Red Sea Liveaboard
“Hayah” – Reef Clean Up
M/Y Blue Fin
The Destination
The Red Sea provides UK divers with the closest coral reefs and clear, blue, warm water. Visibility is excellent and the variety of fish species and corals is huge, but it all needs help to stay that way!
Taking in dive sites of the Northern Red Sea, this trip promises to be a great all-round tour for divers of all abilities that want to give a little back. This safari will travel to Shark & Yolanda reefs in Ras Mohamed marine park, visit Sha’ab El Erg (known colloquially as ‘Dolphin House’), reefs off Danaba (Shag Rock) and the world famous wreck of ‘SS Thistlegorm’ among others. On most dives you will be given the chance to clear litter from the reefs, with the help of local dive guides, but don’t forget to keep an eye out to the blue… you never know what you might see! Visits by dolphins, turtles and hammerhead sharks are not uncommon at this time of year!
Reef Clean Up
This is your chance to help. This trip is designed for anyone who cares about the welfare of the reef so is ideal for Open Water Divers looking to gain more experience. Divers will be given mesh bags so you can collect litter as you dive! Safety of divers and marine life is all important, so if you’re not happy lifting it then don’t! Dive guides will ask that you fill your bags with small items that can be easily and safely lifted back on board. If this means your bag is only 1/4 full, it’s better than nothing! Keep an eye out though, shrimp and crabs have been known to adopt items and call them home, so if it’s occupied, please leave it where it is!
The Liveaboard
The M/Y Blue Fin offers divers comfort and luxury while aboard, measuring 39m it will comfortably accommodate 24 guests. M/Y Blue Fin is everything you would expect from a modern Red Sea Liveaboard with large dining area, separate lounge with state of the art entertainment system and double and twin cabins all benefiting from en-suite facilities, air conditioning, mini–refrigerators and in-cabin entertainment systems. A spacious dive deck also makes kitting up and getting in the water stress free. All modern safety equipment is fitted as standard and a membrane NITROX system is available.
The Package
This 1-week package offered by Blue O Two includes 6 days diving (3/4 dives per day, normally including 2/3 night dives) with air, 12 lt cylinders and weights; full board shared occupancy for 7 nights on M/Y Blue Fin; return flights from Manchester to Hurghada and transfers to/from the boat (Hurghada/Hurghada). The price of the Egyptian Entry Visa and local marine park fees are also included
Finally, New Horizons will provide you with a group leader to ensure everyone enjoys safe and fun dives.
The Price
Blue o Two: £959 (includes Manchester flight supplement)
New Horizons fee: £60 (£30 for NHDC Gold members)
Please note, 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.
Included
Double or twin bed, air-conditioned, en-suite cabins.
All refreshments, with the exception of 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 at an extra charge).
Marine park fees and Egyptian Entry Visa costs.
Not Included
Transport to/from your home and Manchester airport.
NITROX fills; £70 for the full week and must be pre-booked and paid for.
15L Cylinders are available on request and must be pre-booked and paid for. Please ask for a quote.
Itinerary Highlights
Abu Nuhas: Also known as the ‘Ships Graveyard’, this reef boasts more shipwrecks than any other in the area. On the Northern side there are 4 wrecks lying on a sandy seabed, with a sloping reef layered with table corals. Wrecks include the Ghiannis D, Carnatic, Tile and Lentil wrecks. On the South side is a safe anchorage with two ’ergs’ known as Yellow Fish Reef.
Danaba (Shag Rock): This large circular reef is often overlooked but offers excellent diving on pristine coral from any location on its perimeter.
SS Thistlegorm – Shaab Ali: Probably the most famous of the Red Sea wrecks. The 129m English Freighter was bombed by German aviation on the 6th October 1941. Today she creates an artificial reef on a sandy bottom at 32m max depth. She is home to an enormous variety of marine life and is especially popular with large schooling fish.
Res Mohamed: This marine reserve is home to the world renowned Shark and Yolanda reefs. Shark reef offers the chance for beautiful drift dives, with reef walls rich in colourful corals. Continuing on to Yolanda reef, you’ll encounter a plateau scattered with small ergs and coral outcrops. The wreck ‘Yolanda’ is scattered over the sea floor, along with its cargo of toilets and baths! This whole area is big fish territory, so keep an eye on the blue!
Small Crack: This is a small split in the middle of Shaab Mahmoud’s barrier. Drift along the outside wall next to beautiful corals and colourful fish. Look for a sand slope that leads you up and through the crack. When the current is right you can fly through the 5m deep channel and be thrown out across the sandy lagoon! One of the most fun dives you’ll ever do and home to yet more beautiful corals and colourful fish.
To Book
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 be post, email or in person, along with payment of a deposit of £143 per person, payable to Blue O Two (2% credit card surcharge) plus £60 (£30 for gold dive society members) 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.
The final balance is due within 12 weeks of departure.
Payments may be made by credit/debit card or online payment – please contact us for details. Please note, Blue o two charge 2% on credit card payments.
PLEASE NOTE THAT SPACES ARE LIMITED SO BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT.
Equipment
Equipment rental is available from New Horizons for the week. You must take all your personal dive equipment, except tank and weights (and mesh bags). 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.
Diving Experience
A qualification to PADI Open Water is a required to go on this trip. Some dive sites require a minimum of 20 logged dives; please talk to our team if you do not meet this pre-requisite.
While You’re There
New Horizons will send a Trip Leader so we can offer safe and fun dives while you learn. A range of PADI courses, including Project AWARE and other specialties or the Advanced Open Water Diver course, can be completed while you’re there at discounted prices. Talk to the NHDC team before departure to see what you can do!
Insurance
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% – couldn’t be easier.
The Legal Stuff
Your holiday will be booked with ATOL holder Blue O Two, for whom we act as agents. All holiday bookings will be subject to the 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 Dive Centre Ltd, 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 held by New Horizons and be available by request. New Horizons Dive Centre Ltd will provide a 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.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or require further information, please contact us or call in to the dive centre.