View Full Version : Red Sea Liveaboard Advice
Gas Guzzler and I are off to the Red Sea on Friday, for a week's liveaboard trip on MY Valerie. I have a few queries which I wondered if anyone could help with:-
1. Do liveaboards generally have plug sockets in the cabins, and if so, are they british, europoean or other?
2. Are the cylinders they supply DIN compatible or do we need A clamp converters?
3. What type of wetsuit would you recommend for this time of year - is a 3mm full suit sufficient?
Think that's all - any other tips/advice would also be appreciated.
Claire
Gas Guzzler and I are off to the Red Sea on Friday, for a week's liveaboard trip on MY Valerie. I have a few queries which I wondered if anyone could help with:-
1. Do liveaboards generally have plug sockets in the cabins, and if so, are they british, europoean or other?
2. Are the cylinders they supply DIN compatible or do we need A clamp converters?
3. What type of wetsuit would you recommend for this time of year - is a 3mm full suit sufficient?
Think that's all - any other tips/advice would also be appreciated.
Claire
Hi
From my past experience of Red Sea liveaboards from last year....
1. Yes and its a two pin plug on 220V. Buy and UK to european adapter.
2. They are DIN with inserts so they can take them out for you. At least the boat i was on had that.
3. 5mm. I used this in June last year and will be using it in April '07. You can use it if you go else where too. If you get too hot in the water then flush yourself though.
Take stuff incase you get the sh*ts, you might-better to be safe that sorry (or smelly).
Drink only bottled water (and use that to clean your teeth too.). Keep well hydrated.
Enjoy yourself
gogs
bubblemaker
26-09-06, 15:52
at this time of year you are looking at air temperatures around the low to mid 30s.
the water temperature should be around the high 20s however. Damn that's cold!!! you should be fine in you 3mm wetsuit. I was and the water was colder when i've been there.
tins should be fine, most places cater for DIN and A-clamp.
And I'd second what Gogs said... only drink bottled water. And don't eat salad, it's washed in thier water and full of all sorts of interesting bacteria.
And one last bit of advice. If you do get a good case of Deli Belly, don't come up with the great idea of going for a mexican meal... it hurts!!
enjoy your holiday.
I agree with gogs except the water on the livaboards is usually good cos they make it from seawater and as a treat take hard sweets and gin...
they usually only have beer and wine, sometimes a G+T after a dive is just the business...
1 pair of shoes to travel in, no shoes on board
A good pair of sunglasses (also looks cool)
Use nitrox all the time if u have the cert... less tired at night
But most important a good U/W Camera with plenty memory.
PS at least 2 international adapters
Hair drier, Torch batts, Camera Batts and electric shavers....
Just some things that came to mind...
[QUOTE=Ding;2772]sometimes a G+T after a dive is just the business...
QUOTE]
After every dive??? Wow, thats pretty hardcore! I take it you must buy up all the Gin on the flight across.
4 dives a day x 6 days diving = 24 G&T's for the weeks diving.....
Sod Nitrox, just dive lashed for the whole week!!
:D
gogs
Gas Guzzler
26-09-06, 16:30
[QUOTE=Ding;2772]Use nitrox all the time if u have the cert... less tired at night.
Why? I was hoping for a nice restful holiday!
[QUOTE=Ding;2772]Use nitrox all the time if u have the cert... less tired at night.
Why? I was hoping for a nice restful holiday!
After 3 dives a day you'l be tired and using nitrox helps.;)
PS the G+T was after the 3rd dive.....
3. What type of wetsuit would you recommend for this time of year - is a 3mm full suit sufficient?
i have never dived liveaboard (but i will be soon in november, MY hurricane) but i have done day boats in december on consecutive days.
i dived in a 2.5 shortie & didnt feel cold in the water in the slightest.
deepest dive, around 30 meters.
from memory it was 19 degrees water temp.
as soon as i got out the water, different story, the wind cut me in half, every time. bloody freezing!
if you own a 3mm full suit, i recomend you buy a shortie & wear both, either under or over, which ever is more comfortable or stops flushing.
even if your not cold, if you dive multiple dives daily, by the end of the week your body will have been through the mill of tempreature changes.
keep as warm as you can.
wear a rash vest also if you have one.
i had a look for your boat & stumbled over this:-
http://www.divemagazine.co.uk/forum/forummessages.asp?dt=1&UTN=508&last=1&V=2&SP=332185698658330710478
i would take this with a pinch of salt.
Lucky you!
I was on a liveaboard about three weeks ago, we started and finished at Sharm but also took in Brothers, so we did go quite a bit south of Sharm. I started the week in a 3mm shortie, but by the end of the week I'd reverted into my 5mm full length with rash vest underneath.
As previously mentioned, the constant diving (plus late nights/early mornings) does take it out of you and so you gradually feel the cold as the week goes on. We also had water temps from 28 degrees down to 25 degrees, so we really noticed the colder dives!
Of course the guys usually doen't feel the cold as much as women, but if you're only going to take one wetsuit, I'd take the warmer one, definately!
I'm going back to Sharm at the end of October and will not even bother taking my shortie!
Have a great time!
Wouldn't it be ironic if you got deli belly in lossiemouth and none in Egypt?:rolleyes: ;)
seriously, the key to enjoying a holiday in Egypt is:
a) Immodium;
b) no salad, even though it looks fabulous;
c) no ice in your drinks.
Break either b) or c) and you'll be thankful for a).
Have a fantastic time!
:)
i dived in a 2.5 shortie & didnt feel cold in the water in the slightest.
deepest dive, around 30 meters.
from memory it was 19 degrees water temp.
http://www.divemagazine.co.uk/forum/forummessages.asp?dt=1&UTN=508&last=1&V=2&SP=332185698658330710478
i would take this with a pinch of salt.
a shorty in 19 degrees are you crazy?
a shorty in 19 degrees are you crazy?
well...errm! yes i was.
i was under the influence that holiday diving is warm.
this was my first trip to Egypt & i failed to do my homework.
i had previously dived around the carribean/mexico/maldives etc. all being nice n roasty toastie.
i learned quick to say the least.
im actually contemplating taking my dry suit in november, as most of the dives will be deep.
(Rossalie moller special)
I have an old 3mm wetsuit that has been everywhere including winter in the red sea, OK after an hour or so u get a bit cold but the beer afterwards is colder....straight from the fridge....:D
dive granny
27-09-06, 22:06
I had a 3mm shortie when we went to the Red Sea. Only because 'normal' wet suits have legs about as long as my wee body! I would have had to chop about 2 foot off the legs. Didn't feel cold though.:D :D
Thanks for all the advice. We're stocked up on Immodium, adapter plugs and new thicker wetsuits from Lomo.
By the way Ding - a hair dryer? This is me we're talking about - I don't even do hair dryers at home, let alone on a diving holiday.
Claire
Thanks for all the advice. We're stocked up on Immodium, adapter plugs and new thicker wetsuits from Lomo.
By the way Ding - a hair dryer? This is me we're talking about - I don't even do hair dryers at home, let alone on a diving holiday.
Claire
Of course not its for andy. Make shure u take plenty of pics so u can make us green when u come back... Enjoy
PS remember the gin and hard sweets....
Of course not its for andy. Make shure u take plenty of pics so u can make us green when u come back... Enjoy
PS remember the gin and hard sweets....
That's true - unless he went to the hairdresser's today as he was told, he will need it.
We'll take plenty of pics - see you all when we get back.
Claire