Speciality Programs
For you divers who thirst for more adventure when it come your dive holiday, check out our new Specialty Programs Section.
Whether you are seeking the thrill of a face to face encounter with something a little bit bigger than a reef shark, spear for your next meal or like to explore the parts of the ocean not every diver is able (read qualified) to see, we just might have what you are looking for.
We also have a section specifically for Underwater Photogrpahy, where you will find destination which have specific photographic facilities for the diving photographer.
Shark Trail
DO YOU DARE TO DIVE INTO THE WATER?
Melbourne Aquarium
Diving with the sharks and other marine life in the main display of tank of The Melbourne Aquarium. They are now in their fifth year of this exciting Venture and have taken over 9000 people safely diving with the sharks.
South Australia - Rodney Fox
The Premier 75ft dive vessel, “Princess II” departs from Port Lincoln South Australia and travels to the famous Neptune Islands, the very best place in the world to see the Great White Sharks .
Western Australia - Exmouth
Ningaloo, its largest diving site, is practically swarming with a highly active marine life. Exmouth, Australia, which is a small town of about 3,500 people situated just north of the Tropic of Capricorn.
South Africa - Capetown
Getting into the cage with the sharks around, is truly the most breath-taking experience you will ever live to remember. . They are very curious though and often come close-up to the cage, taking a closer look at the diver. A personal, eye-to-eye encounter with this awesome animal, is guaranteed to get the adrenaline going!
Tahiti - Rangiroa
Tahiti and Her Islands, also known as French Polynesia, is a paradise In the middle of the South Pacific. Created by volcanoes, these 118 islands offer spectacular scenery, each different from the other. Some are low lying coral islands, whilst others tower with rugged mountainous interiors flowing with cool waterfalls. All however are fringed by beautiful aqua blue coral reefs offering unbelievable diving and snorkeling
Fiji - Beqa Lagoon
Not far away, in the blue seas of the South Pacific, are the extraordinary islands of Fiji. A scenic country inhabited by a people who invented the true meaning of hospitality . Fiji is ideal for divers as it not only offers great reefs but also those additional activities between dives that are often unavailable in other South Pacific regions.
Thailand - Similian Islands Shark Diver& Whale Shark Diver Speciality Courses
The PADI Whale Shark and Shark Awareness Diver Speciality is to introduce divers and snorkellers to the world's largest fish and familiarise divers with the proper techniques for recreational diving whilst encountering whale sharks with minimal impact on the sharks' habitat and behaviour.
Sabah – Layang Layang
On this sliver of land lies a modest but complete resort - the three-star Layang Layang Island Resort. It consists of 76 superior rooms as well as 10 deluxe rooms. Made of tropical hardwood, it shares the look of a Longhouse, the traditional community homes of Borneo’s tribal people
For more information, email us
Spearfishing
Find your next spearfishing destination here!! This new division within our company is already very popular. Keep an eye on this section for there will be a lot more destinations here soon!!
Don't want to go alone?
Want to share you spearing and travel experience with others?
Want to meet other spearos?
CHECK OUT THESE GROUP DEPARTURES:
| 2011 | ||||
CONSULTANT | DATE | DESTINATION | COST (per person) | DEPART |
| July | ||||
| Ian Lockwood | 02-Jul-11 | Liveaboard, PNG | $3883.00 AUD | Sydney |
| August | ||||
| Ian Lockwood | 20-Aug-11 | Liveaboard, PNG | $3900.00 AUD | Brisbane / Cairns |
| October | ||||
| Ian Lockwood | 01-Oct-11 | Liveaboard, PNG | $3800.00 AUD | Sydney |
Liveaboard - PNG Explorer
History
PNG Surfaris began in 2006 aboard the MV Exocoetus or ‘Exo’. The past three years have seen Exo with Andrew at the helm, carry 260 guests safely around the islands of New Ireland. Prior to the tourism charters the duo were well known from trading around the islands. It was during this time that Andrew began to surf the waves. With every surf the locals amazed as Andrew rode the “si brukim” (breaking sea) standing on foam and fiberglass. This was obvious by the crowds that gathered to watch, and metered by their reaction as he disappeared into the wave and charged out the other end. That was their first ‘barrel’ on this island and Andrews’ right to name the break.
Three years of surf charter operations have enabled PNG Surfaris to document the consistency of the waves, and discover many more. They were the first to do this in many of the islands, and are keen to share this place with other surfers; whilst up-keeping the relative secrecy of what is one of the world’s last untapped surfing resources.
Present
With the new vessel the PNG Explorer on the scene, PNG Surfaris is committed to tourism in PNG for the long-term. Every day gives Andrew & Jude another reason why they love living in New Ireland. It’s the culmination of the people, the beautiful landscape, its wildlife, the climate, and of course the amazing surfing, diving & spearfishing which makes PNG so special for them. The PNG Explorer will enable PNG Surfaris to operate all year round in surfing, diving, spearfishing and general charter.
With the aim to establish the Explorer as the best surf, dive & spearfish live-aboard in the PNG. This will be attained through PNG Surfaris’ commitment to providing a great service and a safe operation for tourists, crew & locals, all the while sharing the wonders of PNG as a holiday destination. As a business PNG Surfaris endeavors to promote a sustainable form of tourism which is low impact on the environment and beneficial to the local communities.
Watch this YouTube clip; made by Brett Vercoe, who went here on an educational with Allways Dive Expeditions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1jX97g4H8M
Technical Diving
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Technical Diving adds another ‘string to the bow’ of the discerning diver, and opens the door to a huge array of possibilities to experience in the underwater world. Whether its about spending more time at shallower depths, or going deep to join an exclusive club of people to witness what is considered ‘the unknown’, technical diving is a great way to broaden your diving horizons. As a means of progressing with the dive travel market, we have put together a range of packages for a Tech Diving Trip to some of our most popular destinations. We are forever looking to provide more unique Tech Diving opportunities at some truly remarkable, and very much less travelled destinations also, so watch this space! |
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Aquamarine are our trusted Technical Diving operators in Santo, home of the world famous wreck of SS President Coolidge. Aquamarine offer a range of Technical diving services including twin tank hire with stainless steel bands for manifolds or independents, Nitrox stage tank hire, Oxygen fills, Helium fills and Sorb for rebreathers.
Aquamarine also offer a range of technical Diving courses, including TDI Advanced Nitrox/ TDI Decompression Procedures through to Instructor level Technical Diving courses.
The Coolidge is a paradise for Technical wreck divers, with clear tropical water temperatures between 26C - 30C and a depth range of 20 meters to 70 meters. Whether you are a fully trained and accomplished Technical Diver, or would like to take some of the many courses Aquamarine offer, Santo and the Coolidge is a great Technical diving destination.
Tulagi Dive is the Honiara’s most renowned and respected Technical Diving operator. With access to a number of amazing wrecks and reefs, it is a fantastic destination for both the standard recreational diver, and the Tech Diver.
Tulagi Dive has a well equipped dive shop for the Tech Diver, with pony bottles, manifold sets, twin bands, CCR scrubber media, Nitrox and Trimix (with 3 months notice) all available for you during your trip.
Some of the wrecks that await you on a Technical Diving trip are as follows:
USS Aaron Ward
You want guns, we’ve got guns. 4 x 5” Mounts, 2 x 40mm Bofors, 7 x 20mm cannons and 5 torpedoes. Sitting upright in 70m of water, the top of the bridge sits at 49m and is 348m long. The ‘Ward’ is one of the worlds premier wreck sites, visibility on average is 20-30m.
Azumasan Maru
Japanese transport, sits upright in 39-50m at bow and 80m plus at the stern, lots of colour and soft corals and good photo opportunities (check the bow looking back to the wreck from the sand). Motorbikes and sidecars in second hold.
Sussaka Maru
Japanese transport lying on its port side, the side is in 58m of water and the bottom in 85m. An excellent dive, rarely dived due its depth, for the very experienced diver.
Tama Maru
Japanese Mine sweeper, lies in 68-75m water, visibility is normally awesome at this site, 40-50m average. There are many artefacts on this wreck, lanterns in the rear hold and hemi-spherical mines mid-ships, if you tire of this then the fish life will enthral. This is a site for the very advanced diver, but the size of the site does allow it to be covered in the dive
BIKINI ATOLL, MARSHALL ISLANDS - CURRENTLY CLOSED
(HOPEFULLY WILL RE-OPEN IN FUTUR)
Bikini Atoll sits atop many a divers Wish List, and with good reason! Bikini Atoll Divers are one of the most professionally run and safety oriented dive operators in the world. Not only this, but they have an abundance of WW2 wrecks – perfect for the passionate Tech Diver.
Bikini is home to fully trained and certified divemasters who will assist you with your Tech Diving trip. The Dive Shop has a state of the art filling station, which provides Nitrox capabilities. Unfortunately, Bikini does not provide Helium for Trimix mixes. Bikini does not have any facilities for rebreathers, but are more than happy for you to take your own, as well as the necessary equipment and repair tools.
Bikini Atoll has a number of stunning World War II wrecks to dive, some of which are listed below:
USS Saratoga
A totally amazing wreck. The Saratoga, along with several other ships, sank following the Baker A-bomb test shortly after WWII. It is possible to carry out penetrations through the aircraft hanger deck area where planes are still situated, bombed up and ready to go. The bridge area is another great penetration and amongst other things it is possible to see the signaller's bugle which still hangs on a hook in the signaller's flat behind the bridge proper. Several aircraft lie on the seabed around the carrier and are accessible though deep at 50+ metres.
USS Anderson
The USS Anderson lies on her side and is largely intact, is shot lined about midships and you are guided initially towards the stern to see the heavily populated depth charge racks and the propellers. Armed with 5" guns, and several torpedo tubes, these are still easily visible today. The USS Anderson lies in 46 – 52 metres.
HIJMS Nagato
HIJMS Nagato was Admiral Yamato's flagship, and was sunk in 1946 to humiliate the Japanese. The wreck lies almost completely upside down in 40 – 52 metres, her huge guns and shattered top hamper still holding her clear of the seabed. A dark, eerie swim beneath the ship's decks past the guns reveals the weather covers still in place in the enormous barrel ends.
South China Sea is the current hotspot for Tech Divers, with Liveaboards the main type of trip on offer. Many of the dive sites are in the various shipping channels in South China Sea. DJL Diving are the operator of choice, running 5 day trips to the South China Sea from Singapore. Some amazing technical dives are on offer, and with the Sunday to Friday itinerary DJL runs, minimum disruption to your working schedule is achieved.
Onboard helium, oxygen, chase boat and crane and diver lift are just some highlights of the functional vessel, while the dive staff and boat crew are friendly, professional and safety conscious. Rebreathers are also welcome onboard.
There are a number of wrecks in the South China Sea, ranging from World War II wrecks, to freighters and supertanks. A description of some of the dives is below:
HMS Repulse
The HMS Repulse is an enormous 242 metre long British battlecruiser, which was sunk in 1941Attacked by Japanese bombers, she sank as a result of torpedo damage and now lies in 50 metres of water.
HMS Prince of Wales
Lying inverted on the seabed at 70 metres, the HMS Prince of Wales is an enormous British King George V Battleship, Paired with the HMS Repulse, she was the flagship in a effort known as Force Z, intended to deter the Japanese. The Prince of Wales was sunk in the same torpedo attack as the Repulse.
KXVIII Dutch Submarine
The KXVIII Dutch Navy submarine was 74 metres in length, with 1045 tonnes displacement when submerged. She had a maximum diving depth of 80 metres and was capable of 17 knots on the surface. After striking a mine in 1941, she sank and now lies upright in 40 – 50 metres of water, her coning tower still standing proud.
MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS, NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand’s picturesque Malborough Sounds is home to an array of fantastic dive sites. Go Dive Marlborough are our operator, and they run liveaboard excursions out of the quaint South Island town, Picton.
Go Dive have a range of services available to both the novice beginner, and the experienced Tech Diver. As well as a vast array of courses, Go Dive offer both Nitrox and Trimix gas mixes for you Tech Diving Expedition. They have two charters available, catering for up to 14 divers.
Mikhael Lermontov
The signature dive of the Marlborough Sounds is the Mikhael Lermontov, a Russian Passenger Cruise Ship, which sank when it hit a rock between Cape Jackson and Jacskon head in 1986. The Lermontov now lies on her Starboard side and is fully intact. Diving on the Lermontov is a fantastic experience, with the propellers, damage, funnel, bridge and pool area all easily assessable. The wreck has now become an artificial reef and is encrusted with invertebrate life and home to schools of local fish. Visibility on the outside of the wreck can get down to 5 metres, inside the wreck it averages around 12 metres.
The Hippolas
The Hippolas sunk in 1910 after hitting Walkers Rock at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound. After being abandoned it sunk while being towed into Picton opposite Blumine Island in 67 metres of water. The Hippolas was a fully rigged thee masted wooden sailing ship. The wreck has only recently been discovered and is seldom dived. Visibility on the bottom is murky and can be as low as one metre. Dive Marlborough knows the wrecks location and supplies Trimix dives to the wreck.
Coron has fast became known for its excellent Wreck Diving opportunities. The wrecks of Coron Bay offer great diving experiences for beginners, advanced Divers and Technical Divers alike. Since 1989, Discovery Divers have pioneered diving in Coron/Busuanga as the first professional Dive Center in Town. From their humble beginnings, Discovery Divers have exerted all of their efforts to constantly improve the services for all of their guests.
Coron is the perfect play ground for diving on Nitrox. Blending from 22% to 80%, Discovery Divers also offer a range of Tech Diving courses on offer. Some of the wrecks on offer are outlined below.
Irako
This Japanese refrigeration ship, with a length of about 200 meters, lies in Coron Bay at a maximum depth of 40m. Quite intact, this big wreck is home to big groupers, shoals of tuna and yellow fins, Lion fish & scorpion fish.
Taiei Maru
Formerly the Olympia Maru, this Japanese freighter lies on its starboard side in about 25m of water in Coron Bay. A beautiful wreck dive site where you can observe big Groupers and Sweet lips, while turtles and even sea snakes are often spotted also. Hard corals cover the port side which is only 14-18 meters below the surface. The big cargo rooms and the engine room allow an easy penetration of this wreck.
The Akitsushima
The Akitsushima is a Japanese Seaplane Tender resting near Manglet Island between Culion & Busuanga Island. She lies on her starboard side after being hit amidships, sinking immediately. An impressive piece of the wreck is the crane which was responsible for lifting the seaplanes in the water. This big metal construction is lying on a sandy bottom and attracts shoals of giant bat fish and barracudas, as well as giant groupers, tunas and yellow fins. Maximum depth is between 36 – 38m.
Underwater Photography
The unique experience of delving into the underwater world is one that is difficult to put into words. Showing it in photos, however, captures some of the amazing life we are privileged enough to witness every time we blow bubbles. There are a variety of tropical destinations around the globe that offer specific photographic facilities for the diving photographer. Allways Dive Expeditions has created many packages that are designed to provide everything underwater photographers could ask for. Whether you are just starting out, or if you are lucky enough to be experienced in this art, there is a trip that is perfect for you. Take this amazing opportunity to capture some of the incredible diving moments in these amazing locations.
NOVICE | ADVANCED | LIVEABOARD
Diving Beqa Lagoon
Surrounded by over 190 miles of spectacular coral, Beqa Lagoon is one of the worlds largest barrier reefs. Diving these calm protected waters is like exploring another world. The water is clear and warm, visibility is typically over 30 metres, currents are mild, and the water temperature stays a fairly constant 26.5 C. Many of the most spectacular dive sights are only a few minutes from shore, and if you stayed long enough, you could explore over 100 different sights! The Dive Masters at Beqa Lagoon have been diving in these waters since they were children and are some of the most caring people you ever meet. Beqa Lagoon Resort’s divers know every reef and coral head, and if you stay close they will show you some of the most intriguing creatures ever. Blue Ribbon Eels, Clown Triggers, Lion Fish, Leaf Scorpions, Reef Sharks and millions of colorful Anthias and Fusiliers all abound in these waters. download brochure
Diving Port Vila
Nautilus Scuba offers a wide range of idyllic reef and wreck dive sites only a few minutes from the base. Catering for all levels of divers, visibility generally exceeds 30 metres. Dive trips are scheduled every day offering a wide choice of dive sites for all certified divers. Nautilus offers free pickups from all major resorts in Port Vila. Nautilus Scuba operates two dive boats to provide uncrowded easy access to the dive sites. “Wild Blue” is a 9 metre Reefmaster with a top speed of 28 knots to quickly get to the further off dive sites and “Cowrie” is an extremely stable 14 metre catamaran with heaps of room and a large top deck to relax on between dives.
Diving Uepi & Marovo Lagoon
Uepi offers the unique opportunity to dive first-class sites that are only minutes away from the dive shop; conveniently located either off the edge of the island or just a short boat trip away. Diving is based on multi-level planning, beginning at 30 metres or less and ascending slowly throughout the dive. Rarely will you view such diverse concentrations of marine-life in such a varied environment, ranging from coral gardens to vertical drop-offs into 2000 metres of ocean (The Slot), mostly within the confines of a three kilometre stretch of reef. Because of the location of Uepi Island, waters may be very clear with visibility in excess of 30m on average. Tidal current interchanging to & from the Marovo Lagoon and The Slot makes the deep water passage immediately adjacent to the resort a prime habitat for a colourful population of filter feeders such as corals & sponges as well as for reef-fish, sedentary animals and pelagics. Uepi offer SSI Underwater Photography courses (additional cost), free advice and assistance, fresh water camera washes, personalised dive itineraries and downloading facilities for all photographers.
Diving Palau
Palau is world renowned for marine bio-diversity and an abundance of large pelagic animals that includes numerous schools of sharks and manta rays. Our warm clear tropical waters are legendary amongst divers for dramatic coral encrusted walls rising from the depths to within inches of the surface. Home to over 1,300 species of fish and more than 700 species of coral, Palau also offers exciting wreck diving with one of the Pacific’s largest collection of intact WWII shipwrecks and plane wrecks. Sam’s Tours Digital Photography Center is fully equipped to cater to digital photographers of all interest levels from those with handy “point-and-shoot” cameras to the most demanding digital photographers shooting in RAW format. The six top of the line Apple iMac workstations are loaded with terabytes and terabytes of storage, archiving and secure data back up systems, lots of RAM, and completely optimized for digital imaging with Apple Aperture image management software, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Bridge, Toast, and topped off with DSL Wi-Fi internet access. No other photo centre in Palau comes near!
Diving Walindi & Kimbe Bay
Walindi, located on the North Coast of New Britain Province is world renowned. The resort’s guest book reads like a guide to Who’s Who in the world of Sport Diving and Underwater Photography. Voted as the best diving resort anywhere in the world by reader surveys, the staff and hospitality at Walindi will ensure your stay is memorable. Walindi’s burgeoning reputation as one of the world’s prime photo spots has inspired the development of Walindi Photo, a full service photo centre offering daily E-6 processing, camera rentals, a well stocked retail shop and all levels of photo instruction.
Diving Wakatobi
Wakatobi is blessed with a house reef (considered the most lush and healthy to be found today) where you can begin your dive only 20m (60 feet) from the dive center, it is often described as a live aboard with a built-in beach! In addition to the spectacular house reef, there are several dozens of easily accessible dive sites offering incredible marine life diversity, color and natural splendor. Wakatobi also provides excellent facilities for working on your camera. The camera room is climate controlled and has large work tables and storage shelving for all your camera gear. The workbenches have cushion pads to protect your equipment. Voltage-regulated power to charge all your batteries is provided.
Diving Lembeh Resort
North Sulawesi offers unparalleled marine biodiversity. For divers interested in searching out encounters with bizarre and beautiful critters, Lembeh Strait hosts the best muck diving on the planet. And besides the sand, divers can take the plunge on pinnacles, walls and slopes of extravagant hard and soft coral gardens as well as a number of wrecks. Diversity is the operative word here. Lembeh Resort boasts a spacious camera room with facilities to assist photographers in their quest for the perfect shot. Lembeh Resort also regularly plays host to dive specialists, such as renowned underwater naturalist, Dave Behrens. Dave will be at the resort between 13-17 June 2008. This is a great opportunity to make the most of your underwater experience.
Diving Kunkungan Bay, Manado
Kunkungan Bay is simply the best place in the world for macro photography! Manado plays host to a range of weird and wonderful creatures which are found here and here alone. Moor over shallow black sandy slopes, where seahorses and nudibranchs are in abundance. Then there are the Inimicus devilfish, dwarf lionfish, scorpionfish, pufferfish, octopus, pegasus sea moths, frogfish, ribbon eels and flying gunnards. Don’t forget the great coral sites which are loaded with colorful soft & hard corals and loads of reef life, the diving is truly a one-off opportunity for all photographers and anyone looking for the unusual and unseen, you’re sure to see something that you have never seen before, no matter how experienced a diver you are. With outstanding photography facilities, this is a first class destination to learn the art of underwater photography. Visit Kunkungan between 13 June and 02 July for the opportunity to be part of photography seminars run by Andrea and Antonella Ferrari, first prize winners at Festival for The Underwater Image at Antibes for their outstanding publication, “Oceani Segreti”.
Liveaboard Diving in Solomon Islands
The walls, reefs and pinnacles and coral gardens of the Solomon Islands support an incredible abundance of marine life. The amazing array of fish include Anenome Fish, Angel Fish, Butterfly Fish and a whole vareity of Reef Dwellers. The visibility in the Solomon Islands averages 25 metres plus, making it an exceptional destination to capture some amazing shots. Jack and Sue Drafhal, known as the “Digital Duo”, will be aboard the Bilikiki from 24 July to August 08. Jack and Sue will be able to guide any passengers aboard with their photographic expertise, and assist with issues such as troble shooting problems with equipment.
Liveaboard Diving, Agressor Palau
Palau’s mushroom-shaped rock islands offer a variety of exciting dives: WWII wrecks, shark-infested channels, blue holes, a freshwater lake with stingless jellyfish and even a few caves. There are also sheer walls covered in lush soft corals and huge anemones. The “hands-on” teaching style of Jim Church continues with his close friends and associates Mike Mesgleski & Mike Haber. Like Jim, “Mike & Mike” are focused on their student’s photography the entire week. Topside, in between dives, they conduct daily group presentations in the salon and then work with you one-on-one with your camera equipment. Underwater, they will help you set up shots, check composition, find subjects and even pose for you. From digital point & shoot cameras to housed digital SLR systems, Mike & Mike will help you get the shot. After a week of their instruction and help, you re sure to take home some great underwater photos and have a fun time doing it!