thinking of a Red Sea trip in November ... comments or suggestions?

[MXGratefulDiver]

I'm just starting to consider this ... going to visit a friend in Zambia in mid to late November, and we're thinking to plan a dive trip somewhere. I'm thinking a week on a liveaboard in the southern Red Sea might be nice. Having never been there, I'm wondering what advice I might get from folks who have been ... and any suggestions for liveaboards in that area. I'm assuming that Hurghada is the place to look.

Completely open at this point ... we just talked about this last night, so the "fun" is just beginning ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[LiquidDivingAdventure]

Bob, I have some great trips in the Red Sea (Egypt). Working with the Sea Queen Fleet. I am booking 7 day trips, north or south routes, depending upon availability that are just liveaboard dive trips. I also have a great 14-day trip that includes a Nile cruise and Cairo museums and pyramids plus 7 days liveaboard diving. The 7-day trips are about $2850 and 14-day trips are about $4300, both include R/T airfare so final price is dependent upon air at the time of booking and departure city. Send me an email and I can provide you with detailed info. Most meals are included in the 14-day trip, but not all and land tours are flexible. The Nile River portion is 4 days. Info on facebook my blog and also the website Liveaboard menu.
Liquid Diving Adventures | Specials and Travel Reviews

Best, Greg

 

[TSandM]

Bob, Bob, Bob . . . the Tala. Just book the Tala. Faisal's a hoot and you'll love the boat and the dive deck crew. You'll be able to dive whatever you want -- single tank, double tanks, technical or scooter. After two trips on the Tala, I can't really imagine doing the Red Sea on any other boat.

 

[samaka]

Hey there Bob!

Nice to hear that you're planning to come and dive the Red Sea. October and November is almost peak season so if you want to have a chance to get on a trip you might want to book fairly early. When it comes to choosing Dive Operator in the Red Sea there are more good to pick from than the ones typically heard touted for here on the forum but there are a few hints and tricks that will help you chose. There is an article in issue nine of The Equalizer with the title "The Good The Bad and The Ugly" about what to think on when choosing operator (THE EQUALIZER). Also you should think about what kind of diving you are after. If you want to dive wrecks and hate fish there is actually a Liveaboard Operator using the slogan "We don't do fish". If you are interested in large predators there are operators providing trips with specialised Shark Experts and Marine Biologists who gives lectures on the topic. If you want to have high safety there are some to recommend and some you should avoid. If you want walls there are certain itineraries you would prefer and if you are into coral gardens there are other itineraries that would be better. So without knowing exactly exactly what you are want to get out of your trip I would not just go ahead and suggest a specific boat but if you tell me a little bit more about your requests and I can give you advise based on my 13 years in the Red Sea Dive Industry.

cheers
Anders

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

We are two older, experienced divers, and do not go on vacation to push ourselves too hard. Both of us enjoy taking pictures, and go for marine life. While the big stuff is nice, we mostly enjoy diving to see diversity and color. My dive buddy describes herself as an "underwater tourist" ... meaning she doesn't want to push her limits or work too hard. We'll both be planning on diving single-tank rigs, and staying within our deco limits ... and we do want a boat that offers nitrox. Accommodations don't have to be fancy, but they do have to be clean and comfortable. As for the diving, we do NOT want a boat that treats us like we need a nanny ... we're both quite used to doing our own dives ... but we do want a boat that puts a priority on choosing dive sites that are safe and appropriate for their clients.

I've read about places like Brothers, Daedelous, and Elphinstone, and those sites sound like places we'd enjoy. I'm sure there are plenty of others ... but that might give you some idea about what we'd like. Ah, and now that I look at a map it looks like Marsa Alam might be a better starting point for those sites.

I'm planning to take November 10-25 off work, spend a week in the Red Sea and another few days in Zambia ... could do those in either order ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[ElChe]

You can find plenty of liveaboard operators, but it is important what kind of group you join. We like to organize our Red Sea trips by ourselves, so we travel with friends, don't pay too much and we decide what and how to dive. In the last two years we planned the routes where we spent more time on specific spots as most of our divers are photographers as well, so we were able to dive the nicest places again and again. Other guys organize shark trips or wreck routes. Maybe try to find some special trips where you know more about their goals not only a direction like "Brothers" or "St Johns".

 

[samaka]

It is a popular misconception that you can get better deals by organizing everything by yourself. No private person can get a better deal while booking one safari than a tour operator that books hundreds every year. the only thing you do is making sure that you are the one taking all the risks like boats having problems, insurance, airline going bust or whatever can happen which a bonded tour operator is the one responsible for sorting out. During the "Volcanic Ash Week" about two years ago we had around 80 guests where of everybody except two had gone through a tour operator. Those two found themselves hitchhiking back home through Europe while the rest got another liveaboard that second week and a flight home there after. In the end of the day it's up to you if you want save a few quids or have that safety net.

When it comes to choosing Itinerary I think you would be happy with something like St. John's and Fury Shoal where you have a great variety of walls, coral gardens, chance to see large stuff as well as macro life. Brothers, Daedalus, Elphinstone is also excellent but it is more "challenging" procedure with more diving from Zodiacs and maybe a bit more currents. By the sounds of it you would get more out of St. John's and Fury Shoal kind of itinerary.

Just as El Che says I think you should communicate with the operators you are considering and get a bit more of a feeling about what their trip will be like rather than just book something of a website "Itinerary Description". The specialised Photo- Shark- or Wreck trips may accommodate exactly what you are after, or quite the oposite so make sure you know what exactly they include. I agree with Le Che that I'd rather make a few more dives on the good spots than to move on just to get another Dive Site in the log book but not everyone think that way.

cheers
...a...

 

[Interceptor121]

One thing to consider is that Mid late November can be quite windy
Having been on Caribbean, Egyptian and Asian Liveaboards I consider Egyptian to have lower level of service (staff are good but not as helpful as in other places) and standards of accommodation compared to US run caribbean liveaboards
Brothers is definitely a challenging itinerary especially at that time of year. I think Samaka advice is a good one take a boat from Marsa Alam and head to the deep south, that should be a good compromise at that time of year. There are good companies out there to choose from

 

[samaka]

Hey Massimo! Long time... Hope all is good in your end!

In average - just looking at statistics from the weather reporting agencies the wind probability as well as the wind speed is the summer time. The reason that many seem to believe that winter is the windiest season is likely to be that in the winter the wind is cold and unpleasant while in the summer it is pleasantly cooling.

Regarding the helpfulness of crew this may well be true. Depending on which vessel you are on and what dive operator you use. I know that there are plenty of boats where the crew is not helpful enough in the Red Sea. That being said there are dive operators in the Red Sea running vessels with crew that is not only as good but competes with crew of other places in the world. Do you remember the name of the liveaboard you were on in the Red Sea. You made me curious now.

...a...

 

[DIVENSNOOZE]

I'm just starting to consider this ... going to visit a friend in Zambia in mid to late November, and we're thinking to plan a dive trip somewhere. I'm thinking a week on a liveaboard in the southern Red Sea might be nice. Having never been there, I'm wondering what advice I might get from folks who have been ... and any suggestions for liveaboards in that area. I'm assuming that Hurghada is the place to look.

Completely open at this point ... we just talked about this last night, so the "fun" is just beginning ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Hi Bob
Just seen your thread and what others have written and thought I would give you another angle. We visit Hurghada or Sharm at least once a year and after all our travels find its still one of the best places for diving. First I would check where your connection from Zambia would land in Egypt -Cairo, would mean another flight to Hurghada. Or if you are intent on going south, I suggest you fly to Marsa Alum. Have you thought of a hotel and daily diving? We too are mature (nearing 60!!) and stay at a hotel on the beach in Hurghada and the icing on the cake, is we can see our dive boat from our hotel room. There is a brilliant dive centre attached to the hotel, they have 4 boats and leave at 8.30am each day. We have 2 dives and lunch on board and far cheaper than caribbean costs. The boat guys are very helpful and the boat is run very well. We are both avid underwater photographers. If you want to look at a Hurghada video, visit www.youtube.com and in the search put in Divensnooze and our videos will come up and can see Hurghada (different hotel now, which is much better). If you want more info, prices etc just send private message to me, as don't know if I can say Hotel etc and pricing on here. Regards Chris