Question Daedalus - how good is it? - Liveaboard recommendation

[Tripophobia]

Thanks guys, super helpful input!

We are currently looking at two trips, one with the above menitoned Ocean Lovers that seems to cover everything, the other one with Blue Melody, which is cheaper but seems to fully focus on wrecks...

 

[ColinT3]

Thanks guys, super helpful input!

We are currently looking at two trips, one with the above menitoned Ocean Lovers that seems to cover everything, the other one with Blue Melody, which is cheaper but seems to fully focus on wrecks...

I’m doing the North (Wrecks, Ras Mohamed, Tiran) and Brothers route on Ocean Lovers in 2 weeks time. I did a BDE Nov/Dec last year. I’ve dived Tiran, Ras Mohamed, the Dunraven and the Thistlegorm before, but not the other northern wrecks.
Shark and Yolanda reef is a very nice dive in Ras Mohamed. Tiran is nice too. You can get Hammerheads at Jackson, it’s the ‘back side’ and a dive into the blue needing zodiacs, so day boats from Sharm don’t tend to do it. Season for Hammers at Jackson is the summer usually, Jul - Sep.

On the recent Nov/Dec BDE we had chartered the entire boat so could do what we wanted within reason, and went to the Salem Express first, so were a day behind the crowd, this meant very few boats with us at Brothers etc. Saw 2 Threshers on our first dive at Big Brother, plenty of Oceanic Whitetips on all dives, and a Silky on one dive. We didn’t see any hammers at Daedalus, Elphinstone was rammed so we only did 2 dives then left to go elsewhere.

I’ve got a pretty good deal on Ocean Lovers for the March trip, and so far the boat isn’t busy, under half full. It’s a new boat, launched last year I understand, so should be in great condition. I’ll let you know what it’s like.

 

[Barrel SpongeBob]

BDE route is worth it although my dive group (within the liveaboard) did not see hammerheads --the other zodiac did. My favourite dive is Numidia which is I believe near the Brothers. I went in July. Prior to it during December, I was in Sharm and managed a few days of Ras Mohammed from a resort with Emperor since I got a cold after a land tour. They have amazing liveaboard choices. I plan to go again this year, but better to ask around about the war before booking anything --I know Dahab got hit pretty close.

 

[Dan]

Hi all,
a friend and I are thinking about going for a liveaboard in April 2024 (first week). We are currently undecided between BDE and North + Brothers. I just returned from a familiy holiday to Marsa Alam where I had the opportunity to dive four times Elphinstone from land. That leaves me a bit disappointed because although we saw Oceanic Whitetips every time, it was super crowded with up to 14 liveaboards!

Hence, I would definitely not miss Elphinstone but am wondering about Daedalus. The chance to see hammerheads sounds tempting so I would like to hear your experiences with Daedalus (preferably same time of the year).

There is an alternative route with Ocean Lovers that even includes Brothers, North and even Tiran that we are leaning towards. Has anyone been on this boat or can maybe comment if Tiran is worth it?

Thanks a lot!

I only saw one hammerhead in the Daedalus blue water back in December 2019, as shown in my diving in Daedalus video, below If want to see schooling hammerheads, I recommend you to go diving in Eastern Pacific dive sites like Socorro, Cocos, Malpelo and Galapagos.




I sure enjoyed diving with the Oceanic Whitetip Sharks (OWS) in Elphinstone. The only time I saw OWS in my 19 years of diving (1641 dives) all over the world to date. So, that's worth it to dive in Elphinstone.




Here's my BDE trip video.

 

[ColinT3]

BDE route is worth it although my dive group (within the liveaboard) did not see hammerheads --the other zodiac did. My favourite dive is Numidia which is I believe near the Brothers. I went in July. Prior to it during December, I was in Sharm and managed a few days of Ras Mohammed from a resort with Emperor since I got a cold after a land tour. They have amazing liveaboard choices. I plan to go again this year, but better to ask around about the war before booking anything --I know Dahab got hit pretty close.

Yep, the Numidia is on the slope of Big Brother .

 

[DangerousDan64]

Daedalus is also pretty busy but it is a very large reef as well. I personally do not like it that much, reef it self is a bit duller than Brothers or even Elphinstone in terms of corals but main attraction is the sharks. I usually get bored after couple of dives. But if you have not done it yet, I still recommend it BDE route has been the classic for a long time. North & Brothers is a very good route, too, my current fave. Decision is hammer heads or not. Btw, do not raise your expectations, hammer heads are very skittish and they are usually around the same spot, relatively deep and encounters are often very short and rest of the dive I find a bit boring.

Glad to see someone is willing to admit that they get bored while diving. I get so sick of hearing other divers rhapsodize after a dive that I found totally pedestrian and memorable only for how disappointed I was. I have been toying with going on my first trip to the red sea with my niece's husband and his friends but I am not sure that BDE would be a good introduction to the Red Sea- especially if I never make it back there. As the dive is in June, shark sightings may not happen and besides, a little shark goes a long way with me.

 

[Lukasvtrier]

@ColinT3 Would you mind sharing how your experience was doing North reefs and wrecks with Ocean Lovers?

I’m doing the North (Wrecks, Ras Mohamed, Tiran) and Brothers route on Ocean Lovers in 2 weeks time. I did a BDE Nov/Dec last year. I’ve dived Tiran, Ras Mohamed, the Dunraven and the Thistlegorm before, but not the other northern wrecks.
Shark and Yolanda reef is a very nice dive in Ras Mohamed. Tiran is nice too. You can get Hammerheads at Jackson, it’s the ‘back side’ and a dive into the blue needing zodiacs, so day boats from Sharm don’t tend to do it. Season for Hammers at Jackson is the summer usually, Jul - Sep.

On the recent Nov/Dec BDE we had chartered the entire boat so could do what we wanted within reason, and went to the Salem Express first, so were a day behind the crowd, this meant very few boats with us at Brothers etc. Saw 2 Threshers on our first dive at Big Brother, plenty of Oceanic Whitetips on all dives, and a Silky on one dive. We didn’t see any hammers at Daedalus, Elphinstone was rammed so we only did 2 dives then left to go elsewhere.

I’ve got a pretty good deal on Ocean Lovers for the March trip, and so far the boat isn’t busy, under half full. It’s a new boat, launched last year I understand, so should be in great condition. I’ll let you know what it’s like.

 

[Christian]

North+Brothers is inmo a fav Egypt itinerary. Thistlegorm-RasMo-Tiran Strait and then Brothers. Have done it only a couple of times—in Oct/Nov. A shame no one seems to run it in summer? July would be awesome if you hit Shark/Yolanda at the right time.
Deadalus is mainly about sharks, hammerheads. Often seen in groups crusing off the northern side in summer.
In fall/winter longimanus. There’s a huge anemone garden on Deadalus West—but only one sort of anemone fish.
Coral is healthy, lots of huge hard coral and soft, but not as colorful as on Brothers or in the North or on Elphinstone. Mostly yellow/brownish.

 

[Mod63]

Golden Dolphin is running some northern trips in Summer

 

[Christian]

Golden Dolphin is running some northern trips in Summer

Hmm, can’t see that in their schedule? September seems to be the first North-Brothers (but don’t take in Strait of Tiran).