 |
 |
|||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
The Red Sea The Red Sea is one of the world's premier diving destinations. Known for its variety of corals and abundant fish life, the Red Sea offers you diving in waters of unsurpassed clarity. The coral Reefs along the Sinai coast line are considered as some of the best in the world and are the closest tropical coral reefs to Europe . The Sinai, when viewed from satellite, is seen as a golden triangle, framed by the deep blue water of the Red Sea . It developed more than 30 million years ago when Arabia started to drift away from Africa . A huge rupture in between these two gigantic plates of earth filled up with water from the surrounding oceans and the Red Sea was formed. General Information | Sinai Divers | Colona Dive Center & Liveaboards
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Australian passport holders require a single or multiple entry tourist visa to visit Egypt. You also require 6 months validity beyond your intended stay on your passport. Please refer to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Website: www.dfat.gov.au for the latest travel advice. CURRENCY AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE: The basic unit of currency is the Egyptian Pound. Some cash can be converted at the airport. There are many local banks and a Thomas Cook in both Hurghada and Sharm El Sheik. Also, most of the larger hotels have banks to exchange traveler’s cheques or advances on credit cards. HEALTH REQUIREMENTS : Consult your local doctor for full recommendations, or visit www.travelvax.com.au CLIMATE: The climate of Red Sea , Egypt is easy to summarize. Most of the year, except for the winter month Dec- Feb, it is hot and dry. In the evenings during the winter months it is sometimes necessary to wear a sweater, otherwise it is ‘shorts & T-shirt’ conditions all year round. Average water temperature in Oct is 25C. ELECTRICITY: 240v – the same as Australia TICKET TAXES: Passenger Movement Charge, Sydney Airport Noise Levy, Insurance Levy, Baggage Screening Tax, Fuel Surcharge and Airport Charge are all prepaid taxes and included on your airline ticket. LANGUAGE: Arabic, English & French are widely spoken. TIPPING: Gratuities between 5 & 10 % are customary and paid locally for all services DIVING ESSENTIALS: Certification card and log book, gear bag, BCD, torch with batteries and charger, mask, snorkel, fins, regulator and oci, watch, decompression tables or multi level computer, spare parts kit, camera, flash, film. Lycra suits are recommended, as average water temperature is 27c. For those that feel the cold a 3mm wetsuit is recommended. Batteries are to be removed from torches and cameras before flying. SOCIAL HINTS: Majority of Egyptians are Muslims. Egypt ’s social life is quite informal. Dress tends to be casual. Women should get dressed properly by covering arms and legs as much as possible. Egyptians always use titles when addressing each other. They also salute with the right hand before and after the shake. NEVER take a photograph of someone without their permission.
SINAI
DIVERS - GHAZALA FLEET LIVEABOARD
GHAZALA I The guests of Ghazala I quickly will feel at home, enjoying the uncrowded comfort of 25 meters length and 3 deck levels. The beam of 7 meter guarantees 12 to 16 passengers spacious living areas and staterooms with private facilities. The fresh water maker allows generous use of showers and rinsing of cameras and equipment. Around the clock electric power (220V) guarantees fully charged strobes and hot and cold water. For the Nitrox production a new membrane system has been installed (Nitrox for free program). Center of the social life aboard is the air-conditioned, fully carpeted lounge, with stereo and video system. 3 first class meals, with wine for dinner, snacks, coffee and tea at your convenience, will make each day a total success
GHAZALA II Camera table, rinsing tanks, charging facilities (220 Volt) and lockers are available on the dive deck. A large dive platform with 2 ladders allows cormfortable diving activities. The partially shaded sun deck is furnished with benches and tables. Electricity is supplied by two 220/380 Volt 18 KVA ONAN generator for all lighting, charging strobes and dive lights and running the K14 Bauer compressor. Batteries are used for lights during night. Ghazala II operates out of Sharm el Sheikh and cruises the Northern Red Sea . Her itinerary includes the dive sites in the Straits of Tiran, Ras Mohammed, Thistlegorm, Shab Ali and the wrecks of Shab Abu Nuhas. The price includes dive master, 3 to 4 dives daily, full board, snacks, coffee, tea and mineral water. Not included is the entrance fees to Ras Mohammed National Park .
GHAZALA VOYAGER Two fresh water desalinators allow generous use of showers and rinsing of cameras and equipment. Around the clock 220V electric power guarantees fully charged strobes and hot and cold running water. For the Nitrox production a new membrane system has been installed (Nitrox for free program). Centre of the social life aboard is the air-conditioned lounge, with stereo and video system. Three first class meals, snacks, coffee and tea at your convenience, will make each day a total success.
COLONA DIVE CENTER & LIVEABOARDS Never been diving? Already certified, and looking for some adventure? …with Colona you are in good company! They offer courses for both beginners and experienced divers who want to improve their skills; as well as daily diving and live-a-boards to fascinating wrecks and intense coral reefs.
Colona Dive Center is open every day, around the year - so why wait…the dolphins and sharks are calling… Taking a trip on one of the Liveaboards will open your eyes to the ease of diving, no more lugging heavy equipment along crowded jetties each day or having to fight your way through a wall of bubbles on some Local dive sites. A typical trip on the Colona will last for one week. This will give you an experience of what the Red Sea can really offer; wrecks, walls, drifts, intense coral reef and peaceful night diving. The itinerary will include all of the famous sites you have already heard about and maybe even dived from a daily boat. Dive sites look different when it's only your group diving them! That's the real beauty of liveaboard relaxed diving without the crowds. Here's a brief description of some of the sites you will come across on your liveaboard adventure.
Shark and Yolanda Reef: At the heart of Ras Mohammed National Park . Incorporates a wall that drops to 800m with and exhilarating drift on to a rich coral plateau that is Yolanda reef, so called because of the cargo ship that hit her in the early 80's. This wreck was carrying a shipment of bathroom fittings and some of her containers spilled on to the plateau before she slipped to a watery resting place, some say at 120M deep!! If you look closely among the toilets! You may see the remains of a car that was on the deck. So truly this dive has it all and is rated as one of the best in the world. The Reefs of Tiran: If the weather is kind to you all of your dives in Tiran will be drift dives. Drift = Current = Big fish!! Tiran is one of the favourite places to see sharks and home to hammerheads in the summer months. Only last week three hammerheads were seen at the back of Jackson Reef. Tiran is not just one dive it is many, each offering their own unique seascape. You will not be disappointed. SS Thistlegorm: A wreck not to be missed if you are visiting the Red Sea , it is world famous. Unfortunately when you are world famous every one wants to see you. So Thistlegorm can be a little crowded at times especially when the daily boats arrive. Therefore the best time to view it is early morning or late afternoon. The Gulf of Suez: Some sites that should not be overlooked in the Gulf of Suez are; Shag Rock: A small teardrop shaped reef that is full of life and has some of the most luminescent soft corals you will ever see. It also has a wreck at the northern end called Sara H, well worth looking into. Gubal Wall: A Drift on a drop off!! This wall has overhangs that are full of glass fish and some creepy caves to explore. Gubal wreck: If weather conditions are favourable you can visit this unknown wreck which lies diagonally in the water from 5M down to 30M and is host to a Hump Head Wrasse that is the size of a small inflatable boat! Abu Nuhas: The shipwreck reef, Four in total can be dived at this eerie place. They are; Giannis D, Carnatic, Christola K and the Olden (half a wreck!) all with individual histories and stories to tell, plus as with all of the wreck dives in the Red Sea they are full of fish life. A typical day on Colona Liveaboards will begin with an early rise 07.30 with coffee, tea or juice and biscuits. Ready for the first dive of the day, then up for breakfast which will be waiting on the table for you Yum! Yum! Let breakfast digest for a few hours and take the second dive of the day at around 11.30 after this one a light lunch of cold cut's, pasta and salad. Then a quick siesta or a sunbathe before the third of the day usually made around 15.30-17.30 depending on daylight hours. Then a sumptuous dinner at around 19.00-20.00 with a night dive for those with enough energy to do it at 21.00-22.00 The cuisine on board is supplied by professionally trained cooks they can offer everything from European, Middle Eastern, Vegetarian, Barbecues and lots more just ask. In the evenings relax on the aft deck sipping a cold beer, staring at the stars and just listening to the quiet!!
| ||||
© 2007 Allways Dive Expeditions || © Universal Webchick Designs. All rights reserved.