You can take your duty free on board and/or use the honesty bar.
Dive guides: Big Al (from Manchester), Ahmed latif
Excellent briefings both safety and dive sites using multi-media. Guides pay attention to detail.
Diver checks excellent, well managed by the guides. Guides very knowledgeable.
Information giving by guides is very good, guests constantly updated and kept informed.
All safety equipment in place and Emergency Action Plans, good diver safety systems in place.
Two zodiacs available. Food all freshly prepared by the head chef, really good and varied.
Saloon bar, honesty bar beer £2-50; wine red £9-50 and white £14-00. Mixers tonic, soda etc £0.50.
Tea, coffee, soft drinks included, help yourself. Fresh fruit. Biscuits and chocolate biscuit bars available FOC on the bar. Chilled water dispensers on two decks.
Boat was clean, well equipped, well maintained and spacious. Very stable boat in the water. Guides relaxed and allow considered dive guests their freedom to dive as they want, guided or unguided.
Crew efficient and very pleasant.
Cabins en-suite and good size. Towels for deck and separate towels for the room provided together with towel robes for after dive.
Day one.
Check in at the airport. Approximately five and half hour flight with Thomas Cook.
VISA is already dealt with escorted to air conditioned coach and given bottle of cold water.
Arrived on the boat short transfer, 15 minutes.
Had dinner whilst bags were loaded onto the large dive deck, chilled.
Bags arrived, set up gear to check all okay whilst in port.
Air and Nitrox available. Nitrox is additional charge.
Nice boat, cabins en-suite, flat screen tv with hard drive films, fridge.
Day two.
Woken at 7am, nice fresh breakfast, sailed 1.5 hours.
Boat briefing are via DVD with supplement by head guide. Great briefings.
Check dive site Podeidon Reef. Max depth 16 metres.
Dived maximum depth of 15 metres and 70 minute dive.
Lunch and moved to a new site, heading north.
The Barge. Broken up wreck, lots of fish, lion, scorpion, stone, crocodile, morays. Morays small to huge, George and Georgina (morays) are wreck residents.
Dived 68 min dive maximum depth 14 metres.
Doing night dive subject to current on same tonight. We are the only boat here 
Night dives are restricted to 45 minutes.
Took pictures of first at sea sunset @ The Barge.
Dived the barge at night awesome, loads of critters around.
Max depth 14 metres dive time 48 minutes.
Day three
First dive looking for the Ulysses but strong current and dropped in wrong place. L
Actual dive was 65 minute drift dive. 23 metre maximum depth.
Shag rock wreck again another incredible dive.
Loads of soft coral and fish. Open wreck to swim through.
Max depth 15 metre time 63 minutes. Water temperature is 27 degrees.
Moved to the Thistlegorm. Two boats ahead of us. Looking forward to this next dive. Moored on the wreck.
Dived 29 metres and 42 minutes. Banging current had to take shelter. Okay when inside or taking protection from the wreck.
Some good pics of cargo in the hold.
Planning to do a night dive tonight subject to current.
Great dive despite depth and current.
War grave 9 lost their lives.
Night was very good no current – 29 metres and 42 minute dive.
Day four
Dived Thistlegorm again, no current J. What an incredible dive.
Did the inside on two decks, really great dives.
Go round anticlockwise.
Resident turtle big and friendly. Morays, lion, loads of life.
Really easy dive with easy penetration. No silt!
Moved to a new site called Little Crack. Moored in. Lagoon, little crack is gulley that takes you seaward to reef wall. Strong drift through crack, nice ride. All sorts of coral and large puffa fish.
Reef wall very pretty and water crystal clear. Dive time 64 minutes, max depth was 20 metres.
Moved to new dive site called The Alternatives This site is just outside the national park, Ras Mohammed
Really nice pinnacles. One part of boat had thousands and thousands of glass fish on. Also bat fish, moray.
22 metres 63 minute dive. Now doing a night dive in the same site.
Night dive was max depth of 14 metres 46 minutes.
Dive the large pinnacle. Lots of lion fish hunting and giant moray eels. Also lots of feather star fish.
Day five
Early morning start to dive Ras Mohammed Jack Fish Alley.
Short swim through at the start of the dive at 5 metres.
We went into Jack Fish Alley, lovely coral and a nice gentle drift dive.
Found bright red rock shrimps and cleaner shrimps.
Dive time 64 minutes max depth 24 metres.
Moved to new dive site after breakfast.
Went to Shark and Yolando Reef. 800 metres drop off.
Three pinnacles, Yolando has remnants of a wreck, bathroom ware. Loos everywhere and baths too.
Amazing fish life, tons of it. We dived Yolando to Shark reef due to current. At Shark Reef hundreds of snappers just off the reef in the blue.
Huge morays, turtle, snappers and barracuda. In season there is hundreds of barracuda, biggest shoal in the whole of the Red Sea. Viz amazing.
Dive time 53 minutes, max depth 24 metres.
Lunch then moved again to another reef. Dived another huge wreck Giannis D. Can also penetrate into engine room, work shop and bridge. It is believed it was run into the reef at full speed on purpose as an insurance claim. The devastation is mind blowing.
Dive 21 metres max depth, 57 minutes.
Loads of fish life. Saw the biggest moray I have ever seen, girth was greater than me. Dolphins swam over the wreck.
Diving this area tonight on another night dive.
Dived the reef nothing out of the ordinary. Followed by lion fish hunting using our lights.
17 metres 45 minute dive. No current.
Day six.
Still moored on same reef. Morning dive, called at 6am.
Dived another wreck Carnatic. Old steam passenger ship.
Bit of a swell so zodiac ride was interesting.
Wreck had no current just surface swell circa 5 metres.
Can penetrate open wreck, between floors, two decks. Very open. Nice dive.
5 passengers and 26 crew lost their lives.
Maximum depth 25 metres 57 minute dive.
After breakfast moved to another island a short distance from the Carnatic.
Siyol Kebir reef
Nice dive, lots of clown fish, blue spotted ray. No current, nice bimble dive.
19 metres max, 61 minute dive.
Had lunch and boat moved to a new site. We are doing afternoon dive and a night dive here @ Sha’ab el Erg pinnacle nice easy dive, sandy bottom so viz not as good as normal in the channel. Saw dolphin on the surface but not seen when underwater. Pinnacles covered in hard and soft coral. Chill out dive.
Maximum depth was 12 metres dive time was 61 minutes.
Night dive was at a new site as we moved called Fanous West.
Easy dive on reef wall, shallow and no current.
Saw lots of sea urchin, free swimming moray, striped eel, crab, baby barracuda.
Maximum depth was 8 metres dive time was 46 minutes.
Moored at Fanous Reef over night apparently moving to a new site for tomorrow last two dives of the trip.
Day Seven.
Reef dive on the east side of Fanous
Blue spotted ray, Nemo usual aquatic life.
Max depth 17 metres 74 minutes.
Breakfast, moving to new dive site for the final dive.
Did final dive round small reef and three pinnacles called Magawish Aruk.
Max depth was 9 metres dive time was 65 minutes.
Usual reef suspects found plus pipe fish and a leopard eel on the hunt.
Once we had sorted ourselves out after lunch, sorted bills on board, alcoholic drinks, kit rental etc. if you pay cash or debit card no surcharge. Relaxed with beers and wines.
Sailed back to Hughada dinner on board at 6pm then went into town to a bar.
Day eight.
Up for breakfast at 8am, pack gear and transfer to the Marriott hotel just outside the harbour. Have 5 rooms booked (complimentary) for changing and showers before being picked up later today for flight home at 6pm.
Overall impressions.
I would definitely book this trip again next year. It is one that you need to do a couple of times as the orientation would actually add to your experience. Had a really great time. Wrecks and Reefs is just that, but for those not interested in the iron work, the wrecks have loads of life and coral growing on them and all around is stunning coral/aquatic life.
Martin’s recommendation
Before the trip: PPB course, the currents can be strong and being able to deal with drift diving is essential as is deploying a DSMB in current and mid water. DSMB is essential, at the very least one between two divers. Many sites are drift dives and on one diver the group split, we surfaced a long way from the original drop off point – a must! Wreck speciality. Whilst the wrecks are open, being aware of potential hazards is very worthwhile.
I think I was the only diver to do all the dives. The process is dive, eat, chill, dive, eat chill, dive eat chill, dive (night) eat, chill then bed, then start all over again.
Guest remarks:
Key dive sites: Thistlegorm, Giannis D, Shark and Yolando Reef, Jack Alley and the The Barge.
Live-a-board Blog from Martin
You can take your duty free on board and/or use the honesty bar.
Dive guides: Big Al (from Manchester), Ahmed latif
Excellent briefings both safety and dive sites using multi-media. Guides pay attention to detail.
Diver checks excellent, well managed by the guides. Guides very knowledgeable.
Information giving by guides is very good, guests constantly updated and kept informed.
All safety equipment in place and Emergency Action Plans, good diver safety systems in place.
Two zodiacs available. Food all freshly prepared by the head chef, really good and varied.
Saloon bar, honesty bar beer £2-50; wine red £9-50 and white £14-00. Mixers tonic, soda etc £0.50.
Tea, coffee, soft drinks included, help yourself. Fresh fruit. Biscuits and chocolate biscuit bars available FOC on the bar. Chilled water dispensers on two decks.
Boat was clean, well equipped, well maintained and spacious. Very stable boat in the water. Guides relaxed and allow considered dive guests their freedom to dive as they want, guided or unguided.
Crew efficient and very pleasant.
Cabins en-suite and good size. Towels for deck and separate towels for the room provided together with towel robes for after dive.
Day one.
Check in at the airport. Approximately five and half hour flight with Thomas Cook.
VISA is already dealt with escorted to air conditioned coach and given bottle of cold water.
Arrived on the boat short transfer, 15 minutes.
Had dinner whilst bags were loaded onto the large dive deck, chilled.
Bags arrived, set up gear to check all okay whilst in port.
Air and Nitrox available. Nitrox is additional charge.
Nice boat, cabins en-suite, flat screen tv with hard drive films, fridge.
Day two.
Woken at 7am, nice fresh breakfast, sailed 1.5 hours.
Boat briefing are via DVD with supplement by head guide. Great briefings.
Check dive site Podeidon Reef. Max depth 16 metres.
Dived maximum depth of 15 metres and 70 minute dive.
Lunch and moved to a new site, heading north.
The Barge. Broken up wreck, lots of fish, lion, scorpion, stone, crocodile, morays. Morays small to huge, George and Georgina (morays) are wreck residents.
Dived 68 min dive maximum depth 14 metres.
Doing night dive subject to current on same tonight. We are the only boat here
Night dives are restricted to 45 minutes.
Took pictures of first at sea sunset @ The Barge.
Dived the barge at night awesome, loads of critters around.
Max depth 14 metres dive time 48 minutes.
Day three
First dive looking for the Ulysses but strong current and dropped in wrong place. L
Actual dive was 65 minute drift dive. 23 metre maximum depth.
Shag rock wreck again another incredible dive.
Loads of soft coral and fish. Open wreck to swim through.
Max depth 15 metre time 63 minutes. Water temperature is 27 degrees.
Moved to the Thistlegorm. Two boats ahead of us. Looking forward to this next dive. Moored on the wreck.
Dived 29 metres and 42 minutes. Banging current had to take shelter. Okay when inside or taking protection from the wreck.
Some good pics of cargo in the hold.
Planning to do a night dive tonight subject to current.
Great dive despite depth and current.
War grave 9 lost their lives.
Night was very good no current – 29 metres and 42 minute dive.
Day four
Dived Thistlegorm again, no current J. What an incredible dive.
Did the inside on two decks, really great dives.
Go round anticlockwise.
Resident turtle big and friendly. Morays, lion, loads of life.
Really easy dive with easy penetration. No silt!
Moved to a new site called Little Crack. Moored in. Lagoon, little crack is gulley that takes you seaward to reef wall. Strong drift through crack, nice ride. All sorts of coral and large puffa fish.
Reef wall very pretty and water crystal clear. Dive time 64 minutes, max depth was 20 metres.
Moved to new dive site called The Alternatives This site is just outside the national park, Ras Mohammed
Really nice pinnacles. One part of boat had thousands and thousands of glass fish on. Also bat fish, moray.
22 metres 63 minute dive. Now doing a night dive in the same site.
Night dive was max depth of 14 metres 46 minutes.
Dive the large pinnacle. Lots of lion fish hunting and giant moray eels. Also lots of feather star fish.
Day five
Early morning start to dive Ras Mohammed Jack Fish Alley.
Short swim through at the start of the dive at 5 metres.
We went into Jack Fish Alley, lovely coral and a nice gentle drift dive.
Found bright red rock shrimps and cleaner shrimps.
Dive time 64 minutes max depth 24 metres.
Moved to new dive site after breakfast.
Went to Shark and Yolando Reef. 800 metres drop off.
Three pinnacles, Yolando has remnants of a wreck, bathroom ware. Loos everywhere and baths too.
Amazing fish life, tons of it. We dived Yolando to Shark reef due to current. At Shark Reef hundreds of snappers just off the reef in the blue.
Huge morays, turtle, snappers and barracuda. In season there is hundreds of barracuda, biggest shoal in the whole of the Red Sea. Viz amazing.
Dive time 53 minutes, max depth 24 metres.
Lunch then moved again to another reef. Dived another huge wreck Giannis D. Can also penetrate into engine room, work shop and bridge. It is believed it was run into the reef at full speed on purpose as an insurance claim. The devastation is mind blowing.
Dive 21 metres max depth, 57 minutes.
Loads of fish life. Saw the biggest moray I have ever seen, girth was greater than me. Dolphins swam over the wreck.
Diving this area tonight on another night dive.
Dived the reef nothing out of the ordinary. Followed by lion fish hunting using our lights.
17 metres 45 minute dive. No current.
Day six.
Still moored on same reef. Morning dive, called at 6am.
Dived another wreck Carnatic. Old steam passenger ship.
Bit of a swell so zodiac ride was interesting.
Wreck had no current just surface swell circa 5 metres.
Can penetrate open wreck, between floors, two decks. Very open. Nice dive.
5 passengers and 26 crew lost their lives.
Maximum depth 25 metres 57 minute dive.
After breakfast moved to another island a short distance from the Carnatic.
Siyol Kebir reef
Nice dive, lots of clown fish, blue spotted ray. No current, nice bimble dive.
19 metres max, 61 minute dive.
Had lunch and boat moved to a new site. We are doing afternoon dive and a night dive here @ Sha’ab el Erg pinnacle nice easy dive, sandy bottom so viz not as good as normal in the channel. Saw dolphin on the surface but not seen when underwater. Pinnacles covered in hard and soft coral. Chill out dive.
Maximum depth was 12 metres dive time was 61 minutes.
Night dive was at a new site as we moved called Fanous West.
Easy dive on reef wall, shallow and no current.
Saw lots of sea urchin, free swimming moray, striped eel, crab, baby barracuda.
Maximum depth was 8 metres dive time was 46 minutes.
Moored at Fanous Reef over night apparently moving to a new site for tomorrow last two dives of the trip.
Day Seven.
Reef dive on the east side of Fanous
Blue spotted ray, Nemo usual aquatic life.
Max depth 17 metres 74 minutes.
Breakfast, moving to new dive site for the final dive.
Did final dive round small reef and three pinnacles called Magawish Aruk.
Max depth was 9 metres dive time was 65 minutes.
Usual reef suspects found plus pipe fish and a leopard eel on the hunt.
Once we had sorted ourselves out after lunch, sorted bills on board, alcoholic drinks, kit rental etc. if you pay cash or debit card no surcharge. Relaxed with beers and wines.
Sailed back to Hughada dinner on board at 6pm then went into town to a bar.
Day eight.
Up for breakfast at 8am, pack gear and transfer to the Marriott hotel just outside the harbour. Have 5 rooms booked (complimentary) for changing and showers before being picked up later today for flight home at 6pm.
Overall impressions.
I would definitely book this trip again next year. It is one that you need to do a couple of times as the orientation would actually add to your experience. Had a really great time. Wrecks and Reefs is just that, but for those not interested in the iron work, the wrecks have loads of life and coral growing on them and all around is stunning coral/aquatic life.
Martin’s recommendation
Before the trip: PPB course, the currents can be strong and being able to deal with drift diving is essential as is deploying a DSMB in current and mid water. DSMB is essential, at the very least one between two divers. Many sites are drift dives and on one diver the group split, we surfaced a long way from the original drop off point – a must! Wreck speciality. Whilst the wrecks are open, being aware of potential hazards is very worthwhile.
I think I was the only diver to do all the dives. The process is dive, eat, chill, dive, eat chill, dive eat chill, dive (night) eat, chill then bed, then start all over again.
Guest remarks:
Key dive sites: Thistlegorm, Giannis D, Shark and Yolando Reef, Jack Alley and the The Barge.