Sharm, Hurghada or a live-aboard?

[Triple C]

Hi, planning a last minute Red Sea trip in about 2 weeks, but I'm stumped on where to go!

I'm looking for great dives without hordes of divers on every site. I'm master diver certified and like to take photos without fins and bubbles in the background.

There's a boat from Marsa Alam doing a run called "Deep South Expedition: Secrets of Zabargad" which promises to dive sites that have almost no other boats.

Any and all recommendations are appreciated!

 

[barnsleydiver]

Hi, planning a last minute Red Sea trip in about 2 weeks, but I'm stumped on where to go!

I'm looking for great dives without hordes of divers on every site. I'm master diver certified and like to take photos without fins and bubbles in the background.

There's a boat from Marsa Alam doing a run called "Deep South Expedition: Secrets of Zabargad" which promises to dive sites that have almost no other boats.

Any and all recommendations are appreciated!

Sorry I can't offer any suggestions but from my very recent experience in February please avoid Emperor Divers if you value your safety. Their safety standards have slipped dramatically. Below is the escape route blocked with cleaning equipment and there were many other safety issues on the Seven Seas, which was destroyed by fire 2 weeks later.

Enjoy your trip whatever you decide on.

 

[Edward3c]

Please read the safety advice here before booking you trip.

 

[Triple C]

Sorry I can't offer any suggestions but from my very recent experience in February please avoid Emperor Divers if you value your safety. Their safety standards have slipped dramatically. Below is the escape route blocked with cleaning equipment and there were many other safety issues on the Seven Seas, which was destroyed by fire 2 weeks later.

Enjoy your trip whatever you decide on.

Thank you. How much bleaching did you see?

 

[Mod63]

My observation from December/January: Everything south of Ras Banas is deader than dead. Recent postings on Taucher.net suggest that coral bleaching has extended as far north as Safaga with the majority of coral dead.

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

Are there still any boats on (not in/under) the Red Sea?

 

[Sure Squintsalot]

My observation from December/January: Everything south of Ras Banas is deader than dead. Recent postings on Taucher.net suggest that coral bleaching has extended as far north as Safaga with the majority of coral dead.

I have a nagging suspicion that a lot of divers don't know what bleaching actually looks like. There is developing bleaching occurring, namely on porites corals on more southerly reefs, but, having dived the standard "BDE" circuit and most of the sites near Safaga a year and a half ago, I can tell you that most of the corals there are decidedly NOT dead. Not even close. Want proof?

Here you go:






Mod63.... where's your proof for your statement?

 

[barnsleydiver]

Thank you. How much bleaching did you see?

We saw a lot of bleaching but to be fair as a result of the other recent boat tragedies, the Coast Guard has obviously been instructed by the authorities to close access to the sea at the slightest bad weather so we only got out on the boat for the last day and a half, the rest of the time was in poor locations doing shore dives.

 

[Mod63]

I have a nagging suspicion that a lot of divers don't know what bleaching actually looks like. There is developing bleaching occurring, namely on porites corals on more southerly reefs, but, having dived the standard "BDE" circuit and most of the sites near Safaga a year and a half ago, I can tell you that most of the corals there are decidedly NOT dead.

In between your last time and now was 2024, the hottest ever recorded year when it comes to water temperature in the Red Sea. The south is dead. I was there 3 month ago and I know what bleaching looks like.

 

[boqurant]

No bleaching in the North around Ras Mohammad in Sep 2024, and none mentioned to me in subsequent months by regular dive teams in that area