Northern Red Sea: 'Wrecks and Reefs'
The Red Sea is renowned for its warm, clear, blue waters and colourful hard and soft corals, as well as for the amazing fish life. It is also famous for some spectacular wall dives and fabulous wrecks. Find out more about Red Sea diving here or check out our galleries of photos from previous trips here and here.
So far we have booked four trips to the Red Sea for 2009. The first is a reef clean up in January, then we have a trip for more experienced divers to the Brothers and Daedalus Islands at the end of May and then two trips in August and November to the Northern Red Sea to visit the spectacular wrecks and reefs that are found there.
The first Wrecks and Reefs runs from the 7th to the 14th of August and the second from the 6th until the 13th November. We are flying from Gatwick airport to Hurghada in Egypt. Both trips are the same price of £1049, so you just have to decide which one to do, or if you can't decide do both!
We have chosen these dates as they are both at very good times of year to dive in the Red Sea.
August is particularly good for fish life, there are more fish and more fish activity in August than at any other time. The water is warm and the weather hot and sunny.
November is also good, there will be slightly fewer fish but the water and weather are still very warm. Back home Autumn will be turning to Winter and the Christmas adverts will be starting on TV.
The Boat
We will be using a liveaboard from the blue o two fleet. For instance, we may be aboard the Blue Horizon. Built in 2006, blue o two describes this boat as 'one of the most luxurious liveaboards that the Red Sea has to offer; with mini bars, personal entertainment systems, a sky lounge and a Jacuzzi - the non-divers are as spoilt for choice as the divers'. Every cabin is air-conditioned and has its own minibar and TV, DVD & CD personal entertainment system. For socialising, visit the large and luxurious main saloon, which features an intergrated 34" flat-screen TV, two large dining tables and a bar. For a more relaxing evening, the sky lounge plays host to a Surround Sound Cinema System, as well as its own bar. There are two teak sundecks and a five person open-air jacuzzi. Nitrox ia available for anyone who wants it. We could also be aboard the Blue Fin, or the Blue Melody, which have some small differences but the same high standard of luxurious comfort.
Practicalities
Vaccinations are not a requirement for entering Egypt but it is usually recommended to be current with Polio, hepatitis, and typhoid and tetanus inoculations. Do check with your GP for the latest recommendations.
You must have a full UK passport with at least 6 months left to run and a couple of empty pages in order to enter Egypt. A visa is required to enter Egypt, the cost of which is included in the trip price for UK passport holders and will be waiting for you on arrival at Hurghada airport. (Other nationality passports please check with your embassy to find out what the latest requirements are. Some nationalities need to obtain visas before leaving the UK...You won't be able to go on the plane without a visa!)
The weather should be warm and sunny, but occasionally in November with a cool breeze, so pack light clothes with perhaps a fleece. Take sunglasses, sun tan oil and a hat, as the sun can be strong. No shoes are worn on the boat so just have a pair for traveling. Do bear in mind when packing that there is a 20kg weight allowance on the flight and it would be a shame to have to leave your diving equipment behind, (or pay excess baggage).
The cost of the diving package includes tanks and weights so you will only need to bring the following with you. If you do not have these items do come and visit the shop either to buy or to arrange hire. We have special offers for both.
- Wetsuit, 3mm.(August) 3-5mm(November)
- BCD, Regulator with octopus.
- Dive computer
- Torch, a must if planning on night diving but useful on a number of other dives.
- If you are bringing a rechargeable torch the local voltage is 220V, but you will probably need a plug adapter.
- Mask, snorkel and fins. Strap fins with boots are best.
- Marker buoy and whistle
For those of you needing to hire gear we can offer rental of BCD, regulator with octopus and computer, wetsuit and mask, snorkel and fins for £100 for the week. You will need to book this in advance and take it out with you.
Training & Courses
The Red Sea is an excellent place for beginner or less experienced divers. We have arranged some special deals for basic training combined with the trip:
We can do a complete PADI open water diver course package. With the pool and theory done over a weekend in the UK before departure, the open water dives will then be done on the first two days of diving, leaving four more days of diving. Included in the cost are the manuals, log pages, and certification card. The cost would be an extra £300 on top of the trip price.
Another option for anybody completing their referral course, i.e. doing the 4 open water dives to qualify, can do these for an additional £80. These would be done on the first two days of diving leaving a further four days diving. This again includes the certification card.
For those of you who already have your open water qualification, or who gain it over the first two days of the trip, you should go on to take your Advanced open water qualification. This would cost £100 and includes manual and certification card.
Other courses such as specialties in underwater photography, naturalist, boat diver, wreck diver, nitrox etc can also be arranged. Please call for details.
Booking
Both trips are the same price of £1049, which includes the diving with standard tanks and weights, flights, government taxes, transfers, accommodation and food. Not included are tips for the boat crew, t-shirts, alcoholic drinks etc. The diving, normally three or more dives a day, is included in the price. The last dive will be scheduled to allow a 24-hour break before flying home.
A non-refundable deposit of £300 is needed to secure a place.
For credit card payments there is a handling charge of 2%.
A condition of booking is that you have adequate travel insurance. If you already have insurance please check that it covers you for scuba diving including recompression treatment. If you do not have any travel insurance, or if your policy does not include scuba diving, we can arrange it for you. Get cover when you book in order to make full use of the cancellation benefits.
If you would like to book or if you have any questions please do not hesitate to call (020 7381 5000) or email us (info@e-scuba.co.uk).
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." - Mahatma Ghandi
