There's just a week to go to the dive event of the year at the NEC. SAVE NOW! Our show offers are too good to miss so we have decided to offer them to you right now. These Red Sea offers are valid from TODAY, 18 October 2013, so give us a call and get your booking in early. We expect these offers to fly out the door, so book NOW and don't miss out.

Our incredible Red Sea offers include:

- SAVE up to 30% on Liveaboards - amazing prices starting from £675 fully inclusive!

- FREE Buddy Diving at most Red Sea Resorts

- FREE Buddy Courses at most Red Sea Resorts 

- £20 per day boat & house reef diving with Emperor Divers

For more details please see our DIVE SHOW SPECIAL OFFERS page or call us on 01353 659 999!

Regaldive Team Member John has just returned from a ‘trip of a lifetime’ to Raja Ampat, Indonesia. John’s itinerary aboard the exceptional Dewi Nusantara took in the very best diving of this region. Read his trip report:

Wow, what a trip! It’s been described by others as the trip of a lifetime, but the trouble is I want to do it far more than just once in my lifetime!

Of course it takes a while to get to the other side of the world, but it is so worth it. The first part, which for me was a Singapore Airlines A380 to Singapore was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be. A comfortable plane with reasonable leg-room, good entertainment and good service made the 12 and a half hours very bearable. The internal flight was a bit more like travelling with a UK budget carrier, but that was only for the last bit of the journey.

When I got to Sorong in West Papua (formally Irian Jaya) I joined a fantastic liveaboard called Dewi Nusantara. Really an amazing boat. It looks pretty stunning as it’s built along the lines of a mid 1800’s 3 masted schooner, so it’s not like your normal dive boat. The wow factor of the boat doesn’t stop there, it’s amazing inside too, with wood everywhere and handmade bespoke wooden furniture. There’s plenty of room on the dive deck, saloon and bedrooms, so with only 18 guests on board you can always find a bit of space. Photographers are well looked after too, with their own camera room.

Another thing that makes the boat so special is the crew and the organisation on board. They are all so friendly and had an amazing ability to remember everyone’s names, almost from day one. Diving is made very easy as all your kit is labelled and was always in exactly the right place when you needed it. Even your camera was taken to the dive tender and handed to you just before, or after, you rolled into the water.

So the boat and the crew were great, but what about the diving? It’s definitely got to be considered some of the best in the world. Raja Ampat is at the heart of the Coral Triangle of South East Asia so was never going to disappoint. But what strikes you is the sheer amount of pristine hard and soft corals, and the number of fish, especially on the reefs around the south of Waigeo Island and the north of Batanta.  The reef at Cape Kri is officially recognised as having more species than any other dive site in the world. Needless to say I didn’t try and prove the scientists wrong and just enjoyed the dive.

To the north of Raja Ampat the reefs are slightly different, not so much large coral and big schools of fish, but more looking for little stuff. The islands of the Equator group are very much for the diver looking for the little things, certainly a macro photographer's heaven. I never thought I would get too excited finding Nudibranchs, but a new camera with a good macro setting certainly helps. A decent picture of a Pygmy Seahorse failed me though. 

As we moved back south we came to a dive site called Eagle Rocks, named after the many Sea Eagles nesting in the trees. We did two dives there and were lucky enough to see Manta Rays on both dives. Really pleasing as later in the week you might guess that a dive site with ‘Manta’ in it’s name yielded us none at all.  Just the luck of the draw I suppose.

The highlights underwater for me where probably the good number of Tassled Wobbegong Sharks we saw, at least a dozen or so during ten days diving. Also the Raja Epaulette sharks that we saw on most of the night dives. Both of these species are great for photographers as they don’t move much and if they do it’s rather slow. Not like those fish that you just get lined up for a shot and they turn their back or nip behind the nearest bit of coral. Lots of fast moving Blacktip Reef Sharks and a few Whitetips too.

A good dive guide is essential though and I’m please to say we had some of the best. It’s amazing how they can swim straight up to a fan coral and find a Pygmy Seahorse in seconds. The little critters are only a few millimetres long and difficult enough to see, let alone photograph, even when being pointed out to you.

So we saw the tiniest of Seahorses, up to the biggest of Mantas and everything in between. Other highlights were the big shoals of schooling fish, Bumphead Parrotfish and a couple of Banded Sea Snakes. The night dives yielded quite a few different types of Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus, including the famous Blue Ringed variety. The biodiversity of the reefs means that there is something for everyone in Raja Ampat. The area is totally unspoilt, both above and below the water and we didn’t see another dive boat until the very last of our 38 dives.

A wonderful trip that’s just got to be on any divers ‘must do’ list. Just hope I get the chance to go back there one day!

Thanks to John for these great photos of his trip!

The Maldives might not be the first place you think of as a destination for single travellers but the perfect powder soft sands and stunning clear waters make these islands an ideal choice for anyone wanting a peaceful and relaxed getaway.

Beautiful island hideaway Reethi Beach Resort is offering no single supplement for holidays between 1 May and 15 July 2014. Located on the Baa atoll, Reethi Beach offers elegant accommodation and a laid back atmosphere, with one of the highest repeat guest rates of any island in the Maldives.

In a stunning and remote location, this lovely island offers some fantastic diving opportunities on the surrounding reefs, home to mantas and whale sharks, especially during the summer months. There are also plenty of other watersports on offer, a fitness centre, and luxurious spa treatments.

Go on, treat yourself! Call 01353 659 999 for more details.

If you're looking for a Winter escape, the tiny Caribbean island of Carriacou has a simple, laidback charm that's just perfect for getting away from it all. Carriacou means Land of Reefs and the diving here more than lives up to its name. The waters surrounding the island abound with life and colour and the 30+ dive sites range from uncomplicated dives on sheltered reefs through to more advanced wall dives. There's also a number of artificial reefs / wrecks to explore and many new dive sites to discover.

Regaldive guests dive with well-established Deefer Diving, run firmly with the emphasis on personal and friendly service by Alex, Gary and their dogs Scuba and Ocean! With a keen interest in sidemount diving, and marine biology, guests will benefit from their knowledge, enthusiasm and expertise.

Deefer Diving also offers a fantastic new purpose built 30ft wooden diving catamaran, which was handbuilt on the island in just seven months. Bobcat can carry up to ten divers plus crew in great comfort and with plenty of space. Music, snacks and drinks are available on board. A bimini cover provides shade over the main deck, while the trampoline in the bow is the perfect place for sun worshippers. Extra space means that certified divers can bring their families along to snorkel and have fun while they dive.

All in all, Carriacou and Deefer Diving offer a great option for divers looking to get off the beaten track, and for anyone looking for a relaxed holiday with a friendly, family atmosphere. Carriacou also makes a great twin centre option with its big sister Grenada.

There is currently a worldwide shortage of yellow fever vaccine which is affecting the whole of the UK. Stamaril (Sanofi Pasteur MSD) is the only licensed yellow fever vaccine available in the UK and Sanofi is experiencing an ongoing delay in the manufacturing process.

Interruption to the supply of vaccine is expected to continue until January 2014. The current shortage has implications for those travellers requiring vaccine in the coming months. Availability of yellow fever vaccine will vary from centre to centre and travellers may need to be referred to, or to seek out, alternate centres in order to be vaccinated.

Please seek medical advice regarding all vaccinations that may be recommended for your destination. Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure. For the most up to date advice please consult your travel clinic or GP.

Further information regarding vaccinations for travel can be found at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk and from your local healthcare provider.

Island hopping is a great way to experience the best of the beautiful Philippines Islands. The dive sites of the Philippines are home to some of the best and most diverse marine eco-systems in South East Asia. Scientists believe that Southeast Asia is where most of the Pacific's marine organisms evolved before they spread out to colonise other oceans. There are over 500 species of hard and soft corals and innumerable varieties of fish and large pelagics. The diversity is astounding and caters to all levels of dive experience and interest.

An island hopping or twin centre holiday is the perfect way to discover the Philippines. Regaldive offer four different island hopping options with 10, 11 or 13 night itineraries to cater to different preferences and budgets. An 11 night deluxe island hopping adventure is the perfect introduction to these stunning islands. There are actually over 7,000 islands in the Philippines!! But our 11 night itinerary means a stay on two: Negros Oriental and Malapascua.

After an overnight on Cebu, and a transfer by ferry to Dumaguete on Negros, you will spend five nights and four days diving at the Pura Vida Resort. There is a stunning house reef at this intimate resort, but the highlight is undoubtedly Apo Island, one of the best known Philippines diving destinations. Apo is a tiny marine sanctuary that is teeming with fish and beautiful corals. There are ten dive sites around the island and each has something different to offer from exhilarating drift dives to gentle shallow dives over hard and soft corals.

The second part of your island hopping trip takes in Malapascua, a tiny, picturesque island just off the northern tip of Cebu, that is blessed with stunning white sands at Bounty Beach. Here, there are lots of little coves and bays to discover and this is a perfect destination to relax and unwind. The diving is equally magical and its underwater that you really get your pulse racing. Shark Point is one of the top places in the world to catch a glimpse of the elusive thresher shark. Be dazzled by the colours of the mandarin fish on a night dive or get your macro lens ready for an up close encounter with a pygmy seahorse at Gato Island.There's also plenty to keep wreck divers happy here. Our guests here stay at the lovely Ocean Vida Resort, situated directly on Bounty Beach.

Regaldive guest Sue Walker recently returned from an 11 night deluxe island hopping trip and had this to say about her holiday:

"Just to let you know I had a great holiday. Thanks to all at Regaldive for organising it so well. I was delighted to see lots of sea horses, including pygmies and the thresher sharks. Hotels were excellent and Sea Explorers friendly, efficient and professional. I will definitely book with you again!"

Thanks to Sue for the fabulous sea horse photo. We hope it inspires many more of you to discover the beautiful Philippines.