Late June - Oman? Jordan? or (not Red Sea I know) Zanzibar? Any comments welcome

[divv]

Hi folks.
I finish exams on 20 June and to celebrate I want to GO DIVE! I was thinking of the Red Sea but unfortunately my "window of opportunity" is small because I start work again on 4 July so I can't seem to find liveaboards with spaces that fit my timetable.

I also don't have a huge budget so Indonesia and Maldives etc are out (I'm in South Africa by the way, so so are the Americas).

I have done some checking of options and am considering Oman, Jordan or Zanzibar. Each of these because I can get flights there for a reasonable price, and there are enough accommodation and diving options that will fit my pocket.

BUT I'm not sure any of these are great for the time of year!

My main desires - reasonable viz; interesting and relatively abundant life (not looking to break any records for number of species but I do want to see stuff!). I'm not wanting to dive in South Africa because its winter here then and I want to go somewhere warmer (in and out of water) - I only have a 3mm.

So if anyone has comments on my listed options, or for that matter can suggest a better option, I'd really love to hear it.

Thanks in advance!

 

[jongles]

If budget is tight then Tanzania may make sense from a flight point don't recall the diving been cheap cheap , I was very impressed with Pemba island and from what I heard Mafia is also vgood Zanzibar is nice but didn't blow my socks off. Are you ruling Mozambique out of safety concerns? if so thats understandable, fine diving available there. Not been to either but Kenya may work and (I'll through a curve ball) fresh water diving in Malawi?

 

[divv]

Hi jongles - thanks for the reply and the input on Zanz.
Moz I'm ruling out not for safety concerns but because (a) its winter so a 5mm wetsuit would be needed and (b) because I don't really feel like being bounced around on a RIB in 2 meter swells getting to and from the dive sites. I have dived there often in the past and I just think I may be "over" that kind of diving although the marine life is good!
I hadn't thought of Malawi - definitely worth a look - thanks!

 

[Searcaigh]

Gulf of Oman is reasonable and getting warmer, I will be there next week on business and planning to dive the Damaniyat Islands so I can give you an update on pricing. East Coast UAE is also worth diving but don't expect visibility more than 5M. From May onwards the Gulf of Oman is in whale shark season, I am hoping to be lucky this year, but I said that last year, and the year before ….

 

[divv]

Ah, those elusive whale sharks... it took me hundreds of dives to see my first one and I know someone who saw one on his very first sea dive!
Thanks Searcaigh... as an update, having posted this I have suddenly been drowned in Red Sea offers today for trips that do suit my dates.. go figure! Actually only 2 offers but still!
I've been offered "Classic Sinai" through Emperor and "Deep South" through Blueo2 so I may end up doing a liveaboard after all.. it does give more "diving bang for your buck"...?

 

[diverkim]

Jordan has great diving. Lots of coral, fish life, and usually the visibility is excellent. Usually there is little in the way of current and most dives are shore dives. They have sunken wrecks if you are into that.