Our Team
David Watchorn
Director & Manager- Extra Divers Australia
SSI #77810 - Divemaster Instructor (+many specialities)
PADI #372701 - MDST Instructor (+many specialities)
BSAC #7424 - Open Water Instructor & BSAC Advanced Diver.
Coxswain NC1
Originally from Melbourne, Australia.
Dave has been involved with Extra Divers on Christmas Island since 2016.
He learnt to dive in Egypt, and has lived in the UK for 20 years- “hence his accent”
He’s a multi agency instructor, SSI, PADI, BSAC and IAHD, able to converse in German and French for our European guests.
Dave can teach all levels of diving from Try Scuba to Technical Rebreather diving.
He’s dived all around the world, UK, Iceland, Maldives, Egypt, Truk Lagoon, Galapagos, Croatia, Malta, Great Barrier Reef, Melbourne - everything from a skin suit to heated drysuits. Single tank to Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR).
With a huge knowledge of the island underwater, and on land- he can spend hours explaining the unique island he fell in love with, not to mention some secret locations!
James Pan
SSI Instructor #83413- (+many specialities)
PADI Instructor #403830 (+many specialities)
James describes himself as being from Taiwan via Sydney. He's spend alot of time travelling to many countries across the globe, teaching scuba diving.
He's the "fish guy" so if you want to know something about fish- he's the guy to ask!
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Toby Pitt
PADI Divemaster #53623
Master 5 / MED 2
Coxswain NC1
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Toby has been around boats for as long as he can remember. Originally from Tasmania, he's an accomplished rower, but fell in love with the ocean and wants to show everyone what there is to see!
His enthusiasm for the water is infectious.
Brett Ionn
Coxswain NC1
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Brett has begun works with us on a casual basis. Ensuring our business can cover any eventuality.
He's been on the island for 6 years working in the health and aviation industries.
Brett owns his own boat, and has been around them for 20 years.
Extra Divers Australia
Extra Divers Australia, located in Christmas Island, is an Australian managed locally run dive centre, offering marine adventures and accommodation on Christmas Island.
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We began operations in 2016, after a number of years investigating the potential opportunities on the island.
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We strive to be one of the best dive centre's in the world, combining a very safe environment, great customer service & huge knowledge of the island.
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We care about the environment we live in, and ensure our customers are aware of how they can protect it during their stay.
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Being locally run, we are able to offer employment opportunities as well as spend locally with other businesses on the island.
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The company believes strongly that tourism is the future for Christmas Island, and has committed over $3 million dollars of investment to assist this process.
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As part of Extra Divers Worldwide, we have the added support of our international team in marketing, sales & technical support
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In 2023, we became accredited by WA Tourism, as a Quality Tourism Marine Accredited Business - the 1st Marine one on Christmas Island
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Leading Australian tourism operators display the Quality Tourism Accredited Business logo. They've met specific criteria ensuring they are committed to exceeding your expectations with great customer service and the highest standards of business practice.
When you choose a business with the Quality Tourism Accredited Business logo, you can expect:
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Quality
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Reliability
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Professional customer service
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Accuracy in advertising
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Sound environmental practices
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An appropriately licenced and qualified operator
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Adherence to a Code of Ethics
The Quality Tourism Framework (QTF) certifies tourism businesses that meet specific quality assurance criteria ensuring they are committed to exceeding consumer expectations with great customer service and the highest standards of business practice. All Quality Tourism Accredited Businesses undertake regular on-site audits to ensure compliance. A Quality Tourism Accredited Business has:
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Licences & Permits: Ensures the business has all the required licences and permits.
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Insurance Details: Ensures the business has all required coverage including at least $10million in public liability insurance.
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Customer Service: Business must have documented customer service procedures, booking and cancellation policies and customer feedback processes.
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Business Operating Systems: Ensures business has detailed and proactive operating systems ie. maintenance, health and safety, and cleaning schedules.
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Human Resource Management: Ensures management complies with legislation relating to employing staff along with comprehensive ongoing training and skill development.
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Risk Management: Businesses must demonstrate documentation and implementation of risk management plans, as well as emergency and evacuation procedures.
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Economic Sustainability and Financial Systems: Ensures business complies with accounting standards, up-to-date record keeping and complies with consumer laws.
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Environmental Management: Business must demonstrate a documented and practical commitment to sustainable environmental practices.
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Code of Practice: Business must sign an industry code of ethics.
Extra Divers Worldwide
In 1998, the first Extra Divers centre was opened at Makadi Bay on the Red Sea. Now there are 25 dive centres, three liveaboards, and Extra Divers has six resorts of its own with hotels at the most beautiful dive sites in the world.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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In 2001, for the first time, Extra Divers established a specially combined hotel and dive centre, designed by divers for divers, on Nabucco Island off the coast of Borneo in Indonesia. The idea of the company having its own hotel in a prime diving location, offering excellent cuisine, and designed with the environment in mind, has been greeted enthusiastically by guests. There are now four Nabucco resorts in Indonesia and one in Tobago, including Nabucco’s Resort Speyside Inn in Tobago and Nabucco’s Nunukan Island Resort on Maratua Atoll, Borneo. For guests who are looking for something special, Nabucco Resort Virgin Cocoa is a genuine insider tip. The luxurious island is surrounded by a huge, intact local reef and, besides diving, offers free yoga lessons for those looking to relax.
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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. The Maluku Explorer – the only safari ship permitted to sail in the southern Moluccas – discovers the secrets of Halmahera. 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. And there's more to come! There are plans to operate even more ships under the Extra Divers flag in the next few years.
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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. 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.
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Click the logo to go to the Extra Divers Worldwide Site