Jai Bar
April 10th, 2007, 07:18 AM
Five days to Shaab Abu Nuhas and Ras Mohammed area :14:
So, water visibility isn't that good in this season (lots of plankton), water temperature is 21-22 degC- add some wind and it is pretty cold to don/doff wet suits before and after the dives.
But on the other side there weren't almost any other boats so it is a good chance to have the usually "megacrowded" sites such as Shark/Yolanda reef (or the Thistlegorm)- "private" for ourselves. Which was really nice. I don't remember when was the last time I had a chance to be really alone on these sites... :D
We dove to the wreck of the "Dunraven" in Shaab Mahmoud, then crossed the Gubal strait to dive the wrecks of the "Gianis D" and "Carnatic". Then "Bluff point", followed by two days on the "Thistlegorm", and last two days in Shark/Yolanda reefs and the Alternatives. Did a couple of dives in the "Little passage" too.
Most of the huge schools of fish typical encountered in places like Shark reef were missing, but there was an abundance of Giant Humphead Wrasses ("Napoleon")- in the alternatives reef we saw four together (male + three females?) in most dives we were visited by these friendly large fishes (unfortunately, I think they are more interested in eggs than being friendly- got none from us, of course), schools of Barracudas, Fusiliers, and lots lots lots of surgeon fish, Blue spotted stingrays. Turtles too, and a remora looking for a free ride... Sometime in these season an occassional whale shark? We weren't lucky enough :(
It was my first time to night-dive the thistlegorm. Not much different than during the day- but colder :D and spookier in some places, especially beeing alone with my buddy... For me it was also the first time to dive there without the screens of bubbles generated by hoardes of divers.
Between the dives, we spent the time on board of the "Sea Queen I"- it is quite a big boat, the crew very friendly and always looking to help.
Next time, I hope to visit Dahab- haven't been there for almost two years :(
So, water visibility isn't that good in this season (lots of plankton), water temperature is 21-22 degC- add some wind and it is pretty cold to don/doff wet suits before and after the dives.
But on the other side there weren't almost any other boats so it is a good chance to have the usually "megacrowded" sites such as Shark/Yolanda reef (or the Thistlegorm)- "private" for ourselves. Which was really nice. I don't remember when was the last time I had a chance to be really alone on these sites... :D
We dove to the wreck of the "Dunraven" in Shaab Mahmoud, then crossed the Gubal strait to dive the wrecks of the "Gianis D" and "Carnatic". Then "Bluff point", followed by two days on the "Thistlegorm", and last two days in Shark/Yolanda reefs and the Alternatives. Did a couple of dives in the "Little passage" too.
Most of the huge schools of fish typical encountered in places like Shark reef were missing, but there was an abundance of Giant Humphead Wrasses ("Napoleon")- in the alternatives reef we saw four together (male + three females?) in most dives we were visited by these friendly large fishes (unfortunately, I think they are more interested in eggs than being friendly- got none from us, of course), schools of Barracudas, Fusiliers, and lots lots lots of surgeon fish, Blue spotted stingrays. Turtles too, and a remora looking for a free ride... Sometime in these season an occassional whale shark? We weren't lucky enough :(
It was my first time to night-dive the thistlegorm. Not much different than during the day- but colder :D and spookier in some places, especially beeing alone with my buddy... For me it was also the first time to dive there without the screens of bubbles generated by hoardes of divers.
Between the dives, we spent the time on board of the "Sea Queen I"- it is quite a big boat, the crew very friendly and always looking to help.
Next time, I hope to visit Dahab- haven't been there for almost two years :(