Red Sea Liveaboard with Saeed Rashid and Tom Inett | August 2024
26th August to 2nd September 2024
The Ultimate Red Sea Liveaboard Photography Holiday
Join Saeed one of the UK’s most accomplished underwater photographers on board Scuba Scene. This new yacht is a luxury steel-hulled liveaboard located in the Red Sea. She is 49 m long, fitted to rigorous safety standards and makes a great home from home to enjoy some of the world’s best dive sites.
She is spacious, comfortable, and beautifully laid out, with a maximum capacity for 28 diving guests. Two large speedboats fitted with tank racks and dive ladders make life easier for divers – no more being hauled into a rib and face-planting on the dive gear.
This is an exclusive chance to join professional photographer Saeed Rashid to learn and improve your underwater photography skills.
Saeed Rashid – Photography Workshops
Saeed is a member of BSoUP, editorial consultant for several dive magazines and websites such as Scubaverse. When he’s not diving he’s a university lecturer at Bournemouth University or doing talks about underwater photography at dive shows.
Saeed will conduct several optional underwater photography workshops discussing aspects like composition, lighting, and macro and wide-angle photography.
This holiday is perfect for new and accomplished photographers wishing to improve their skills.
Not only is he a great photographer and tutor, but he’s also really fun, a great diver with lots of great stories!
What makes Scuba Scene the best Liveaboard in the Red Sea?
On the dive deck level, find our spacious dining area with a drinks bar. The upper decks offer a comfortable salon/lounge area with a big TV, as well as 3 sundecks. Two of the sundecks are fitted with a bar and icemakers each, and are providing both shaded and sunny spaces galore to chill and relax between the dives.
- Swimming pool
- Jacuzzi
- Cinema room
- Bar deck
- Spacious cabins
- Friendly and experienced staff
On top of this you will be looked after by at least one of the 2 top cruise directors and guides in the Red Sea who specialise in either sharks, wrecks and tec diving
Red Sea Itinerary – North & Tiran
This is a great itinerary to learn and take photos of pristine coral reefs, small critters, large pelagics, divers and wrecks.
The diving is suitable for all level of diver but we would really recommend doing your Advanced open water before you travel to make the most of it.
See more details on the itinerary below.
Red Sea Holiday Price
The package includes 7 nights on board Scuba Scene, all meals, snacks, soft drinks, tea & coffee, 6 days diving with tank and weights, return transfers to/from the airport, workshops and guidance from Saeed Rashid.
Total price £1,780. NOW only £1599
Extras: flights, kit hire, crew tips, alcohol, hotel on last day and visas
We are happy to provide you with a quote with or without flights. A non-refundable deposit of £445 + flights to secure your place, balance payable 90 days prior to travel. Terms and conditions apply.
Scuba Scene
Beautifully laid-out across her four decks, she has 6 twin/double cabins downstairs, 4 twin/double cabins on the main deck, 2 cabins on the top deck and 2 honeymoon suites – each with a private bathroom, small fridge, and adjustable A/C unit. On the main deck are a spacious dive deck and platform, with plenty of room for all diving equipment, and a camera table and charging points. From the dive deck, enter our well-designed dining area/salon, where all our meals are served throughout your trip. Further, towards the bow, find our four suites – again fitted with private bathrooms, small fridges, and adjustable A/C units, as well as the kitchen. The upper deck holds one of our three sundecks, our spacious and comfortable salon, another twin as well as the dive guide cabin, plus the captain’s cabin and second sundeck. The sundecks provide a choice of shaded and open areas to relax in and on our third sundeck, there are soft drinks and alcohol in the fridges to keep you nice and cool! The team managing the boat consists of two people with years of experience in the Red Sea diving industry, especially liveaboards, Ahmed Fadel and Dr. Elke Bojanowski. Ahmed is a tech instructor, that has worked in different areas of diving over the last 20 years, mostly on liveaboards. He is the current operations manager of TDI/SDI Middleast and one of the most well known and respected Tec divers in the Red Sea. Elke 'aka The Shark Lady' is famous amongst the dive community and is a divemaster, guide and biologist specialising on the study of Red Sea shark populations, and the founder of the Red Sea Sharks Trust, a registered charity for shark awareness and conservation. She has worked on Egyptian liveaboards for over 16 years and is probably the Red Sea's number shark expert! During our Shark Weeks she will do several interesting talks that are fascinating and educational. Their combined experience and different specialities make them ideal organizers and hosts of your Red Sea diving liveaboards.Meet Saeed Rashid
Hi, I'm Saeed. I live in Dorset on the sunny south coast of England, close to the sea and surrounded by beautiful rural landscapes. Photography for me started as a child taking dark, grainy, blurred pictures with a disc camera, sent off in the post to await the results. I didn't move into 'proper' photography until Art School and loved the magic of working in a dark room. From here I became a freelance product and graphic designer and photography continued as a hobby. I'm currently a lecturer at the Faculty of Media and Communication at Bournemouth University, where I continue to teach Digital Publishing and Photo Journalism. I have also done some studying of my own, recently completing a Masters Degree in Creative Media Education. I learnt to dive on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia whilst on a trip visiting family in Brisbane over 20 years ago and never looked back. The following year I returned, having bought my first cheap underwater camera at Duty-Free. Since then, I have upgraded to a Nauticam system with Canon DSLR and travel to some of the world’s most prestigious dive sites running Underwater Photographic workshops and via invitation from the tourist boards and governments to capture photographically the wonders of their country. Recent commissions include work in Jordan, Indonesia, Egypt, Maldives and the Philippines. I am a member of BSoUP (British Society of Underwater Photographers) and an Editorial Consultant for Diver Magazine. I am the key organiser for the Photozone at their international Dive Shows in the Midlands and am a regular fixture on the speakers lineup both there and at the British Photography Show in Birmingham. I write for magazines & websites that include Diver, Scuba, Scubaverse, Amateur Photographer, Digital Photographer. For me, photography is about capturing the beauty of the natural world and of course people. On land or underwater, I am never happier than with a camera in my handTechnical Specifications
| Year of Building: | 2023 |
| Boat Design Category: | Motor Yacht |
| Port of Registry: | Safaga, Egypt. |
| Dimensions: | Length 49 m, Width 9.75 m |
| Hull Material: | Steel |
| Superstructures Material: | Steel |
| Crew: 12 Persons: | Captain, Mechanical Engineer, 2 Chief Cook, 2 Waiters, And 6 Sailors. |
| Engines: | 2 x Doosan, each one 1000 HP |
| Speed: | 14 knots |
| Generators: | 3 (1 x 175 KW - 1 x 140 KW - 1 x 60 KW Super silent) |
| Compressors: | 3 x Coltri 315 lt. |
| Nitrox: | Nitrox membrane filling system |
| Zodiac: | Two Speed boat 6.5 m, 2 outboard motors 40 HP each. |
| Safety Equipment: | Warning and fire extinguishing system; fire extinguishers; life jackets in each Cabin; two safety rafts for 25 persons each. |
| Fresh Water: | Desalination unit’s for 22000 lt. fresh water. + 2 water maker 8000 lt per day |
| Navigation and Communications: | VHF radio, DSC, GPS, radar, echo depth-sounder. Epirb |
| Number of Decks: | 4 |
| Number of Passengers: | 28 |
| Accommodation: | 8 x twin or double cabins with A/C and en-suite bathrooms, 4 x twin / double cabins with A/C and en-suite upstairs, 2 x smaller cabins that can be used as a small double/twin or a large single |
| Saloon Facilities: | Separate lounge, A/C, Bar, Cooler, TV, Music sound system, DVD |
| Dining area: | Separate in door and outdoor restaurant, A/C |
Intinerary
Cost includes
- 7 nights accommodation
- 6 days diving with tank & weights
- Exclusive access and talks with Saeed Rashid
- All meals and soft drinks
- Marine park fees
- Egyptian VAT
- Tank and weights
Cost excludes
- Alcohol
- Crew tips
- Nitrox and special tanks and mixed gases
- Equipment hire
- Visas
- Flights
- Day use of a hotel on the last day (normally $25)
Can non-divers come
Yes, there is plenty to enjoy on the boat such as the pool, jacuzzi, TV room, sundecks and the outdoor bar! The price is the same and there may be opportunities to do some snorkelling.
What are the fire safety precautions on board?
Here is some information on the emergency & firefighting systems in place on Scuba Scene.
1) There are emergency lights in all public areas which automatically come on when the generators/electricity are off.
2) There are smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in all cabins, public areas, the kitchen, and of course the engine room.
3) There are fire alarms (automatic and manual) on four of the five levels (except: the open air high deck)
4) There are fire hoses on four of the five levels (except: the open air high deck), plus a mobile water pump and hose working independently from the main pump in the engine room.
5) The engine room has additional fire fighting features: a sprinkler system, heat & smoke detectors, additional and larger fire extinguishers, a CO cartridge protecting the main electrical panel, chemical (powder) fire extinguishing system on top of each of the two engines.
6) Scuba Scene carries 3 liferafts (25 people each) and 2 large speedboats, offering plenty of flotation devices in case of having to evacuate the boat.
7) Life jackets are provided for each person on board (guests & crew), plus spares at the bow assembly point.
8) There is a night watchman who has a scanning system to ensure he carries out regular checks around the boat throughout the night
To avoid fire from breaking out, there are rules about where and when to charge which items on board, and a night watch is patroling the public areas every night.All public areas are also monitored by cameras.
Where do we get our lift from the airport or hotel?
Once you book your holiday with us, we will pass on your flight and/or hotel details to Scuba Scene. If they are meeting you at the airport look out for the representative in the arrivals hall with ‘Scuba Scene’ written on the sign.
If you are staying at a hotel before the liveaboard then we will arrange a collection time from your reception area.
What do we do on the last day if we have a late flight?
The boat usually needs to be cleared by 11am so they can prepare for the next guests. Scuba Scene have an arrangement with the Marriott Hotel next to their mooring where you can pay $25 to use their facilities for the day e.g. pool, showers, access to restaurants etc.
Food and drinks are extra, we can also get you a day room if you wanted to have a lie-down or chill out (subject to availability).
Do you have to be a photographer to come along
No, but if you wanted to start your journey on underwater photography this would be a great way to do it. A few basic skills can make a huge improvement to your underwater photos. Likewise Saeed can help you even if you only have a cheap camera or a Gopro.
What level of photographers is it aimed at?
It really is designed for new and experienced photographers. You never stop learning and guidance from a pro can really make dramatic improvements to your final photos.