Looking out of the office window and seeing nothing but grey skies and drizzle is the prefect motivator we need to consider a trip to somewhere totally tropical. With warm blue waters teeming with marine life, sun-kissed beaches fringed with palm trees and lush tropical rainforests the Caribbean offers travellers the perfect antidote to those winter blues.

Regaldive has a number of gorgeous Caribbean destinations to entice you.

Tobago
Tobago’s diving has a deserved reputation for enormous brain corals and thrilling drift dives. Mixed with the warmer Gulf Stream, the Guyana current flows along the island’s Atlantic coast, providing some of the most spectacular drift dives in the Caribbean. Divers can expect to see an impressive array of species including barracudas, jacks, tunas, tarpons, different type of sharks, rays including mantas and turtles.

By contrast the marine life on the Caribbean coast benefits from cooler water temperatures, less current and wind. Sheltered reefs of hard and soft corals, colourful sponges and a thriving fish population make diving the Caribbean coast a rewarding experience, regardless of your level of experience. This coast also boasts Tobago’s finest wreck, the Maverick, a former car ferry that was intentionally sunk in 1997 and lies in 30m.

Bonaire
Bonaire lies just north of Venezuela and is widely recognised as one of the Caribbean’s premier diving destinations. It rarely rains and the waters surrounding the island are rich in nutrients, giving rise to its fabulous marine diversity and beautiful fringing reef.

Bonaire is world-famous for its dive and drive packages, providing divers with complete freedom to investigate this beautiful island above and below water. Dive packages start with unlimited air access, available 24 hours a day. Shore entry dive sites are generally not crowded or exposed to strong currents. Divers often encounter turtles, dolphins, jacks and inquisitive tarpon. Seahorses, the island's emblem, thrive in Bonaire’s waters, alongside the rarely seen frogfish.

Curacao
Underwater, Curaçao has much in common with its smaller neighbouring island, Bonaire, with a fringing reef running the length of the west coast. The island's location ensures year round diving in crystal clear waters. Curaçao boasts excellent reefs with an attractive range of wrecks and has been voted one of the top three places for shore diving in the world.

The island has over 60 recognised dive sites, around 40 of them accessible from shore. There are also a number of excellent wrecks adding variety to the underwater scenery. The cargo ship Superior Producer sank just outside Willemstad harbour. Lying in 30m, the superstructure is covered in beautiful corals and anemones. A little further down the reef at Car Pile, old cars from the 1940s lie on top of one another, forming the base to a gently sloping reef. 

Grenada
Grenada offers divers an exceptional range of different dives. They range in character from beautiful coral gardens to adrenaline charged drift dives where encounters with a variety of rays and sharks are commonplace.

Moliniere reef, within the National Marine Park, has been brought alive and transformed by the work of Jason de Caires Taylor. His human form sculptures present fantastic photographic opportunities whilst forming a new home for underwater sea life and give an entirely new perspective to the diver.

Grenada is recognised for its exceptional range of wrecks. In all there are nine stunning wrecks to visit, including the world-famous Bianca C. The Bianca C is a 200 metre luxury liner that sank in 1961. Lying at a gentle angle the wreck supports a huge amount of marine life and has numerous points of interest, including the swimming pool and the bridge.

St. Kitts and Nevis
Sitting north-east of Monserrat St. Kitts and Nevis offer a lovely mix of above and below water beauty. The diving is diverse, with a wealth of coral colours on shallow pinnacles, walls, sandy gullies and deeper marine sea mounts.  The marine life provides divers with multiple sightings of moray eels, hawksbill turtles, jacks, barracuda and stingrays and divers will also find frogfish, seahorses and nudibranchs buried in the reefs.

On land, picturesque coves with brightly coloured fishing boats, laid back villages and lush rainforests offer the chance to experience a little Caribbean life.

Mexico
Mexico is one of the most diverse and exciting dive destinations in the world. From the world famous reefs of Cozumel to the once in a lifetime experience of diving the Cenotes, Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula really has it all!

Cozumel is Mexico's largest island, easily accessible by ferry. In contrast with the mainland resorts, Cozumel offers a more relaxed and laidback feel and is in keeping with what one might expect from a true Caribbean island. The southern end of the island is a protected national marine park, and home to the famous Planacar Reef, named by Jacques Cousteau as one of the best scuba diving spots in the world. The island is separated from the mainland by a deep oceanic trench, creating a funnel for the consistently nutrient rich currents that guarantee exhilarating drifts and dramatic wall dives.

Experienced divers will relish the chance to explore one of the longest submerged cave and cavern systems in the world. The Cenotes are justifiably known as the jewel in the crown of Yucatan diving. Float in gin clear fresh water amongst stalagmites and stalactites, bathed in shafts of light filtering through the jungle canopy above.

With so many different islands offering experiences to suit every diver, why not consider chilling in the Caribbean this year?

Our Speechless winner...

London-based Lynne and her partner, both passionate divers, are all set to enjoy a wonderful 7 night All-Inclusive Regaldive holiday at the Sunrise Marina Resort Port Ghalib. Their incredible prize includes hand-picked return flights to Marsa Alam, resort transfers and Red Sea diving with Emperor Divers.

What’s more, advance diver Lynne also receives a haul of high-end dive gear from Mike’s Dive Store. The combined value of this incredible prize is a staggering £3,500! We can’t imagine a better way to dive into the New Year than with a diving adventure to the Red Sea.

On hearing the news that she had been picked at random Lynne was happy and speechless. She is hoping to use this unexpected opportunity to travel to Egypt to realise her dream of diving Elphinstone Reef, as an add-on excursion with Emperor Divers.

“Thank you so much Regaldive! This will be our first trip to Marsa Alarm, so we're very excited to be travelling there with you.

"The combined prize really is perfect for me as I have most of my dive kit already, but was just missing the regulators and dry suit... so it's such a super coincidence that those were the prizes from Mike’s!” 

Lynne has promised to share memories of her surprise Regaldive holiday with all of us on her return from Egypt, in a Special Trip Report for the Regaldive blog. Watch this space for her winner’s write- up…

Finally, warmest congratulations to you, Lynne, on behalf of Regaldive and Mike’s Dive Store on your prize – we're all wishing you the most wonderful Red Sea diving holiday !

Our delighted customer returned from a diving holiday at Siladen Resort & Spa, in Manado, with some very special memories indeed. Here he describes for us the evening 140 Green Tutles hatched and made an epic journey into the protect waters of the Bunaken National Marine Park: 

Who wouldn't love to witness a turtle hatching in person?

On track & Heading off into the sea...

"Everyone was finishing up their evening meal when Mike and Nathalie went to check the turtle nests. There were signs of movement! When this message came, the restaurant soon emptied as everyone left for the turtle nests.

"Finally, one little head poked out and the baby turtle was soon heading rapidly down a specially-prepared track to the sea with vocal support from guests.

"The second and third turtles emerged slowly. The second appearing very tired, probably because the rain had compacted the sand on top of the nest making it hard work to dig itself out. The third turtle headed off, but kept trying to escape from the track by climbing the side wall. After a little guidance it too was on track and heading off into the sea.

"While the second baby turtle rested, it was soon joined by more and finally a rush as most of the 140 baby turtles emerged and headed off for the water in a big group. After about 20 minutes more it was all over and all 140 baby turtles were heading off to life at sea.

"Hard to believe but in thirty years probably only one of them will come back as an adult to lay eggs on the same beach.

"When Mike and Nathalie were digging out the nest the following day, to make room for a new batch of eggs, one final baby turtle was found. It was very strong and it too then made its way into the sea."

To find out more,  call our friendly team on 01353 659999 or visit Silden Resport & Spa

Dip into the programme of presentations from the world's top diving experts, enjoy the Try Dive Pool, Rebreather Pool and New Products, plus themed Travel and Dive Training areas. Compare dive kit, plan your next diving adventures and meet up with old friends.

We arecounting down to DIVE 2017, so do come and see the Regaldive team at stand #412 to make sure that you get the best deals! We look forward to catching up with you over the weekend and discussing your diving holiday plans.

DIVE SHOW OPENING TIMES
Saturday, 21 October - 9:30am-6:00pm
Sunday, 22 October - 9:30am-5:00pm

Find out more about DIVE 2017 here

On my recent trip to Marsa Alam I also spent a very nice day with the team at Oasis Dive Resort. A location that's all about making the most of the great diving in the area, plus comfortable accommodation and good food. A tour of the rooms showed them all to be spacious and all with nice views over the sea. 

The diving options include their lovely house reef, or trips by road to dive sites to the north and south. The minibus pulls up to a beach with all your dive kit already laid out on a big rug to keep the sand away. This type of diving is perfect for those that don't  want to be out on a boat all  day, or on and off a RIB. A leisurely kit up and you can walk straight into the water. 

So, the first dive of the day was a very special one for me, my 500th dive. I learnt to dive in May 2002 and was immediately hooked. To say my life started to revolve around diving is an understatement, then even more so when I joined Regaldive in 2012. Certainly learning to dive was one of the best decisions I ever made.

The dive at Oasis was in a bay with reef either side and sea grass in the middle. They do have a resident Dugong there and I was hoping he would show up to help me celebrate my special dive, but I think the party invitation must have got lost in the post. I was lucky enough to see the one that lives up near Port Ghalib on dive 499 though, so close enough for my first Dugong. There was a very big Green Turtle munching away on the sea grass though and he posed nicely for some pictures and video. 

Then we finished with a pleasant meander around the pretty reefs nearby to check out all of the usual Red Sea life. Those pesky Pipefish never stay still long enough for you to get a decent picture, I often wonder how some people get those close up pictures that you see. 

So, it was an enjoyable end to a great week in the Red Sea and here's looking forward to the next 500 dives!

The Oasis Dive Resort is an intimate, appealing hotel with a rustic and friendly feel. Ideally suited for divers and for those seeking tranquillity, it has a rural location on a long beach just north of Marsa Alam. The hotel has 49 chalets arranged around the main building in the form of a pretty Bedouin village with small alleyways and winding steps of fossilized coral stone. The resort stands out with its unique architecture and intimate ambience. The views from the terraces are fantastic.

WORLDWIDE OPTIONS FOR DIVING WITH SHARKS include:

GUADALUPE ISLAND

Dive to 30 feet and go face to face with great white sharks! Guadalupe Island is a volcanic island 150 miles off the west coast of Baja California and it outperforms every other great white shark destination with shark-seeing consistency and beautiful diving conditions. 

Great white shark encounters at Guadalupe Island are nothing short of spectacular. It’s the best destination in the world for calm, clear water and a consistently high probability of multiple shark encounters. The bay itself is home to over 200 recognised individuals, ranging from 12 to 19 feet long. At times, guests have seen as many as nine sharks on one dive!

SOCORRO ISLANDS

The wild, remote and exhilarating Socorro Islands, Mexico are famous for their big animal encounters. Divers will see many species of shark, including Hammerheads, Whitetips, Silvertips, Silkies, Tiger & Galapagos Sharks. Whale sharks can be found between November - December and late April - May. 

The area is also famous for close encounters with the Giant Pacific Manta Ray, which can grow to 22 feet across. The Mantas seek out divers to interact with and play in their exhaled bubbles. There’s little doubt that this is the best location for the closest Manta interactions.  

SOUTH AFRICA

If you want some great shark action, what could be better than the shark hotspots of South Africa and Mozambique? Although there's always plenty to see, including Hammerheads, Tigers, Blacktips and Bulls, May is the time that the Ragged Tooth Sharks take up residence on Aliwal Shoals. A shark to impress your non-diving friends, as with their mouth full of big teeth, they look far scarier than they actually are. ‘Raggies’ usually stay until at least the end of November, so now's the time to plan your visit.

THE MALDIVES

The Maldives is a popular location for seeing a few varieties of shark, most commonly Whitetips and Grey Reef Sharks. Although the Whitetips are usually very calm and lethargic during the day, they certainly get a bit more active at night. Often seen darting around the reef, trying to beat each other to the next unsuspecting fish to snack on. 

Our guests returning from Maldives Liveaboards are giving enthusiastic reports from of a very interesting night dive they took part in. Many of them have greatly enjoyed doing a night dive with Nurse Sharks. Although one of the most docile of sharks, it turns into a very exhilarating experience when you get 40 to 50 Nurse Sharks swarming all around you! Just hang onto your gear and prepare for the odd nudge.   

THE BAHAMAS

The Bahamas are justifiably famous for their shark diving. Some sharks can be seen very close and personal, mainly Caribbean Reef Sharks, Nurse Sharks and Lemon Sharks, but others such as Bull Sharks, Hammerheads and even Oceanic Whitetips can all be found, with the waters of Nassau and the Exuma Cays being the most easily accessible areas. 

A famous location that is worth a visit in June, July and August is Tiger beach. So called because of the numbers of Tiger sharks that turn up in the warm shallow waters at that time. Known for coming in nice and close, some of the individual sharks, such as Emma, are famous the world over. With years of experience the operators that visit the area will provide you with an experience that you will have difficulty finding anywhere else.    

SUDAN

Many of Sudan’s varied dive sites hold an almost mythical status with divers from around the world. Sudan’s coastal waters are also recognised as one of the best places in the world for Shark enthusiasts to encounter schools of scalloped hammerheads, alongside many other species of shark. 

Our colleague Nigel gave us a taste of the shark action from his recent trip to Sudan and told us: "we were joined by a huge school of hammerhead sharks: above us, below us, in the distance, right next to us: they were everywhere. We were all trying to look in every direction at once. When we got back on board my partner said it had been 'raining hammerhead sharks'. We all knew what she meant."

THE GALAPAGOS

The seas surrounding the Galapagos support a large concentration of the marine life that makes these islands such a superb dive destination. Certainly no dive itinerary to the Galapagos is complete without a visit to the remote outposts of Wolf & Darwin to the north. Schools of hammerheads, as well as dolphins and rays make these islands a real highlight for divers. The whale shark aggregation occurs in the warmer water surrounding these islands. Many other shark species also make regular appearances, including species that you are unlikely to see elsewhere, including the Galapagos Shark. Although Hammerheads are seen year round, the biggest aggregations are usually in the Autumn. 

THE RED SEA

The Red Sea has always been good for sharks, but the last couple of years have been exceptional, especially  on the 'Simply the Best' itinerary. Maybe it's because there are less divers about. We are hearing feedback such as "saw hammerheads on every dive at Daedalus" and "great to get so close to so many Oceanic Whitetips" from those on our Red Sea Liveaboard trips. The best times for these encounters now seems to be starting a bit earlier too, around June, and running right through to November. 

COCOS ISLAND

A few years ago Cocos Island was christened ‘The Island of the Sharks’ by documentary makers, and with very good reason. This lush, green, uninhabited island, 340 miles from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, boasts numerous species of shark, including Whitetips (on every dive!), Tigers, Whale Sharks, Silkies and Galapagos Sharks. 

But the biggest draw here is the Hammerheads that come into the numerous cleaning stations, allowing easy, close up viewing. Also they can often be seen schooling in their tens or even hundreds, so keep your fingers crossed for that amazing experience. 

The UNESCO designated World Heritage Site certainly holds its place at the pinnacle of the world’s best shark diving locations.  

To find out more about our shark diving locations, call our friendly team on 01353 659999.

A favourite diving destination with Regaldive guests, the Maldives is a picture-postcard paradise. Stunningly beautiful white sand beaches complement the exhilarating underwater realm that offers some of the finest diving in the world. Adrenaline-charged drifts, amazing quantities of colourful fish and chance encounters with pelagics are the order of the day here.

Angaga Resort - A Firm Favourite with Guests

Located in the middle of South Ari atoll, Angaga Resort enjoys the combined benefits of a fine house reef, a beautiful lagoon and beach, a shady interior of palm trees and frangipani plants. The resort offers a high standard of accommodation and facilities and remains a firm favourite with Regaldive guests. The atmosphere is best described as discreet, quiet and natural.

The resort has 90 guest rooms in total, including beach bungalows, water bungalows and superior water bungalows. The Beach Bungalows are Maldivian style with thatched roofs and are built in small clusters around the edge of the island. 

The 20 Water Bungalows feature a canopied four poster double bed, private deck, bath & shower and direct access into the sea. There are also 20 Superior Water Bungalows. These larger Bungalows are attractively decorated, providing great comfort for the ultimate stay on Angaga.

Superior Beach Bungalows are available at great prices, with 7 night packages starting at only £1,874pp. This includes: flights, sea plane transfers and 7 night’s accommodation on a twin share, half board basis.

If you'd like to take advantage of these great savings, call our friendly team on 01353 659999 or visit: Angaga Resort

House Reef at Angaga

The house reef at Angaga is rewarding for divers and snorkelers alike. There are four entry points onto the reef, which wraps around the entire island. Supporting plenty of soft coral and marine life, the house reef provides access to unlimited diving for experienced divers, dropping to 35 metres at its deepest point.

Boat Diving from Angaga

Angaga’s location offers access to some of the best dive sites on both the western and eastern sides of South Ari atoll. The island enjoys fabulous diving through the South West Monsoon. During the North East Monsoon access to Madivaru point is both regular and easy. Madivaru is renowned for consistently attracting large numbers of Manta Rays to its gently sloping walls and is a real highlight.

Thulhagiri Resort - Ideal for Low-Key Relaxation

Thulhagiri is a small island located in the middle of North Male atoll, just 25 minutes by speedboat from Male and the airport. Palm trees shade the interior and there is a fine beach leading to a large sheltered lagoon. The southern end of North Male atoll offers a concentration of excellent dive sites, which are all accessible from the island. 

Thulhagiri Resort is small and low-key, offering good value. Dive sites on either side of the atoll ensure good diving year round from a very well managed dive base. With its convenient location, this island also makes an excellent choice for twin centre holidays, with the option of combining another island or a liveaboard.

The resort has 69 detached and semi-detached Standard Deluxe bungalows built around the fringe of the island in the tree line, overlooking the beach and sea. There are also some are water bungalows available. Water villas have a canopied four poster double bed and a private sun deck with access into the sea. The bathroom has a bath and separate shower. 

Standard Deluxe Bungalows are available at great prices, with 7 night packages starting at only £1,571pp. This includes: flights, speed boat transfers and 7 night’s accommodation on a twin share, half board basis.

If you'd like to take advantage of these great savings, call our friendly team on 01353 659999 or visit: Thulhagiri Resort

House Reef at Thulhagiri

The beautiful and healthy house has three main access points for diving, offering a big variety of options. Two of these entrance points are marked with ropes leading from the shallow lagoon out to the reef edge, while the third is very close to the edge of the reef, accessible via a staircase from the water bungalow jetty. A small and colourful thila (Thulhagiri Kuda Thila) just west of the island can be reached starting from the house reef, but can also be dived by boat.

Boat Diving from Thulhagiri

Thulhagiri’s location allows for its dive boats to access some of the best dive sites on both the southwestern and southeastern sides of North Male atoll making it an excellent diving option year round. There are well over 30 dive sites that are regularly visited by the island's dive boats.

The range of dive sites available from the island offers great options for all divers, from novice right through to advanced. Highlights include dive sites Barracuda Giri (aka. Okobe thila), Paradise Rock (aka. Nassimo thila) or H.P. Reef (aka. Rainbow reef) for soft corals; Sunlight Thila or Lankan Reef for Mantas, and Aquarium or Furana for schools of fish and pelagic encounters.

Maldives Liveaboards and Twin Centre Options

We offer a wide choice of liveaboard vessels in the Maldives, catering to a diverse range of budgets and diving needs. Many Regaldive guests choose to combine a land-based stay with a Maldives Liveaboard trip, or opt for a twin centre land-based stay, to really make the most of the world class diving on offer. To find out more, call our friendly team on 01353 659999 or visit: Maldives Liveaboards

Built in Germany, the cargo vessel Atlantik was built just before the start of WW2. She was refitted in 1950 and extended and she was renamed the Persia II in 1964.

In the 1980s she moved to St Vincent to run inter-island cargo – this continued until recently, when her pumps failed and she took on water in rough weather off Grenada earlier this year. All crew members were rescued by the Coast Guard, but the vessel sank seven miles off the south coast.

Aquanauts Grenada recently sent a team to find and dive the Persia II wreck, after following an oil trail and using sonar. The Aquanauts team reports that she lies upright in 35m with marine life already moving in. So, the wreck is now part of Grenada’s chain of Atlantic wrecks, lying in a location where the currents attract rays, nurse sharks and other pelagics.

Regaldive offers packages starting at £999pp for seven nights’ twin-share B&B at True Blue Bay Resort - Grenada including transfers and flights with British Airways from London Gatwick. Our diving packages with Aquanauts start from £232pp for six dives.

To find out more,  call our friendly team on 01353 659999 or visit Diving in Grenada

Roots Red Sea in El Quseir is a popular resort in Regaldive's Red Sea programme.  Run by the well-respected British Pharaoh Dive Club team, Roots is a small friendly resort with an excellent house reef.

The natural building materials, magnificent mountain backdrop and unspoilt beaches make for a wonderfully relaxing destination. Regaldive guests report that Roots offers great hospitality and a welcoming atmosphere - we consistently receive favourable feedback about Roots from happy returning divers.

Pharaoh Dive Club is a PADI 5 Star Gold Palm IDC centre, located on the beach at Roots in El Quseir.  The British owned and managed centre has direct access to a good house reef.  Zodiac and hard boat diving is available from El Quseir harbour, just 10 minutes away.  The house reef has a very shallow area for training, and a dedicated classroom.

GREAT SAVINGS ON PACKAGES AT ROOTS RED SEA

Save £50 per person for packages to Roots Red Sea. This offer is valid for any arrival date in 2017 and 2018. Trips must be booked and confirmed by 31 July 2017.

Packages start from: £689 per person and include: flights, transfers, 7 nights twin share accommodation in a Deluxe Chalet on Soft All Inclusive + 5 days unlimited diving

To find out more, call our friendly team on 01353 659999.

 We offer a range of Red Sea Liveaboards, with itineraries giving you a wide variety of diving options, depending on your area of interest and your level of experience. If you are travelling as a large group, you can even decide your ideal itinerary and pre-book a week of wrecks, or favourite reef dives, according to your group preferences.

It seems that our Red Sea liveaboards are more popular than ever this year. Many of our Red Sea liveaboard trips are already full for numerious dates this summer. The autumn season is also filling up very quickly. 

Regaldive offer a choice of northern and southern Red Sea itineraries. Northern trips include the reef at Abu Nuhas with several wrecks resting at its base. You can also visit the Straits of Gubal and the famous Thistlegorm World War II wreck. There are many world class dive sites in the southern Red Sea, including Fury Shoal, the Brothers and Elphinstone and Regaldive offer several itineraries. 

So, if a Red Sea liveaboard trip is on the horizon for you this summer or autumn, it's the ideal time to book your place, as boat places are filling very fast. 

Call us now on 01353 659999 or request a quote so that you don't miss out on your opportunity to dive this summer and autumn.

Dive into our Red Sea Liveaboard trips here