Desert Sea Divers Jeddah Trip

[medeng8]

I just got back from diving with Desert Sea Divers in Jeddah (9/13 - 9/14). Two days of boat dives, three dives each day. It was my first time to the Red Sea and I had a great time. Sites were great. Lots to see. The crew takes care of you on the boat, to include breakfast, lunch and snacks. The only hiccup that occurred was that I was not able to dive Nitrox the second day as they were not resupplied their O2 in time. No big deal. There were only two nitrox divers on the boat and I was one of them.

This was my experience, ymmv.

 

[shortdivemedic]

Yes they are always my favorite and they do a great job of taking care of you. The night boat trips are also worth it to.

Cheers

 

[Searcaigh]

Have my new multiple entry visa for Saudi valid until March next year, Jeddah here I come ..... for work of course

Dived with Desert Sea Divers last year, they had Nitrox but no analyzer!

 

[medeng8]

...they had Nitrox but no analyzer!

They did have one when I asked for it. I was on the boat with divemaster Ali. He had them bring the analyzer from the shop.

 

[Searcaigh]

Last year when I was diving with them, there was an issue with a customer who dropped their analyzer overboard and they were not replacing it until that customer had paid them for it!

 

[graham_s]

I'll have to head up to Jeddah for a spot of diving at some point.

 

[Searcaigh]

Keep me posted Graham, I might head over after Haj (Nov / Dec) and book to stay at the Sheraton Beach Chalets for easy shore diving. One of my friends still lives in Jeddah at Arabian Homes, so I might possibly stay at his place as I did last year.

 

[medeng8]

I'm going back out 6-7 Dec. So if anyone is going, I may see you on the boat.

 

[Searcaigh]

That would be good, I will see how my schedule fares out next month.

 

[Blackmore75]

It's good to hear great reviews about Desert Sea Divers. We had a group of 18 set up to go with Dream Divers liveaboard the end of Nov/early Dec weekend. A few weeks ago they told our dive lead that they had given the boat we were on to the Saudis for some kind of water quality testing/survey they were doing, and that we needed to drop our numbers and move to the smaller liveaboard. This morning, we got a message that they had given that boat to the govt as well for the same reason, and that we weren't going to be able to use them at all. We are trying to get something else set up now, and may try to get with Desert Sea to make it happen. Or we may just try to go to Oman. Either way, I just wanted to share our situation for those of you that dive over there on a fairly regular basis. Hell of a way to run a business. We did a dive to the Farasans with Dream Divers back in May and it was fantastic, but if that is the way they are going to treat customers, we will be looking for another company.