Red Sea Liveaboard! Nov 2004.

[Mark Davies]

Right, this gig is now all sorted! The booking forms are in. The full team sheet is:

(1) Caroline
(2) Lou
(3) Dave
(4) Josie
(5) Fiona
(6) Gavin
(7) Tim
(8) Mark
(9) Doug
(10) Conor
(11) Kate
(12) Christina
(13) Steve W
(14) Steve M

Remember your balances will be due by the end of next month - if you want to know exactly what is due I'll be getting a full schedule for everybody from Oonasdivers soon, but it's roughly £550 each, give or take (with the exception of the posh nobs in the master cabin!).

Still waiting on any requests for dive sites. So far we've had the Abu Nuhas wrecks suggested, and the Rosalie Moller suggested as an alternative to the Thistlegorm. Now there may be some who want to do the Thistlegorm. Last year we dived it twice, the first dive staying at the deck level and then the following morning we did a first dive of the day into the holds. Perhaps as a compromise we could do just the one dive on her? Opinions please.

If anyone who is not coming with us has some suggestions of sites a little off the beaten trail that you think we should go look at, we'd be most grateful for your ideas.

[Dave Crampton]

Hi all,

First off I hope you don't mind me stepping on your toes as such as I know this is arranged by you Mark.

Oonasdivers trip to Red Sea on 31st Oct 04, rtn 7th Nov 04.

15ltr Cylinders

I phoned Oonasdivers about 15ltr cylinders as Josie and I are not the most efficient of breathers. The cost per cylinder per day is 5 euros, which totals to 36 euros for the week. This has to be paid in Sharm. These cylinder have to be prebooked as I understand it from talking to Oonas on the phone. I have booked Josie's and my own but I think Mark will be asking for numbers so we don't all phone individually for the same thing.

NITROX

MV Juliet has Nirox as i'm sure we're all aware of. When I asked about possibly having to book it before hand Oonas said they would make a note of my request and phone back if they had any querys. I guess they would like to know in advance so they can plan top have enough on board, (unles they have a membrane compressor?). Again I think Mark might be sending am email/pm to this affect.

Baggage for those flighing from Manchester.

The carrier from Manchester is Brittania and both they, on their website and Oonas state that 20kg plus 5kg for Diving equipment is permitted. Total 25kg. Britannia state on their website that divers are required to show diving qualifications to qualify for the extra baggage allowance at checkin. I have emailed Britannia to ask if we require any written proof of this extra allowance at checkin as it will be too late to prove this at that stage. They are yet to reply.

Flights from Manchester are as follows:

Britannia, Flight BY768A outbound departs 0800, arrives Sharm., 15.25,
Britannia, Flight BY768B inbound departs 17.25, arrives Man., 21.25,

I'm looking forward to seeing you all very soon,

Dave C

[Josie]

Originally Posted by dcrampt

Oonasdivers trip to Red Sea on 31st Oct 04, rtn 6th Nov 04.

Dave C

Just before anybody worries about this, the flight back is on Sunday 7, not 6 November.

Josie

[Lou]

Anyone have any idea who the Gatwick airline is? Then i can see if I can get more luggage allowance too, or whether I will need to buy a photographer's jacket!

[Kate]

Be at Gatwick 2 hours before departure.

Gatwick dept: 31/10/04 at 1015 (EUK641 - Air Atlanta)
Sharm arrive: 31/10/04 at 1725

Sharm dept: 07/11/04 at 1820 (EUK829 - Air Atlanta)
Gatwick arrive: 07/11/04 at 2210

Baggage allowance: 20kg + 5kg sport allowance + hand luggage (should be 5kg, but apparently they don't weigh it)

Meet rep at Sharm who you pay £15 to and they will collect visa.

Money: Prefer Euros or US Dollors

[Andy Phillips]

Originally Posted by dcrampt

Hi all,

First off I hope you don't mind me stepping on your toes as such as I know this is arranged by you Mark.

Oonasdivers trip to Red Sea on 31st Oct 04, rtn 7th Nov 04.

15ltr Cylinders

I phoned Oonasdivers about 15ltr cylinders as Josie and I are not the most efficient of breathers. The cost per cylinder per day is 5 euros, which totals to 36 euros for the week. This has to be paid in Sharm. These cylinder have to be prebooked as I understand it from talking to Oonas on the phone. I have booked Josie's and my own but I think Mark will be asking for numbers so we don't all phone individually for the same thing.

NITROX

MV Juliet has Nirox as i'm sure we're all aware of. When I asked about possibly having to book it before hand Oonas said they would make a note of my request and phone back if they had any querys. I guess they would like to know in advance so they can plan top have enough on board, (unles they have a membrane compressor?). Again I think Mark might be sending am email/pm to this affect.

Baggage for those flighing from Manchester.

The carrier from Manchester is Brittania and both they, on their website and Oonas state that 20kg plus 5kg for Diving equipment is permitted. Total 25kg. Britannia state on their website that divers are required to show diving qualifications to qualify for the extra baggage allowance at checkin. I have emailed Britannia to ask if we require any written proof of this extra allowance at checkin as it will be too late to prove this at that stage. They are yet to reply.

Flights from Manchester are as follows:

Britannia, Flight BY768A outbound departs 0800, arrives Sharm., 15.25,
Britannia, Flight BY768B inbound departs 17.25, arrives Man., 21.25,

I'm looking forward to seeing you all very soon,

Dave C

Bit of advice Dave, wait until 3 days before you and then call and fax them again - bitter experience rules OK.

Andrew

[Lou]

Originally Posted by Kate

Be at Gatwick 2 hours before departure.

You're 'avin a laugh! 2 hours before - we'll be there about 4 hours before....bit of an excited holiday tradition. Get there dead early, check in, have brekkie and relaaaaxxxx.....

Good news on the "sports allowance". That'll do us fine. We were just getting close to the bone with 20kg and that was with no clothes......

Cheers, Kate - see you there

Lou

[Josie]

So I guess that the baggage allowance should say:
20kg for dive kit
5kg for clothes and toiletries including diocalm and suntan lotion!!

Josie

PS am beginning to get very very excited about this holiday. Just over 2 weeks left of work now. Can't wait! They (at work) are going to hate me by the end of the month!!!

[Dr Stevil]

Originally Posted by Josie

So I guess that the baggage allowance should say:
20kg for dive kit
5kg for clothes and toiletries including diocalm and suntan lotion!!

5kg of clothes ? That's moe than my entire wardrobe contents

Food was very good indeed last time so no worries about jelly-bellies.

I'll be bringing olive oil and dilute acetic acid (vinegar) for ear-care and would recommend others do too, also olbas oil in case you get bunged up and aspirin/ibuprofen etc to reduce inflammation in coral stings or ear inflammation

[Josie]

Originally Posted by Steve W

5kg of clothes ? That's moe than my entire wardrobe contents

Dave's wardrobe is a similar size, so I'll be able to take nearly 10kg of clothes and stuff!!

Josie