Original Diving has launched a new collection of diving trips designed to make a big splash in a small time frame, spanning Iceland to Egypt. Olivia Palamountain reports
Short Break Dives, a portfolio of accessible diving holidays from Original Diving, has been updated with five new itineraries to the Azores, Iceland, Gozo, Oman and Egypt.
Each trip in the collection is just four or five days long, allowing divers to squeeze more trips into their year and help the “itchy-finned” get a small diving fix without using up large chunks of their annual leave.
In addition, each of the trips end with an epic experience above the waves to allow the requisite 24 hours between diving and flying – think whale-watching in the Azores to bathing in mineral-rich geothermal pools in Iceland.
Tom Barber, co-founder of Original Travel and Original Diving says: “As a keen diver myself, I know all too well how frustrating it is not having an annual fix of this endlessly fascinating pastime. These short dive breaks mean you can have one or more dinky dive trips to keep you going throughout the year – plus make the most of the often overlooked short-haul dive destinations.”
Explore the itineraries:
A Long Weekend Diving in Iceland
After a night to relax in Reykjavik, the next couple of days will be action-packed, starting with an epic dive between two continents at the breathtaking Silfra Fissure. You’ll also have the chance to enjoy the mineral-rich, geothermal seawater of the iconic Blue Lagoon, and a walking tour of the Solheimajokull Glacier, famous for the picturesque Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls and tranquil black sandy beaches at Reynisfjara.
A Long Weekend Diving in Iceland costs from £1,555pp for a four-day trip, based on two sharing. Price includes flights, transfers, a guided tour, diving equipment hire and 3 nights’ hotel accommodation.
A Big Short Break Diving in Gozo
Malta’s little sister island Gozo might be the smallest destination in the Short Dive Breaks collection, but makes up for this with its exceptional diving sites and marine life. The dimensions of the island allow you to reach different diving sites within just 5-25 minutes, making it one of the most accessible and diverse dive sites in Europe. This four-day itinerary will take you on a pint-sized grand tour of the island, including a day of diving in the sapphire-blue waters of the Xlendi Cave and a day to explore Inland Sea and Gozo’s most famous dive site, the Blue Hole.
A Big Short Break Diving in Gozo costs from £1,225pp, based on two sharing. Price includes flights, transfers, car-hire, diving equipment hire, and 3 nights’ hotel accommodation.
Five Days in Oman Diving Zighy Bay
The Musandam Peninsula is known as the ‘Norway of Arabia’, thanks to its cinematic mountain ranges, towering cliffs and fjord-filled coastline. During this five-day trip, you will wake up to this dramatic landscape every morning at your private beachfront retreat, Six Senses Zighy Bay, the perfect peaceful base for post-dive unwinds. The Gulf of Oman offers an abundance of incredible diving sites, and over the next two days you will explore flourishing reefs; home to colourful fish, lazing turtles and the occasional (friendly) shark.
Five Days in Oman Diving Zighy Bay costs from £2,325pp for a five-day trip, based on two sharing. Price includes flights, transfers, diving equipment hire, a 4X4 drive experience and 4 nights’ hotel accommodation.
Diving Delights & Nourishing Bites: Azores Diving Adventure
Considered one of the best spots to witness the world’s largest pelagic (deep water) species and a honeypot for sub-tropical fish, a weekend trip to the Azores will be jam-packed with incredible sights. Based on Furnas island, this itinerary includes four incredible dives, two of which include swimming in a volcanic crater in the uninhabited islet, Ilheu de Vila Franca and exploring the marine-life-teeming wreck of the World War II ship Liberty.
The Azores Diving Adventure costs from £2,304pp for a five-day trip, based on two sharing. Price includes all flights, transfers, diving equipment hire and 4 nights’ villa accommodation.
Scuba Diving & Souqs: A Long Weekend Diving in Egypt
With reef gardens of colourful hard and soft corals and clear waters, the Red Sea is a playground for divers and turtles alike. After an active day exploring Hurghada, wake up with an Egyptian coffee before hopping onboard your dive boat for a guided tour of the nearby reefs. With over 40 dive sites to choose from, there will be plenty of marine life to spot.
Scuba Diving & Souqs: A Long Weekend Diving in Egypt costs from £2,020pp, based on two sharing. Price includes flights, transfers, boat-hire, private guide, diving equipment hire and three nights’ hotel accommodation.