MV Juliet - Sharm(ing)

[Dave Crampton]

Red Sea, Oonasdivers, 01 – 07 Nov 04.


'MY Juliet'


The holiday for me stated on the Friday as I had the day off work, then Saturday down to the Dive show to meet all the nice YD folk. What a pleasure to meet you all again/ for the first time. Delete as applicable. And sorry to those who I missed.

That eve arriving at Mark Davies’ house we went out for a wee dinner date to a lovely local Italian restaurant, with Mark, Tim and Christine.

Sunday began with an early start as we had to taxi booked for 8am to take us to Manchester Airport. Steve W arrived as did Christine and we were away. Arriving at the airport, we met up with Gavin and Fiona Yates and Dougie (Kerr) Paddler. Once through check in we only had a short time to get the Dollars and booze etc.. before we were scuttling off to the Gate. 7 hours later we arrived, in the Dark at Sharm Airport. We then met up with Lou, Caroline, Conor Kate and Steve Miller (of the Steve Miller Band), Steve W's mate. With some clever bribery and a short wait until the bags came out we were met outside by the minibus to take us to Oonas’ Club for a brief stop and then on to the MV Juliet. After installing ourselves in our room, stowing our gear, we were given the tour and briefed by our guide Viki, on what was to come.

Monday 2nd,
Up at Oh my god its early o’clock and a brief before:
Dive one, 07.30hrs, Check out dive at Ras Katy. A short dive to sort out weighting and acclimatise to the Blue water diving. Anemone ‘Clown’ fish, Banner fish, Scorpion fish… 30mins, 22mtrs.
Dive two, 11.24hrs, Anemone City, Royal Fish, Red Sea Banner fish, Napoleon Wrasse, Anemone Fish, Banded Urchin, Blue/Black Urchin.. 39mins, 24mtrs.
Dive three, 16.14hrs, over to the Abu nas Reef. Ghiannis D, 50mins, 20mtrs.

Tuesday 3rd,
Dive four, 07.06hrs, Carnatic, 44mins, 24mtrs.
Dive five, 11.13hrs, Christola K, 44mins, 24mtrs.
Dive six, 15.35hrs, Bluff point, 60 mins, 18mtrs.
Dive seven, 19.02hrs, Night dive, Gubal Island, 58mins, 19mtrs.

Wed 3rd,
Dive eight, 07.20hrs, Ulysses, Russian Wooden Steamship. 55mins, 27mtrs.
Dive nine, 11.12hrs, Kingston/Sarah H, 62 mins, 22mtrs.
Dive ten, 15.58hrs, SS Thistlegorm, This was a checkout dive of the wreck. No penetration, Said Viki (deep voiced, Kenneth Williams) Ooh Matron!! 43 mins, 25mtrs.
Dive eleven, 06.55hrs, Night dive on the SS Thistlegorm. Same as before only with lights. 34 mins, 26mtrs.

Thursday 4th,
Dive twelve, 06.55hrs, Buddy - Steve Walker, SS Thislegorm, With Penetration this time J Sorry Jules, couldn’t resist Steve’s offer. Entered through the fifth hold and forward, firth over an empty looking inner hold, with coal in the bottom. Then forward over Bedford trucks with Motorcycles in them. Lots of white glass, later I was told which was a result of the fire/heat? Row upon row of Bedfords and motorcycles. Then through to the next forward hold with yet more vehicles, Bedfords and Morris cars and more motorcycles. In amongst these strewn were Large waders and Wellington boots. Circling in an anti clockwise direction and as my sunnto was showing 5 mins no deco we rose up into the bridge section and then up into the captain’s Cabin? And out before returning up the line to the boat. 51 mins, 26mtrs.
Dive thirteen, 13.53hrs, Ras um Sid. After a brief visit to Sharm to repair Dougie’s leg, we set off back round and up to a dive at Ras Um Sid. Lots of Snorklers giving us OK signs.. sigh.. must we always return these damb OK signs to Snorklers?? 51 mins, 21mtrs.
Dive fourteen, 20.16hrs, Gordon Reef, Night Dive. Saw a slipper Lobster. First Saw one of these in the Men in May but didn’t know what it was. 25 mins, 9.5mtrs. Arm covered in sand as wrist firmly stuck in sandy bottom.. 9.5mtrs

Friday 5th,
Dive fifteen, 07.21hrs, Yolander Reef, We saw the most amazingly large Napoleon Wrasse. It was incredible!! It just wondered around us nosily checking us out with its huge beady eyes. What a majestic fish. 52 mins, 25mtrs.
Dive sixteen, 11.10hrs, Jackfish Alley, A huge wall, with a small swim through which had us doing a U turn at the and and then all backing up to get out. This was followed by a lovely long swim along the reef afterwards. 63 mins, 21mtrs.
Dive seventeen, 15.30hrs, Jackson Reef, Swimming round ¾ of the reef we encounter no less than 3 turtles. J, 62 mins, 20mtrs.
Dive eighteen, 19.23hrs, Night dive at Lagoon on Terra Island. Saw a Forskals Pleurobranch. My very first. After getting some way from the boat we had to send Periscope Yates up to get us a bearing on the boat. 70 mins, 14mtrs. ‘Back on the boat, 50Bar.. aye right?!?!.. A herm…30Bar..cough.. L

Saturday 6th,
Dive nineteen,07.13hrs, Thomas Reef. A large crack in the reef which runs down to 70m?? We mad it down to 35 ish.. Then on round the reef. 50mins, 29mtrs.
Dive twenty, 10.55hrs, Woodhouse reef followed by in impromptu Friday Reef. This was meant to be a swim/drift round Woodhouse reef on the east side heading north. Keep in to the reef at the north end said Viki as its can drag you down the drop off at the end if your not careful. So at the end, Viki signals for us to hop over to the reef over the saddle at the north end of Woodhouse. At 23m at its highest and dropping off slowly and surely we maintained 24m until we could no longer see the reef below us and then swung a right swimming across the current, to stop at Jackson Reef. Some were not see lucky. They flew past the reef and had a deco/safety stop in open blue water, before being picked up by the Juliet. 40mins, 27mtrs.
Dive twenty one, 14.59hrs, Last dive for me. Ras Nasrani, Saw my very first Nudibranch. Must admit it was very small and I would have missed it if it wasn’t for Lou taking a picture of it.75 mins, 17mtrs. Lots of fun was to be had on the underwater beach doing acrobatics and standing on heads. J.

Ave water temp, a cool 28 degree C.

Sunday 7th L.
So, the last day was spent packing our gear, and off the Oonas Club again for an afternoon around and in the pool. Lunch then back to Oonas club for goodbyes and hugs and kisses. I had a really fantastic time. Very tiring but well worth the money. Oonas run a fantastic boat (or three) and I would no hesitate to recommend then and go again.

[CALLISTO]

Hi Dave, I was on the Cyclone aweek before you and Dived the Uylsses Brilliant wreck .interesting to wreckies and at the bow area fantastic life in 7m ..Loved it

It was not a russian ship if your dive guide told you that she wants Sh@gging
Just a turn of phrase !!!

It was a Liverpool Company..Blue Funnel laterly Ocean fleets owned by Alfred Holt and she was on a Regular run to Singapore,Penang From Liverpool ,London Via the Suez

And if your wondering YES the long winter nights do fly by if your in my Company!!!!

Andy

[Fi]

Here we all were, all kitted-up and raring to dive!!

Fabby holiday, only sadly seems but a distant memory!

[Scubanut]

A good report, glad to see that you njoyed the trip.

Also like to see that you kept yourself warm by wearing the hood!!!!

Napoleons are sooo inquisitive, always coming in to see who/what is causing congestion on his reef!!

Scubanut
with Scubachick looking over his shoulder

[Mr T.]

Well in Davey C! Good clear report - alas, a little light on the galley antics of an evening? Are we to believe that not a single sherry passed the lips of any of you?

I've added a pic of the Juliet too for ya, above.

We had the Wheel-house cabin (the one Gav & Fi had on your trip) when Fiona and I did the gig a coupla years back. Top boat, top nose-bag and masses of kitting up room.

[SCUBA Chick]

Top report Dave!!! Brings back memories of the thistelgorm for me!!

To pick your brain how was the food on the boat...just wondering for future reference really as I am veggie and like to scope out whether I would get some decent nosh or not Maybe SteveW might want to give me some input on this???????

Scubachick

[Dr Stevil]

Originally Posted by scubachick1972

To pick your brain how was the food on the boat...just wondering for future reference really as I am veggie and like to scope out whether I would get some decent nosh or not Maybe SteveW might want to give me some input on this???????

Scubachick

Bit of a sore point that one!

Breakfast tends to be all veggie options, so that was ok, lunch, also not a big issue as you don't really want a huge meal when diving four times a day, but dinnertime was insulting

Last year I was well pleased with the evening veggie food, this year there was little or no provision made . All dinnertimes tend to comprise a buffet style mix of pasta or rice or similar plus salad or coleslaw etc, but all week there was no main protein element provided for the veggies. Most mealtimes there was nothing more than a tiny bowl of tomato sauce to share between three people!! One evening there was three meat options and not a single veggie option - Lou, Caroline and I ended up with just a plate of mashed potatoes and rice.

Needless to add we said our piece on the feedback forms handed out at the end of the holiday and I've written to Oonas to express my annoyance in no uncertain terms. I expect Lou and Caroline probably will too. Bottom line - if you're booking, (with these or anyone else) get on the phone and make a big deal out of it beforehand so they know not to ignore your requirements.
HTH
Steve

[Mr T.]

Stevie,

Did you veggies not make your preferences known before you arrived - a la on the booking form??

If so, and they ignored it, you've every right to be pissed off!

I know it's not much help now, but I just remember the scoff on the boat being top-notch!

[SCUBA Chick]

Originally Posted by Steve W

Bit of a sore point that one!

Breakfast tends to be all veggie options, so that was ok, lunch, also not a big issue as you don't really want a huge meal when diving four times a day, but dinnertime was insulting

Last year I was well pleased with the evening veggie food, this year there was little or no provision made . All dinnertimes tend to comprise a buffet style mix of pasta or rice or similar plus salad or coleslaw etc, but all week there was no main protein element provided for the veggies. Most mealtimes there was nothing more than a tiny bowl of tomato sauce to share between three people!! One evening there was three meat options and not a single veggie option - Lou, Caroline and I ended up with just a plate of mashed potatoes and rice.

Needless to add we said our piece on the feedback forms handed out at the end of the holiday and I've written to Oonas to express my annoyance in no uncertain terms. I expect Lou and Caroline probably will too. Bottom line - if you're booking, (with these or anyone else) get on the phone and make a big deal out of it beforehand so they know not to ignore your requirements.
HTH
Steve

Oh bugger really sorry to hear about that...I wasn't expecting such a dire report.....

I must give top marks to the cooks on 'Blue Pearl' which we went on in June then as the meals they put on for me (I was the only veggie) on the boat were excellent. They did me a seperate dish for each meal in case nothing on the buffet was suitable (and I could still help myself from that if I fancied!!!)

I don't recall telling them of my requirements beforehand either but will defo do that when booking any future liveaboard just in case...

Let's hope that Oonas take your views on board (no pun intended!)

Scubachick

[Helen F H]

I want to dive the red sea