- Messages
- 20,473
- Reaction score
- 19,828
- Location
- Philadelphia and Boynton Beach
- # of dives
- 1000 - 2499
I dived the southern route and then the northern route on the Red Sea Aggressor (RSA) in back to back weeks between April 24 and May 6, 2016. This was my 1st experience with the Aggressor Fleet
Reservations and logistics: I was living in Basel, Switzerland when I made this trip. I made my own airline reservations and flew nonstop from Zurich to Hurghada on Edelweiss, a subsidiary of Swiss Air. I made land transport and hotel reservations though Aggressor Adventure Travel, they were great, went flawlessly. I did a day of land based diving with Emperor Divers prior to boarding the RSA (see separate review of Marina Lodge Hotel and Emperor Divers). The three hour drive from Hurghada to Port Ghalib was pretty grueling in both directions. I would consider flying into Cairo and taking an EgyptAir flight directly to Marsa Alam. My wife and I spent a separate 2 weeks in Cairo and on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan, including a side trip to Abu Simbel, in February. This was a great trip, would advise visiting other parts of Egypt is you are making the trip to dive in the Red Sea.
The boat: The boat was clean and well cared for. We had only 4 passengers (3 divers) for the first week and 7 divers for the 2nd week. We had the luxury of all the room we wanted or needed. The air conditioner did not work optimally in the 1st room I was given so I was immediately moved to a new room. The rooms were extremely comfortable and roomy for a single. They would be fine for a couple who knew each other well, might be a bit tight for strangers. The lounge/dining room was very comfortable. We had internet access when we were close enough to shore for the boat to have a cell signal.
The crew: The crew was absolutely fantastic and did everything they could to ensure a great trip. The cruise director/guide, Mahmoud was great, very friendly and a shared a wealth of information about Egypt. Zodiac drivers Islam and Emad were very skilled. German guide, Angela, was very good with an unskilled diver the 1st week.
The food: The food was from good to excellent. If anything, there was too much available and one had to show some discretion. Chef Amr and stewards Hegaze and Nubi bent over backwards to satisfy any reasonable request.
The diving: The diving was really excellent, but, I went in with such high expectations, that there was probably no way they could have been fully met. I did 22 dives, including 4 night dives, in 5 ½ days on the southern route and 22 dives, including 1 night dive, in 5 ½ days on the northern route. Night dives are not allowed at Little Brother, Big Brother, or Daedalus. Most dives were done of the zodiacs, 32 total. AL 80s were standard, a few steel 100s were available for reservation. Fills were always good and nitrox always right on around 32%. The dive deck was very good, you stayed in your assigned place for the duration and tanks were filled in place. Hot showers and warm towels were most appreciated. They issued Nautilus Lifelines for use on the northern route from Little Brother to end of the trip. Highlights of the southern route included beautiful hard coral gardens at Abu Dabab I, large schools of Hammerheads at Daedalus, beautiful caverns and swim throughs at Cave Reef, and snorkeling with Spinner Dolphins at Sataya (Dolphin) Reef. Other cool encounters with Napoleon Wrasse, Giant Morays, Blue Spotted Stingrays, Anthias all over the reef. Highlights of the northern route included a few Thresher sharks and a couple of mantas at Little Brother, a Thresher and the wrecks of the Namidia and Aida at Big Brother, the Hammerheads and anemone gardens with many Anemonefish at Daedalus, and a good dive in brisk current with sharks at Elphinstone. Wish I could have seen some Oceanic White Tips, but you don't always get everything.
All in all, one of the best dive trips I’ve done, very glad I had the opportunity to do it, many fond memories.
Reservations and logistics: I was living in Basel, Switzerland when I made this trip. I made my own airline reservations and flew nonstop from Zurich to Hurghada on Edelweiss, a subsidiary of Swiss Air. I made land transport and hotel reservations though Aggressor Adventure Travel, they were great, went flawlessly. I did a day of land based diving with Emperor Divers prior to boarding the RSA (see separate review of Marina Lodge Hotel and Emperor Divers). The three hour drive from Hurghada to Port Ghalib was pretty grueling in both directions. I would consider flying into Cairo and taking an EgyptAir flight directly to Marsa Alam. My wife and I spent a separate 2 weeks in Cairo and on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan, including a side trip to Abu Simbel, in February. This was a great trip, would advise visiting other parts of Egypt is you are making the trip to dive in the Red Sea.
The boat: The boat was clean and well cared for. We had only 4 passengers (3 divers) for the first week and 7 divers for the 2nd week. We had the luxury of all the room we wanted or needed. The air conditioner did not work optimally in the 1st room I was given so I was immediately moved to a new room. The rooms were extremely comfortable and roomy for a single. They would be fine for a couple who knew each other well, might be a bit tight for strangers. The lounge/dining room was very comfortable. We had internet access when we were close enough to shore for the boat to have a cell signal.
The crew: The crew was absolutely fantastic and did everything they could to ensure a great trip. The cruise director/guide, Mahmoud was great, very friendly and a shared a wealth of information about Egypt. Zodiac drivers Islam and Emad were very skilled. German guide, Angela, was very good with an unskilled diver the 1st week.
The food: The food was from good to excellent. If anything, there was too much available and one had to show some discretion. Chef Amr and stewards Hegaze and Nubi bent over backwards to satisfy any reasonable request.
The diving: The diving was really excellent, but, I went in with such high expectations, that there was probably no way they could have been fully met. I did 22 dives, including 4 night dives, in 5 ½ days on the southern route and 22 dives, including 1 night dive, in 5 ½ days on the northern route. Night dives are not allowed at Little Brother, Big Brother, or Daedalus. Most dives were done of the zodiacs, 32 total. AL 80s were standard, a few steel 100s were available for reservation. Fills were always good and nitrox always right on around 32%. The dive deck was very good, you stayed in your assigned place for the duration and tanks were filled in place. Hot showers and warm towels were most appreciated. They issued Nautilus Lifelines for use on the northern route from Little Brother to end of the trip. Highlights of the southern route included beautiful hard coral gardens at Abu Dabab I, large schools of Hammerheads at Daedalus, beautiful caverns and swim throughs at Cave Reef, and snorkeling with Spinner Dolphins at Sataya (Dolphin) Reef. Other cool encounters with Napoleon Wrasse, Giant Morays, Blue Spotted Stingrays, Anthias all over the reef. Highlights of the northern route included a few Thresher sharks and a couple of mantas at Little Brother, a Thresher and the wrecks of the Namidia and Aida at Big Brother, the Hammerheads and anemone gardens with many Anemonefish at Daedalus, and a good dive in brisk current with sharks at Elphinstone. Wish I could have seen some Oceanic White Tips, but you don't always get everything.
All in all, one of the best dive trips I’ve done, very glad I had the opportunity to do it, many fond memories.
