Seeking recommendations for a dive travel agency that specializes in Red Sea LOBs

[GR8FUL]

Based on online research and especially from reviews I've read & recommendations I received from others on this site, I am 95% certain that the Red Sea should be my next big dive destination--maybe not as good as Raja or Komodo, but good enough and lots cheaper! I can go anytime in October or November (I'm thinking this should be a good time to go to the Red Sea--not too hot or too cold, plus perhaps not so many package tourists?), and I'm planning on a 3-4 week trip.

I'm going to continue doing my own research, but now that I know that the Red Sea is not just one area but lots of different dive destination & routes and LOTS of different LOBs to choose from...I'm starting to suffer from "paralysis of analysis". Then it occured to me that I don't need to "re-invent the wheel" as it were and figure out everything by myself, why not seek out advice from experts and let them help me, especially as it won't cost me anything extra. I've already received recommendations for dive travel agents in another thread I started, but just wondering if any of you can recommend dive travel agencies who specialize in LOBs & land-based dive ops in the Red Sea?

My current plan is to do a 7 day LOB (most likely the BDE route, though not 100% committed to it) and then 5-7 days in Sharm, maybe 5 days in Dahab, and then a week somewhere else tbd.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations. * If anyone has better suggestions for my itinerary above feel free to chime in as well.

 

[Christian]

October/November good for longimanus sightings at off shore reefs. Ras Mohamed not that intersting then (too late). Popular time for diving tourism. Personally, for the best over all diving experience in Egypt, I would reccomend summer. Wouldn’t worry too much about the heat, unless you plan to spend time in Cairo. It’s mostly dry desert heat, not the sticky humid heat you have in FL or the Midwest. Check out Blue O Two in Britain, they operate a handful of boats in Egypt with ”handpicked” local crew. Some of the best. They have landbased too.

 

[Graeme Fraser]

October/November good for longimanus sightings at off shore reefs. Ras Mohamed not that intersting then (too late). Popular time for diving tourism. Personally, for the best over all diving experience in Egypt, I would reccomend summer. Wouldn’t worry too much about the heat, unless you plan to spend time in Cairo. It’s mostly dry desert heat, not the sticky humid heat you have in FL or the Midwest. Check out Blue O Two in Britain, they operate a handful of boats in Egypt with ”handpicked” local crew. Some of the best. They have landbased too.

Good recommendation. Plus I'd add to that Tornado Fleet through Scubatravel.com. Again, very friendly, experienced and accommodating crew and guides.

Regarding itinerary, what's your preference? Reefs, wrecks, pelagic, mixed, tech, rec? Both Blue 0 Two and Scubatravel offer a range of itineraries and destinations.

 

[Tippytoes12]

Personally with a trip of that length I would do two back to back liveaboards , one to BDE and another to the Northern area eg wrecks and reefs and the Titan and ras Mohammed. We have had several trips to Dahab and loved it. On a late October trip to BDE we saw hammerheads , reef sharks, OWTs and several Manta Rays.

Emperor and Blue O are excellent companies with great boatt and superb divers,

 

[Christian]

It’s a year-round destination and always possible to get lucky with big stuff, but hammerheads less frequent in fall (compared to summer) as is the intensity of general reef life. Very pronounced in Ras Mohamed which is comparatively barren and dead outside summer.

 

[GR8FUL]

Thx for the replies & will take a look at the boats everyone suggested. The back-to-back LOB idea is an interesting one, though I wonder if splitting them up--i.e., a week on a LOB followed by a week on land and then another week on a LOB--might be a better option for me...fourteen days of non-stop diving (3-4) dives a day might get a little exhausting.

 

[GR8FUL]

Regarding itinerary, what's your preference? Reefs, wrecks, pelagic, mixed, tech, rec? Both Blue 0 Two and Scubatravel offer a range of itineraries and destinations.

Reefs & pelagics...thus far have never been a huge fan of wrecks.

 

[Christian]

Not until you dive the Thistlegorm...

 

[Christian]

1 week Sinai LoB out of Hurghada (Sharm and Sinai not easily accessible these days). Dive Abu Nuhas, Thistlegorm, Ras Mohamed and Strait of Tiran. Nice in fall too, but s h o u l d really be dived in summer to see it blossom with schools of fish swarming off shark & Yolanda. Also chances to see sharks in Tiran Strait then.
Relocate to Marsa Alam (3 hours south of Hurghada) and spend a few days at resort of your choice. Easy shore diving and perhaps a few morning trips to Elphinstone or a full day to Sha ab Samadai/Dolphin house (need some luck for the dolphins to cooperate).
I like Red Sea Diving safaris camp in Marsa Shagra, very chill and great crew. In the time frame you’re looking at they often organize ”shark weeks” (focus Longimanus), used to be led by E Bojanovsky or Eric Ritter. Don’t know who run them now.
1 week Brothers/Deadalus/Elphinstone LoB out of Marsa Alam. Good year round, but generally more big fish in summer inme esp. hammerheads. Currents will be the determining factor for hammerheads to come shallow, if they are there. Have had encounters in all those reefs (+ a few others) and it varies which brings you the goods. Best over all diving in the Egyptian Red Sea inmo—Brother Islands.
Good luck

 

[mcohen1021]

Red Sea Aggressor I - Brothers itinerary. It was simply put - badass... The crew, the food, and most importantly, the diving were all out of this world perfect.