Our Story
In 1998, the first Extra Divers centre was opened at Makadi Bay on the Red Sea. Now there are 22 dive centres, two liveaboards, and Extra Divers has five resorts of its own with hotels at the most beautiful dive sites in the world.
The success story began when Extra Divers’ dive pioneers saw a unique selling point in combining professional tourism with excellent customer care while serving the growing dive tourism market. They hit the nail right on the head. Centres in Dahab, Gozo and many others quickly followed the lead of the first dive centre in Makadi Bay.
Our partnership with selected tour operators, hotels and airlines soon resulted in a highly positive response from satisfied guests. Today, Extra Divers projects an excellent image among its regular German and international customers.
Whether it’s a standard or a luxurious holiday, Extra Divers has something for everyone. Thanks to our partnership with premium hotel brands such as Shangri-La, Mövenpick and Six Senses, even the most discerning diver will find the ideal centre. By booking through our partner agencies and using the Extra Divers Member Card, diving guests enjoy a comprehensive service with attractive discounts when rebooking.
Extra Divers Worldwide is managed by entrepreneur and diving enthusiast, Walter Harscher. To ensure high standards of quality, he spends several months each year visiting the dive centres to personally check that everything is in order.
For Extra Divers, every single centre is an ongoing labour of love, offering unforgettable dives with the best service in the most beautiful spots in the world. Never content to rest on their laurels, they have been constantly on the lookout for new projects – in spite of the odd setback, such as the closure of the centre in Yemen due to the political situation.
In 2001 Extra Divers created Nabucco Island off the coast of Borneo in Indonesia for the first time, a special combination of hotel and dive center, planned by divers for divers. The concept of its own hotel, top diving areas, excellent cuisine and construction from an ecological point of view was enthusiastically accepted by the guests. There are now 5 Nabucco resorts in Indonesia. For guests looking for something special, the Nabucco Resort Virgin Cocoa is a real insider tip. The luxurious island is surrounded by a huge, intact house reef and, in addition to diving, offers free yoga classes for those seeking relaxation.
Also, since 2011 Extra Divers has been extremely successful at sea. Under the Extra Divers flag, the Oman Explorer cruises the waters of Oman, following routes that are rich in variety and teeming with fish. From the summer of 2019, the latest addition to the fleet, the Red Sea Explorer, will sail to the most beautiful spots in Egypt. The luxurious steel ship, equipped with everything necessary for a successful diving safari, will set new standards in the Red Sea. On board, divers will enjoy the ultimate in convenience and comfort.
Besides the tried and trusted, Extra Divers places a high value on new, unique dive destinations free of mass tourism. So, for example, there has been a dive centre on Christmas Island since 2016. The unique gem in the Indian Ocean delights nature lovers and individualists with a variety of dive sites. Besides flat coral gardens, there are caves and steep drop-offs plunging to depths of several hundred metres. Over 200 species of coral live here, along with endemic fish and the giants of the sea. You won't be long into a dive before spotting various species of shark – and you’ll seldom see another dive boat. With the weekly flight from Jakarta, initiated by Extra Divers, the island is within easy reach. Untouched nature, excellent cuisine and peace aplenty await holidaymakers at Extra Divers El Hierro. The smallest of the Canary Islands is a UNESCO biosphere reserve that will entice you with its enchanted walking trails and biodiverse underwater world.
