Best Bet For Two Weeks' Diving?

[Sandpipa]

Hi all,

I'm looking at a trip to the Red Sea - hopefully for two weeks - in late summer/September - dates are very flexible.

I've dived the northern area before and am happy to do so again, or try somewhere different, coupled with some time diving the Brothers.

I have 70-odd dives and my AOW, and am nitrox-certified. I've only done a handful of dives in the last couple of years, though, so was thinking of doing a week of some easier sites before tackling the more challenging stuff.

I'm happy to do a land-based week followed by a week on a liveaboard, or else two weeks on a boat back-to-back.

I just wondered if anyone could advise me on what might be a good itinerary, and whether I might find some decent discounts for a fortnight on a liveaboard?

I'm on a middling budget, and as long as there's decent space with a well-run outfit, I'm happy to compromise on luxury to maximise the diving.

Thanks very much in advance for any thoughts.

Sandpipa.

 

[Solly]

I will not recommend names but a general plan would be in my opinion to head to marsa alam for your first week, you will have some very nice shore based diving (easy sites, medium sites ... haven't seen difficult ones, may be elphinstone if you decide to go there) you will have RIB dives, you will practice using your SMB.... all these will be needed if you decide to head to areas like brothers and daedalus. Also remote sites can be reached by trucks.

Late summer/septembre is a very good time as it won't be too hot and in the same time it will be season for big staff

Many good operators do the daedalus/brothers route and might combine with some deep south or might not... so just check their routes.... emperor, blue o two ...etc. If you choose to go to marsa alam check the routes that will initiate from port ghaleb.

as for land based operators try to use the one in your stay hotel, I usually go to redseadivingsafari marsa shagra, they are very good... also dealt with coraya divers and they were good as well.... you will need to check prices to pick whatever fits your budget, dates and their availability as well (usually shagra is overbooked and you need to book as early as possible)

hope this is of help

 

[Sandpipa]

Hi Solly,

Thanks very much for the advice, much appreciated. Marsa Shagra looks really beautiful and right up my street, but I'm a solo traveller which means I couldn't take advantage of the unlimited shore diving without paying for a guide to act as a buddy... At 22 euros per dive on top of the standard dive package price, and with a single supplement for accommodation also to consider, that takes it well out of my price range right now, unfortunately. One for the future, perhaps - pity!

Please can anyone recommend any other two-week boat-based or land-boat combinations?

Many thanks,

S.

 

[Solly]

its pitty, you can still email them and check for your situation they might have other alternatives for solo divers other than a private guide.

 

[Sandpipa]

its pitty, you can still email them and check for your situation they might have other alternatives for solo divers other than a private guide.

That's a good idea, Solly, thanks. I guess the land-based operations with house reefs must all get a fair number of solo divers, so maybe there's a system for buddying them up?

Cheers!

Sandpipa

 

[diverLux]

Most of the time I go alone to the Red Sea for diving never had a problem finding a dive buddy on site , you will not be the only one and the dive centre wil team you up with somebody, otherwise one of the guide will act as a buddy at no extra cost.

Coraya Divers are not cheap and the hotels in Madinat Coraya even less so, check out Pharaoh Dive Club at Roots Luxury Camp, El Quseir. Steve Rattle is the Managing Director.

September is still VERY hot as far as I am concerned, last year 37°C during the day, mid 30 at night, sea 29.

Also check out Aquarius Diving Club at Hamata near Marsa Alam, I was diving with them in Makadi Bay, best prices around.

 

[Sandpipa]

Most of the time I go alone to the Red Sea for diving never had a problem finding a dive buddy on site , you will not be the only one and the dive centre wil team you up with somebody, otherwise one of the guide will act as a buddy at no extra cost.

Coraya Divers are not cheap and the hotels in Madinat Coraya even less so, check out Pharaoh Dive Club at Roots Luxury Camp, El Quseir. Steve Rattle is the Managing Director.

September is still VERY hot as far as I am concerned, last year 37°C during the day, mid 30 at night, sea 29.

Also check out Aquarius Diving Club at Hamata near Marsa Alam, I was diving with them in Makadi Bay, best prices around.

Thanks very much, DLux, wasn't previously aware of your suggestions so will check them out!

 

[foster186]

Hi Sandpipa,

How're you getting on lining up your next dive trip? I've just come back off a liveaboard trip to the Brothers and am keen to set something up for later this year. Marsa Shagra was strongly recommended to me by some people on the boat and it looks really good. While I enjoyed the liveaboard I also like the idea of the shore-based diving they offer. Anyway, I've always tended to be buddy-less on these trips so if Marsa Shagra was something you were seriously considering we might want to think about buddying up?

Chris