News from the dive industry
ON THEIR WAY TO THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY
Scuba Travel is a proud sponsor of Team Jonna Bergström and Ingvar Eliasson that will represent Sweden and the World Championships in Cuba. The second Swedish team includes Tobias Dahlin and Henrik Bengtsander.
Our Scuba Travel ambassador Jonna has qualified for the championships with her two Nordic gold medals and one from the Swedish championship. Even her teammate Ingvar is a talented underwater photographer and Scuba Travel ambassador. There was no doubt that we would sponsor them during this exciting competition. We are going to keep everyone posted via Facebook and on this page as to how the teams are doing.
GOOD LUCK SWEDEN!
April 6
Have landed on Cayo Largo after a whole day in Havanna. This island is just south of the main island and is very similar to Grand Cayman. No wi-fi to be had. Soon time for our first trainings dive!
April 9
Hi! We have done eight training dives now. Great diving, just like Grand Cayman. Today we register and it is the opening celebrations. Seems to be 20+ teams in the competition.
Jonna has a deep cut her hand, but it seems to healing without any problems.
EMPEROR ASMAA LIVEABOARD NOW CLOSER TO DEEP SOUTH FROM HAMATA
Emperor Asmaa has enjoyed a refit and facelift and, from the end of April, will be operating new routes to the breathtaking sites of St Johns and Fury Shoals from Emperor Divers Hamata. The proximity of the boat to the dive sites means the week-long trips save travelling time to St Johns, and the legendary Fury Shoals, which equals more diving time at these deep South dive sites.
A custom-built motor yacht designed with the diver in mind, Emperor Asmaa comfortably accommodates 20 guests in 10 twin-berth cabins, all ensuite. The cabins and salon are fully air-conditioned, there is a large dive deck and sun deck and free Wi-Fi when there is a signal. As with all Emperor fleet boats, guests are guaranteed a minimum of two dive guides. She is also equipped with NITROX and may provide up to two tanks a day, free of charge, depending on demand.
‘Fury & Friends’ is a 25+ itinerary, meaning that divers have managed 25 or more dives on a seven-day safari, whilst ‘Fury & St Johns’ is a 21+ itinerary, delivering 21 or more dives.
With direct flights to Marsa Alam, it's only a 2.5 hour transfer to Hamata.
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE SWEDISH SPORT DIVING ORGANIZATION
Nature photographer Jonna Bergström, member of Tångjohans Sportdykarklubb, has won the title at the Nordic Champhionships for Underwater Photography for the second year in a row! Jonna was also crowned Swedish Champion earlier this year. She is now one of the hottest names in the Sweden for photography at the moment.
The win at the Nordic Championships secured her place at the World Championships that are to be held in Cuba in April 2013.
Congratulations Jonna! See more of her photos on our Facebook page by clicking here.
SwedTech - Malta Tech Training Camp 2013
During a one week period in March 2013, four of SwedTech's instructors will be heading to Malta to hold various courses in technical diving. You can choose between Technical Diving Basic Skills, Technical Diver 1 or Wreck Diver 1. Click here for more information (Swedish text) or to contact SwedTech Diving.
Scuba Travel welcomes our new colleague
Many of you have likely met Olle Olsson in the PADI booth at different dive shows, or perhaps he was your examiner when you took your instructor course (he was mine!). Those who have met him will agree that his friendly personality and deep knowledge of diving is going to be a great asset for Scuba Travel.
Read more about Olle and the rest of our team here.
Wakatobi - the world's 3rd best eco lodge
Plan your next vacation to one of the world's best eco lodges - Wakatobi Dive Resort. Ranked nr 3 by CNN International, the resort is dubbed "an eco-diver's first choice."
http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/escape/worlds-best-ecolodges-170768?hpt=itr_t1
Read more about Wakatobi here.
Presenting Mr Shark - Mark Addison. One very impressive man!
Are you one of those saying - who is Mark Addison? Growing up in a family of adventurers, at 3 years of age Mark would often spend weeks at a time living in the underwater habitat that his father had designed.
Let me give you a short list of some of the MANY things Mark has contributed to our marine world:
- Discovered the Tiger Shark popluation at Aliwal Shoals
- Pioneered filming and scientific expeditions to the Sardine Run (has worked with BBC, Blue Planet, Discovery Channel and earned an Emmy Award)
- Discovered a new species of ray and named it the Electrolux Addisonia
- Pioneered cage-free shark diving
- Established a Whale Shark tagging program. Due to this, a unique population of the Mozambique border was discovered.
- Has worked closely with the government in South Africa and Mozambique to establish marine parks
Need I say more? Join a shark expedition to South Africa with Mark as your guide.
Africa with Scuba Travel
Penguins, Great Whites, elephants, Tiger sharks and giraffes are just a few of the amazing creatures you will see during this exciting presentation about one of Africa's most beautiful countries - South Africa. Jamie Parker from African Space will share his stories of his travels around the country through word, pictures and film.
Read more about this exciting trip and sign up here!!
Winners at Stockholms Outdoor show (Vildmarksmässan)
We would like to congratulate the winners in of our prize draw who won the following:
Margritt Block - won a one week holiday in Gozo with Calypso Hotel and Calypso Diving
Ulrika Westerberg - won a 10 night safari onboard Philippines Siren
Lennart Malmström - won a 7 night safari onboard Thorfinn in Truk Lagoon
Emperor Divers first to receive award for their liveaboard in Egypt
The Ministry of Tourism in Egypt has awarded Emperor Divers boat Superior a "Certificate of Appreciation" for their outstanding role in enriching the tourism industry in Egypt in 2011.
This is the first time that a liveaboard boat has ever received such an award and the liveaboard Fleet crew and management staff are very proud. Well done Emperor!
Wakatobi + Scuba Travel = a great partnership!
Over the years dive holiday specialist Scuba Travel has expanded the destinations that they offer to their customers in the Nordic region, often getting further away from home and adding an element of adventure into the mix.
“When Wakatobi Dive Resort in Indonesia approached us about being their Nordic representative, we jumped at the chance,” says Henrik Almers from Scuba Travel. “It has all of the elements divers are looking for – pristine reefs, caves, deep walls and few divers. Not to mention the unbelievable service with almost four staff for every guest.”
Wakatobi is located 1000 km northeast of Bali at the epicenter of marine biodiversity. Remote, yet easily reached by private air charter exclusive to the resort, it offers a brilliant symphony of underwater colours, corals and creatures on kilometres of vibrant, unspoiled and protected reefs. The only resort on these islands, Wakatobi can offer divers a unique experience. “Our level of service is unparalleled in the diving world and our team’s attention to detail is legendary,” says Henrik Rosén executive vice-president for Wakatobi Dive Resort.
Born and bred in Sweden, Henrik Rosén has been instrumental in the decade long process of making Wakatobi, one of the world´s most remote resorts, one of its most renowned. He was part of the early pioneering days when getting to the resort – and back in one piece – was in itself a major success! "What appeals to me the most about Wakatobi Resort is the way we break new grounds by taking care of conservation.” Wakatobi ensures that the locals are involved in the development and even pay them not to fish the reefs, but instead to help protect them.
Besides the day boats that take divers from the resort, Wakatobi’s dive liveaboard Pelagian reaches remote reefs and muck dive sites. With a maximum of 10 guests onboard, the elegant 35 meter dive yacht cruises to fantastic dive sites where no other dive operator has gone before.
Whether you choose a resort stay or world-class liveaboard cruise, or both, you’ll become part of Wakatobi’s marine conservation program through which they proactively protect the fragile reefs for generations to come.
Scuba Travel has begun to offer trips to this diver’s paradise for singles, couples, honeymooners, families and even tech divers.
Learn more about Wakatobi Dive Resort here
Nordic underwater photography championships 2011
We would like to congratulate both Jonna Bergström for winning the competition and Lill Haugen for taking third place in the Nordic championships. Below you can see a few of Jonna's pictures.
The championship is divided into six categories; macro, wide angle, creative, fish, outside of the Nordic region and pool.
1) The jellyfish picture won a silver in the wide angle class, 2) the Scorpion fish won silver in the outside of the Nordic region class and the "frogs playing" picture won the macro class. The fourth picture is of Jonna and her partner Ingvar Eliasson who helps her at all of the competitions.
Join Ingvar and Jonna on their trips during 2012 to North Sulawesi or Galapagos, or on Lills trip to Cocos in 2013.
Welcome to our team Anders!
Scuba Travel is proud to announce our latest Ambassador - Anders Salesjö. A marine life fanatic since the age of six, Anders works to today at Gullmarsgymnasiet in Lysekil, Sweden as an instructor in marine biology and scuba diving. Anders is also one of Scandinavias most respected underwater photographers, having won the Swedish and Nordic underwater photo championships more than once, and has represented Sweden at the World championships.
Congratulations to the winners of our Scuba Travel Challenge 2011!
Our first ever photo competition has come to an end, with winners in three categories: humour, environment and meetings. We were happy to receive so many entries, and quickly realized that there are a lot of very good underwater photographers in Scandinavia.
We would like to thank our judge, Ingvar Eliasson for all of his hard work while trying to pick out the top three photos in each category. We numbered all of the photos here in the office before sending them to Ingvar and in this way, he was not aware of who had taken them.
Click here to check out the pictures on our Facebook page.
And here are the results for The Scuba Travel Challenge 2011:
Category: Environment
1st prize Johan Björklund
2nd prize Christopher Woll
3rd prize Benny Stoors
Category: Humour
1st prize Nils Aukan
2nd prize Magnus Keijser
3rd prize Erik Andersson
Category: Meetings
1st prize Henrik Gram
2nd prize Anne Hedlund
3rd prize Annika Persson
The prizes are the same for each category.
1st prize 1 set dry glove system - SI TECH Glove Lock QCP including gloves. Winners will also receive a secret bonus prize that will given out during a visit to SI TECH
2nd prize 1 dive mask - Cressi Big Eyes Evolution Crystal
3rd prize 1 1000 SEK gift certificate from SEK Scuba Travel
For the sake of democracy, we decided to let the people have their say in who should win. All photos were placed on our Facebook page and had an equal chance to win.
The winner is: Kicki Randmael
We would like to thank all of our competition participants, those of you who voted via Facebook, to our judge Ingvar Eliasson and to our sponsors; Cressi-sub and SI TECH! We are already looking forward to next years challenge!
World championship silver medals for two Scuba Travel Ambassadors!
Scuba Travel Ambassadors Jonna Bergström and Lill Haugen both won a silver medals during the Underwater World Championship held in Bodrum, Turkey at the end of May. Above you can see the winning pictures: Jonna's on the left (in the "wide angle with a diver" category) and Lill's on the right (in the "fish" category). Jonna also came in 4th place in the "wide angle without a diver" category.
Pictures must be entered directly from the camera without any computer alterations or touch-ups. Jonna decided to take black and white shots. Her assistant and model during the competition was underwater photographer and Scuba Travel Ambassador - Ingvar Eliasson. The captain of the Swedish team is Jennie Soriano, who also is one of our Ambassadors.
Learn from the best:
Follow along on one of their trips during 2012 if you would like to develop your skills in UW photography while in good company! Lill will be heading to Raja Ampat in March, Ingvar will be heading to North Sulawesi in April, Jonna will be heading to the Galapagos in November and Jennie are going to Puerto Galera in October.
Eco Divers Lembeh Cottages Resort wins TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence!
Thanks to the popularity and high levels of service and diving at Eco Divers Lembeh Cottages, the team has consistently been awarded excellent ratings on the popular travel website, TripAdvisor. This has resulted in TripAdvisor recognising the Resort and awarding a Certificate of Excellence, 2011.
"We regularly receive 4.5 out of 5 and it's rewarding to know that so many guests have such a great time staying and diving here," explains Gary Ball, who manages Lembeh Cottages Resort & Spa along with Louise Kraechter. "The fact that we are the only dive centre in Indonesia to offer a unique experience of diving from a liveaboard by day followed by eating, relaxing and sleeping in a resort each night is where we really score well."
Lembeh Cottages is a boutique resort and spa offering personalised dive services, immaculate accommodation and exceptional cuisine. Packages include diving, accommodation, all meals, taxs & service, free wireless internet and airport transfers.
All 12 rooms are en-suite, air-conditioned and comfortably furnished. There is an outside restaurant, bar and lounge, indoor 'quiet' lounges, professional Indonesian spa, a full photo and video centre, and camera rooms.
English
Svenska
