Straits of Tiran & North

M/V Blue Fin

11th to 18th January, 2019

Image (C) Mr. Tony Gilbert and reproduced with his kind permission

The Red Sea offers some of the best diving in the world, while the Strait of Tiran and North cruise allows you to take in some of the most iconic wrecks and reefs the northern Red Sea has to offer, as well as the pristine coral reefs of Tiran.

The Tiran dive area is found in the entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba and is made up of four main reefs that form the top of an underwater bridge. These reefs, named after British cartographers (Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas, Gordon), are world famous for their extraordinary diversity of corals and strong south westerly currents make them home to many large pelagic fish.

M/Y Blue Fin was the first of the Blue O Two fleet and with her understated luxury and unique layout remains a very popular choice having been updated in early 2016. The M/Y Blue Fin is a 39m traditional style liveaboard vessel that has some unique twists that keep her standing out from the crowd!

The M/Y Blue Fin can cater for 24 divers. Three huge king suites dominate the bow on the lower and middle decks spreading the whole width of the vessel. All king suites on board this stunning Red Sea liveaboard benefit from a large double bed, ensuite facilities, air conditioning, mini refrigerators and personal entertainment systems with a large plasma screen. The king suites are the perfect private retreat for honeymooners or couples simply looking for a little extra space and luxury.

The other nine cabins are twins and are located on the lower deck. All benefit from ensuite facilities, air conditioning, mini refrigerators and personal entertainment systems. TV’s in the communal areas are also equipped with an Apple TV and a hard drive containing movies and TV series.

M/Y Blue Fin is equipped with a nitrox membrane, booster pump and can also cater for rebreather divers.

This 1-week package offered by Blue O Two includes 6 days diving (3 dives per day, with the option of night dives every night) with air, 12 L cylinders and weights, full board, shared occupancy for 7 nights on board M/Y Blue Fin; return flights from Manchester to Hurghada (Included for the first 8 divers, additional £30 per person thereafter) and transfers to and from the boat in Hurghada.

Blue O Two: £999

New Horizons fee:  £80 (£40 for gold Dive Society members)

Please note, a single supplement is not available on this trip. If a booking is made as a single traveller, you will be asked to share a cabin.

Finally, New Horizons will provide you with a group leader to ensure a fun and safe trip for all concerned!  Courses can be completed while on board at a discounted price, such as the Advanced Open Water Course, and a wide range of PADI Specialties.  Please ask for further details.

King or twin bed, air-conditioned, ensuite cabins.

All refreshments, with the exception of wine, beer, mixers and daytime meals or snacks on the final day.

A wide selection of soft drinks, teas, coffee and beer (available following your final dive of the day and at an extra charge).

Transport between your home and Manchester airport.

15L cylinders. If you would like to order one at £45 for the week please make sure you let us know at the time of full payment

Unlimited Nitrox for £70 for single cylinder. Sidemount and twin cylinders are available.

Egyptian Entry Visa (currently £27)

This itinerary departs from and returns to Hurghada.

Day 1 – Start the week with a check dive before heading north for an afternoon and night dive.

Days 2-5 – Spend four days cruising the northern Red Sea. Normally you will have the opportunity to make three-day dives and a night dive each day. The exact itinerary and order of dive sites will vary depending on the conditions, but you can expect to visit plenty of wrecks including SS. Thistlegorm. There is also some fantastic reef diving including the Ras Mohamed and Tiran marine parks, Sha’ab El Erg (famous for dolphin encounters) and the island of Gubal.

Day 6 – Enjoy two relaxed morning dives close to Hurghada allowing you to cruise into harbour in the early afternoon. Take advantage of an evening onshore to purchase souvenirs and enjoy Egypt’s famous hospitality before your journey home the next day.

Jackson Reef is the most northerly reef and on its northern edge lays the wreck of a freighter serving as a stark warning to ships in the narrow straights. Dives are usually conducted from the moorings on the south side which is sheltered from the main swell and currents. Moving northwards, you will come across a forest of spectacular gorgonian fan coral at between 15 to 30 metres as well as many different kinds of reef fish. This site can also be done as a drift dive heading from the mooring towards the East with the reef on the left where it is mostly wall diving with excellent corals. Diving the back of Jackson in late summer can give you the chance to see the resident hammerhead sharks.

Gordon Reef is the most southerly reef of the four and has a different topography from the others offering both a shallow plateau area and drop offs. There is a huge variety of reef fish and the chance to see sleeping whitetip reef sharks on sand patches. At 4 to 5 metres there is an eel garden area along with coral encrusted drums. The top of the reef, with its lighthouse, is also home to the wreck Louilla which sits almost parallel to the wreck on Jackson Reef.

Ras Mohamed – Shark & Yolanda Reefs
This is a world-renowned dive site, situated at the tip of the Sinai. Two small ergs are joined by a vertical wall dropping into the abyss. At Shark Reef the current allows you to drift along the wall, rich with colourful corals. Moving towards Yolanda Reef you reach a plateau scattered with small ergs and coral outcrops. Continuing around the reef you will come upon the scattered remains of the wreck ‘Yolanda’ complete with its cargo of toilets and baths. The whole of this area is big fish territory so keep an eye on the blue!

All dive sites are subject to weather conditions and cannot be guaranteed.

Equipment rental is available from New Horizons for the week. You must take all your personal dive equipment, except tank and weights. Due to the nature of the diving during this week, all divers MUST have dive computers and delayed SMBs with reels. Night dives are included in this package and to participate on these good quality torches will be required.

This trip is ideal for PADI Open Water divers or equivalent. Please note that although the qualification needed for this itinerary is Open Water; Tiran can be subject to currents so may not be ideal for beginners.

The Red Sea offers some of the most ideal dive sites for you to continue your PADI diving education. New Horizons are offering a number of courses, at very special prices, to enable you to become a better diver and get more from your diving on this trip. Examples include:

Advanced Open Water course: ONLY £250 (including manual and certification)

Specialty courses: 10% off all specialty course prices (including materials and certification).

To reserve your place on this trip, please complete a New Horizons Dive Centre booking form, returning the completed form (one per person) to the shop by post, email or in person, along with payment of a deposit of £100 ( until March 2018) payable to Blue O Two plus £80 per person payable to New Horizons. We will provide you with confirmation of your place on the trip once we’ve received the booking form and receipt of payment.

Payments may be made by credit/debit card or online payment – please contact us for details.

The final balance will be due 12 weeks before departure.

To go on this trip you must have travel and diving accident insurance. You can book your insurance with Dive Master Insurance through the New Horizons website and save 5%. Simply go to the bottom of our homepage and click on the link to Dive Master Insurance and SAVE 5% – it couldn’t be easier.

Your holiday will be booked with ATOL holder Blue O Two, for whom we act as agents. All holiday bookings will be subject to this ATOL holder’s booking conditions, which can be found at www.blueotwo.com/Terms-and-conditions. When a booking and a holiday deposit has been received by New Horizons, a contract exists between you and the ATOL holder, Blue O Two, once New Horizons Dive Centre Ltd issues a confirmation of booking. The client copy of the ATOL holder’s confirmation will be sent to you on request.

New Horizons Dive Centre Ltd will provide your own group dive and holiday leader to organise dives, provide expertise and to run courses as required. The services of this leader and the gear rental available from New Horizons Dive Centre Ltd are the responsibility of New Horizons Dive Centre Ltd and are provided under a separate contract. These arrangements will be confirmed by us.