Red Sea Liveaboard – Northern Wrecks and Reefs
January 5, 2018 - January 12, 2018
| £999Diving on Blue O Two’s MY Blue Melody.
M/Y blue Melody is the third vessel in the blue o two fleet and underwent a complete interior re-fit in 2008, followed by an update in early 2016.
This liveaboard is everything you would expect from a 5* diving vessel with large dining area, separate sky lounge with state of the art entertainment system and double and twin cabins, all benefiting from ensuite facilities, air conditioning and personal entertainment systems. TV’s in the communal areas are also equipped with an Apple TV and a hard drive containing movies and TV series. A spacious dive deck also makes kitting up and getting in the water a stress free experience from this beautiful Red Sea liveaboard!
This classic itinerary allows you to take in iconic wrecks and stunning reefs across the northern Red Sea!
QUALIFICATION NEEDED: You must be a PADI Open Water diver or equivalent to join this safari.
Itinerary Checklist:
| Common sightings: | Dolphins and turtles, lovely reefs and famous wrecks |
|---|---|
| Reefs: | Mainly shallow with some drop-offs |
| Wrecks: | Many – normally 25-50% of dives |
| Night dives: | Almost every night but not guaranteed |
| Experience required: | Suitable for all divers |
| Amount of travelling: | Short distances between dive sites |
Sample Itinerary:
**PLEASE NOTE** the itinerary below is an example of the planned route and dive sites cannot be guaranteed. All dive sites are subject to weather conditions and the final route taken is at the absolute discretion of the captain and dive guides.
This itinerary departs from and returns to Hurghada. Please note that ports are subject to change.
Day 1 – Start the week with a check dive before heading north for an afternoon and night dive.
Days 2-5 – Spend four days cruising the northern Red Sea. Normally you will have the opportunity to make three day dives and a night dive each day. The exact itinerary and order of dive sites will vary depending on the conditions but you can expect to visit plenty of wrecks including Thistlegorm, Dunraven, Giannis D, Carnatic and potentially even more. There is also some fantastic reef diving including the Ras Mohamed marine park, Danaba (Shag Rock), Sha’ab El Erg (famous for dolphin encounters) and the Island of Gobal.
Day 6 – Enjoy two relaxed morning dives close to Hurghada allowing you to cruise into harbour in the early afternoon. Take advantage of an evening onshore to purchase souvenirs and enjoy Egypt’s famous hospitality before your journey home the next day.
Itinerary Highlights:
SS Thistlegorm
Probably the most famous of the Red Sea wrecks. The 129m English Freighter was bombed by German aviation on 6th October 1941. Today she creates an artificial reef on a sandy bottom at 32m max depth. She is home to an enormous variety of marine life and is especially popular with large schooling fish.
Please note: Due to CDWS regulations, you must have a minimum of 20 logged dives in order to dive on this wreck. Other dives on the itinerary are not affected.
Ras Mohamed – Shark & Yolanda Reefs
This is a world renowned dive site, situated at the tip of the Sinai. Two small ergs are joined by a vertical wall dropping into the abyss. At Shark Reef the current allows you to drift along the wall, rich with colourful corals. Moving towards Yolanda Reef you reach a plateau scattered with small ergs and coral outcrops. Continuing around the reef you will come upon the scattered remains of the wreck ‘Yolanda’ complete with its cargo of toilets and baths. The whole of this area is big fish territory so keep an eye on the blue!
Gubal Island
At the gate of the Straits of Gubal is ‘Bluff Point’, which gets its name from the turbulence created by strong currents that beat the eastern wall of the island. The wreck of the ‘Ulysses’ lies on the reef 300m north of the lighthouse, starting at 5m and sloping to 25m. ‘The Barge’ wreck, south of the lighthouse, provides divers with a fun and unusual night dive. The wrecks skeleton creates protection for all types of night creatures.
Abu Nuhas
Also known as the ‘Ships Graveyard’, this reef is positioned dangerously close to the busy shipping lanes of the Gulf of Suez. This reef has claimed more ships than any other in the area. On the north side are four wrecks laying on a sandy seafloor at the bottom of a steep sloping reef layered with table corals. Wrecks here include the Ghiannis D, Carnatic, Tile and Lentil Wrecks. On the south side is a safe anchorage for liveaboards and two ergs, known as Yellow Fish Reef.
Danaba (Shag Rock)
This large circular reef is often overlooked but offers excellent diving on pristine coral from any location on its perimeter.
Sha’ab El Erg
Famous for its dolphin sightings (and colloquially known as Dolphin House) this shallow reef can offer a dive that you will never forget!