- Messages
- 19,586
- Reaction score
- 18,412
- Location
- Philadelphia and Boynton Beach
- # of dives
- 1000 - 2499
Due to flight availability, I arrived in Port Ghalib 2 days before my two
weeks on the Red Sea Aggressor (see separate review). I chose to do a 3 tank boat trip with
Emperor Divers, the on site operator at the Marina Lodge Hotel. I made my
arrangements online and it worked flawlessly. I completed the paperwork on
my arrival and was ready to dive the next day.
Emperor Divers has 3 large boats moored at the marina in front of the
hotel. Two of 3 boats were operating during my visit. My 12 liter DIN
aluminum nitrox tanks were ready for me. They had an analyzer available and
I analyzed all 3 of my tanks up front. One and 2 kg lead weights were
available in more than sufficient quantity. The boat could take somewhere
in excess of 20 divers, there were only about a dozen on my trip and about
the same number on the other boat. The trip to the dive site was relatively
short, less than 45 minutes. Dive briefings were good. There was a DM/guide
in the water but one was not obliged to stay with them and one could dive
with their buddy. We did 2 dives at Marsa Shouna. The first went West and
was very shallow with relatively poor visibility (max depth 52 feet). The
second went East and was deeper, with significantly better visibility (max
depth 67 feet). The 3rd dive was in a different area, Marsa Mubarak, at a
site called Farsha Sahab. On my first visit to the Red Sea, there was
plenty to see. Highlights included a pair of pipefish, a reef octopus, a
great and a peppered moray, anemonefish, bluespotted stingrays and many
versions of common reef fish I was not familiar with. All 3 dives ended up
being an hour or slightly more. A very good buffet lunch was served on the
boat between dives 2 and 3 for a very reasonable extra price.
Though I did not know it when I booked, the operator also does some special
dive trips for an additional cost and early departure. They go to at least
2 world class sites we visited later in the week when I was on the
Aggressor, Elphinstone and Abu Dabab. I would do either of the dives, given
the opportunity.
The Marina Lodge is a very comfortable mid-level hotel with nice rooms and
good on site food service. The employees were friendly and customer
centric. They have a couple of nice pools if you have the time to relax and
enjoy them.
Emperor Divers is a well run, smooth dive operator that offers a variety of
land based dive opportunities in this region of the Red Sea. I had a very
good day diving with them and would gladly do so again.
weeks on the Red Sea Aggressor (see separate review). I chose to do a 3 tank boat trip with
Emperor Divers, the on site operator at the Marina Lodge Hotel. I made my
arrangements online and it worked flawlessly. I completed the paperwork on
my arrival and was ready to dive the next day.
Emperor Divers has 3 large boats moored at the marina in front of the
hotel. Two of 3 boats were operating during my visit. My 12 liter DIN
aluminum nitrox tanks were ready for me. They had an analyzer available and
I analyzed all 3 of my tanks up front. One and 2 kg lead weights were
available in more than sufficient quantity. The boat could take somewhere
in excess of 20 divers, there were only about a dozen on my trip and about
the same number on the other boat. The trip to the dive site was relatively
short, less than 45 minutes. Dive briefings were good. There was a DM/guide
in the water but one was not obliged to stay with them and one could dive
with their buddy. We did 2 dives at Marsa Shouna. The first went West and
was very shallow with relatively poor visibility (max depth 52 feet). The
second went East and was deeper, with significantly better visibility (max
depth 67 feet). The 3rd dive was in a different area, Marsa Mubarak, at a
site called Farsha Sahab. On my first visit to the Red Sea, there was
plenty to see. Highlights included a pair of pipefish, a reef octopus, a
great and a peppered moray, anemonefish, bluespotted stingrays and many
versions of common reef fish I was not familiar with. All 3 dives ended up
being an hour or slightly more. A very good buffet lunch was served on the
boat between dives 2 and 3 for a very reasonable extra price.
Though I did not know it when I booked, the operator also does some special
dive trips for an additional cost and early departure. They go to at least
2 world class sites we visited later in the week when I was on the
Aggressor, Elphinstone and Abu Dabab. I would do either of the dives, given
the opportunity.
The Marina Lodge is a very comfortable mid-level hotel with nice rooms and
good on site food service. The employees were friendly and customer
centric. They have a couple of nice pools if you have the time to relax and
enjoy them.
Emperor Divers is a well run, smooth dive operator that offers a variety of
land based dive opportunities in this region of the Red Sea. I had a very
good day diving with them and would gladly do so again.