Southern Red Sea liveaboard - Suggestions?

[Mark Davies]

At the moment I would suggest any that you can get on. We have been looking at it recently and only planning to go later in the year but have found it's pretty much booked up already. We were looking for a an empty boat to fill ourselves, so if you're just after the odd space you might have more luck, but get your skates on!

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by Roobydoo

Would like to get wreck and reef/fish in, if possible. I am adv nitrox, and so is my bud, but don't really want to get into twinning up on my first liveaboard! So, probably just keep to 30-40m max, dependant on redundancy eqpt!!

Does this narrow down the field a little?

By the way thanks for the other responses re Regal.

Steve

A lot of the dive guides restrict you to 30m max 60min max and check your computers to see if you have been a naughty boy. Some will not allow you to go off in pairs and do your own thing, very few will allow deco dives. Personally this can ruin a trip for me. The dive guide makes or breaks the trip.

If you’re happy group diving at a pace set by your guide to 30m max then you should enjoy most live aboard in the red sea. If you want a bit more freedom and you want to pop down to 40m if you’re in the mood then I suggest you research the dive guides as a priority. Ali Ba Ba is fantastic as are David Lord and Margaret Johnston (not sure if Margaret is still doing it as she had a bad bend a while back). Emperor is a good outfit and you get what you pay for with the boats. Regal are pretty good too.

That time of year you might want to consider Air Con as a priority in the cabins. Book a pony cylinder in advance if you want one as they might not have one on the boat.



ATB

Mark Chase

[HelenM]

Originally Posted by Roobydoo

Greetings!

Am looking into Southern Red Sea liveaboard for Aug/Sept this year. Has anyone got any advice on who to look at or, who not to look at?

Thanks in advance

Steve

I've used Tony Backhurst and found them to be very good. I think their website is www.scuba.co.uk if not, you can find them via Google. A/C at that time of year will be a must have - or would be for me anyway.

As Mark says, if you want a pony you'll have to take your own or book it in advance. Equally if you want a 15l book it before you go...

And take chocolate*. Lots and lots of it. There is never very much on the boats and you will have lots of very happy little mates if you can farm some out.

Enjoy, the diving down there is cracking.
H

* I am concerned by the number of times this comment crops up in my posts. I may have to seek help for a serious addiction

[D.D.J]

Originally Posted by Capel diver

I'm off on the 7th on the MY Fraser (Emperor Fraser). Looks like I step off and you step on. Taking my son Devil Crab with me. Its the first time in the Red Sea for us both so greatly looking forward to it.

We'll leave our cabin clean and something cold in the fridge for you!

Enjoy....

it was my first time to the red sea in october and i loved it to bits, can t wait to go back in july. you ll love it to bits. all the best and happy diving

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by Odin

Going back this year on Grand Sea Serpent - nuff said???
Paul

Don't tell everyone, or they might all want to join us

Originally Posted by HelenM

Equally if you want a 15l book it before you go...

When I booked mine last week they asked my if I wanted a 15ltr, blimey you have to be joking.

[MisterBlue]

I've always been deep south with Oonas on Coral Queen. Guido owns the boat, lives aboard most charters and treats divers as guests with brains. If you want to follow the guide you can, but he and his guides expect divers to dive as pairs and follow the plan. They're also very photographer friendly.

Other than that, I've been with Regal and with Backhurst, and found both to be fine, but I'd have to agree that the guides make or break the week so I always approach strange boats with heart in mouth!

Couple of other things you might like to think about - I did back to back northern liveaboards in July last year, and Coral Queen deep south in November, and saw more boats and divers in the week south than the fortnight north!

And keep your eyes open for marine park fees - the offshore islands are as much as $100 dollars per guest extra and they may not be included in the tour cost.

[SCUBA Chick]

Originally Posted by Fiona

Don't tell everyone, or they might all want to join us


When I booked mine last week they asked my if I wanted a 15ltr, blimey you have to be joking.

Yeh sssssshhhhhhh...we're trying to keep it quiet

Lol about the 15l Fiona....hubbie has got his booked but I also politely declined otherwise I'd be down for bloody hours!!!!

Scubachick

[Andy Phillips]

Do a Brothers itinery, I tend to book with Diving World in London, but most are OK just make sure of the boat.

Just to re-iterate it, I have dived all over the Egyptian Red Sea, thr Brothers are simply fantastic, superb, brilliant, awsome.

Oh yeh, and I quite like them.

Andrew

[Neil M]

Originally Posted by Roobydoo

Greetings!

Am looking into Southern Red Sea liveaboard for Aug/Sept this year. Has anyone got any advice on who to look at or, who not to look at?

Thanks in advance

Steve

hmmmm HURRICANE

at that time of year (went in both aug and sep this year ) air con (as has been said) is a must... and the fridges in the cabins were a real bonus!

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by MisterBlue

And keep your eyes open for marine park fees - the offshore islands are as much as $100 dollars per guest extra and they may not be included in the tour cost.

Tony Backhurst trips include marine park fees in the cost of the trip, sometimes people don't know this and think he is a little more expensive than other operators.

We have been lucky this year as "loyal customers" we have got 10% discount on the trip.