.: In2scuba Dive School - Holidays and dive trips :.

In2scuba are running several dive trips throughout the year to many UK dive sites including Inland waters like Stoney Cove and Gildenburgh Water.

We will also be offering regular hard boat diving from Brighton & Eastbourne, every Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings and Rib dives from Folkestone & Dover.

In addition to these regular events we have organised some dive trips and holidays to keep you diving in new and interesting diving environments.

We have a friendly group of divers that meet up on these trips; this forms a relaxed and enjoyable environment for new divers to feel comfortable and part of the group.

In2scuba offer full Equipment hire for your trip or holiday (See our Equipment hire section for details)

This includes: Semi- dry suit, BCD, regs, hood, gloves, booties, mask, snorkel, fins, weight belt, weights and a 12litre tank. All divers are required to have there own dive watch or computer, dive knife, dive compass and a dive torch.

For coastal destinations ALL divers must have there own SMB and reel, these are essential for the safety of all the divers on the trip. If you are unfamiliar with the use and deployment of an SMB, we offer separate training for this important skill, please contact us for details.

Please note: that on all of our coastal dive trips the dives are NOT supervised. You and your buddy should have adequate training and experience for the environment you will be diving in.

If you require supervision on a dive you can book a PADI Discover Local Diving program for that dive, where a PADI Professional will supervise you at a cost of £40 per buddy pair, per dive.

Tuesday & Thursday Evening boat dives

Requirements: Advanced Open Water or above (We can offer you this training during these dives, please see our PADI Training section for details)

Cost: Reef Dives £20 Wreck Dives £25 (With all your own kit)

Supervised Dive with an In2scuba PADI Professional £40 per buddy pair + boat fee.

Book early as places are limited!

There will be regular boat dives from Brighton and Eastbourne throughout the year on the Nauticat, normally leaving at 6pm, these will be shallow ledge dives max depth around 15 metres or wreck dives being around 25metres.

There are some great wrecks in the channel to dive, a great way to chill out after a hard day at work! The marine life is spectacular as well, with lobster, conger eels, spider crabs and sometime even a dolphin (well porpoises really).

The boat

Nauticat is a 33ft Blyth catamaran, built to D.O.T. specification and conforming to Marine Safety Agency requirements, she is licensed to carry 12 passengers + 2 crew up to 60 miles from any safe haven. Powered by her twin Iveco engines, each producing 300hp, gives a boat cruising speed of around 14 knots and a top boat speed of around 20 knots.

Electronic aids include two GPS's & one differential GPS systems, PC / plotter, two depth sounders, two VHF radio's and a radar.

Safety equipment includes two Oxygen Therapy Units, always ready for emergency use and for which there is no charge, a 1st Aid Kit is also carried. Two life-rafts and life jackets for 14 people, and a full flare pack are carried at all times. Whilst on the boat 3rd party insurance cover up to £2m provided.

A canopy covered rear deck gives shelter from sunshine and spray or the wind and rain, there is also ample seating for 6 available inside.

Tea & coffee is always available.

There is an electric toilet fitted for pump free easy action use

Easy access onto the boat when loading, this is because the back of the boat has had the transom cut away to make it easy for loading and unloading.

The Nauticat has an electric lift located at the stern, this makes exiting the water after a dive an effortless task.

Diving the Ledges at Eastbourne

There is some great diving to be had along the ledges at Eastbourne, these dives are ideal for the novice diver as they are shallow (around 12-15 metres) and allow for a relaxing and enjoyable dive. The Ledges are abundant with marine life, the cracks in the rock face lay home to some fantastic marine life like, conger eels, spider crabs and lobsters. There are also hundreds of species of fish around these sites including, wrasses, bib, plaice, Pollack and large skate to name but a few.

Some of the most popular ledges are Long Shoal, Sovereign Shoal and the Lighthouse.

For a great drift dive there’s nothing to beat The Horse of Willingdon!

Wreck Diving at Eastbourne

Between Beachy Head and Dungeness, there are wrecks of all shapes and sizes, including liners, merchant ships, naval warships and submarines, all in very accessible depths, many of which are rarely dived.

Probably one of the nicest things about diving around Eastbourne is that most of your diving is between 20-40mtrs. For the more experienced diver, there are some exceptionally good wrecks in the 40-55mtr range and for the Tri-mix diver, up to 70mtrs.

Shallow inshore wrecks include: HMS Ariadne, Duchess, Rio Parana, Oceana, The 1906, Lalen Mendi, Grabwell, Gold Coin, Swale.

30-40 metre wrecks include: Alaunia, SY Argonaut, Branksome Chine, Donna Isobel, Lisbon, Glenartney, Gun Wreck, Hoheweg, Braunton.

40-50metre wrecks include: UC65, Seaford Ferry, Caleb Sprague, Emerald, Deep Tens, Carlisle Castle, Storra, Jan Brons, Two Wrecks.

Diving the Ledges at Brighton

Brighton Ledges just like Eastbourne offer some great diving, especially for the novice diver who is looking to gain experience while having fun and enjoyment.

These ledges are shallow (12-15 metres) which allows for a relaxed long dive!

Marine life is plentiful, with lobsters and spider crabs being the main residents along the rock face. Some of the most popular dive sites are Anchor Lump, Palace Pier Reef, Looe Gate, Ship Rock and Kings west Ledge all great dives!

Wreck diving at Brighton

With such a large number of wrecks to choose from, the diving around Brighton is proving to be extremely popular; there are wrecks of all shapes and sizes catering for all grades of diver, from the novice to the experienced technical/tri-mix diver.

Shallow inshore wrecks include: Clodmore, City of Brisbane, Lancer 2, Inverclyde, Steam Trawler, Pentrych, Miown, Vale of Leven.

30-40 metre wrecks include: TR Thompson, Ashford, Braunton, Mira, Fortuna, Vasco, City of Waterford, Ramsgarth, and HMS Kerryado.

40-50 metre wrecks include: HMS Minion, Quail, Moldavia, Nyon, Seaford Ferry, Molsley, Candia, UC65, Northeaster, Warilda.

50-Tri-mix wrecks include: Lanfranc, Pagenturm, Aracataca, Glen Arm Head, Aristos, Duke of Buccleugh, Marga, Gull, Holmforce, U-Boat.

Boat diving from Dover & Folkestone (Hardboat & Rib)

Requirements: Advanced Open Water or above (We can offer you this training during these dives, please see our PADI Training section for details)

Cost: Wreck Dives £25 (With all your own kit)

Dates: These will be listed in our "What's new" section

Supervised Dive with an In2scuba PADI Professional £40 per buddy pair + boat fee.

Neptune dive boat

Neptune is a South Catamaran powered by twin Caterpillar diesel engines giving over 700hp

It has a MCA 60 Mile Licence to take12 passengers plus crew.

The Boat has:

GPS & VHF radios
Oxygen & First Aid kits
Rear Electric lift
Electric toilet

There are hundreds of wrecks off the coast of Dover; most of them are at depths between 20–40 metres. This gives divers both novice and experienced a chance to dive some great historical wrecks, including several German U-boats.

HMS Brazen

HMS Brazen was a 1360 ton B class destroyer; it was sunk off Dover by German aircraft on 20 July 1940.

She was sunk while returning under tow, to port, after being attacked by enemy aircraft. Three planes were reported shot down and all the ship's crew were saved. The wreck now sits in 30 metres of water; it is still intact but is split in two halves.

Wrecks

Anglia

The 1862 ton auxiliary hospital ship Anglia was crossing the Channel from France on November 17, 1915, with a large number of wounded, when she struck a mine and sank one mile east of Folkestone Gate. She sank in 30 metres of water and broke into several sections, but still makes an interesting dive today.

Wrecks

UB-78

On April 19, 1918 the German U- boat, UB-78 sunk off Dover.

It was first thought to have been rammed by the Queen Alexandra, but this attack accounted for the sinking of the UC-78. It is now believed the UB-78 sunk from being struck by a mine. The U-boat was sunk to a depth of 26 metres and sits 6 metres proud of the sea bed.

Wrecks

Night Diving at Leybourne Lakes Wednesday Evenings

Requirements: Open Water Diver or above.

Cost: £7.50 (With all kit)

Supervised dive with an In2scuba PADI Professional £20 per buddy pair + Lake fee.

Full PADI training available on these dives.

Please book in advance...

Leybourne Lakes is located near Larkfield just 1.2 miles from the M20 junction 4. The lake has a maximum depth of 8.5 metres, and is a purpose built, dedicated dive training site. The entire dive training area is 'roped off' and consists of several solid platforms for training purposes.

The Lakes completely change at night making it a challenging, exciting and interesting place to dive!

The “Night Life” includes an abundance of eels and our resident mitten crabs, also with some luck the large pike may come out to play!

Day trips to Stoney Cove

In2scuba will be making regular Monthly visits to Stoney Cove throughout the year (checkout the dates below) as it is the perfect diving location to complete courses such as the Advanced Open Water and Speciality courses including Deep, Wreck and Multilevel.

Stoney Cove is a dedicated inland dive site situated in the county of Leicestershire. The Cove is based on a disused quarry and has 3 diving levels, ranging from 6 metres for novice divers, 22 metres for intermediate divers and 36 metres for Deep qualified divers. There are many in water attractions such as the Stangarth wreck and the Nautilus submarine to keep you exploring all day long.

Dates for 2008 (Training & Fun diving)

Saturday 26th January
Saturday 9th February
Saturday 15th March
Monday 31st March
Saturday 19th April
Saturday 17th May
Saturday 28th June
Saturday 26th July
Saturday 23rd August
Saturday 20th September
Saturday 18th October
Saturday 6th December

Day trips to Gildenburgh Water

We will be visiting Gildenburgh several times throughout the year. All PADI training will be available during each visit, please contact us with your requirements.

Gildenburgh is located near Peterborough in the village of Eastrea.

The inland lake offers year-round access without the problems of weather found on coastal locations. Depths vary up to 22m, a number of entries including shallow, deep water and jump bridge are available for all levels of divers. A variety of fish including mirror carp, perch, rudd, roach, eel, and pike to over 1 metre long can be found here. Visibility can be up to 10m but averages 4 to 6m depending on time of year and diver activity.

There are some interesting wrecks to be seen and explored, including various cars, a double decker bus, front section of a Shorts Skyvan, Jet Provost (temporarily removed during spring 2000), cabin cruiser and barge which provide a habitiat for the underwater life.

Dates for 2008 (Training & Fun diving)

Saturday 5th January
Friday 29th February
Thursday 10th April
Saturday 10th May
Sunday 21st June
Saturday 5th July
Saturday 24th August
Saturday 8th November

Day trips to Vobster Quay

In2scuba will be making regular visits to Vobster Quay throughout the year.

it is situated in the heart of the Somerset countryside approximately 5 miles from the market town of Frome and 4 miles from Radstock.

For certified divers, there's no better place to hone your diving skills and have fun than at Vobster Quay. With 36-acres of fresh water diving in depths ranging from 6m to 36m, divers of all levels will find the mix of exciting underwater attractions hard to resist.

Submerged beneath the lake waters you'll find a fascinating array of attractions just waiting to be discovered! Divers can explore the wreck of an large commercial aircraft, a 42ft motorcrusier, the large metal wheelhouse of a former coaster plus a number of former quarry buildings including the massive crushing works - a towering structure the size of a 2-storey house - and even a spooky concrete-lined subterranean tunnel that's not for the faint hearted!

Dates for 2008 (Training & Fun diving)

Saturday & Sunday 2nd & 3rd August
Saturday 4th October
Saturday 29th November

Wreck diving Weekend at Swanage (Dorset) 26th - 28th September 2008

Dates: 26th, 27th, 28th September 2008

Requirements: Advanced Open Water or above.

Wrecks we will dive: Kyarra, Aeolian Sky, Betsy Anna and Fleur De Lys

Cost: £170 per person.

Includes:

Accommodation (B&B in privately rented house)
4 Hard Boat dives + Shore dives from Swanage Pier

What you need

Full kit including x2 cylinders
Transportation
Logbook & Certification
Camera (Take some unforgettable photos)

Optional Extras

Transportation per person (Limited Places)
Equipment hire
Cylinder hire
PADI training

Book early as very limited spaces only!

Please contact us for further details.

Diving Swanage Pier is a fantastic experience for both the novice diver and the more experienced, there is a diving platform to giant stride straight into the water.

Under the pier there is probably some of the best marine life along the whole of the coast, with spider crabs and lobsters in abundance.

There are several species of fish including pipefish and tompot blennies; this spectacular marine life living below the pier is a photographer’s paradise.

The Kyarra
The Kyarra is without doubt Dorset’s' most popular wreck. Lying at a depth of 30m with the top at 18m and only 3/4 mile off Anvil Point. This was a large vessel on its way to Sydney from Southampton and laden with cargo, when it was torpedoed by a German submarine. Much of the cargo is still being found including gold watches, perfume bottles, champagne, knives & forks and much more.

The Betsy Anna
The Betsy Anna was an 880 tonne steel steamer, built on the banks of the river Tyne in 1892. She struck Prawle Point in Devon in October 1926 but was re-floated and taken under tow towards Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, for major repairs. She sank, in her current position, after beginning to take on water and breaking her tow.

The Firth Fisher
This wreck is only 500m from the Kyarra and is upright, almost intact and always full of fish. Any group that takes the time to find this ship will not be disappointed and if you can’t find it the Kyarra is right next door. It's in 34m with a 3-4m hole under the stern and it stands about 3m.

Carantan
This wreck was a submarine hunter that sank in a storm, only a small ship and well broken up now but is still worth a dive. Laying in 28m of water and again only 500m from the Kyarra with the same slack times. Not a lot on this wreck but it’s owned by a local man. He lets you dive it but does not want divers to remove anything.

Aeolian Sky
The Aeolian Sky was a 14,385 ton Greek freighter. She collided with the Anna Knuepell, a 2,400 ton German coaster, about 20 miles north of Guernsey during an Atlantic gale on the 3rd November 1979

A French tug, the Abeille Langdoc was despatched to the scene and it was originally decided to tow her to Cherbourg, but as the Aeolian Sky had drifted a great distance since the collision, it was decided to tow her to the Solent instead, either to Southampton or Portsmouth. The Anna Knuepell was only slightly damaged!

The Port Authorities of Southampton and Portsmouth were concerned that she would sink in the shipping lanes and refused her entry into the Solent so they turned round and headed for Portland Harbour. Soon afterwards, the Aeolian Sky was in critical condition, having taken on water and her bows were underwater. With the weather still gale-force, the seas were pounding against her and into her holds and at 3:45am on the 4th November, she lost her fight for survival.

She sank in 30 metres of water and lies on her port side and is still virtually intact. The top of her hull was only 9 metres below the surface after her sinking, but salvage work has now increased this to 18 metres. She is still full of cargo, including thousands of Marmite jars which litter the seabed.

Fleur De Lys
The Fleur de Lys was built in Brittany in 1969. She was 16.4 metres long, constructed from oak, and weighed about 45 tons. She was bought over to British waters from France when she was purchased by Nick Brust in 1989. On Sunday 16th April 2000, four people were on board the Fleur de Lys on their way back to Brixham from a fishing trip around Alderney.

They had been having problems with the hot water system as steam was coming from the taps rather than water. At 15.12 there was an explosion as a result of pressure build up that ruptured the hot water storage cylinder. The damage to the hull from the explosion caused the boat to begin sinking 18 miles southwest of Portland Bill in Dorset.

The onboard liferaft failed to inflate and the crew found themselves rapidly submerged in water. A Mayday was sent out that was responded to by several vessels as well as a coastguard helicopter, which recovered all four crew 16 minutes later suffering only from cold and minor injuries. Unsuccessful attempts were made to raise the Fleur de Lys whilst she was being towed on passage to Poole, and so she was abandoned in Swanage Bay.

The Fleur de Lys is located just inside Swanage Bay as you head out towards Old Harry and has a surface marker buoy permanently attached to it, so will not need to be shotted. The small size of the wreck allows you to have a thorough explore and it is even possible to do some penetration, but be wary of the huge metal nails sticking out from the sides! A good idea for a dive plan is to begin with a circuit of the wreck to get an overall impression before going back to hunt for life or do some penetration.

If your dive time allows it, you can drift off in the current to explore the nearby seabed. The silty bottom of the bay means that the visibility is frequently limited to a few metres but you may still see a lot of life such as gobies, blennies and wrasse. If you take a torch down with you use it to look in the areas sheltered from the current by the wreck, and look under rocks for crabs.

Farne Islands Trip - 10th - 12th October 2008

If you've ever been lucky enough to visit the Farne Islands, you will already be aware that in the height of the breeding season, it is home to a deafening plethora of nesting seabirds such as terns, puffins, guillemots, shags, eider ducks and kittiwakes.

You may also have seen grey seals lounging on the rocks at low tide, but follow them as they dive underwater and a whole other world opens up to you. Diving in and around the Farne Islands is a real feast for the senses, numerous wrecks litter the seabed, and inquisitive grey seals come and say hello.

Whether you prefer a shallow dive or are prepared to delve that little bit deeper, there's something to suit everyone out at the Farnes. The Farnes consist of almost 30 small islands and rock outcrops lying between 2 and 4 miles of the Northumberland coast. They are split into two main groups separated by a stretch of water known as Staple Sound.

The islands are comprised primarily of a rock called whinstone, which is very prone to vertical weathering and faulting. This has produced a strange topography of steps and sheer faces above water that gives just a hint of the delights below. Most of the diving takes place at the outer Farnes.

Click here to read/view pictures from our November 2006 trip to The Farne Islands
(Links to Recent Events Section).

Date: October 10th, 11th, 12th 2008

Requirements: Advanced Open Water or above.

Cost: £185 per person (£100 deposit to secure your space)

Includes:

2 Nights B&B
4x Hard boat dives.

What you need

Full kit including x2 cylinders
Transportation
Logbook & Certification
Camera (Take some unforgettable photos)

Optional Extras

Transportation (Limited Places)
Equipment hire
Cylinder hire
PADI training

Book early as this is a very popular trip!

Dive Trip Details

We will all travel up to the Farnes getting there early and relaxed, once settled into our rooms at the B&B we will all get together for an evening meal and meet our skipper (Toby) and discuss the fantastic days diving ahead.

Next morning after breakfast we will go down to the harbour and load our equipment on the boat. Once at sea we will be doing 2 dives during the day with a surface interval at sea. Once back we can fill our cylinders at the local dive shop and look forward to another great days diving.

On Sunday we meet again at the harbour to enjoy another two exciting seal dives. At the end of a great days diving we can load our equipment up and have a meal before heading home that evening.

Northern Red Sea Liveaboard Trip - 22nd - 29th November 2008 £970 fully inclusive!* (Only 3 Spaces available, £250 deposit on booking)

50% off all PADI Training, including equipment hire for the duration of the trip!

In2scuba has scheduled a Red Sea trip on the fantastic Juliet Liveaboard. *The price is £970.00 fully inclusive. This includes all chef prepared meals, all dives, weights and air fills. Price excludes equipment, Nitrox fills and a £25 fuel charge.

All PADI training (excluding Open Water qualification) is available during your holiday or simply enjoy some of the best diving in the Red Sea as a qualifed pleasure diver.

This is a great chance to get away from it all and have a fantastic week of diving, relaxation, good food and friendly company - something for everyone!

Click here to read/view pictures from our November 2007 trip to The Red Sea
(Links to Recent Events Section).

There is no more relaxing way for the experienced diver to observe the classic Red Sea and her more remote locations than by liveaboard. Juliet has an excellent reputation for service and hospitality and she is a very well established Liveaboard operating in the Red Sea. Juliet was recommended By "Dive Magazine" (UK) as one of the Top 5 liveaboards in the Red Sea.

Juliet departs on a Saturday with embarkation from Sharm El Sheikh, and provides some of the most dramatic wall diving, coral gardens and wrecks to be found world-wide.

Between the Tiran Straits and Port Sudan are the most diverse concentrations of marine life and greatest profusion of soft corals in the entire Red Sea. Here more than one thousand species of fish, some five hundred species of coral and thousands of invertebrate reef dwellers weave a rich tapestry of colour in waters that offer outstanding visibility.

Juliet Liveaboard Facilities
• Linen is provided in cabins, but please bring towels.
• 3 meals a day, mineral water, tea & coffee included.
• 220v re-charging (bring fast re-chargeable, 6 hours max.).
• Medical kit and Emergency Oxygen onboard.
• Dive gear can be hired prior to embarkation on Northern Red Sea liveaboards ~ please visit our Equipment hire section for more details, or contact us for your specific requirements.

Juliet is fully equipped with Enriched Air (Nitrox) up to 40% for qualified divers to use.

Juliet also has 7 cabins all are air-conditioned with independent unit controls and have en-suite facilities (a private head & shower), Each cabin has a TV, Video and a telephone connected to an internal telephone system, 4 twin berth cabins where the lower bunk is a double bed, "Excellent for couples", 2 twin berth cabins with single bunks, 1 master cabin with it's own private entrance. It has a queen size bed with it's own suite facilities including full A\C, desk TV, Stereo, VCR . Mini-bar. The spacious fly bridge "42m2", which is divided into sun and shade areas, has a bar and is ideal for relaxing.

Her large aft deck is well laid out and has shower and equipment rinsing facilities with twin staircases leading to a large dive platform.

There is an internal telephone system in place to connect all areas of the boat. To make life even easier each cabin has a television and video installed that allows you to watch a video playing in the salon in the privacy and comfort of your own cabin. If you don't like what everyone else is watching then you can watch your own film instead!

Zodiac: 2 Tenders 5.50 with 55 HP Ourboard & 6.5 Meters with 85 HP Ourboard
Engine : 2 X Scania 330 hp.
Generator: 1 X 80 Kva Perkins 220v + 110v. 1 X 30 Kva Perkins 220v + 110v.
Compressor : 2 X Bauer ~ 34 X 12lt Cylinders. 15lt Cylinders on request
Navigation Equipment: GPS, VHF, Echo sounder & Fish finder.
Safety Equipment: DAN Oxygen kit - First Aid Kit - Life Rafts & Jackets

The tour cost includes, UK flights, Airport tax, transfers, 7 nights full board and 6 days unlimited diving (normally 4 dives a day), dive guide, weights and cylinders!

We can arrange "Holiday Insurance" if you do not have any, please add £40:00.

Our Red Sea holidays and flights are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation
Authority. In2scuba acts as a Booking Agent for Oonasdivers Ltd. (ATOL no.4032) your payment for the Tour will be made payable directly to Oonasdivers Ltd

Southern Red Sea land based diving trips at Marsa Shagra & Marsa Nakari Eco-Villages (available throughout 2008)

In2scuba are offering this fantastic trip to divers & non divers. Whether you want to learn to dive, continue your training or just want to enjoy some amazing pleasure diving, then this is the trip for you!

This trip is available all year round and can be organised as a “learn to dive holiday” which can be tailor made to suit you!

If you feel the UK is to cold for you to learn to dive, then this trip would make an ideal alternative. It will give you the opportunity to train in warm and comfortable conditions with In2scuba`s experienced English PADI Instructors.

Each tour has been carefully designed and located at two sites from which you can discover further reefs along this extensive coastline. Marsa Shagra, the main site, and Marsa Nakari, the satellite (20km north & 18km south of Marsa Alam respectively) benefit from fantastic house reefs with hard and soft corals of offshore quality, excellent for dive training, snorkelling and night diving. Marsa Nakari will be opened for a minimum of 12 divers making this an ideal location for Clubs and groups.

As well as diving the house reefs of Shagra and Nakari, the trucks leave twice daily to explore the sharms, marsas and reef walls along the coral coast. Enjoy over 150km of coral fringe reef, from 8m coral gardens to 60m drop offs, pitted caves, elaborate tunnels and a diversity of marine life to match.

The outstanding offshore reefs of Elphinstone, Abu Dabbab, Nakari, and Shaab el Gadeer are effortlessly accessed from our Villages by either hard boat or RIB. Elphinstone, a jewel of the south is directly opposite Shagra, with walls covered in soft coral plunging down into 400m of water. Here the strong currents and multitudes of fish attract up to seven species of shark. Shaab Samadi (Dolphin House), another gem lies just off Nakari, with beautiful soft and hard corals grafted into caves and caverns.

For the budding photographer the house reefs are in an ideal setting to perfect your underwater camera techniques.

There are 3 types of accommodation at both Shagra and Nakari:

Spacious twin bedded tents have electricity and modern toilet and shower facilities. A great choice for those who enjoy an expeditionary feel and briefly wish to leave the western world behind.

Traditional domed, vaulted desert architecture and thick stone walls keep the rooms cool. Each Mandarah has its own terrace, two beds, wardrobe and electricity with separate toilet and shower facilities.

Built in the same attractive Arabic style as the Mandarahs, they are more spacious with en-suite facilities. Enter by the hallway to the large and airy bedroom opening onto your own sun terrace. Enjoy the sea and desert mountain views.

Marsa Shagra is the main Village, as it is here where the dive centre, classrooms and equipment are stationed. Shagra also has 24-hour electricity and water desalination. Nakari, is the ideal location for dive clubs or groups as this camp can be opened for a minimum of 12 divers. The Safari team are extremely friendly and helpful. Always let us know if you have a birthday or anniversary coming up, as they love an excuse to organise something special.

Shagra and Nakari eco-villages are a unique concept, superbly located to provide the very best diving in this southern area. As a guest you are completely free to dive at leisure and relax in one of the most peaceful of environments on the planet.

Red Sea

Christmas and New Year celebrations at The Eco-Villages - Always a great time to spend at Marsa Shagra. Gala Christmas Dinner and New Year Party is 30 Euro's payable on site.

Linen is provided, but bring towels and toiletries.
3 meals a day including all soft drinks, mineral water, tea, coffee & afternoon cake.
Egyptian beer & delicious ice cream can be purchased on site.
Large meeting hut for meals.
220v re-charging (bring fast re-chargeables 6 hours max).
Medical kit and emergency oxygen.
Equipment hut, cylinder storage, drying lines plus 1 dip tank for rinsing regs, cameras & computers and 1 for regular rinsing.
Daily dive transfers by flatbed lorries.
The Hyperbaric Medical Centre/Recompression Chamber, located at our Shagra Eco-Village, is comprehensively equipped and manned around the clock.
Nitrox.

Marsa Shagra
31 Madyafa Guest Houses
25 Mandarah Lodges
40 Tents

Marsa Nakari
8 Madyafa Guest Houses
11 Mandarah Lodges
20 Tents

7 Night Tour

Diver: £630
Non- diver: £530
Single tent: No charge

Mandarah Lodge

Diver: £665
Non-diver: £565
Single: add £50

Madyafa Guest House

Diver: £695
Non-diver: £595
Single: add £80

5 year olds and below have free accommodation and transfers. Flights will be charged. Please call for a quotation.

6 - 11 years Accommodation and transfers 50% discount. Flights will be charged. Please call for a quotation.

All Christmas, Easter, Bank holiday & Half-term periods will carry a flight supplement.

Direct return flight from Gatwick to Marsa Alam each week on either a Friday from Oct - end of April or a Thursday from May - end of October.
Meet and assistance at Marsa Alam or Hurghada airport, plus transfers (½ hour or 3-4 hours respectively).
Full board: 3 meals per day plus soft drinks, mineral water, tea, coffee
The 7 nights diver tour has 5 days unlimited diving with 4 boat dives included.
Dive guide, cylinders & weights.
Excursion to Wadi Lahami

A day trip to Wadi Lahami RIB diving Fury Shoal costs 65 Euros for 2 dives or 75 Euros for 3 dives. A minimum of 4 divers are required. This excursion is booked & paid for on site.

The Red Sea Safari team have continually extended south and now operates from its three bases at Ecolodge Shagra Village, Ecolodge Nakari Village and Ecolodge Wadi Lahami Village. From here they cover approximately 142 kilometres of coastal fringe reef sites.

Guests are given unlimited access to the house reefs where the Villages are based. These house reefs are shallow, sheltered bays approximately 10m in depth, slowly dropping as they reach the outside walls which are 40-50m in depth. The house reefs and the coastal fringe-reef sites are rich in marine life and contain an excellent variety of hard corals. Some sites have elaborate shallow tunnel systems within the reef, which are almost never seen in the northern territory.

The night diving on Safari is strongly recommended and torch hire is available on site if required. On your first day you will receive an orientation dive of the house reef accompanied by our guides, but after that if you wish and your dive ability allows, you are free to dive the house reef at your leisure. It is wonderful to have the freedom to dive in buddied pairs at your own pace and at the times you want.

Do not worry if you are on your own - there are always other divers very keen to join you for a dive. In addition, they provide 2 shore dives each day away from the Village. Your equipment is loaded on the truck by the staff, and usually leaves the Village at about 8:00 am. The flat bed trucks are open and the guests sit in the front part on mattresses, whilst the dive gear and cylinders are loaded into the back.

These dives will be guided, and the guide will give you a briefing on arrival at the site. To help keep your equipment free of sand whilst kitting-up, a tarpaulin is spread on the ground. After the dive you can rinse your face in the fresh water provided, and you will either move back to the Village for lunch or have lunch on site before heading off along the coast at around 2:00 pm for the second dive. If you opt for a 12-day dive package instead of the 5-day, you will see more sites.

You will be based at Shagra or Nakari village and taken by truck each day to the best sites along the coastline. Included in the 5-day dive package are 4 boat dives, either by hard boat or Sea Ox to Elphinstone, Abu Dabbab, Samadai, Nakari and Dolphin House Reef [8 boat dives are included if you are on the 12-day package].

Boats trips normally take place early in the morning so that you will be back for lunch in time to join the afternoon truck dives along the coast. You may wish to arrange a 6-day or 13-day shore diving package only, which is available on request at time of booking. You may then arrange to do the boat dive options as an extra which is payable locally.

The equipment hut has 220v power points for battery recharging. At all Ecolodge Villages the electricity is 24 hours. There are fresh water wash tanks beside the equipment hut for rinsing regulators, cameras & computers etc, and also a drying rail for hanging equipment. Full cylinders (12lt aluminium) are used.

The guides will give a detailed briefing at the dive sites. If guests feel they require a more in-depth briefing they should tell the guides, who will be pleased to elaborate. The Red Sea Diving Safari does not allow decompression diving and the maximum depth allowed is 30m.

Nitrox tanks are available for hire to qualified Nitrox divers, for €6 per tank at Ecolodge Shagra Village, payable locally. The 2 day Nitrox Users qualifying course costing £100 (added to ‘diver’ tour cost) is also offered at Ecolodge Shagra Village and should be booked in the UK, prior to departure.

At Ecolodge Shagra Village we now have Egypt’s newest hyberbaric medical centre. Red Sea Diving Safari is a member of the D.E.C.O. INTERNATIONAL (Diving Emergency Centre Organisation) and can therefore offer guests an insurance for decompression treatment for the fee of 6 Euros, which is payable on site.

This insurance is valid for 21 days. It includes chamber treatment (including HBO sessions if needed), doctor’s fees, diagnosis, as well as equipment and medicines used in treatment. The program does not cover hospitalisation or any means of transport of the injured person. Guests are welcome to inspect the centre and can even experience a dry chamber dive which costs 35 Euro each for a minimum of 4.

The Southern Dive Villages have comprehensive medical kits and an ample supply of emergency oxygen. Take great care with minor cuts and scratches as the coral polyps can aggravate and cuts can easily turn septic. Ask the staff for antibiotic powder and make sure that the wound is dried between dives. Dehydration and illness can be avoided by drinking far more water than usual. Mineral water is free and readily available at the Villages. Mosquitoes are not a problem but a little insect repellent at dusk will stop the odd sand fly bite.

On arrival at the airport, our transfer representative (who will be holding up a Red Sea Diving Safari sign as on the front of this fact sheet), will meet you outside the terminal building. The cost for an Egyptian visa for British Subjects is £15 and a rep (inside the terminal) will have the visa stamps with him and will organise immigration formalities for you. You pay the representative at the airport for the visa charge of £15 per passport. You will then need to make your way outside after collecting your luggage to meet the Red Sea Diving Safari rep.

From Marsa Alam Airport the journey takes approximately 30 minutes (3 and ½ hours from Hurghada), although sometimes longer if there are roadwork delays. We recommend that you take some snacks and water with you for the journey. Although we can also transfer you from Luxor airport, we do not recommend it. Since 1998 all vehicles with tourists leaving Luxor must go in a convoy to Hurghada first before travelling south to the Villages and vice versa, this extends your transfer time by at least an additional 5 hours and possibly more if there are convoy delays.

Inside each tent there are 2 beds a metre apart and you are supplied with 2 sheets, blankets (not necessary in summer) and a pillow per person. If you book as an individual you will have a tent to yourself. The Safari team are very accommodating and should you need an extra mattress (for most people one is fine) or additional bedding, just ask.

You are supplied with candles and matches in addition to an electric light bulb. We would stress that you ensure that your candles are extinguished before leaving your tent unattended. Taking a 'head torch', may prove useful. When you arrive at the Village the staff will explain how you can use the tent flaps to stop sand entering the tent.

There are several attractive shower/toilet blocks nearby and toilet paper is supplied and used paper is put in a bin beside the loo. The loos are regularly checked, however, if one is full or a bin needs emptying please tell a member of staff and it will be rectified immediately.

The Mandarah is an ancient Egyptian term, which describes a guest room for the very close friends or relatives in an Egyptian house. The huts have a tiled floor and 2 beds with sheets, blankets and a pillow each. There is a bedside table and a clothes cupboard. The Mandarahs are 3.5m x 3.5m with domed roofs and terraces with a sea and bay view.

Guests staying in Mandarahs have the use of a communal shower and toilet block which are also in attractive stone buildings with vaulted roofs. These toilets empty to a septic tank and so flush, although to avoid blockages all used paper should be placed in the bin beside the toilet.

These are attractive and spacious Madyafa Guest Houses. The term Madyafa comes from the ancient Egyptian era. It is a bigger room in the Egyptian house which has its own facilities such as two beds, wardrobe, and side table, dressing table with mirror, shower, toilet and terrace. The Madyafa is 40m2 divided into 2 x 24m2 rooms inside with domed roofs. In addition there are 2 terraces, front and rear, each measure 8m2, which have bamboo chairs. The terraces have a mountain view and a sea view.

This shade is very spacious and has tables and chairs, mattresses for relaxing on and for pulling out to sunbathe. A Coleman is kept stocked with cold mineral water. There are some games & fish reference books available but we also suggest that you bring along your own in case the selection is low when you get there. The meeting shade is supplied with electricity at night. At Shagra Village there are 2 meeting shades.

There is another relaxing area near by. Don’t forget to wander down to visit Karen and enjoy her hospitality with shishka , or herbal tea.

You will be supplied 3 meals a day in a buffet style layout, plus freshly baked cakes in the late afternoon. Please tell us in advance if you are vegetarian or have special dietary requirements. If you are night diving, please inform the staff if you would like to have dinner before or after diving. Soft drinks are included free and Egyptian Stella beer is available at approximately €3 and you help yourself to beer and mark off a slate which is settled at the end of the week. A selection of ice cream and crisps are also available at Shagra Village and can be purchased on site.

The compressor filling area is kept away from the Villages so guests are not disturbed by the noise. Similarly, the generators are away from the Villages and sleeping areas.

We recommend that you take any cash, Sterling, Dollars or Euros and some local currency (for tipping) with you as there are no cash machines available. The Red Sea Diving Safari does not have the facilities to accept cheques and credit cards are subject to a 10% local sales tax in addition to a Credit card surcharge of 5%. You account is settled at the end of your tour. The only likely on-site purchases are boat diving excursions, the €6 DECO Chamber Insurance, Nitrox tank hire (if required), beer, ice cream, T-shirts & Sweat Shirts so you should not need to take too much money. You may leave your valuables with the manager, who will lock them away. Karen’s camel treks are also proving very popular. A ½ day trip into the interior by camel is approximately £20.

The Eastern desert is supposed to flood every 10 years, however, in ten years of operating, the Safari has experienced 2 floods. The last one was in November 1996 and the Safari was well prepared, so none of the tents or equipment was lost. In a flood situation the Safari will make every effort to maintain village life but the guests have to be prepared to compromise. Dive sites may become unsuitable and tents may be damp. The positive side is that they will be one of the few people from the western world to witness the wadies flooding and the spectacular phenomena as they burst into bloom!

The RED SEA DIVING SAFARI has a satellite phone and fax at Ecolodge Shagra Village. Satellite calls cost approximately 5 Euros per minute. If the guests would like to be contacted, this is possible under the following numbers Tel. +20122449073 or 5 Fax +20195100262. Mobile phones are able to get a signal at Ecolodge Shagra and Nakari Village. For urgent: +20122461656 the mobile of general manager of Red Sea Diving Safari, Hesham Mostafa Kamel.

Guests should bring a beach and shower towel, their own toiletries and some re-hydration sachets are advisable.

For further details or to book on any of our holidays, trips or courses please call us on: 01580 891711 or email us at: trips@In2scuba.co.uk