While specialist dive operators continue to introduce exotic, far-flung and off-the-beaten track destinations to their programmes, there is a handful at the top of the list that consistently prove to be best-sellers.
These include the Red Sea, the Maldives, the Cayman Islands, Thailand and Australia. Each caters for different budgets and a range of divers from beginners to experienced. Travel Weekly asked the experts – Regal, Hayes and Jarvis, Kuoni, Harlequin and Goldenjoy – for their advice on the best options.
Thailand
Best time to go: Goldenjoy and Hayes and Jarvis warn clients not to go in September when rainfall is high.
Client profile: Kuoni claims that Phuket is particularly good for shore diving, while liveaboards are ideal for the more experienced who can head for the Burma Banks for some serious shark diving. Hayes and Jarvis singles out the island of Phi Phi, near Phuket, as good for holiday divers, while the more experienced enjoy liveaboards which visit the Similan and Surin Islands north of Phuket.
What it costs: Hayes and Jarvis offers a lead-in price of £756 for one week room-only at the Patong Beach Hotel including four days diving; Kuoni features package prices from £479 with an extra £219 per person for a six-day dive package – £698 in total.
New product: Kuoni has a new boat The Junk; while Goldenjoy has added a liveaboard – Aqua One with prices from £1,672 for seven nights all-inclusive of flights, food and diving. The trip can offer up to 19 dives so come prepared.
Who to book with:Goldenjoy, Hayes and Jarvis and Kuoni.
Australia
Best time to go: British winter, which is Australia’s summer. Kuoni particularly recommends October when the coral is blooming.
Client profile: beginners can stay in Cairns while experienced divers should book a well-known liveaboard which explores the Great Barrier Reef. Operators also suggest Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef.
New product: Australia is new for Harlequin which is featuring diving around the Barrier Reef, either as a resort-based add-on in Cairns or on one of the popular Mike Ball liveaboards.
Booking: Kuoni and Harlequin will feature it in their new 2000 brochures out this month.
What it costs: most diving products are priced as add-ons as many Australia holidays are tailor-made for specific requirements.
Tips: Kuoni suggests combining the diving in Australia with the Solomons, Canuatu or Fiji in the South Pacific. Harlequin, which has introduced both Australia and Fiji in its new brochure which is due out this month also recommends the combination of the two destinations.
Red Sea
Best time to go: available year round.
Client profile: agents can sell packages to the Red Sea to both learners and experienced divers, according to operators. For beginners, the highly accessible resorts of Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada remain the favourites, while remoter resorts further south plus liveaboards are ideal for the more experienced.
New product: the Egyptian resort Marsa Alam, 4hrs south of Hurghada, is clearly the up-and-coming destination for 2000. Hayes and Jarvis reports exceptional growth since it introduced it last July, while Regal has also added it featuring the Kahramana Resort property for this year. Regal has also added the Shams Alam Beach Resort, 50km further south. Regal’s prices are from £419 for one week’s bed and breakfast and £479 half-board respectively. Commenting on the new southern Egyptian resorts, Regal managing director Andy Telford said: “The diving further south is not necessarily better, just different and good for experienced divers who don’t mind the lack of shore diving and having to jump in a boat to reach the main sites. It needs to be sold properly to qualified divers.” Kuoni has also added Marsa Alam, in addition to a new liveaboard called Wildcat.
Booking: most specialists, including Hayes and Jarvis, Goldenjoy, Kuoni and Regal. Harlequin hopes to introduce it during 2000.
What it costs: the Red Sea offers good value for money. For example, Regal is offering one-week packages including flights and accommodation from £249 per person. Learn-to-dive PADI courses cost from £160, which is a £10 increase on last year; while a five-day dive package (allowing divers 10 tanks or two dives a day) costs around £125 per person.
Tips: Hayes and Jarvis recommends visiting during the UK’s winter period when there are some excellent bargains to be found across many ranges. The resorts and dive centres are also not running at full occupancy at this time, so the standard of service is excellent and the dive sites are not crowded. Kuoni also points out that many hotels in Egypt do not charge a single supplement in low season.
The Caymans
Best time to go: Hayes and Jarvis recommends going during the UK winter for those in search of good weather, although the off-peak months of May-July offer great diving away from the crowds.
Client profile: great for beginners, families and non-diving partners, as most dive sites can be reached by day boats. However, there is a range of good liveaboards and plenty of wall diving for the serious diver, according to Hayes and Jarvis.
What it costs: Kuoni offers prices from £755 per person including flights and based on room-only accommodation, with a learn-to-dive package costing £248.
Tips: Kuoni recommends the islands for beginners plus discerning clients as service is top notch and there is a range of upmarket accommodation. It also recommends tailor-making a two-centre with Grand Cayman and one of its sister islands such as Little Cayman.
New product: Kuoni is reintroducing the Caymans to its brochure out this month.
Booking: specialists such as Regal, Hayes and Jarvis, Kuoni and Harlequin.
The Maldives
Best time to go: Regal recommends October-April, although off-season from May to September is the time to see manta rays. Kuoni warns divers to avoid June, while Hayes and Jarvis advises divers to avoid May and November as the southeast and northwest monsoon seasons may cause rough seas, although prices are competitive at these times.
Client profile: once again the destination is ideal for beginners who can choose islands offering calm lagoons and plenty of shore dives, while the more advanced can book liveaboards or try challenging drift dives where the current carries divers along. It is ideal for divers who want to see mantas, whalesharks, sharks and other large marine species.
New product: Regal has introduced a third liveaboard called Discovery and hopes to add new islands; Hayes and Jarvis also has plans to expand the programme dramatically.
Booking: Regal, Kuoni, Hayes and Jarvis, Goldenjoy and Harlequin.
What it costs: more expensive than the Red Sea but still affordable thanks to charters. Prices with Regal start from £999 for one week on a liveaboard including all food and dives. Hayes and Jarvis offers resort-based prices from £756 for seven nights’ half-board at Meerufenfushi Island Resort including 10 dives.
Tips: all the operators advise that there is little to do on the islands so guests must be prepared to keep themselves occupied and not expect a wide choice of restaurants and nightlife.