Trip to RSDS in October

[JustSurfaceInterval]

Ok, folks, we are back from 2 weeks at RSDS in Marsa Shagra. See also my other short post.

Some bullet points covering the whole trip. Feel free to ask specific questions.

> General
* Arrival at RMF and took Visa on Arrival, get luggage and bought 25 GB for 25 EUR From WE Egypt Telecom and met our transfer outside. Absolutely smooth and hassle free. Departure was equally smooth as our flight was the only flight scheduled that morning and the airport was empty...
* 45 min drive to Marsa Shagra and arrived at about 22:30 on a Sunday. Small Diner Box was waiting for us in the room but we had first to deal with the temperature of 35° C (yes, 35° at 22:30)
* We had a Premium Deluxe Chalet that was very spacious and clean. AirCon was our friend during the stay.
* Water dispenser all over the place where you can get cold water for free to fill your bottle. Refrain to drink tap water, you never know...

> Food
* Breakfast: everything you need for a good start into the day. You want an extra? you need something special? just ask, the guys will be happy to help you.
* Lunch: perfect choice for a light meal in between dives. Not as much as in the evening but absolutely fine.
* Diner: choice of different meals and a desert buffer you will kill for. Always check the deserts first!
* Food was tasty and additional ingredients were available to spice it up if needed.
* Alcohol: Beer (Stella Local) and Omar Kayyan Wine (red and white) but nothing else. However, there are not picky if you bring your own stuff, e.g. from the duty free.

> Night life/Animation
None. As said in the other post, it was like 22:00 = lights out, all to bed. There may be some small groups meeting at the cafeteria, but no party or drinking into the night...

> Dive Ops
* Well organised and easy going
* If you need help, just ask and you will have someone looking after you every day.
* There are 2 mandatory check dives on day one, one from shore, one from zodiac to get famliar with the procedures.
* Once you have clearance to go on your own, just grab a tank of your favourite stuff and off you go.
* Non Limit is real non limit: you can do as much dives as you fancy between 06:00 and 18:00.
* There are 12 L and 15 L aluminium tanks with DIN and INT. 12 L Nitrox and air tanks are available daily, 15 L Nitrox has to be ordered the day before.
* There is a check out/check in system on 2 white boards telling the staff who is out and whether someone may be late or overdue.

> Dive Spots
* 3 dive profiles on every side of the house reef (North and South): Shore out - Shore back; Zodiac out - Shore back, Zodiac out - Zodiac back (you have to set your SMB and a Zodiac will pick you up)
* Several trips on offer at additional costs to other dive spots by car (for land base diving) or by zodiac (Abu Dabbabs, Elphinstone, ...) if minimum participant number is reached.
Although we stayed 2 weeks, we only did house reef. First because we already knew the other sites and second because there was so much to see that it did not get boring.

It is true that the more South you go, the better conditions of the reef.
At Marsa Shagra you only have divers from there and none from other hotels or from LOBs.
Some exceptional encounters to report: Dolphins in the bay, 5 turtles during one dive, 2 Longnose Hawkfishs together on one coral, and many many of all othe usual suspects. During our time there, a swarm of a few thousend young barracudas were circling in the shallow bay at about 5 m to 10 m, very impressive.

Summary:
Absolutely great location for Eat-Sleep-Dive-Repeat. Non-divers can snorkel or read a book. There is nothing else to do.

 

[dflaher]

Thanks for the report! Do you know whether the 12L tanks were aluminum or steel? Trying to predict buoyancy, thanks.

 

[JustSurfaceInterval]

All tanks are aluminium.
The DM running the check dive will have some spare weights with him or at a "secret" place in the bay in case someone needs more.

 

[dflaher]

> Dive Ops

* Non Limit is real non limit: you can do as much dives as you fancy between 06:00 and 18:00.

Although we stayed 2 weeks, we only did house reef. First because we already knew the other sites and second because there was so much to see that it did not get boring.

It is true that the more South you go, the better conditions of the reef.

Just had a few more questions. If diving ends at 18:00, is there truly no night diving? That's great that the house reef was so nice that you felt no desire to go elsewhere. We will probably go to Elphinstone, as we have never been there. Does your comment about the South imply that we should focus on the South side of the house reef? Or were you referring to RSDS' other properties at Marsa Nakari and Wadi Lahami?

Thanks again!

 

[JustSurfaceInterval]

When i say diving ends at 18:00, i mean you have to be back at 18:00..There is the possibility for night diving. We did not fancy. If i remember correctly, it is an extra schedule you have to register for.
The "South" refers to the reef condition going down the Red Sea from North to South, so reef in Marsa Shagra is in better condition than the one in e.g. Soma Bay.
BTW: Marsa Shagra offers full day trip by car to Marsa Nakari.

 

[MightyDuck]

Just had a few more questions. If diving ends at 18:00, is there truly no night diving?

There is opportunity for night dive every day.
Usually from 17 to 19 it doesn’t really worth to go in because it is too dark for a normal dive, but it is too early for a night dive so you will see nothing.
The night dives must end till 20 (or 19, it depends on the exact time of year) so the best solution is to jump in exactly one hour before the limit.

Does your comment about the South imply that we should focus on the South side of the house reef? Or were you referring to RSDS' other properties at Marsa Nakari and Wadi Lahami?

I assume he meant the reef.
I was several times both places and I think Shagra is better. It has a nicer house reef, and the restaurant has a bigger “menu” to choose from. (Nakari is very good also, but in comparison with Shagra it gets only the second place. )