ACT 9 12/5/09 17:28 Page 48
knowledge activities
ttglive.com
Red Sea
“Our holidays are full-board and involve
being out at sea all week. It’s pretty hard to
spend any money,” she says.
New destinations
Longwood launched diving in Marsa Alam
and Soma Bay in southern Egypt at the end
of last year, which are proving popular with
qualified divers looking for somewhere new.
“Marsa Alam offers uncrowded diving and
some excellent unspoilt reefs, plus rare
chances to see creatures such as dugongs,”
says product manager Dan Lion.
Longwood launched Marsa Alam with five
hotels in the destination, and recommends
the four-star Marina Lodge for divers.
The Jaz Hotels group is opening two
y
five-star properties, Moreen Beach & Spa
uthorit
Resort and Dolphin House, Paradise Beach,
ourist A
in Marsa Alam this summer.
yptian T
Eg Israel and Jordan
Jordan is a good alternative to the Egyptian
Sold down
Red Sea Riviera, though accommodation
tends to be more expensive. It’s also tricky
to get to. Longwood has seats on a direct
charter from September 2009 to April 2010,
but over the summer clients would have to
the Riviera
stop overnight in Amman.
But Sexton says clients should consider it:
“In Aqaba the reefs are virtually untouched
and there is good wreck diving close by, so
for some the extra expense is worthwhile.”
As a non-eurozone beach holiday alternative, Egypt’s Israel’s dive resort of Eilat has been
popularity has soared. But is diving, often perceived
similarly difficult to get to. BMI and El Al
as expensive, doing as well? Philippa Jacks gets the
have both increased their UK-Tel Aviv flights,
making Israel in general more accessible. And
latest from Egypt and other Red Sea dive destinations this week a new winter charter, operated by
hotel group Isrotel, was announced.
I
t is hard to do a dive holiday on the learners, with Longwood offering buy-one- The Israeli tourist board has teamed up
cheap: four-day qualifying courses tend get-one-free on Padi Open Water Courses with Longwood and Superstar Holidays to
to cost around £200, and equipment worth £159 in Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada, offer agents £25 for every multi-centre
hire can add up over several days’ Taba and Dahab. Aquatours is offering a holiday that includes Eilat.
diving. You might therefore expect diving to 10% discount to three or more family The Padi Manta Dive Centre at Isrotel’s
be hit badly by the recession, but specialist members learning to dive in July or August, Ambassador Hotel is one of Eilat’s best-
operators say that Red Sea sales have when booked by the end of May. known facilities. It is a Career Development
remained surprisingly buoyant. Operators also have good offers for quali- Centre, meaning clients who want to gain
The cheap flights and plethora of fied divers: Goldenjoy has a buy-10-get-two- professional qualifications can study there.
all-inclusives that have made free offer on its shore diving
Egypt so popular for beach packages in Egypt, while
holidays this year work in the Longwood is offering BOGOF CONTACTS
diver’s favour too. on five-day dive packages.
“The Red Sea is only a five- Blue o two is an operator
■ goldenjoydive.com
■ blueotwo.com
hour flight from the UK. With specialising in Red Sea live-
■ longwoodholidays.co.uk
increased fuel prices and taxes, aboards (where clients sleep on
■ coraya-divers.com
it’s long-haul flights where the a dive boat). Marketing execu-
■ aquatours.com
biggest price rises have been,” tive Lucy O’Hagan says for the
■ egypt.travel
says Longwood marketing qualified diver, a liveaboard
■ visitjordan.com
■ thinkisrael.com
executive Natalie Sexton. can prove better value for
■ jaz.travel
Now is a great time for money than staying in a hotel.
48 15.05.2009
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