Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Diving the Southern Red Sea with Absolute SCUBA




While most people say it’s great to be back home, we’re back from the thriving waters of Egypt with mixed emotions! After many trips of superb diving & delicious buffets, we know Egypt never disappoints! Our recent trip to the Red Sea in South Egypt strengthened our drive to Dive Egypt Till We Drop with its beautiful people & abundant reefs as we soaked in the Egyptian sun.
After meticulous planning & thorough research, we find ourselves on-board an uber luxurious vessel on an adventure to the Southern parts of the Egyptian Red Sea. The Red Sea attracts many a diver with its protected marine ecosystem, abundance of species & clear blue waters. The Southern waters are calmer so diving is more relaxed and perfect for divers looking for bliss & tranquillity underwater with easier diving conditions. Departing from Port Ghalib, we made our way through legendary dive areas like St. John’s Reef, Fury Shoals & the world famous Elphinstone Reef.



Our ultra-spacious vessel boasted 12 premium AC & en-suite cabins fully equipped with a TV (which no one switched on) and mini bar too (which was more frequently visited)! To top this off, the staff on board was very experienced, warm, hospitable & eventually became friends. At the risk of sounding a bit like a hog, just the buffets were worth making the trip for.
Each of the 21 dives we did brought on a surreal experience and showed us exactly why the Red Sea is held in such high esteem. Beneath the surface, life on the vibrant and colourful coral reefs thrived as if untouched by human exposure. Fury Shoals brought on an added surprise of dolphins underwater which didn’t seem to be bothered with us divers. Witnessing such conscious creatures in their homes was a treat to the eyes and will remain in fond memory. Macro life came alive as critters scuttled across the reefs making our Night dives full of action! But with all that these waters had to offer, the intricate cave systems of St. John’s reefs stood out for the feeling of solitude it left us with. The towering pinnacles covered with live coral & almost ethereal like swim-throughs left us with a sense of awe and respect for nature.



It’s hard to put into words an experience that is so surreal. So, to take you through our journey we’ve put together a little video of our journey to the thriving reefs of Egypt’s southern waters & its glorious cave systems.



Please share this video with friends, family, enemies and even strangers. Make sure to get the best experience by viewing in Full HD at 1080p (60FPS) with max brightness & headphones on!
Now back on solid land enriched with our shared experiences, our group of 25 people grew connected by mutual respect for our oceans and love for diving. Now the only question that remains is “Where next?” And so, we’ll spend our time scouring through the best dive destinations in the world to craft dive trips the Absolute SCUBA” way. If you’d like to stay tuned to our upcoming destinations or want to begin your life of adventure, visit us and we’d be happy to share.



We hope to see you suspended somewhere in the Blue someday.
Shaun Patel, PADI OWSI

After starting his diving back in 2011, Shaun went professional in 2013. He’s logged in over 1100 dives since then.

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About Absolute SCUBA
Absolute SCUBA is the brainchild of two seasoned Dive Industry professionals, Seemant Saxena and Siddharth Pujari. Between them, they share a collective experience of over 15 years in the Dive Training, Scuba Certification and Dive Travel business.
Want to experience SCUBA in the City? Book your spot here
Happy & Safe Diving always – Team Absolute
www.absolutescuba.in | info@absolutescuba.in | www.scubaindia.in
+91 9860003456 | +91 9970983456

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Do I need to know swimming for SCUBA diving?


Although getting into the Ocean without knowing how to swim sounds scary, thousands of non-swimmers experience the magic of the underwater realm through SCUBA! Some scared and some dared, India has seen a growing number of eager adventurers ready to take the plunge. With over 2500 km of India’s coastline, the options to learn & experience SCUBA diving are limitless. International federations like PADI suggest preparing and training with your local SCUBA diving club before heading to the open ocean.

But where and how do I begin? Let’s break it down.

Pre-requisites
To be able to Discover SCUBA, you must be over 8 years of age and have decent medical fitness (attached picture highlights medical conditions that could be detrimental for SCUBA & would require a fitness certificate from a doctor). Enthusiasm has no age barrier and neither do we. Medically fit seniors as well as aspiring youngsters enjoy SCUBA diving and gain comfort and confidence to sign up for a full-fledged PADI Open Water Diver course.


Where can I Dive?
To Discover SCUBA in India, people have a myriad of options like your local pools, the seas, lakes and even quarries. However, in our country where “juggad” runs rampant, I highly recommend following this checklist before choosing to sign up with any centre.

  1. Check that your trainer has a professional diving licence from any internationally recognised diving federation like PADI or SSI.
  2. Make sure you are given a full set of SCUBA equipment with certified cylinders & a well maintained refilling facility
  3. Pick a centre with a clean safety sheet and great reviews.
  4. Get in touch with our experts at Absolute SCUBA to plan your SCUBA diving experience.


How Much?
When it comes to SCUBA diving, its best to not opt for the cheapest option. Cheaper options may use sub-standard SCUBA gear and have inexperienced and unqualified dive leaders and Instructors. Since SCUBA diving is an adventure sport and poses a risk to life, quality of gear and instruction should be your first priority when it comes to booking your SCUBA diving experience. You can find more information about your SCUBA gear here.
Diving in your local pools is cheaper at approximately INR 1,500 up to INR  2,500 per person per session onwards. Whereas Discovering SCUBA in the sea starts from INR 5,500 onwards. This additional cost arises due to other logistical costs such as boats, additional staff, food and snacks, etc. If you’re unsure of where to go and whom to dive with, reach us for assistance and guidance.


 Reach us NOW!

Now that you have chosen a trusted dive centre, prepare yourself for an experience like few others. Whether you are experiencing SCUBA to get closer to nature or completing PADI certification courses, the experience of breathing underwater is a must try for everyone! The Discover SCUBA experience is designed specifically to introduce beginners to this mystical sport in a safe and engaging manner.


So go ahead and DISCOVER SCUBA and embrace an adventurer’s way of life!

Shaun Patel, PADI OWSI.

After starting his diving back in 2011, Shaun went professional in 2013. He’s logged in over 1100 dives since then.


About Absolute SCUBA

Absolute SCUBA is the brainchild of two seasoned Dive Industry professionals, Seemant Saxena, and Siddharth Pujari. Between them, they share a collective experience of over 15 years in the Dive Training, Scuba Certification and Dive Travel business.

Want to experience SCUBA in the City? Book your spot here
Happy & Safe Diving always – Team Absolute

www.absolutescuba.in | info@absolutescuba.in | +91 9860003456 | +91 9970983456

Adrenaline Scuba diving at the Komodo islands – a first hand report

A kaleidoscope called Komodo Of shrinking planes, tiny airports and fantastic folk One makes the mistake, living in India that I...