Red Sea Northern Wrecks and Reefs April 2018
‘Northern Wrecks and Reefs’ Red Sea Liveaboard
6-13th April 2018
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BOAT: Blue Melody
This itinerary takes famous wrecks such as the Thistlegorm and Dunraven as well as pristine reefs of the Ras Mohamed National Marine Park. Ras Mohamed offers a variety of dive sites including – shallow, scenic plateau dives and also big drop offs with views into the blue. Currents in this area can often be strong and so for the more experienced, there is the opportunity for some fantastic drift dives along the wall. With up to four dives a day, this itinerary offers some of the best diving the Red Sea has to offer.
WATCH THE VIDEO FROM OUR PREVIOUS LAND BASED TRIP HERE
Blue Melody
The Blueotwo fleet operate some of the most luxurious liveaboards in the Red Sea. As anyone who came on the trip last year how great the food, accommodation and staff were.
This liveaboard is everything you would expect from a 5* diving vessel with large dining area, separate sky lounge with state of the art entertainment system and double and twin cabins, all benefiting from ensuite facilities, air conditioning and personal entertainment systems. TV’s in the communal areas are also equipped with an Apple TV and a hard drive containing movies and TV series. A spacious dive deck also makes kitting up and getting in the water a stress free experience from this beautiful Red Sea liveaboard!
We are also extremely proud that this superb vessel is currently the holder of the prestigious Diver 2012 award for ‘Liveaboard of the Year’ and the Sport Diver 2013 ‘Best Liveaboard’ award.
The boat sleeps 26 people and includes 3 double cabins at an £150pp additional fee, all cabins have en-suite bathrooms, in-cabin entertainment, sky lounge, bar, sun deck and chillout deck.
QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED: You must be a PADI open water diver or equivalent. The Advanced Open Water and Enriched Air qualifications are highly recommended and can be completed on board or with us or in advance.
You will be require to have your own Dive Computer, SMB and reel.
The week will offer the opportunity to:– Enjoy fantastic diving on some of the most unique Red Sea reefs and historical wrecks – Experience potential close encounters with pristine coral reefs, turtles and fingers crossed a few bigger things.
Sample itinerary:
**PLEASE NOTE** the itinerary below is just an example of the route taken and the order and dive sites are not guaranteed. All dives sites are subject to weather conditions and the final route taken is at the absolute discretion of the captain and dive guides.
Day 1 – Start the week with a check dive before heading north for an afternoon and night dive.
Days 2-5 – Spend four days cruising the northern Red Sea. Normally you will have the opportunity to make three day dives and a night dive each day. The exact itinerary and order of dive sites will vary depending on the conditions but you can expect to visit plenty of wrecks including Thistlegorm, Dunraven, Giannis D, Carnatic and potentially even more. There is also some fantastic reef diving including the Ras Mohamed marine park, Danaba (Shag Rock), Sha’ab El Erg (famous for dolphin encounters) and the Island of Gobal.
Day 6 – Enjoy two relaxed morning dives close to Hurghada allowing you to cruise into harbour in the early afternoon. Take advantage of an evening onshore to purchase souvenirs and enjoy Egypt’s famous hospitality before your journey home the next day.
Itinerary Highlights…
SS Thistlegorm
Probably the most famous of the Red Sea wrecks. The 129m English Freighter was bombed by German aviation on 6th October 1941. Today she creates an artificial reef on a sandy bottom at 32m max depth. She is home to an enormous variety of marine life and is especially popular with large schooling fish.
Please note: Due to CDWS regulations, you must have a minimum of 20 logged dives in order to dive on this wreck. Other dives on the itinerary are not affected. Additionally, HEPCA, in cooperation with the Egyptian Navy, will be installing mooring blocks around the wreck to prevent the potential damage caused by mooring lines incorrectly tied on to her.
Ras Mohamed – Shark & Yolanda Reefs
This is a world renowned dive site, situated at the tip of the Sinai. Two small ergs are joined by a vertical wall dropping into the abyss. At Shark Reef the current allows you to drift along the wall, rich with colourful corals. Moving towards Yolanda Reef you reach a plateau scattered with small ergs and coral outcrops. Continuing around the reef you will come upon the scattered remains of the wreck ‘Yolanda’ complete with its cargo of toilets and baths. The whole of this area is big fish territory so keep an eye on the blue!
Gubal Island
At the gate of the Straits of Gubal is ‘Bluff Point’, which gets its name from the turbulence created by strong currents that beat the eastern wall of the island. The wreck of the ‘Ulysses’ lies on the reef 300m north of the lighthouse, starting at 5m and sloping to 25m. ‘The Barge’ wreck, south of the lighthouse, provides divers with a fun and unusual night dive. The wrecks skeleton creates protection for all types of night creatures.
Abu Nuhas
Also known as the ‘Ships Graveyard’, this reef is positioned dangerously close to the busy shipping lanes of the Gulf of Suez. This reef has claimed more ships than any other in the area. On the north side are four wrecks laying on a sandy seafloor at the bottom of a steep sloping reef layered with table corals. Wrecks here include the Ghiannis D, Carnatic, Tile and Lentil Wrecks. On the south side is a safe anchorage for liveaboards and two ergs, known as Yellow Fish Reef.
Danaba (Shag Rock)
This large circular reef is often overlooked but offers excellent diving on pristine coral from any location on its perimeter.
Sha’ab El Erg
Famous for its dolphin sightings (and colloquially known as Dolphin House) this shallow reef can offer a dive that you will never forget!
Price: £1,399 + £30 VISA Speedy Visa, Meet & Greet-EU passport holder only
Price includes return economy flights from London Gatwick to Hurghada, transfers, 7 nights’ accommodation in a twin room, all meals and soft drinks (with the exception of Schweppes tonic, soda and lemon), tea and coffee, 12 ltr cylinder and weights. Not included in the price – crew and dive guide gratuities, on-board merchandise, alcoholic drinks, diving equipment. Divers will also need a torch (for night dives), dive computer and SMB. We will be renting out regs, BCD, fins and boots at £75/week if you take it from the UK. A suite is available for an additional fee.
How to Book Your Place
There are only 14 places available and they will be awarded on a first come first serve basis! To book your place we require a £349.75 deposit. The balance of payment is due 12 weeks prior to departure. Minimum age 18. Credit card payments will incur an additional 2.5% bank charge or 4% for PayPal. There is no fee for debit cards, cheques or bank transfers.
To pay by card call 0800 699 0243.
To pay by bank transfer send an e-mail to info@oysterdiving.com confirming that you wish to come on the trip. We will then send you an invoice.
To pay by cheque send an e-mail to info@oysterdiving.com with your details and we will send you an invoice with our details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sort of people will be going on the trip?
There will be people of different sexes and dive experience. Our customers tend to be good fun, are not ‘diving geeks’, can be any age (as long as they are fit enough to dive) and have a sense of adventure.
What are the other costs? Your trip includes flights, accommodation, transfers, guides, tanks, weights, all meals and soft drinks. The only additional costs are alcohol, Nitrox (optional at £70 per week) and sometimes we go out for dinner on the last night but you can eat on the boat if you prefer.
Will I get eaten by a Shark?
No*. There are very few shark attacks in the world. In fact the most dangerous part of the holiday is travelling on the M25 to the airport! If you are scared of Sharks then feel free to hide behind Andy.
Will there be any other single people there? The majority of people on the trip will be travelling alone. We will happily put you in a cabin to share with someone of the same sex and similar age/mindset.
What do we do when we’re not diving? There is a great sun deck, there is a TV, DVD’s and plenty of books to enjoy. There is also plenty of room if you wish to escape for a while and sit and listen to your i-pod!
What if a friend/partner wishes to come but they don’t dive? No problem and we might be able to get them a small reduction in the price too!
When do I need to book by? As soon as possible. There are only 12 places and they are on a first come first serve basis!
Do I need a VISA? It is your responsibility to check that you have the correct visa. Blueotwo will provide temporary visas for people with EU passports which can be collected at the airport in Hurghada.
If you have any other questions please call 0800 699 0243 / 07920 516006.
Diving and Travel Insurance
If you are planning on diving while on holiday ensure that your travel insurance policy covers you for diving. Many standard travel insurance policies don’t include diving or put unrealistic depth limits and other factors within the policy so that they can avoid a payout. While diving is considered a very safe activity it is still advisable to carry out adequate insurance as accidents can and do happen. We have teamed up with DiveAssure who are providers in travel and diving insurance policies. To find out more just click on the banner below.