Hurricane Southern Red Sea 8th June?

[Adrian_K]

Hi All,

We have booked with TB on the Hurricane in June, can anyone answer a few miscellanous questions....

1. We aren't Nitrox certified, is doing the course on the liveaboard a good idea, or is it better to do it in the UK first (is it too much learning whilst trying to fit 4 dives a day in!)?

2. Are there plenty of deep dives on the Southern itinerary...enough to justify renting a pony.... or could I take my dreaded spare air? (please don't berate me for owning one, I have used the logic of something is better than nothing when travelling, and have dived with some shocking buddies in the caribbean!)

2. 5mm or 3 mm full wetsuits.... since I'm appalling at packing, do we need both suits or is it warm enough in early June for the 3 mm alone (even a shortie?)

Any info will be helpful...

Thanks

A & G

[Noel Johnson]

Hi. I've not been on the Hurricane but I have been on the sister ship and she's fab...

1. The PADI enriched air qualification is worthwhile getting and doing it somewhere nice and warm could be an advantage - it's only a theory based course now anyway, apparently. The materials are waey to read and understand so that shouldn't be a problem.

2. Pony bottle? Yes. I took mine when we did brothers and elphinstone, infact I always dive with redundancy. Hired ponies on the Typhoon instead of taking our own but YES. As an aside the ponies on the Typhoon were inspiration dilutent cylinders so DIN regs were essential. Check with Tony Backhurst first if you're using A-Clamps. Take your own fixing method, we had to.

3. I take a 3mm full suit whenever I go. In april I took a shortie as well to go over the top if needed but full protection is nice from the jellyfish on night dives...

HTH and enjoy the week.

Noel.

[jorawley]

depends on what you consider to be deep - every time i've been to the red sea it has been a 30m max depth, max time 60 mins (north on diamond, south on GSS & Hurricane). Think we were only allowed one or 2 night dives according to marine park laws and the depths / currents of some of the sites we were doing.

I didnt take my pony with me but did hire a 15l tank (not much use in a freeflow i know - but gave me plenty of air when watching the white tips just under the boat at elphinstone) was reassuring doing 60min dives and still coming up with 100bar+.

I have plenty of insulation and only dive over there in leggings and a long sleeve T shirt (in Jan) in case of stings or cuts on wrecks - if you dont feel the cold its much nicer putting them on dry than a damp wetsuit.

Found Joe & Karin the dive guides to be superb - sure you'll have a fabulous time.

[Rod]

Do the course over there. Joe and Karin are both excellent Instructors. The PADI books are easy to read and the maths is easy. Nitrox is available on the boat and I think it is £5 per fill which is a bit on the dear side I personally think. However it is worth it for the extra margin of safety.

As for deep diving I personally find 30m is more than enough depth and the sea life is almost always in that bracket in the South.

[Fiona]

As you seem to be doing St Johns then I would say 30m will probably be your deepest dive, I don't recall doing anything much deeper on our trip.

However you will probably dive Elphinstone on the way out and on the way back and there is a plateau at the North end where there is some good shark action around 40m, obviously only if your qualified to that depth.

If you can hire a pony for a couple of dives I would do that I certainly wouldn't carry one out there.

Agree about the suit though I would recommend a 3mm full length, you will be hot but better that than getting stung with whatever is in the water, I wa effected by something on our St Johns trip as I was using a shortie.

[Red Sea Shadow]

Originally Posted by Adrian_K

2. Are there plenty of deep dives on the Southern itinerary...enough to justify renting a pony.... or could I take my dreaded spare air? (please don't berate me for owning one, I have used the logic of something is better than nothing when travelling, and have dived with some shocking buddies in the caribbean!)

2. 5mm or 3 mm full wetsuits.... since I'm appalling at packing, do we need both suits or is it warm enough in early June for the 3 mm alone (even a shortie?)

Actually there're too main routes here; southern and deep southern. What is the itinerary you'll be doing? Where are you boarding from?
Normally dives won't exceed 30 meters. However, in some places like Elphinstone, you may cross that limit. A 3 mm full suit will be fair enough.

[Fiona]

He is doing St Johns and I understand the "normal" limit is 40m in the south and he will board from Marsa Alam usual embarkation for southern routes.

[Mal Bridgeman]

Not adding to the thread in any way whatsoever....but I just wanted to mention that on Thursday morning I will be waiting at Gatwick airport ....about to fly to Marsa Alam for a week on the Hurricane

Mal

(BTW I have hired manfiolded twins at a premium of £80!!)

[Adrian_K]

Fiona is correct, it's St John's kicking off from Marsa Alam. Thanks for everyones thoughts, it sounds as though the 3 mm long and renting a pony is the way to go, and if we can't fit the nitrox course in at home, shouldn't be a problem onboard (although planning to leave the majority of thinking brain at home, so maths may be a challenge!!!!)

Envious of you Mal, we have another month to wait..... but please tell us how it goes......

A & G

[markbsac]

i will be there one week later on the 15th on hurricane....so dont drink all the beer will you !!!!!!