not under our control. They may not be available for various reasons. Any prices given in advance are indicative only. We will not be liable if you cannot, for whatever reason, book any such activity or excursion or if the activity or excursion does not operate as advertised.

14: CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS

Should the client have a complaint about any of their tour arrangements, the client must tell both the relevant supplier and the Company's representative at the time. It is only if the Company and the relevant supplier know about problems that there will be the opportunity to put things right. Failure to complain on the spot may result in the client's ability to claim compensation, if applicable, from the Company being extinguished or at least reduced. If the client's complaint cannot be resolved on tour they should notify the Company in writing within 28 days of their return from tour.

15: PASSPORTS / VISAS / VACCINATIONS

Clients are responsible for arranging, and must be in possession of, a valid, acceptable passport and any visas and vaccination certificates required for the whole of their journey and tour. Information about these matters or related items (climate, clothing, baggage, personal gear etc) is given in good faith but without responsibility on the part of the Company. We regret we cannot accept any liability if you are refused entry onto any transport or into any country due to failure on your part to carry all required documentation. If failure to have any necessary travel or other documents results in fines, surcharges or other financial penalty being imposed on us, you will be responsible for reimbursing us accordingly.

16: INSURANCE

Travel Insurance is mandatory for all clients whilst on a tour organised by the Company. Clients are wholly responsible for arranging their own insurance. Regaldive acts as an Introducer of Dive Master Insurance Products . Details of your insurance policy will be required for our records. Clients not taking Dive Master Insurance are responsible for ensuring that they have alternative personal travel insurance with protection for the full duration of the holiday with adequate and appropriate cover. Clients should ensure that there are no exclusion clauses limiting or excluding protection for the type of activities included in their holiday. Clients should satisfy themselves that all travel insurance purchased meets their particular requirements and should arrange supplementary insurance if need be. Clients together with their personal property including baggage are at all times solely at their own risk.

17: YOUR DIVE QUALIFICATION, DIVE EXPERIENCE AND YOUR DIVING LOG BOOK

Some destinations or liveaboard itineraries require a minimum level of qualification and / or diving experience. These requirements are indicated on the Regaldive website. It is your responsibility to ensure that your diving experience and / or qualification meets these requirements. If on arrival in resort you are deemed not to have the level of experience and / or qualification required for the trip booked, you will not be able to participate in the diving activities advertised. If this is the case, Regaldive or any of Regaldive's suppliers will not have any liability for any missed diving or costs paid for the holiday. Your logbook is the only true representation of your diving experience (i.e. number of dives completed).

18: CALL RECORDING

Please note that all calls to Regaldive are recorded for training and monitoring purposes.

19: FINANCIAL SECURITY

We hold an Air Travel Organiser’s License issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL number 2990). When you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday* from us, you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists the flight, accommodation, car hire and/or other services that are financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong. We, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL Certificate, will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable).

If we, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL certificate, are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme. You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the non-provision of the services, including any claim against us, the travel agent (or your credit card issuer where applicable).You also agree that any such claims may be re-assigned to another body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme.

* The flights and flight- inclusive holidays we arrange are ATOL protected providing they are made available in the UK. For further information visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk

20: DATA PROTECTION AND PRIVACY STATEMENT

For the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998, we, Regal Diving and Tours, trading as Regaldive are a data controller. In order to process your booking, and brochure requests, provide your holiday arrangements and to help us provide you with a more personal service, we need to collect certain personal details from you. These details will include, where applicable, the names and contact details of party members, credit/debit card or other payment details and special requirements, such as those relating to any disability or medical condition, which may affect your chosen holiday arrangements and any dietary restrictions which may disclose your religious beliefs. If we need any other personal details, we will tell you before we obtain them from you.

We need to pass on your personal details to the companies and organisations who need to know them so that your holiday can be provided (for example your airline, hotel, other supplier, credit/debit card company or bank). Such companies and organisations may be outside the European Union if your holiday is to take place or involves suppliers outside these countries.

We and other companies in the Hotelplan Group (“Group Companies”) would also like to store and use your personal details for future marketing purposes (for example, sending you a brochure or details of a promotion including by email). All details you give us in connection with your booking (including those relating to any disability or medical condition or your religious beliefs) will be kept by us but we and our Group Companies will use only names and contact details for marketing purposes (unless you have asked us not to).

We may also send you promotional information about selected third parties’ products and services that may be of interest to you. When this happens, we remain in control of your data and it will not be shared outside the Hotelplan Group.

Occasionally we hire other companies to provide services on our behalf, for example mailing information to our customers.  We only provide those companies with the personal details relating to our clients which they require in order to deliver the service. They are prohibited from using that information for any other purpose. We will ensure that anyone to whom we pass your details for this reason agrees to treat it with the same level of protection we are obliged to provide.

If you do not want us to do any or all of these things, please let us know as soon as possible. 

Except where expressly permitted by the Data Protection Act, we will only deal with the personal details you give us as set out above unless you agree otherwise. We have appropriate security measures in place to protect this information. 

You are generally entitled to ask us (by letter or e-mail) what details of yours are being held or processed, for what purpose and to whom they may be or have been disclosed. We will charge a fee to respond to such a request. We promise to respond to your request within 40 days of receiving your written request and fee. In certain limited circumstances we are entitled to refuse your request. If you believe that any of your personal details which we are processing are inaccurate or incorrect please contact us immediately.

As our privacy statement may change due to developments in the law, we would encourage you to reread our privacy statement from time to time so that you are aware of any changes in how we gather and use personal information.

21: travel safety

We strongly recommend that you check your government's travel advice for up-to-date information regarding safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs, for the country you are planning to visit. We suggest signing up to your government’s travel alert service. For the UK, the FCO alert service can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/email-signup

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With liveaboard diving holidays continuing to grow in popularity, we have added two more liveaboards to our extensive worldwide programme...

Atlantis Azores is a spacious 16 person liveaboard perfectly designed for the needs of divers. With high standards of service and cuisine, this vessel already attracts a high number of repeat guests. Atlantis Azores follows a seasonal schedule of four different itineraries to ensure divers experience the best of the Philippines underwater whenever they travel.

Running from March to June, the Tubbataha Reef itinerary is one of the most popular trips – six days diving in remote, pristine National Park waters that are one of Asia's best diving spots and on the 'wish list' for many keen divers. Tubbataha is home to no less than 573 species of fish, 373 species of corals, 11 species of sharks, 12 species of dolphins and whales and hawksbill and green sea turtles.

Divers can explore the wonders of Tubbataha aboard Atlantis Azores from £2,434 per person to include seven nights’ cabin share, all meals / snacks, local soft drinks and some alcohol and up to five dives per day, tanks and weights. Flights are not included but can be arranged through Regaldive.

Regaldive also feature seven night trips on board Atlantis Azores to the Visayas and Malapascua Island. Longer 10 or 12 night itineraries on the route Malapascua – Cebu offer the chance to dive multiple world class dive destinations which would take weeks to dive from land. With certain trips departing from the liveaboard’s sister resort Atlantis Dive Resort in Dumaguete, the Atlantis Azores is easily combined with a land-based stay to maximise your Philippines holiday.

Maldives liveaboards are a top holiday choice for Regaldive guests and it’s easy to see why. With so much seasonal variation in currents and therefore marine life, liveaboards ensure divers get to dive where the best underwater action is at any moment in time.

New to Regaldive for 2015 is the luxury M/V Carpe Vita, sister vessel to the popular M/V Carpe Diem. The 20 berth Carpe Vita is well-appointed and the use of a diving dhoni ensures divers have plenty of space to relax on board between dives. Additional touches such as the on-board hot tub, fine dining and optional suite upgrades offer guests a little extra luxury.

Seven night itineraries aboard M/V Carpe Vita explore the waters around Male and the central atolls, with extensions on the 10 night trips to northerly Baa and Raa, or south to Ari and Felidhu atolls. Deep South Shark trips operate during the peak high season of February and March. For 2015, Regaldive guests will also have the chance to be amongst the few who have dived the far north of the Maldives on board M/V Carpe Vita’s first exploratory trips to the remote northern atolls.

Regaldive guests can benefit from an introductory saving of £200 on selected trips plus free Nitrox aboard M/V Carpe Vita. A seven night liveaboard holiday costs from £2,259 per person departing on 11th or 18th January 2015 to include return flights, transfers, seven nights’ cabin share, full board, snacks, soft drinks and some alcohol and up to four dives daily including tanks and weights.

For further information please call the Regaldive Team on 01353 659 999.

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I‘ve just returned from my first liveaboard trip to the Maldives aboard the lovely MV Sharifa. After a couple of years organising Maldives holidays for Regaldive customers I eventually got the chance to experience it for myself, and what an experience it was!

The diving started in North Male Atoll and I knew it was going to be a good week when we were buzzed by a couple of blacktip reef sharks on the very first dive. Also a friendly turtle and about five different types of moray eel made it a great check dive.  The second dive didn’t disappoint either, with our first manta ray and being checked out by a curious dolphin.

Then we moved on to South and North Ari Atolls, where all the rest of the weeks diving took place. South Ari Atoll is also the place to see whale sharks if you are lucky, as we where. When we arrived at a well -known whale shark location there were a few resort boats about, with quite a few people in the water. So we waited for them to leave and had a whale shark to ourselves, with two quite close encounters whilst snorkelling.

If I thought that was good, then far better was to come. I’ve done nearly 400 dives now, but during this week I had a dive that’s gone straight into my top three dives ever - a night dive with mantas! The crew put a bright light to shine into the water at the back of the boat, which draws in plankton, like moths to a light. Of course the mantas are clever and know this, so come in for a feast. Just watching them from the boat is enthralling, but far better was to come.

After descending, we knelt on the sand in about 9m, three metres away from a cluster of dive torches. Within seconds a 3m manta was gliding though the light with his mouth wide open, doing back flips and going around again. Soon he was joined by two others. The best part was when they swam close to the light and headed straight towards us, with a great view into their open mouths, pulling up at the last moment and almost skimming the top of our heads. Luckily, there was just about enough light to get some stills and video of a fantastic experience. 

One night dive is the norm on Maldives liveaboards, but we were lucky enough to do a second.  This was a dive down to the reef on the flat top of a sea mount at 15m. It soon became evident that all the reefs’ predators were out on the hunt.  With whitetips zipping about, free swimming morays and a couple of large stingrays it was difficult to know which direction to shine your torch.  I felt like I was participating in one of those TV documentaries I’ve watched so many times. 

The Maldives is certainly is a great place for diving if you like the big stuff.  Enough grey reef, blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, eagle rays, mantas, turtles, morays and big predatory fish to keep everyone happy. I checked my log book and estimated that we saw sharks or mantas on 90% of our dives. If a Maldives liveaboard is not on your dive wish-list already, it really should be!

John Butland, Regaldive

See photos of John's Trip on the Regaldive Facebook page >

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Thank you to Magdalena Fielden, owner of True Blue Bay Boutique Resort for this account of the first Grenada Chocolate Festival!

Last week the small island of Grenada in the Caribbean celebrated very successfully their first Chocolate Festival. Grenada Cocoa and Chocolate are making a name around the world for being one of the best organic and ethically produced chocolates and cocoa. The Festival was created, designed and organized by Magdalena Fielden, owner of True Blue Bay Boutique Resort, Honorary Consul of Mexico in Grenada and great fan of Grenadian Chocolate. Mrs. Fielden was inspired by Mott Green, creator of the now renowned Grenada Chocolate Factory and his devotion to produce a sustainable, ethical chocolate that involved the whole community. The festival was also supported by the Grenada Chocolate Factory, Belmont Estate, the Mexican Embassy for the OECS and Mount Cinnamon Beach Resort.

The week of celebrations started on Monday August 18th themed “Getting in the mood for Chocolate” with a visit to Crayfish Bay Organic Farm located near the town of Victoria on the West Coast of Grenada. There visitors experienced a historical tour of the beautiful estate conducted by owner Kim Russell, his wife Lylette  and his farm manager Yvonneand learned about organic farming and making delicious Iced Cocoa Tea with fresh coconut milk from scratch. Later on, a few miles down the road at Rosemount Estate, Mr and Mrs Duncan, the Estate owners prepared a delicious farmer’s lunch and show us around their flower, herb and tropical fruit plantation. The day ended at the Art and Soul Gallery owned by local artist Susan Mains and her family, where professional and new island artists showcased their cocoa inspired artwork. From beautiful batiks to extraordinary paintings and sculptures, this amazing exhibition showed very successfully for two weeks.

Tuesday continued at True Blue Bay Boutique Resort with the theme “Chocolate Indulgence”. It started with a Yoga-Chocolate Mediation session at Sankalpa Yoga Studio instructed by teacher Malaika Brooks. After a yoga routine, yogis learned a meditating way to appreciate the texture, smell and taste of chocolate and hot cocoa tea. A chocolate inspired breakfast designed by Chef Gary Birkett at Dodgy Dock Restaurant was served after the meditation; this was followed by a hands-on workshop conducted by expert Mexican Chocolatier, Architect and creator of the Mucho-Chocolate Museum in Mexico City, Ana Rita Garcia Lascurain sponsored by the Mexican Embassy for the OECS. Ana Rita taught an audience of kids and adults about “The Healthy Benefits of Chocolate” and how to make chocolate skin treatments using only natural ingredients like avocado, vanilla and cocoa butter. Families enjoyed making and applying the treatments to each other, and some of the kids discovered very quickly that the mixtures where edible and tasted delicious. Blue Heaven Spa located at True Blue, announced the offering of a series of chocolate facials and body treatments that would be available for the whole of August and September. Tuesday ended with a fabulous “Sunset Chocolate Champagne Cruise”, sailing the beautiful crystal blue waters of Grand Anse and Saint George’s harbour.

Wednesday started at the well-established and pioneer on Agrotourism, Belmont Estate. The group of chocolate fans where welcomed by owner Shadel Nyack Compton and directed to the Estate museum to the opening of a very emotional art exhibition containing pieces created by artists living on the plantations to the North of the island. The love of farming and especially cocoa farming was perfectly portrayed in the work shown at this exhibition. Each artist had the opportunity to explain his or her work and one even read some poetry specially composed for the event. After the exhibition, the “Bean to Bar” tour started by visiting the plantation and learning about cocoa farming and cocoa processing on the estate. Then guests visited the Grenada Chocolate Factory and received a special tour by manager Edmon about the making of chocolate bars.

Later on guests were invited to experience a delicious lunch featuring Chocolate dishes back at the estate where they were entertained by local drummers and demonstrations of the traditional cocoa dancing and walking the cocoa.  A delicious brief workshop about making bon bons was offered by the Grenada Chocolate Company before leaving the estate. In the afternoon, back at True Blue at Dodgy Dock Restaurant, bartender Akim conducted a Rum and Chocolate Tasting session showcasing all local rums including the famous “Under the Counter” traditional Grenadian rum sold at the local rum shops. A surprise chocolate fountain with lots of goodies to dip in chocolate was enjoyed by all.

Thursday was time to “Cook with Chocolate” a cooking class was prepared by True Blue Bay Resort’s popular cooks Esther and Omega showcasing a chocolate lunch after the class. Ester and Omega where at their best making all laugh when preparing a delicious chocolate sauce to be served with fish or pork. Later that afternoon, craft chocolatiers and professional chefs competed for the best amateur and professional chocolate sweets title and some very talented local and international chefs were discovered. Chocolatier Ana Rita did a demonstration on how the Mayas make the first chocolate drinks and all got to enjoy the delicious Mexican version of cocoa tea.

Friday morning was a rest day to enjoy the beach and visit the local spice market and Saint Georges town. At sunset, families and couples meet at Mount Cinnamon Beach Cabana to enjoy a spectacular beach bonfire and danced barefooted on the beach to the sound of local drummers, all enjoying delicious and affordable chocolate dishes and drinks created by chefs from well-known local restaurants.

Saturday was  “Glamour Day”, at True Blue Bay Boutique Resort, starting with the first Arts and Crafts Chocolate Bazaar where around 30 local artists, artisans and fashion designers showcased their creations inspired by chocolate, cocoa and other locals spices like nutmeg. Chocolatier Ana Rita worked her magic again and conducted a talk about “The History of Chocolate”. She taught kids how to crush cocoa beans the old fashioned way using a “Metate” (a Mexican mortar used by the first tribes that populated Mexico) and taught them how to make simple chocolate paste and invited them to taste and appreciate the aroma of freshly crushed cocoa beans. Cocoa and chocolate beverages and food where served at Dodgy Dock Restaurant with festive music. But the highlight of the day was the glamorous and colourful fashion show organize by Marie Fielden showing designs by Modesty Grenada, Art Fabrik, and Veronica’s Vision. The clothing designs where exceptional and will be available at Art Fabrik, Too Kachi Boutique and Veronica’s Vision Boutiques from September.

The day ended with a sold out gourmet “Charity Auction Chocolate Dinner” at Mount Cinnamon Restaurant where Chef Gary Birkett from Dodgy Dock Restaurant, True Blue Bay Resort served the first course consisting of a Cajun and smoked duo of mahi mahi with white chocolate hummus and sweet and sour vegetables. Chef Nehanda Campbell from Le Phare Bleu served the main course consisting of chocolate spiced duck breast with wilted fennel & orange carrot salad and cardamom pure and Chef Andrew Sloley from Mount Cinnamon Resort served an outstanding dessert called Chocolate Decadence, a mousse, caramelized bananas, almond nut chocolate biscuit.

The silent style auction was a great success as several well know local businesses donated items like dive courses, day passes, jewelry, tailored made designed clothing, yoga classes, airline tickets, massages and gift certificates. All monies raised for dinner and auction came to a total amount of approximately EC$ 16,000 and will be donated to create a new Library and sick bay for Vendome Primary School in Grenada

Sunday the last day of the festival was celebrated by families back at Belmont Estate where fun kids activities like dancing, walking the cocoa and scooping cocoa beans out of pods were enjoyed by kids and parents. A delicious Grenadian Style Lunch with live Caribbean music was served and a small farmers and vendors market was interesting to visit. Of course no one left without paying a visit to the Bon Bon shop and stocking up with Bon Bons created by the Grenada Chocolate Company and Chocolate Goat Cheese from the Grenada Goat Dairy Project, a beautiful ending to a week of Pure Chocolate excitement.

The first Grenada Chocolate Fest concluded being a great success for all, participants, farmers, vendors and artists. Mrs Fielden looks forward to making it into an annual event that will benefit different sectors of Grenada’s community and entice future farmers and chocolatiers amongst the youth of Grenada. Dates have not yet been determined for the next year but hope to announce them soon.
Looking forward to enjoying some chocolate with you next year!

See a selection of photos from the Grenada Chocolate Festival on the Regaldive Facebook page

For more, please visit www.chocolate.truebluebay.com or Facebook.

If you're inspired, the Chocolate Treat Package is available from Regaldive throughout the year at True Blue Bay Boutique Resort. Three days of sweet treats for chocoholics. Ideal for non-divers or those who want some indulgent days off from diving! Contact Regaldive to find out more.

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6 Aug 2014

palau

Can diving in Palau get any more spectacular? Yes! The diving in Palau is amazing throughout the year but divers booking on selected trips aboard S/Y Palau Siren that coincide with the Full Moon and New Moon dates of the lunar cycle can experience something truly incredible.

Witness thousands of Bumphead Parrotfish and Red Snapper spawning, attracting multiple exciting shark encounters with preying Oceanic Blacktips and Bull Sharks. Indulge in pioneering 'Blackwater' diving – night diving in the pitch black of night in deep water, watching one of the largest migrations on earth as all manner of weird and wonderful creatures from the depths head closer to the surface to feed. From post larval fish to Cephalopods, many smaller than your finger nail, these amazing dives present some of weirdest creatures you are ever likely to see without a submarine.

These extra special dive experiences are available on selected dates aboard the Palau Siren and hosted by expert marine scientist Paul Collins and award-winning photo-pro Richard Barnden of Unique Dive Expeditions and Sam’s Tours Palau. The team have spent much of the last four years studying the full and new moon cycles and their effect on the marine life, establishing where and when they occur on the reefs in Palau.

These special trips really do offer the chance of some unique and once in a lifetime diving. Paul and Richard will also deliver a number of presentations aboard the Palau Siren during the course of the trip, covering the ecology of these spectacular events and how to photograph them.

Guests will be split into two teams of eight, with one team each day diving with Richard and Paul during these spectacular events. This ensures the maximum experience for all guests and means minimal interference for this most magnificent natural phenomenon.

There is no additional supplement for this extraordinary adventure but guests should note that these dives are only for the experienced diver as there can often be very strong currents at the sites where the action is happening.

The proposed dates for these special trips are 13 – 20 February, 25 April – 5 May, 24 May – 3 June and 19 – 26 October 2015. Places are strictly limited so if you are interested please contact us as soon as possible to secure your spot.

Call us on 01353 659 999 to check availability.

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