DJIBOUTI....anyone been ??

[reef hook]

We are considering a trip to Djabouti in December for the Whale Shark season.As a country it certainly reads "interesting" (banditry,piracy,terrorism etc).Has anyone been and if so what was your experience of both the country and the diving.

[JasonP]

Originally Posted by reef hook

We are considering a trip to Djabouti in December for the Whale Shark season.As a country it certainly reads "interesting" (banditry,piracy,terrorism etc).Has anyone been and if so what was your experience of both the country and the diving.

I have.
http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/djibouti.html

It was good for the whale sharks, not so good for anything else.

Jason

[ShinyD]

I was in Djibouti about 20 years ago whilst in the Navy.

My only real memory of the place was one of abject poverty and squalor. The two 'events' that stick in my mind was being offered drugs frequently, and whilst leaving the marketplace to walk back to the ship, a bus pulling in, crammed to the gunwhales inside with people, animals and vegetables, and lots more hanging onto the outside. Whilst walking past as it disgorged its cargo I noticed a small, older woman in the traditional dress, well laden down with bags approach the front door to the bus.

As she drew level with it, she stopped, put her bags down, hitched up her skirts and squatted right beside the door and did a number 2! On completion, she dropped her skirts (not paying attention exactly where they landed, if you get my meaning), picked up her bags and climbed on board.

In summary, unless the place has radically changed you wouldn't drag me back there if the dive company offered free female Swedish dive buddies for everyone and had an 'as much as you can drink for $1' policy.

I think at the very least you can expect to have some form of stomach bug whilst there, and probably lingering on your return!

[David Wallace]

Went in Feb 2007 and did a live aboard to the Seven Brothers. - NOT the whale shark trip Fantastic.!!! couldn't recommend it enough.

Mind you, we went to the bit where they go looking for whale sharks on the way to and from the islands - it was ok - if you saw whale sharks but if you didn't it was like diving in portland harbour.... but thats a injustice to Portland Harbour

[Timbobaggins]

We are going in November so can give you a report later, if that helps.

[reef hook]

Many thanks all so far.Place definatly looks "interesting" especially when you check out the Home Office advice!!

What about the airline.Daallo airlines sure look to be among the worlds best!!!!

Looks like we can sell our ladies on the last night to fund the next trip.

But in all seriousness is the diving good enough to make a visit to such a place worthwhile.

[JasonP]

Originally Posted by reef hook

What about the airline.Daallo airlines sure look to be among the worlds best!!!!

It's a Daallo flight, but it's actually run by Astraeus, a British company. It was quite an eventful flight as none of the Somalian passengers did what they were told to do by the cabin crew.

Jason

[gobfish1]

ant been my self but some of my club members went ..

lots of time and money to get there , and they all said same thing it was ok
would not go again

ps no big fish , and that s what they went for ,,

[JasonP]

Originally Posted by David Wallace

Went in Feb 2007 and did a live aboard to the Seven Brothers. - NOT the whale shark trip Fantastic.!!! couldn't recommend it enough.

We did both the 7 Brothers and the whale sharks in Oct. I didn't think the reef dives were any better than your average Egyptian Red Sea dive.

Jason

[reef hook]

Your replies and a lot more "digging arround" has persuaded us it's not worth the cost.Tobago speyside it is then.Thank you all again.