Tony Backhurst - Bella, Wrecks & Reefs in May

[SonicStomp]

All I should need is a tank and weights from TB.

I have an SMB - just need to blag a reel.

[blondie]

re gloves

we were told that they can not be used now

[SonicStomp]

blondie,

Yeah - heard that too....although I was told night dives / wrecks is ok... ??

[blondie]

don't know more than that, can only tell you what was said to us by guide on Typhoon last week i.e. no gloves at all

[SonicStomp]

Thanks for the heads-up

[Mike Ward]

Bella is an excellent boat. The usual skipper is a gentleman named Damadash, he likes to come and chat to the passengers from time to time and speaks good English. The crew will work hard for you all week, and a tip will be suggested at the end of the week but is not mandatory - £5 sterling per day seems reasonable to me.

There should be wine aboard - usually South African, Egyptian and Lebanese - plus beer, payable on-board, soft drinks, tea,coffee and biscuits are available 24hrs a day.

The itinerary will probably take in a check dive near Sharm (Ras Katy and the Alternatives are favourites), then wrecks and reefs around the north of the Red Sea, including Thistlegorm, Rosalie Moller and Abu Nuhas, finishing up in Tiran.

Order you visit the sites will vary dependant on the weather and where there are other boats operating, the guides will try to keep you away from other people as far as possible but there will be times it isn't. If your group turns out to be full of wreckies there will be more wrecks, and if they're reef-lovers there'll be less wrecks, but you won't miss T'gorm whatever.

Don't bother with gloves, you won't need them and you'll be asked not to wear them. Do make sure you've a torch (Something smallish is fine, 4C cells are adequate for the week, plus a pocket back-up, big torches in such clear water are OTT in my opinion).

Take rehydration powders with you, most sickness problems are dehydration in my experience, and a rehydration sachet a couple of times in the week can be helpful.

Have a good trip!

[wibble32]

Lottie / Mike
Did they free Nitrox on your trip?
I like the tip on the rehydration powder.
Wibble32

[lottie]

No we had to pay for nitrox - about 60 quid for the week if i remember correctly.

[SonicStomp]

Thanks for the tips Mike - a mini first aid kit is in order me thinks with plenty of rehydration sachets - I assume they have plenty of bottled water etc?

[wibble32]

Lottie thank you for the info. Will put that in the budget
Wibble 32