I just returned from a week on the Red Sea Aggressor, northern route. I don't usually do trip reports but I thought I would mention a couple of things. The boat was great, the food was good, the crew was fantastic, if a little over the top on the service(really guys, I can defog my own mask and put my fins on without help) but maybe that's just a cultural thing. It was quite cold. I didn't skip any dives, but in a 5mm and light hood I was chilled much of the time. My buddy was a slender woman in an 8mm who still appreciated the hood I loaned her. My Shearwater had the water temps at 71-72, but the real problem was the cool air and breeze on the surface. Stripping off that wet suit and skin was brutal! The tanks were convertible, so you can bring your DIN reg. I had asked for a larger tank and got a steel LP 95. I saw AL100s on board too. Expect to need more weight because of the increased salinity. The boat has 220 volt power and two types of plugs. The 3 prong GB version from my Apple travel kit worked out. I took my Nautilus Lifeline and was unable to find out the MMSI code prior to arrival but was told there that the boat does have one. I didn't bother to set it up. The seas are so flat that it probably wasn't necessary(not like Cocos!). I had a 1715 departure time from Marsa Alam so Lisa booked a day room for me in a hotel across the marina. Nice lunch buffet and a place to chill for a few hours. All in all, nice boat and nice people, but when I go back, it will be later in the season, crowded or not.
One more thing: You can't climb the ladders on their pangas with your gear on, so its removal in the water isn't optional. I've been diving a one-piece harness on my BP since forever, but a shoulder problem I'm having made it difficult to remove by myself and I needed help from the crew every time. When I return, I'll probably face the wrath of the DIR gods and install a harness with a break to make things easier for all concerned.
One more thing: You can't climb the ladders on their pangas with your gear on, so its removal in the water isn't optional. I've been diving a one-piece harness on my BP since forever, but a shoulder problem I'm having made it difficult to remove by myself and I needed help from the crew every time. When I return, I'll probably face the wrath of the DIR gods and install a harness with a break to make things easier for all concerned.