Kategorie: News
History Night on September 15
ORCA Dive Clubs is celebrating a major milestone this year: 35 years after the founding of the first club, the dive center organization is inviting divers worldwide to ORCA History Night on September 15, 2026 - taking place simultaneously at all participating ORCA Dive Clubs.
From Hurghada to the World
The history of ORCA Dive Clubs began in 1991, when Volker Clausen opened the first club at the Hor-Palace in southern Hurghada. At that time, what is now a major tourist destination on the Red Sea was still a small fishing village - divers were among the first to recognize the region’s potential. Four years later, ORCA moved to Safaga, marking the beginning of steady growth. Additional locations in Egypt followed, including El Gouna, Soma Bay, Coral Garden, and Hamata, where ORCA became the first company to open a dive center in the far south of the country in 2001, thereby making the Fury Shoals accessible for day trips.
Those early beginnings in Egypt have long since evolved into an international network: Today, ORCA Dive Clubs operates locations in Egypt, Bali, and the Lesser Sunda Islands in Indonesia, as well as in Mauritius and Germany. In addition to traditional recreational diving, ORCA has also established itself as a provider of technical diving, including the annual Silent Week - one of the largest rebreather events worldwide - as well as its own rebreather academy.
An Evening Full of Memories
At History Night, guests can look forward to a special photo presentation featuring memories from 35 years of ORCA Dive Clubs, accompanied by stories and images - some shared by long-time ORCA staff members. A dinner buffet rounds out the evening, and all guests will also receive an exclusive anniversary goodie bag. The event is aimed at both long-time regulars and divers who have only recently joined the ORCA community.
More anniversary promotions through the end of the year
History Night isn’t the only promotion for the anniversary year: For the period from December 6 to 13, 2026, ORCA is announcing another anniversary week with a 35 percent discount on dive packages, courses, and equipment rentals - valid on the regular walk-in price at all ORCA locations worldwide, from Egypt to Bali and Mauritius to Germany.
The Alia Soul: The Latest Chapter in ORCA’s History
A current project also fits in with the anniversary year: Since August 2024, the liveaboard Alia Soul has been part of the ORCA family. Following extensive renovations - cabin sizes were expanded and the hull was lengthened to make room for a spacious dive deck - the 36-meter-long vessel set sail on its maiden voyage in May 2025. Ten air-conditioned cabins accommodate up to 20 guests, along with a spacious salon, sun deck, and outdoor lounge.
ORCA places particular emphasis on safety aboard its new flagship: Among other features, the vessel is equipped with an ENOS tracking system, fire alarm and suppression systems, life rafts, oxygen, a defibrillator, and a separate medical treatment room. In light of repeated safety incidents on liveaboard diving trips in Egypt in recent years, ORCA is making a conscious effort with the Alia Soul to set a new standard for safety. The itineraries take divers to the Red Sea’s most famous dive sites, from the wrecks along the northern route to the marine parks at Brothers, Daedalus, and Elphinstone, all the way to the reefs in the far south.
As a further step, ORCA Dive Clubs also underwent an MSI safety audit with the Alia Soul - an independent inspection offered by an Australian company for liveaboard vessels that evaluates, among other things, construction and safety equipment. The Alia Soul successfully passed the audit, which - given the safety deficiencies on liveaboards in Egypt that have been repeatedly discussed in recent years - should be viewed as an additional, voluntary step toward greater transparency.
By the way - in addition to founding the Orca Dive Clubs, Volker Clausen also made diving history:
224.5 meters - Volker Clausen’s world record: On August 21, 2003, Volker Clausen, Manfred Führmann, and Chris Ullmann dove to a depth of 224.5 meters off Panorama Reef near Safaga using rebreathers (APD Inspiration) - a new world record in deep diving.
The effort behind it: four boats, 17 safety divers, and approximately 253,000 liters of breathing gas in various mixtures. During the dive, all three divers had to replace their rebreathers due to technical malfunctions - a water-filled cavity in the unit had disabled the electronics at around 190 meters.
Originally, “only” a dive to 200 meters had been planned. This initial motivation led to one of the most famous deep-diving world records of its time - Hats off to Volker!
There’s a great interview with Volker Clausen on YouTube (Tauchtalk): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34K4Y80YvtU
Further information:
ORCA Dive Clubs
https://www.orca-diveclubs.com/de/blog/35-years-orca-dive-clubs
https://www.orca-diveclubs.com
Orca Diveclubs on Taucher.Net
ORCA Dive Club Safaga Amarina Resort
ORCA Dive Club, Turtle's Inn, El Gouna Abu Tig Marina
ORCA Dive Club, Soma Bay
ORCA Dive Club, Coral Garden
ORCA Dive Club Wadi Lahmy Azur / bei Hamata
ORCA Diveclub Candidasa, Bali
ORCA Dive Club Mauritius, Pereybere
ORCA Dive Club Moreen Beach
ORCA Dive Club Sardinien, Santa Teresa di Gallura
ORCA Sport und Reisen, Rosenheim
ORCA Dive Club Shoni Bay
Alia Soul