I was out for a very special dive trip,
somekind of pioneer thing, in the Dahlak archipelago, Eritrea.
We went out with a customized, refurbished traditional Sambookh fisherboat,
Diving is great there, though I joined the trip during the plancton-rich season
nov/dec, so visibility was reduced to about 15m on some spots,normal is 30-40m.
Anyway, what we saw was incredibly dense fish population, according to the fact that
Eritrea didn't fish for more than 30 years due to their struggle with ethiopia.
I guess it'S the Red-sea-best-of, intact reefs. I only can compare to Egypt.
Mantas,dolphins, reef fish, big swarms of tuna, gardens of soft and stone corals. I
saw my first leaf fish there and the largest black grouper on a drift dive.
And great wrecks, old war and cargo ships.
the best of all: NO other divers or boats during the whole trip through the
archipelago!
(From the very first day, we had the pioneer feeling ;o))
We spent some nights onboard and some on the beaches of the islands. Nobody around.
Great snorkelling, too.
The operator is Eritreadivers,driven by a couple from Germany.
By now,
there are only 1-week liveaboard trips offered, but soon daytrips, too, they said. No
charter flights, but quite affordable to Asmara, the capital.
Dont miss to stay for landtrips to discover Eritrea's beautiful landscape and the
friendliness of the people, really different than in the neighbour red sea countries!
More info:
www.eritreadivers.com,
still only in german, but it's said that english
will be available, soon, too.
Ciao Chrissy
somekind of pioneer thing, in the Dahlak archipelago, Eritrea.
We went out with a customized, refurbished traditional Sambookh fisherboat,
Diving is great there, though I joined the trip during the plancton-rich season
nov/dec, so visibility was reduced to about 15m on some spots,normal is 30-40m.
Anyway, what we saw was incredibly dense fish population, according to the fact that
Eritrea didn't fish for more than 30 years due to their struggle with ethiopia.
I guess it'S the Red-sea-best-of, intact reefs. I only can compare to Egypt.
Mantas,dolphins, reef fish, big swarms of tuna, gardens of soft and stone corals. I
saw my first leaf fish there and the largest black grouper on a drift dive.
And great wrecks, old war and cargo ships.
the best of all: NO other divers or boats during the whole trip through the
archipelago!
(From the very first day, we had the pioneer feeling ;o))
We spent some nights onboard and some on the beaches of the islands. Nobody around.
Great snorkelling, too.
The operator is Eritreadivers,driven by a couple from Germany.
By now,
there are only 1-week liveaboard trips offered, but soon daytrips, too, they said. No
charter flights, but quite affordable to Asmara, the capital.
Dont miss to stay for landtrips to discover Eritrea's beautiful landscape and the
friendliness of the people, really different than in the neighbour red sea countries!
More info:
www.eritreadivers.com,
still only in german, but it's said that english
will be available, soon, too.
Ciao Chrissy
