Southern Red Sea Liveaboard recommendations?

[Louie]

I am quite interested in doing the south - often referred to as the deep south - of the Red Sea. This would preferably be out of Marsa Alam and encorporate the dives in that region but it would be great if it would venture as far south as St John's Reef.

Anyone with experience doing this? Which operators or boats to go for or avoid like the plague?

Thanks

Louie

 

[Sue]

Hi L.

We've just return from a two week's liveaboard in the Marine Park (including the brother, deadalus Reef, St. John and Elphinstone). We've departed from Hurghada but actually you don't dive much in that area (hopefully). You head strait to The Brothers and then South.

As we've enjoyed much the deep south, specially St. John's area, we would like to return and we were told that there are some liveaboards departing from Marsa Alam. The main problem is to get there - there is an airport and I think there are flights from Germany; other option is to drive or take a bus from Hurghada.

Anyway we've booked through Diving World www.divingworld.com
and everything went fine - transfers, boat (MY Greta), food, crew and specially the diving, so contact them or the Red Sea Divers for further information.

one thing for sure - the deep south really worth the diving!

Cheers

Sue

 

[ben arthur]

Sue

I'm off on a 2 week liveaboard on the Miss Veena this Friday, doing same areas as you (I also booked through diving world)

Apparently we spend 3 days at the Brothers, then go down to Daedalus, Zabargad, Rocky and St Johns before going up to Elphinstone etc

Have to admit I just cannot wait to get out there - feel like a bit of a kid at the moment

Did you see many sharks on your trip? (what about sharks at Brothers, Daedalus and Rocky?) .What were your favourite sites and the highlights of your trip?

 

[AdTravels]

Hi there,

I went on a liveaboard with Sinai Divers out of Marsa Alam back in Feb. Great boat, great guides, and even better diving.

we even got to snorkle with a pod of 60 dolphins.

Links and more info on my site.

Enjoy

 

[spottydog]

Just got back from a week on the M/Y Royal Emperor doing the southern Red Sea.

We departed from and returned to a new port by Marsa Alam aiport (which is not that near to Marsa Alam and a 3 1/2 hour drive from Hurghada). rghada against the wind on the last night.

The first day we did Elphinstone where lots of the guests had encounters with Sharks and also a turtle. From then on in the diving only got better. We headed down for a days diving at Daedelus, then Rocky for a day, then Zabargad, then St. Johns, then 1 dive at Fury Shoal before heading back to Elphinstone since some has an early morning flight from Hurghada on the Friday. To enable us to visit all these sites in a week the boat motored at night so you woke up at a different site each morning.

The trip was well worth doing and I found out that on the day we flew out 2 divers who were heading to Wadi Lahami for a second week diving spotted a whale shark at Elphinstone.

I would receommend the Deep South Egyptian Red Sea and the M/Y Royal Emporer to all divers.

We booked through diving world in the UK via Crusdar Travel.

 

[Louie]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I'm going on Friday (flying to Hurghada and then by road to Marsa and sailing out).

I also booked through Crusader's Travel but with Tony Blackhurst and the boat they put me on is the Ghazala Voyager (I think it's a bit more basic than the Emperor and MV Veena) as the only other sailing at this time was something a lot pricier.

So I'm looking forward to the big fish encounters!

 

[SubMariner]

SG, we have done Royal Emperor's Northern Itinerary for the past two years & have enjoyed it immensely. It's nice to hear that their Southern trip is also worthwhile.

We have always booked them through Diving World and found them to be quite good.

Who were your dive guides on the trip?

~SubMariner~

 

[spottydog]

Hi Submariner

Sonia & Grant were our guides plus we also had Yasser (the boats owner) and some of his friends aboard. We also had Andy from Diving World UK with us trying the trip out.

I would definitely recommend the trip, especially if you like shark spotting and swimming through caverns.

The most annoying bit of the trip was the 3 1/2 hour transfer between the boat and Hurghada but I expect that will go once more companies fly to Marsa Alam airport (although this could also mean more boats will do the trip and therefore there will be more divers at each site - it was mainly just Sea Serpent and us at the sites when we went).

If you want any more info about the dives send me an email to spottydog@www.com

Anne

 

[SubMariner]

Sonia & Grant are excellent dive guides & wonderful people. The only time I've met Yasser has been just prior to departure from the dock in Hurghada; I didn't realize he dove as well.

I'll email you about the rest.

TTFN,

~SubMariner~

 

[emphand]

the sea servayor is a nice ship, i worked n it for some months a couple of years ago, really comfortable