1 June 2006

Longwood Holidays has released its third annual Red Sea Diving Brochure for the 2006-07 season. The brochure is unique in that it doesn’t feature accommodation, but serves as a guide to diving in the Red Sea, with useful information and tips on each resort and major sites, as well as details of featured dive centres, packages and courses.

The brochure has been developed to help agents and their customers decide before they travel on an appropriate resort, dive centre and package or course, and book it through Longwood at specially negotiated rates. All the dive centres featured in the brochure are specifically selected for their facilities, service and reputation.

Expanding on an initiative introduced last year, Longwood has added an extra 18 dates for SingleTraveller weeks. Designed for keen divers or those keen to learn, the Single Traveller weeks offer a chance to meet like-minded individuals in a relaxing and friendly environment.

“One of the biggest problems for divers is finding someone to dive with.” commented Daniel Lion, Longwood Holidays Dive Product Manager “This is a problem not just a problem for qualified divers – there’s lots of people out there who would love to learn to dive, but find the prospect a bit daunting on their own, and can’t find friends equally as keen. We’ve tried to address this with the introduction of this programme – it offers people a very relaxed, informal diving holiday for a reasonable price.”

The weeks are available in one of two formats – the first includes the PADI Open Water Course and is aimed at beginners, while the second includes 5 days’ diving (10 boat dives) and is aimed at qualified divers.

Following a new initiative from PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), which requires all divers participating in courses to have their own copy of course materials, the new brochure also features these for the first time. These are sold in conjunction with the diving courses.

Longwood Holidays added diving packages and courses to its online booking engine in December last year, which allows agents and customers to book these at the same time as booking a holiday package.

“We’re hoping it will be a big year for agents booking dive packages. So many people book their diving in resort, and agents are really missing out by not selling diving as an extra. It’s a win-win situation – the agent gets commission, and the customer benefits from cheaper prices and guaranteed places.” said Lion.

Single Traveller Weeks start at £599 including flights, accommodation, PADI Open Water Course, equipment, transfers, taxes & surcharges.

Agents wishing to order a supply of Red Sea Diving brochures should contact Agency Sales on 020 8418 2550.

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Notes to Editors: Longwood Holidays is the UK’s leading independent Red Sea specialist tour operator, offering a wide range of holidays to the Red Sea resorts of Egypt, Israel & Jordan as well as holidays to Classical Egypt, Nile Cruises, Guided Tours and a comprehensive tailormade programme.

Longwood Holidays offers a range of diving packages and courses throughout the Red Sea including liveaboards, PADI courses and technical diving.