For this years trip to the Red Sea trip we have put together a week in the Deep South, aboard the MV Sea Serpent. The boat operates out of the port of Port Galeb, just north of Marsa Alam. We will be diving Elphinstone and St Johns

It hasn't been easy at such short notice, but I have tried to put together a trip that will suit all levels and interests, whilst working to a realistic budget.

The trip will run from 1st - 8th November 2006 - minimumn qualification will be Sports Diver, with 30 logged dives.

Current cost = £895

Flights

The flight, with Thomson Fly, goes direct into Marsa Alam, with a short mini-bus transfer to Port Galeb.

Please note revised flight times

TOM 3061 - Wed 1st November dep 11:00 arr 18:35

TOM 3062 - Wed 8th November dep 19:35 arr 23:40

For further information please contact me at trip-organiser

The Dive Destination -St John's Reef - The Deep South and Elphinstone

This itinerary covers the coastal section of the southern Red Sea offering stunning diving on a huge variety of reefs, walls as well as hard coral gardens teeming with fish life.

Some of the best dives are made in the early morning when you are most likely to find hammerhead and grey reef sharks circling around the tips of reefs such as on the north plateau of the famous and exposed reef of Elphinstone with its shear walls covered in soft corals.

St Johns is a collection of small reefs offering some of the best diving in the Red Sea. Habili Ali will make even the most experienced of divers sigh with wonder when admiring the forrests of huge fan corals and black corals that populate its walls. At its western end grey reef, silver-tip and big schools of hammerhead sharks may be observed. Have also a look out for the curious and impressive bump-head parrot fish that are typical for the St Johns area.

Shaab Sataya, the largest reef system in Fury Shoal, has it all - shear walls, ancient amphorae and yet another possibility to swim with big pods of friendly and playful spinner dolphins.

Shaab Abu Galawa Saghira with its wonderful hard coral garden in the shape of an amphitheatre is truly memorable. Sha'ab Mahrus is rated as one of the best wall dives in the world, with large caves full of life, and an abundance of corals including sea whips and gorgonia. The wall is a favourite hang-out for grey, silvertip, oceanic white tip and thresher sharks.

The tour will start and end in Port Ghalib; visiting reefs between Port Ghalib and St. John`s Reef.

This itinerary is a beautiful way to discover the south. Deep drop offs covered with vibrant corals in the bluest of blue sea. Shark and other large pelagic are common as they come in to the reef and up from the deep.

This is an astounding reef safari and a photographer's dream.

This trip is better suited to the more experience diver which is why we ask that divers to have 30 logged dives.

The sailing distance during the whole week is 750 km and the itinerary runs throughout the year.

(The exact itinerary and reefs visited depends on weather conditions and the diver`s level of experience)
Here are some examples of sites you expect to visit during the week.

* Abu Dabab
* Elphinstone
* Shaab Claudia
* Dolphin Reef (Sataya)
* Shaab Sharm
* St. John Reef (Habili Ali, Small Gota...)
* Fury Shoal
* Marsa Shouna
* Elphinstone

Our Boat - MV Sea Serpent

This boat is truly an excellent choice for a relaxing, luxurious and at the same time homely atmosphere liveaboard holiday

Built in 2001, Sea Serpent is the first of the latest generation of luxury dive vessels based on the award winning Benetti Classic 35 yachts’ design. Combining famous design standards with his broad knowledge and long experience as a Red Sea Liveaboard operator, Hamed Abdulla was able to create a luxurious vessel, unparalleled in speed, stability, comfort and spaciousness. Her sleek hull and powerful engines, allow for increased speed and stability, assuring comfortable cruising even in high seas.
The extensive teak laid deck areas allow ample space for kitting up, sunbathing, or relaxing in the shade. The spacious saloon is tastefully finished in oak and amboyna, and the soft furnishings in the Sea Serpent livery. Polished wood floors and oriental rugs all add to the overall opulent feel of this vessel. An Audio/ Visual system with CD, Video and DVD, bar with icemaker, and a library of books and videos ensure that time spent above water is relaxing and enjoyable..
Guest are accommodated in 8 twin and 2 double cabins, each with private bathroom, mini-bar, and individual climate control and audio system. The monogrammed towels and bathrobes complete the luxury hotel ambience. For further information on MV Sea Serpent please follow link to Sea Serpent Fleet website .

Nitrox

Nitox is free on this boat - I would highly recommend that anyone interested should think about getting a Nitrox qualification. It gives you that very welcome additional safety margin, considering the distance from any re compression facilities !

Nitrox courses are offered on Sea Serpent. You just need to hold a PADI open water certification or equivalent to begin.
You can pre- book this with Tony Backhurst for £95 and they will provide you with all your training materials before your trip. The cost is inclusive of materials, training and certification.

During the course you will learn about the preparation and diving procedures involved with diving on Nitrox. Then you will get to experience diving with nitrox for the first time after pre planning your dive with an instructor.

Once qualified (usually on day one!) you will then be able to dive the rest of your holiday on nitrox for free!

Sharks not guaranteed !!

The following are booked onto the trip:

Please note minimumn qualification = Sports Diver with 30 logged dives.

If you are interested in joining us for this trip please mail me asap trip-organiser

Travel Information

(information provided by Tony backhurst)

Health & Safety: Please refer to your GP or vaccination center for the most up to date advise click here for the government health website
Insurance:Please make sure you have insurance to cover travel arrangements and diving. Tony Backhurst Scuba Insurance is available from £36, or Annual, multi-trip, Europe & Egypt cover from £68. If you are making your own arrangements please provide us with a copy of your policy. See our own Tony Backhurst Scuba Travel Insurance designed with divers in mind.
Flight tickets: will be sent to you by post unless otherwise arranged. Please call if you have not received your tickets 3 days prior to departure.
Check In : is 3 hours before departure time. On Charter flights standard free weight allowance is 20kgs, we have arranged an additional allowance on some routes, please ask for details. Regulations prohibit dangerous items such as knives being carried in hand luggage. Electrical goods should be carried in hand baggage. Pony Cylinders can be transported in hold baggage, but must be shown to be open and empty. Please use our luggage tags provided , they will help our staff identify you..
Visas: British passport holders can arrange full Egyptian visas with us before departure for £10 alternatively they may also be purchased on arrival for $16 (although this may involve some queuing) . You will require this full visa as you will be diving outside of the local area. Non British passport holders may need to arrange a full Egyptian entry Visa with the Egyptian Embassy. Tel 0207 235 9777. Please note your passport must be valid until at least 6 months after the trip returns.
Marine Park fees are now paid by Tony Backhurst Scuba on all Red Sea liveaboard Holidays (Please note marine Park fees are still applicable for all Shorebased and Cruise & Stay holidays) Please note Night Dives are not permissable on the Marine Parks.
Medical Requirements: All passengers scuba diving whilst on holiday will be required by the Diving Centre or liveaboard in resort to complete a medical questionnaire. If the operator is in any way unsure of your fitness to dive, you will be required to undergo a medical examination. This may result in considerable extra cost for which you will be charged locally. No refunds will be given if you are refused medical clearance to dive. You are strongly advised to undergo a full medical examination before booking your holiday, and you must do so if you reply in the positive to any of the questions in the following questionnaire (please click here to go to the questionaire). If you currently hold a diving medical be sure you take it with you.
Foreign & Commonwealth Office Travel Advice:- For upto date advice on foreign travel please visit http://www.fco.gov.uk
Passport Copies/numbers
Passport numbers are required for all southern Red Sea trips.
Arrival in Egypt . You will be met by our local representative. They will be waiting for you inside the terminal building after the baggage reclaim, and will have a sign displaying the name of your boat/hotel or Tony Backhurst Scuba Travel.
Liveaboard Holidays . You will be transferred from the boat after lunch to a hotel for your last night. Your evening meal and breakfast are included. You will then be transferred later in the day in time for your flight home.
Islam. During Islamic events such as the month of Ramadan (24Sep-24Oct ‘06) shop hours are shorter and some hotel facilities or excursions may be limited or unavailable. Please respect local customs and dress appropriately.

What to bring

Equipment. You will need a full set of diving equipment. Tank and weights are the only equipment provided by the boat and included in the cost of your holiday. You will need a mask, fins and snorkel, BCD, regulator, wetsuit, dive computer or dive tables. Diving in the Red Sea usually follows a multilevel profile, square profile tables are therefore not appropriate. Rental torches are expensive and unreliable, we recommend you purchase a small dive light for night dives. Equipment rental is available from our centre in the UK or in your resort. Please give prior notice. Water temperature ranges from 20°C in February to 29°C in September so choose your suit accordingly. There are charging facilities available for lights and cameras, standard 220/240 volts. The sockets are continental 2 pin, so UK plugs will require an adapter. We recommend you buy film and batteries at Gatwick before departure. All boats are able to handle international ( A Clamp ) or din regulators. Tanks are aluminium 12 litres. on all boats we can provide 15ltr Cylinders if requested prior to the trip. It is possible to twin up but not necessary for the type of profiles dived.
Clothes. Towels are provided in the cabins but we recommend you pack a beach towel for after diving. Shoes are not worn on any of the boats, so you will not need shoes during the entire charter. Shorts, T- shirts and swimwear are the norm. We recommend a fleece and jogging trousers for the evenings between the end of November and April. Remember sunscreen, hats and sunglasses, as the weather is nearly always sunny.
Drinks. We include all soft drinks and water on the liveaboards. Wines and spirits are best obtained at Gatwick, and you may take these onboard any of the boats. All boats have beer for sale and would prefer guests not to take their own onboard.Typhoon, Hurricane, Grand Sea Serpent, Sea Serpent, Whirlwind and Cyclone also have a selection of wines and spirits for sale in the bar.
Money. On Liveaboard trips we pay a contribution for you towards the up keep of the decompression chambers. Tips on board are voluntary and based on quality of service recieved, envelopes will be made available at the end of the trip and tips shared amongst the crew. On the last day you will need money for drinks, lunch and any presents you wish to take home. Most hotels and shops accept credit cards. We recommend some cash in small bills for incidentals in resort. Prices are quoted in $US except on Tornado Marine boats where they are in GB£.
Contact details:During UK office hours 0800 0728221.
Airport reps Gatwick 01293 502052 Manchester 07774 418040
Sharm el Sheikh - Wafee 012 3349271(mob) or Taymour 0123733349 (mob) or Traveline 0693664446(Sharm office)
Hurghada and Marsa Alam - Ashraf 0101695890 (mob) or Ahmed 0101760775 (mob) or Traveline 0101760687(Hurghada office).

paul feakes August 2006