Dolphin Services - Diving in Djibouti

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2010-12-29T07:01:00.001+03:00

For latest updates please check our Facebook page- "Dolphin Excursions Djibouti"

Whale Shark season 2010 / 2011

2010-11-11T21:55:00.001+03:00

THE SHARKS ARE HERE !!!!!!

The Whale Sharks are finally here. We’ve had few fantastic trips and these amazing creatures were out in huge numbers. There is nothing better than spending the afternoon in the water with them. We will be running trips throughout November 2010 / December 2010/ January 2011.

...some photos from the last trip...

Just another day in the office....:)

They can grow up to 60ft in lenght....

....and live over 100 years

Trial on fire on the 3rd of October for Dan the new instructor !

2010-10-04T13:38:00.001+03:00

Hi all,

Time to update our webpage !

Welcome to Dan !

So first of all welcome to our new instructor Dan fromp Czech republic. To whom it may concern :

Size : 1m80
Weight :85 kg
Eyes :blue
Situation : SINGLE
Cell phone number : 65.... more info on request :)

Dangerous criminel searched by the FBI - you can see an undercovered agent checking him on the background

We wish you all the best in the big Dolphin family.

A very Big thanks

A HUGE THANK YOU to all the people that helped me to repair my mistake on the boat yesterday. There are no words to describe how greatfull I am.

And finaly a little selection of pics taken on the boat the same day :)

The Dolphin's official head hunter : Mr Kip and on the left his last recruit Eric

Big thanks to the top deck team.

Too much sun makes you tired :)

Briefing time

Good Buye Scuba-G

The end of an Era. Special dedicace to SCUBA-G (on the pic below), one of the Dolphin's monument. He was the first peron to be here for Niki and me when we just arrived and was the last one when Niki left. Head of the Goodman Dynasty, he's been on the boat almost every Sunday till the beginning. Great explorer too, he's the Dolphin's Indianna Jones, the kind of guy that found a lot of spot for us like Scuba-G beach (Tadpole reef + Drfiting Jill dive sites) or Scuba-G Mound for example.

So man, we gonna miss you big time. As I learnt in Thailand :" Me love you long time, you number 1"

Scuba-G

And what about that as the offcial dolphin's adverts : Come and learn scuba diving with us ! Much Fun !

Sometime I really think, it' nice to be the teacher ;)

That's all folks

Flo

Niki's farewell evening Pictures

2010-09-15T11:52:00.000+03:00

Hi all,

Here are the pics of the Thursday the 9th evening.

Who's hidding behind Niki ?

Niki receiving her present from Pete

Niki thanking Pete for the present

Nice backpack !!!

Niki, Scuba-G and Pete watching Scuba Princess (a Scuba-G production)

Stephen doesn't want to make love to the camera... Nolen doesn't understand why :)

Marc and Scuba Princess

Scuba-G and Niki

2010-08-19T13:25:00.000+03:00

A little update from our trip to Shark Island (01st-15th of August)

Surgeon fishes-Photo by: Florent Horn

Xmas tree worm- Photo by: Florent Horn

Yellow fins Trevally- Photo by: Joe Bisognio

Giant Moray eel- Photo by: Florent Horn

Devil Ray- Photo by: Joe Bisognio

AWESOME DIVING AT SHARK ISLAND

2010-08-03T18:10:00.000+03:00

This past weekend has offered some amazing dives at Shark Island and the East coast of Ras Eiro.

The cooler water (28 C° yikes!) and profusion of plankton is attracting the big stuff and we were treated to a rapid glimpse of 2 Whitetip Reef Sharks zooming down the reef and a host of Devil Rays, swooping in to feed.

Macro lovers will be delighted to know we discovered not one but two elusive Torpedo Rays, camouflaged in the sand.

And for those who love to go deep... Our first Deep specialities got off to a rocking start!

So, despite the Khamsin and the poor visibility it can bring, diving has been WICKED!!

Night dives the 2nd of July

2010-07-05T17:19:00.000+03:00

Spiny lobster- Photo by: Florent Horn

Crocodilefish -Photo by: Florent Horn

Anemone- Photo by: Florent Horn

Clownfish- Photo by: Florent Horn

Spider Crab- Photo by: Florent Horn

Nurse Shark- Photo by: Florent Horn

Free dives for referrals and 3rd dives

2010-06-17T12:04:00.000+03:00

Hi all,

Just a little note to clarify the free dive situation.

For every person you refer for a course, either Open Water or Advanced, you get a free dive. When the person you refer has completed their course, you may have your free dive. It HAS to be on completion of the course.

The free dives you get for referrals can not be used towards courses, only for fun diving. This is because course fees include manuals, teaching time and certification cards.

Where and when possible, we offer the option of a 3rd dive. The prices are as follows :

1 dive : 40$
2 dives : 70$
3 dives : 100$

If you have all your own equipment you get a 5$ discount per dive. Please let us know in advance if you plan to do 3 dives.

Night Dive the 29th of May

2010-05-31T12:16:00.000+03:00

Hi everybody,

This past Saturday, we had our first Night dive at El Hadj, not far from the fishing harbour. It seems a great time was had by all and thanks to the glo-sticks we had a real light party!! Here are a few pictures from the dive.

Crinoid -Photo by: Florent Horn

Blue Spotted Stingray - Photo by : Florent Horn

Masked Porcupinefish - Photo by: Florent Horn

Niki and Flo

Pictures

2010-05-26T14:08:00.002+03:00

Hi Everybody,

We invite you to have a look at the photo page. We have just received some pictures from Peter and added theim to the blog. Please feel free to send more, we'll be very pleased to put them online.

Cheers,

Flo

A Warm Welcome

2010-05-25T12:53:00.000+03:00

Hello everybody!!

As you know, our predecessors Nico and Polly have left for new horizons. We wish them safe travels and many more adventures.

We'd like to take this opportunity to properly introduce ourselves and also to say thank you to those we have already met for the wonderfully warm welcome!

This is us

Flo at menelik, center of Djibouti city

Niki working as a mine sweeper

Flo hails from France and Niki from South Africa, and no, she hasn't dived with Great Whites (not yet, anyway)

We hope to continue to provide the quality service and friendly atmosphere established by Polly and Nico and look forward to seeing you all in (or on) the water .

Watch this space for updates...

Flo and Niki

Livaboard trip to the Seven Brothers Islands

2010-05-24T19:11:00.000+03:00

Just before I left Djibouti I managed to finish sticking together some clips that I took during our fantastic liveaboard trip to the Seven Brothers Islands. As always the video from a point and shoot camera is never going to do justice to the 40m+ vis and the ripping currents (sorry coral) or the fantasticaly beautiful underwater sceneary or marine life. Also one of the most spectacular dives was way too deep for the rating of Dolphin's camera so I have no record of the sharks, eagle rays, shark being chased by giant (1.5m+) trevally that was followed by a school of at least 20 of its friends while a school of 30+ giant barracuda circled above. The magical 'Dame Blanche' wreck is not at all done justice either and there is no way that I can describe the beautiful and wild diving that we enjoyed... Needless to say if you have a chance to dive in the Seven Brothers Islands go for it!

The clip is a bit long but stick it out to the end, I saved the best 'till last. Enjoy!
Happy Djibouti Diving from Polly (now in Eritrea)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQHgmy6Uvug
Seven Brothers Djibouti April 2010.wmv by amazingamazing000

Hello and goodbye...

2010-05-18T13:40:00.000+03:00

After 1 year of fantastic diving in Djibouti Nicolas and I are leaving Djibouti to continue our travels. We've had some great experiences with our divers and we're going to take many happy memories with us :)

Dolphin now has 2 fab new instructors, Niki and Flo who we wish many happy Djiboutian bubbles to, as we do to all of our divers!

Take care guys, all the best and we wish you many great dives to come...

Nicolas and Polly

Photos of the Week

2010-04-14T15:04:00.018+03:00

April is a great time for diving in Djibouti, good visibility and still lots of fish feeding. The Orchard Reefer, the 135m (442ft) wreck near Moucha Island is especially stunning at this time of year with massive schools of jack fish, Indian mackrel, snappers and even tuna.

If you want to visit this gorgeous mess of metal and fish soup you can join us this Friday 16th or Sunday 18th April. In the mean time check out these great pictures from Ray, all taken last Sunday 11th April on the Orchard Reefer.

Thanks for the pics Mr Binney ;)

March diving in Djibouti

2010-04-07T11:10:00.003+03:00

The diving in Djibouti is great at the moment: good vis and many fish! Obviously on the most beautiful dives no one has a camera, however we have managed to film a few clips around the reefs over the last month.

I am by no means a pro for video, but I hope to have captured a little bit the fab diving we've had in March.

Wreck video coming soon!!

Enjoy ;) Polly

PADI Rescue Diver Course - starting soon!

2010-03-30T19:52:00.001+03:00

We will be starting a PADI Rescue diver course in the weeks to come so now is the time to take the plunge and take your dive skills to the next level! We already have a few students who are ready to go which should make for a really fun and rewarding course, and definately enough 'victims' to go around.

The Rescue course is an excellent certification for divers who want to take their skills to the highest level: the Rescue course is a prerequisite for both the PADI Divemaster Course and the Master Scuba Diver certification and also for the wannabe tec divers!

Before you start the Rescue Diver course you must have a valid first and secondary care certification (renewed within the last 24 months). Some of you may be able to get a course like this for free, however, if you choose to take the Emergency First Responder (EFR) course with us we will give you the PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider course for free!

For more information on the PADI Rescue Diver, EFR and PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider courses please see our page: PADI Courses: Rescue and Professional certifications

PADI Open Water Diver Course

2010-03-30T18:01:00.004+03:00

We've already have 4 new PADI Open Water Divers certified since we started up the courses again last week, and 5 more hot on their heels!

Our new swimming pool ready for PADI Open Water Diver Class

Classes have been great with confined water sessions going our new swimming pool. Diving conditions are excellent at the moment with good visibility and many fish, lots to keep students happy.

We're starting a new class the week beginning the 5th April, if you want to join us don't hesitate, get in touch!

Back in the (warmer) water at White Sands

2010-03-18T23:47:00.002+03:00

First dives back in Djibouti for me today, good news, the water is warming up again to a more reasonable 27°C / 80°F :) Also good viz and nice marine life today at White Sands on the North Coast: 4 turtles on the East side of the beach and a big barracuda on the East with many juvenille Napoleons all around, nice dives, thanks guys!

Rubbish viz but loads of fish on the Orchard Reefer wreck

2010-03-14T16:25:00.000+03:00

Here's a very quickly made video of all the Indian Mackrel feeding on top of the Orchard Reefer wreck in February. As you can see the viz is pretty rubbish, but there were just so many fish it was a beautiful dive. I've been meaning to share it for a while, especially to Ray, Cris and Scott who were with me that day.

Please guys if you have any pictures or video from the dive we made on the Orchard Reefer with fantastic viz and loads of fish I'd love to see! Also I hope to check out the state of this wreck at the moment, we're planning to make a trip next Sunday and we will definately dive the Orchard reefer so let us know if you want to join us.

Look forward to (wreck) diving with you again soon!

Polly

PADI Open Water Diver Class - Monday 15th March

2010-03-11T22:01:00.000+03:00

We were really happy to be back on base and to meet some new divers to be!

If we didn't see you on Thursday night no worries, we are starting the new PADI Open Water Diver Class on Monday 15th so please get in touch at dolphinexcursions@hotmail.com if you want to join us.

The schedule for the class is as follows:

Week 1
Mon & Tues 15-16: Theory 19-21:00
Wed & Thurs 17-18: Pool Session 19:00-21:00

You will be able to make your first 2 Open Water Dives this weekend.

Week 2
Mon & Tues 22-23: Theory & final exam 19-21:00
Wed 24: Pool Session 19-21:00

After this you still have 2 more open water dives to make...

If you want to take the class but you can't manage the schedule don't hesitate to get in touch and we'll see if we can find a solution.

Looking forward to diving with you guys!

Nicolas and Polly

We're Back!

2010-03-09T17:33:00.000+03:00

Hey Guys,

We're back from a month in Egypt and we're looking forward to seeing you again :)
But don't think we've been on holidays...

Nicolas is now a PADI TecRec Deep Instructor and can also now offer Emergency O2 Provider and EFR Instructor courses! More information to come... but feel free to ask us if you can't wait! Polly and Vicente are now PADI Instructors so we're going to be able to be even more flexible for you guys!

PADI Open Water Diver Course
We are starting the PADI Open Water Diver Course again! We are still waiting for confirmation from MWR that we can use the pool on Camp, luckily we have a pool in a private villa near base we can use in the mean time. We can still do the theory sessions on base between 19-21h and the pool can be arranged depending on divers-to-be's schedules...

We have a few people interested so if you know anyone who is interested put them in touch with us. let us know and we can get started really soon! Remember, we give a free dive to you for every person you refer who takes the Open Water Course so tell them to tell us you sent them ;)

Boat trips: Fun Diving and Snorkeling
We got back a bit late this Sunday to go out on the sea, but next weekend is wide open as yet... we plan to make a trip to the islands on Sunday to check out the wrecks and the reefs; let us know if you want to join us for diving, snorkeling or just lazing on the beach.
Departure time 8.30 from the fishing harbour
Boat Fee snorkeler: $50
Boat Fee diver: $40
1 dive $40
2 dives $70
Lunch, water and all gear included.
We are as always ready to take you out whenever you're free so don't hesitate to get in touch to arrange your own trips.

Hope to see you soon!

Nicolas and Polly