The Galapagos Islands are home to some of the most unique wildlife on earth and the greatest concentration of endemic species anywhere. The diving here is both extraordinary and spectacular but a land-based extension gives the time to discover the incredible Galapagos above water too. Should you wish to spend longer exploring the Galapagos Islands, you can extend your stay on Santa Cruz Island at the Hotel Silberstein in Puerto Ayora, home to the Charles Darwin Research Station. This well-regarded hotel offers a comfortable and welcoming stay in a superb central location in the pretty harbour town of Puerto Ayora.

Accommodation

The family-owned Hotel Silberstein offers 24 air-conditioned guest rooms with private bathroom, hot water, ceiling fan, telephone and radio. The rooms have twin beds for double occupancy, or queen / king beds for single or double occupancy. Most of the rooms offer lovely views of the hotel swimming pool set amongst beautiful tropical gardens.

Other Facilities

Hotel Silberstein’s award-winning Cove restaurant services typical Ecuadorian as well as international food, and meals can be enjoyed throughout the picturesque hotel grounds.  Guests can exchange and borrow books in the library, use the computer available in the small office area, or take advantage of the free Wi-Fi available throughout the hotel. Guests will find plenty of space to relax around the attractive poolside or throughout the outdoor patio area. Here you can discover many types of birds and admire the different native plants and flowers of the Galapagos. A laundry service is also available on request.

Most Regaldive guests will stay at the Hotel Silberstein as a land-based extension of their liveaboard holiday but the hotel does offer a variety of daily diving options from its own on-site dive centre.

Activities

The staff at the Hotel Silberstein can help organise excursions to the areas wealth of natural and historical attractions. The Charles Darwin Research Station is a must-visit and here you can find giant tortoises, different species of iguanas, and endemic Galapagos trees and bushes, amongst educational exhibits. Tortuga Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches in Galapagos and offers the chance to discover wildlife in its natural habitat. Las Grietas is a natural swimming area with cool crisp water to swim and snorkel in – a justified reward after a 20 minute hike through volcanic terrain.

Location

Hotel Silberstein is centrally located in the historic harbour town of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, and just ten minutes’ walk from the Charles Darwin Research Station. The Research Station is normally visited on the penultimate day of a liveaboard, or some liveaboards end their itinerary here, which allows guests to add a stay at Hotel Silberstein onto the end of their holiday.

Please contact the Regaldive Team for help planning your Galapagos Islands holiday.

The Cenotes are justifiably known as the jewel in the crown of Yucatan diving. Float in gin clear fresh water amongst stunning formations of stalagmites and stalactites, bathed in shafts of light filtering through the jungle canopy above.

Cenote diving is the highlight of any Mexico diving holiday. The chance to explore this incredible submerged limestone cave and cavern system is the reason so many divers head to this part of Mexico. Reached in just over an hour’s drive inland from Playa Del Carmen and about 30-40 minutes from Puerto Aventuras, the Cenotes is a vast network of subterranean rivers, caverns and sinkholes (cenotes) that extend literally for miles inland. Used as a source of fresh water by the ancient Maya, these distinctive geological formations offer some of the most exciting and unique diving to be found anywhere in the world.

Visibility in the crystal clear water here can reach in excess of 50m and the limestone structures are beautifully illuminated in parts by sunlight streaming through the jungle canopy above. Many of the dives here are better suited to the more advanced diver but even less experienced divers can also participate in this once in a lifetime experience as many of the cave systems have guide ropes to follow, in addition to your guide. The water is quite cool here (compared to the sea temperature). Divers will enjoy the sensation of haloclines, and the chance to take stunning photographs, in this sacred underworld of the ancient Maya civilisation.

Dos Ojos

At Cenote Dos Ojos (meaning ‘two eyes’ in Spanish) divers can follow one of two routes heading either west along the Barbie Line or south towards the Bat Cave. The caverns here are packed with exquisite stalactites and stalagmites, columns, curtains and ancient fossil formations. In the air-filled Bat Cave, divers can surface and view the tiny entry point that the original explorers used to access this ancient cave system.

Tajma Ha

Cenote Tajma Ha offers one of the most spectacular light shows of any of the caverns. Here, divers are led into an amazing air-filled cave known as the Points of Light Room, where light penetrates dramatically down from small holes in the ceiling like laser beams. Tajma Ha is adorned with thousands of stalagmite and stalactite formations. It also features a ‘trippy’ halocline tunnel, where the salt and fresh water mix to produce a unique visual effect.

Regaldive can arrange day trips to the Cenotes from both the Riviera Maya and Cozumel. Each trip offers two dives but there are literally hundreds of Cenotes to explore so be sure to leave yourselves enough time to fully take advantage of this incredible dive experience.

Save £££ on your Travel Extras with airport parking & hotels

Relax… you’re on holiday! Regaldive has teamed up with APH to help remove some of that pre-travel stress by offering you easy to arrange airport parking, lounges and airport hotel packages.

APH, winners of the ‘Best Airport Parking Company’ at the 2017 British Travel Awards for the eighth consecutive year, offer a range of great products at discounted prices to Regaldive customers, helping you to get your dive holiday off to a good start!

By pre-booking your airport parking with APH, you not only guarantee a space in the car park of your choice, but also make significant savings on the ‘turn up and park’ rate. In addition, as a Regaldive customer, you receive the following discounts off standard APH rates: 

• 10% discount off participating car parks at airports throughout the UK
• 10% discount off participating airport hotel and parking packages
• 10% discount off airport lounges at selected airports

To check prices or to book online visit APH  or call APH on 01342 859536 and quote the promotional code ‘RDIVE’.

*Terms & Conditions apply. Please see T&C for list of non-participating products where discounts may be less or do not apply.

Not many companies can claim to have been offering diving holidays for 25 Years - Regaldive can! Over the years we have seen tremendous changes to the areas we feature. Regaldive continue to offer exciting new destinations and the best service possible to make your diving holiday dreams come true.

To recognise the support that you, as a valued client, have provided over the years and as a 'Thank You' from the Regaldive Team we are offering you this voucher for £25 to celebrate our 25th Anniversary.

You may use this £25 voucher in addition to any loyalty discount that may apply or as an additional saving during our 10% Winter Sale.

Book by 30 June 2014 and quote ANNIVERSARY OFFER to save an extra £25 on your holiday.

Call the Regaldive Team on 01353 659 999 to book your holiday today!

Terms and Conditions:

• £25 voucher is valid for new bookings only, booked on or after 27 December 2013.
• The £25 saving is available on full price holiday packages only, when booked by 30 June 2014 i.e. flights, accommodation, transfers and diving.
• The £25 saving can be used in conjunction with the 10% winter sale discount. Regaldive will advise at time of booking if it is possible to use the £25 saving in conjunction with any other offer.
• If you are not able to book during the winter sale period, the £25 voucher can be used in conjunction with any loyalty discounts that may apply.
• £25 saving applies for direct bookings only and may only be used once for a booking made in 2014. Discount will also apply to any other guests on your new booking, as long as they have previously travelled with Regaldive.
• Offer code 'Anniversary Offer' must be supplied at time of booking, no retrospective discounts will be issued.

Zanzibar Palace Hotel is an exclusive award-winning small, boutique hotel, conveniently located in the heart of Stone Town, Zanzibar. Described as a ‘hidden gem’, it is within walking distance of all the main facilities but just a little bit out of the way, to maintain tranquillity.

In a tastefully restored building, Zanzibar Palace Hotel features two luxury rooms and five suites, and on the top floor, two huge Palace suites, one with a rooftop bathroom and sundeck. All rooms are different and all have their own distinctive characteristics, including antique furnishings and authentic features, creating an Arabian atmosphere.

This is a small hotel that provides an excellent service, with a private restaurant, luxury spa, Arabian lounge and bar. Combined with 24/7 customer service and modern comforts (A/C and free Wi-Fi), anyone will feel at home in this special, unique hotel.

The Zanzibar Palace Hotel is perfectly placed for a stay in combination with The Manta Resort, Pemba.

Give the Regaldive Team a call on 01353 659 999 to tailormake your holiday unique.