Gail Herd

Global Tailor Made Specialist

For nearly 20 years, I’ve been living and breathing the dive travel industry, and my passion for the underwater world began in the stunning waters of Sharm El Sheikh. From the moment I took my first dive, I was completely hooked! Since then, I’ve explored some of the most breathtaking dive destinations around the globe, including the vibrant Red Sea, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and the tropical paradise of Thailand. My bucket list still has plenty of dream destinations, but I channel that excitement into curating extraordinary itineraries for my clients, treating each one as if it were my own epic adventure.

One of the greatest joys of my journey has been sharing my love of diving with my two children, Harry and Rosie. Harry, now a Junior Advanced Open Water diver, dreams of becoming an instructor, while Rosie is counting down the days until she earns her Advanced certification next summer. They both trained at Marsa Shagra with Red Sea Diving Safari—a truly magical place to learn, full of wonder and adventure.

Ready to dive into your next unforgettable experience? Whether you’re just starting out or planning a family diving holiday, I’m here to make your dream trip a reality. Let’s create memories you’ll treasure forever!

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My Favourite Places

Sangat Island Dive Resort

Marsa Shagra

Mangosteen Ayurveda & Wellness Resort

Truk Lagoon 10 Nights

There are so many diving highlights, my first memorable moment was just after qualifying in the Red Sea and coming up close with Turtles and feeling so peaceful and happy I knew then I absolutely had to work within the dive industry. I am a HUGE fan of the Red Sea and the Philippines. Also Indonesia, Lembeh is a fantastic place especially for keen photographers and Manado. Also not forgetting those once in a lifetime trips such as Micronesia, Truk for the breath-taking WWII wrecks, Yap with the majestic mantas and the AMAZING Galapagos Islands flora and fauna, and hammerhead and whale shark it is a plentiful destination above and below the water!

Nad Lembeh Resort

Indonesia, Lembeh Strait

The NAD’s location, knowledgeable staff, beautiful house reef, personal service is perfect for all and with divers to guide ratio of a staggering 2:1 makes it a haven for photographers.

Open air restaurant
Choice of rooms or bungalows
Free use of Kayaks
2:1 dive guide ratio
Free house reef dives
Great destination for muck diving

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Magic Island Dive Resort

Philippines, The Visayas

Magic Island Dive Resort is an intimate retreat ideally located on a small coastal area with breath-taking views and a fantastic house reef enriched with an abundance of marine life to enjoy.

Located in a small coastal area
Fantastic house reef diving
Small divers resort with 10 cottages
Choice of board types
Featured in DIVER Jan 2012
Fluoro diving

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Manta Ray Bay Hotel

Micronesia, Yap

The Manta Ray Bay Hotel is truly one of the most luxurious dive resorts in the fabulous diving region of Micronesia.

5* PADI centre on-site with Nitrox
35 rooms
Dedicated dive resort
Cultural tours
Pool/Internet/Bar/Water Sports
Unique boat restaurant

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Allegro Cozumel Resort

Mexico, Riviera Maya

The Allegro Cozumel Resort is situated right on San Francisco Beach on the famous island of Cozumel where two worlds of adventure co-exist, the fun in the sun and the amazing undersea world.

Located on Cozumel Island
Private sandy beach
All Inclusive resort
Free NITROX
Pro Dive Mexico on-site
Choice of restaurants & bars
Located on Playa Del Carmen
Located on Playa Del Carmen

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Allegro Playacar

Mexico, Riviera Maya

The Allegro Playacar is located on the best stretch of white sand beach in Playa Del Carmen, surrounded by lush tropical gardens looking out to the crystal clear and rich waters.

Located on Playa Del Carmen
All inclusive resort
Family friendly
Free NITROX
Fantastic beach location
286 rooms available

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Reethi Beach Resort

Maldives, Northern Region

The Reethi Beach resort is elegant and luxurious in style with a beautiful east and west side house reef offering mesmerizing marine life such as dolphins, turtles, rays and an abundant fish life.

Located on Baa Atoll
PADI 5* dive centre on-site
Private dining on the beach
5 bars & 5 restaurants
House reef easily accessible
Spa & wellness retreat

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Blue Star Dive Resort

Philippines, The Visayas

The Blue Star Dive Resort is the ideal base where you can dive, explore, relax and have the most remarkable experience in the Philippines with year round warm crystal clear waters and natural reefs.

Located on Bohol Island
Beautiful & unspoilt setting
Romantic getaway
Fantastic dive place
Away from crowded beaches
PADI dive centre onsite

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Cobalt Coast Dive Resort

Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman

Cobalt Coast Dive Resort is situated on the northwest shore of Grand Cayman in a secluded peaceful location with an outstanding house reef abundant with vibrant marine life.

Beachfront Location
Unlimited Shore Diving
House Reef and Private Jetty
18 Rooms and Suites
Close to Sting Ray City
15 Minutes from Seven Mile Beach

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Marsa Nakari

Red Sea, Marsa Alam

Marsa Nakari is a charming village featuring a sheltered bay just 40 km south of Marsa Alam city. A smaller, quieter and more remote alternative to Marsa Shagra but with all the benefits.

Close to Dolphin House Reef
Unlimited house reef diving
Small & intimate atmosphere
Access to reefs by speedboat
Singles, couples & families
Individual and groups welcome

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Scandi Divers Resort

Philippines, Mindoro & Anilao

Perfectly positioned with an idyllic beachfront setting, Scandi Divers Resort is steps away from the white sands and marine abundant waters, offering tropical paradise both above and below water.

Idyllic tropical beachfront location
Access to over 40 world-class dive sites
On-site PADI and NAUI dive centre
Dive day to Verde Island
Blackwater diving
Walking distance to bustling town of Sabang

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MV Marco Polo

Thailand, Khao Lak

If you're going diving in Thailand, the sites visited on this trip are just the ticket. The sites around the Similan Islands are mind blowing with huge gorgonian fans. You can also spot Whalesharks at Richelieu Rock.

Max 12 guests / 3-4 dives per day
Dive Similan, Surin & Richelieu Rock
Full board basis & soft drinks
Enjoy great Thai food onboard
Free Nitrox for qualified divers
Sails November to April

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Red Sea Aggressor V

Red Sea, Hamata

The Egyptian Red Sea Deep South region is pristine, untouched and remote. Guests will explore the Elba Reef or Rocky & Zabargad Island regions. This vast area consists of hundreds of square miles of underwater reefs with unexplored areas yet to be discovered.

Maximum 26 guests / 3-5 dives per day
Full Board inc Complimentary Beverages
Dive in Elba Reef or Rocky & Zabargad
AC Cabins with En-suite Bathrooms
Diving Courses Available - Additional
Egyptian Feasts and Local Cuisine.

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Galapagos Master

Galapagos Islands, Galapagos National Park

Galapagos Master is set to be the most eco-friendly dive liveaboard cruising the Galapagos Islands. The experienced crew are waiting to welcome you aboard and show you the best of the Galapagos, both underwater and on land.

Max 16 guests
3 to 4 dives per day
7 and 10 night itineraries
Land tours available
Hammerhead Sharks and Whale Sharks
Nitrox available

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MV Emperor Voyager

Maldives, Male Atoll

Emperor?Voyager offers a refined and comfortable cruising experience. This 30?m liveaboard features a sleek, modern design with ample indoor and outdoor communal spaces. Guests can relax in the air-conditioned saloon and lounge, soak up the sun on the expansive sundeck with loungers and hammocks, or gather in the alfresco dining area and bar. The boat’s clean lines, thoughtful layout, and relaxed atmosphere make it an inviting base for diving excursions and marine adventures.

Max 20 guests/3 dives a day
Exeptional Dive Crew
Great value for money
Free Nitrox for qualified divers
Rebreather facilities available
Air conditioned cabins

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MY Blue Planet I

The baby of the Blue Planet Fleet accommodating a maximum of 16 divers which makes her ideal for groups! Staff are friendly and have been servicing guests for a number of years offering consistent high level of service.

Max 16 guests/3-4 dives a day
Full board basis inc soft drinks
Various routes available
Nitrox Available (Additional)
Spacious and beautifully fitted
AC cabins and en suite

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My Recent Reviews

We have just returned from our diving holiday in the Philippines booked through Ultimate Diving. Gail, our contact at Ultimate was extremely helpful and patient, making sure we got the right holiday planned, making brilliant suggestions and answering all our never-ending questions (sorry Gail we just couldn’t believe we each had 46KG luggage allowance).

A comfortable, friendly hotel, and a first class dive team. The best organised boat-diving we’ve ever done. I would give the whole holiday a 9, brilliant!

The place was great, the accommodation was great, the staff at Villa Almarik were great, the guys at Gangga divers were great, the diving was very good. I must admit one of the best run and friendliest places I have ever stayed and I have been to a good many places on holiday around the world. It is very much a backpackers resort basic but a great atmosphere and value for money. From what I was told March/April is the best time to go just on the end of their wet season and before peak season when it is rammed.

I was not particularly seeking a “ value for money “ break – for me it was an opportunity to dive, at a premium time of year, and respecting that I would incur a single person supplement. I appreciate that I could have secured more favorable prices at other times of year. Yes – absolutely, Sharm was a destination high on my priority list, and I shall be returning at some point in the future The ground organisation, transfers, hotel check in and general communication was comprehensive – my baggage exceeded 23.5kg but this was not questioned, either at Gatwick or Sharm. The pick up’s were on time, were waiting for me, and all was fine. Booking with Camel, with all facilities in one location was ideal for me, as all I wished to do was dive. The added benefits of the various restaurants, bars, and pool were a bonus. The night club next door will not suit everyone, with loud music until the early hours, but fortunately I was too tired from diving for this to affect me! Camel dive were very well organised, and safe. An English speaking guide was allocated to me, and I found Deniz to be very helpful. Some of the instructors/ guides joined us in the bar on New Years eve, and generally were a sociable bunch. For me, the holiday did exactly what I required, although quite obviously certain aspects will not suit everyone. For me, I shall be returning and will score this 8.

We had a great holiday. Everything was organised perfectly and we had no problems. The weather was not optimal but we were able to dive every day. We saw a whole lot of thresher sharks and the diving around Gato island (from Exotic dive resort) was very nice. As a resort we preferred the atmosphere at Magic Island.

Lee Thorneycroft arrived back from the Red Sea and had only positive things to say! During a conversation with Marcelina he spoke highly of all aspects of the holiday. Overall he said the he “can’t fault it, everything went brilliantly.” Speaking of the PADI advanced open water diver course which he took at the Inmo Divers Home he joked that there was “lots of studying” and compared it to a degree, however thought the practical tests were great and was impressed with his instructor, whom he thought was extremely patient. Through the duration of his trip he had 13 good 45 minute dives and described the Red Sea diving as “beautiful, great dive sites in Dahab, incredibly diverse aquatic life.” All the paper from you guys arrived and everything was how it should be, the transfers were fine, the second I arrived at the airport they were waiting for me and assisted with visas etc. The equipment was perfect, everything was great and I can’t fault it, I met some good people and saw much more of the Red Sea than expected. The staffs were fluent in many languages.” Overall, Leigh thought it was an “absolutely cracking holiday, it all worked out very, very nicely.”

Chris felt that his holiday to the Philippines was good value for money and that the diving destination was absolutely spot on, no issues what-so-ever. He stayed in the Exotic Dive and Beach Resort, of which he said was “brilliant, really clean and nice, excellent staff” and the Coron Hilltop View resort was also to the same standards. Speaking of the dive centres and hotel experience, he said he found both “First class, absolutely unbelievable, 10 out of 10. The staff were really friendly, really helpful, absolutely spectacular! Legendary!” Mr Lannin also said “The holiday itself was fantastic, I couldn’t have asked for any more of Holly, the girl who put together my holiday, everything she arranged ran absolutely smoothly which helped to make my holiday amazing. I asked Chris to rate us out of 10, 10 being the best and his response was 11, saying that everything was over and above his expectations and that he would most definitely be booking his diving holiday with Ultimate Diving again next year!

I would rate the holiday a nine out of ten. Both hotels were very good and the resort was beautiful and peaceful. The pickup and drop off from the airport was also good with all the taxi drivers on time and helpful. I was a first time diver and the dive centre was great, with good facilities and very helpful staff. Sue my instructor was fantastic, meticulous but also entertaining. I was on my own so I found the evenings a little quiet but it is perfect if you are traveling as a couple or with a group of friends. This is the only reason that the holiday did not get a ten out of ten. I had a great holiday overall and would recommend the resort and Ultimate Diving to anyone.

My wife and I went to Magic Island not exactly knowing what to expect, what a gem of a place. The accommodation was first rate well cared for and adequate for our needs. The staff were very friendly, helpful and polite, nothing was too much trouble for them.The food was excellent and even though as we are both vegetarians we were well looked after and can have no complaints about any of the meals. The diving was very good generally in small groups with friendly and knowledgeable guides (we were able to see a whale shark, pygmy seahorse and mandarin fish during our stay so couldn’t be much better than that) the only comment we would make about the diving is that it is all a bit the same as apart from Pescador Island all the dive sites are along the same reef wall, but they were still very good and some quite challenging in a strong current. The resort had the feel and atmosphere of a liveaboard, particularly with everyone eating together. We will certainly be returning in the future to enjoy the whole experience again, well worth the long journey.

I would recommend this holiday to others. It is an easy to reach destination and a good boat to be on. The crew work incredibly hard and with up to four dives per day it is good value for money plus Nitrox is thrown in for free! Sadly no pelagics but I am a v. spoilt diver and was disappointed that we had no shark sightings! Liveaboard was just great/ fantastic food and very helpful crew. Nothing was too much trouble. The dive centre in Sharm was very well organised. We were only there for a few hours but were impressed.

I had a fantastic 4 days diving. None of our party had tried it before but we thoroughly enjoyed it. Our instructor Beth was excellent. I had a bit of a scare on day 2 and nearly gave up but she coaxed me through it and I am so glad she did. I love it now and cant wait to try it again. Camel Dive club in Sharm is the best. I would thoroughly recommend it!

Egypt was great, Stephan and the Orca company were really good and soo much more professional than the ‘red sea’ diving company next door. Hani looked after me really well and met up with me most nights to show me the sights and keep me from being alone in the hotel. The reception and restaurant staff were lovely with me also. I have the bug for diving now, not so much from the 4 days as i found it a bit boring, but i went on two days on the boat with them, over to Ras Mohammed and the Starits of Tiran – it was totally unbelievable, the corals and the fish were amazing. It was pretty scary though too! Anyhow, I am going to Thailand on the 23rd July for two weeks staying with a friend out there and doing some travelling around. i was wondering whether you do trips out there at all? Is there any chance you can do anything for me? Departing round about the 16th July and coming back around the 6th August with a 1 week liveaboard or hotel all inc package with diving? Hope you can!! Look forward to hearing from you, and once again thanks again for all your help last time. it made a daunting trip really enjoyable

This was my 3rd visit to Colbalt Coast, what can I say. Fab hotel and brilliant service. Diving is spectactular, I will be going back next year. Ultiatediving always offers a competitive and first class service.

Really help team of people at this company!

Bonaire is a super dive destination – beautiful reefs, abundant fish life and pleasantly warm water. The boat diving at Captain Don’s is very well organised with helpful, knowledgeable dive guides. Nitrox is free and tanks are available 24/7 for unaccompanied diving. The meals at Rum Runners restaurant are excellent quality and variety. This was our fourth visit and the fact that we’re already planning our next one says it all!

Snorkelling Trip Marsa Shagra Nov 2022 This is the second time we have travelled with Ultimate Diving and we hope to do so again. Communication is excellent, quick and helpful. Our 2 deluxe chalets were clean, spacious and comfortable with outside sitting areas with views of the sea and desert. The food was 3 buffet style meals daily, good and varied. A pizza oven, was a nice extra optional extra. Excellent desserts. House reef - both North & South, are in a protected area, no fishing has been allowed for the last 30 years. It was like snorkelling in an aquarium. Very popular with divers. Easy sandy entrance/exit. Well organised set up, both safety and environmentally aware. Staff were helpful & pleasant. The divers we chatted to were all repeat customers. 95% divers, very few English mainly German and Dutch. Would recommend going there.

This was our first diving holiday, booked through Ultimate Diving. It certainly won't be our last! From start to finish, the planning, organisation and location, at the Marsa Shagra diving centre in Egypt, far exceeded our expectations and has been an amazing experience. We would personally like to thank Gail for all her hard work organising our diving trip, for dealing with any queries promptly and for being so helpful and polite. The travel arrangements were extremely well organised and the dive centre at Marsa Shagra was fantastic. Our chalet was modern and clean and was located close to the restaurant and other amenities. The food was outstanding and the staff throughout the dive centre were polite, friendly and spoke good English. The diving house reefs were amazing and suitable for all levels of diving experience. My partner had only recently qualified in June 2022 with 6 logged dives, so was a pure novice. During the week, she had the opportunity to master her diving skills and can't wait to return! The dive centre staff were always happy, smiling and ready to assist divers with their heavy equipment. A big thank you to Ahmed Amin, who helped us assemble our equipment, rinse our equipment after our dives and even went into the water to remove my partner's air tank at the end of her dives, which was very much appreciated. We have made so many fantastic memories on our first scuba diving holiday together and can't wait to return to Marsa Shagra diving centre in the future. Thank you so much for making our dreams a reality! Finally, we would thoroughly recommend Ultimate Diving to our family, friends and wider scuba diving community.