Thanks to Annabel and Peter Chaplin for sharing this lovely photo of themselves on their recent holiday to Gozo. Annabel Chaplin was the lucky winner of this holiday in the Regaldive / Divernet competition. We're delighted that you had a great time!

Thank you to all our friends who visited the Dive Show at the NEC. We had a brilliant weekend and we hope you did too. It was great to see so many regular guests, and meet a few new ones too!

As usual we were happy to offer you the best value holidays. Many of you took advantage of our Dive Show special offers to the Red Sea and Worldwide and there was a real buzz over the weekend about our new resorts and liveaboards. We also celebrated our 25th Anniversary at the show this year. We hope you had a chance to share our cake and bubbly on Saturday afternoon.

We’re already planning ahead for the next Dive Show at London Excel on 15-16 February 2014. We really hope to see you there and look forward to bringing you the very best diving in 2014.

There’s still time to take advantage of some of our fantastic Dive Show special offers. Book before 4 November 2013 for 10% off your next holiday or take advantage of our FREE buddy diving deals with Orca Diving Clubs and Sinai Divers in the Red Sea.

Call 01353 659 999 for details.

See a selection of our Dive Show photos on our Facebook page here >

Not diving this weekend? Then come and see us at Dive 2013! The Regaldive team will be on Stand 600 at the Dive Show at the NEC, Birmingham on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 October 2013.

Visit the Regaldive stand and…
 
-    SAVE with our incredible special offers
-    WIN dive packs and a holiday voucher
-    CHAT with our diving experts
-    SHARE your holiday experiences
-    DISCOVER our latest destination news!
 
This year we are also celebrating 25 years of diving holidays! So come along and say hello, and join us for some cake and bubbly and a few extra goodies!!
 
We look forward to seeing you there!

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!

There’s just a few days to go to the dive event of the year at the NEC. We are really looking forward to it, especially as we are celebrating our 25th Anniversary this year. Visit stand 600 to meet the Regaldive team and take advantage of our great value show special offers and join in the celebrations.

We look forward to seeing you there!

In celebration of our Anniversary, we have 25 FREE tickets to the show up for grabs. Visit our Facebook page to enter our prize draw to win a complimentary ticket for entry on 26 or 27 October. Good luck!!

Visit our Facebook page for your chance to win >

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.

We are delighted to welcome the great value Flamboyant Hotel and luxurious Spice Island Beach Resort to our portfolio. More and more divers are choosing to travel to the Caribbean. It's well known as a winter sun destination but it also offers great all-round conditions above and below the water. With the introduction of two new hotels, we now offer a choice of five properties on the beautiful island of Grenada suitable for all budgets.

The Flamboyant Hotel represents great value for money, without compromising on quality.  Offering fantastic views across the capital St George, and the Caribbean Sea and mountains, this hotel benefits from a freshwater swimming pool, gym, games room, restaurant, sports bar and evening entertainment. Non-motorised sports, massages and beauty treatments are also available for those wishing to make the most of their time above the water. Seven nights’ at the Flamboyant Hotel cost from £1,055 per person, to include flights, transfers and room only accommodation, based on two people sharing. An eight day dive pack costs from £233 per person, to include air tanks (or 30% Nitrox, if qualified), weights and local tax.

For those looking for pure indulgence, the Spice Island Beach Resort, located on the Grand Anse Beach, is considered to be one of the finest hotels in the Caribbean. A family-run hotel with all the benefits of a luxury establishment, the all-suite Spice Island Beach Resort offers a choice of fine and casual dining, bar, swimming pool, spa, fitness centre, floodlit tennis court, non-powered water sports, nightly entertainment and a full concierge service. 34 of the hotels suites open directly onto the beach, while 17 have their own private swimming pool. Seven nights’ at the Spice Island Beach Resort cost from £2,448 per person, to include flights, transfers and all inclusive accommodation, based on two people sharing. An eight day dive pack costs from £233 per person, to include air tanks (or 30% Nitrox, if qualified), weights and local tax.

Grenada is home to over 50 dive sites ranging from stunning coral reefs and fascinating wrecks, to adrenaline charged drift dives. Divers looking to get up close to the marine life can admire seahorses, spotted eagle rays, moray eels, frogfish and sharks, while those more interested in wrecks have a wide range to choose from including the Bianca C - a 200 metre liner that sank in 1961, and the Hema 1 - Grenada’s newest wreck. Other highlights include the eel garden at ‘Northern Exposure’; the treasure-trove of marine species at ‘Flamingo Bay’; the other worldly underwater sculpture park at ‘Moliniere Reef’; and the drift dive at ‘Purple Rain’ which gives the chance to dive in a shower of purple Creole wrasse.

Currently there are two British Airways and two Virgin flights each week into Grenada. British Airways have recently announced that both flights will now continue to operate during the Summer season in response to increased demand for this stunning island.