10 replies to this topic

[PRC]

Thinking about a live aboard in late Oct early Nov 06 - Anyone tried this destination ?

Paul C

[Drew]

Yes. Some of the best whaleshark activity I've ever seen. Mostly juvies though so they aren't that big. Ghoubbet el Kharab is the place.
Around the 7 brothers, it pretty much like much of the red sea with schooling fish, nice coral and occasional sharks and other pelagics.
Savgura and Deli were the boats I was on. Travelled with a bunch of italians so they had 2 very deep dives and I had 4 normal dives a day. Most of the whaleshark stuff is snorkelling only. The boats were oldish Med style boats and the rooms while comfy had a bit of diesel fumes in them. Sleeping on the deck is apparently popular with guests.
Djibouti itself had a lot of military prescence (this was 2001, my last trip). I know it's worse now. If you're looking for lesser dived spots and whaleshark interaction, it's worth going. You must spend 4 days or more on the land tours... it's an amazing country... like istanbul in the historic melting pot way.
One thing, it is HOT! and I mean hot. So sun screen and hat plus the coolest cotton is a must.

[PRC]

Thanks for taking the time to reply, sounds like the Red Sea without the mayhem that is a live aboard out of Egypt in the Summer. This year we dived the Brothers and Daedelus in January and did not see another boat - awesome trip.

The boat that we are looking at seems to be a newer style Egyptian boat that has appeared down there - the trip is a combined Ghoubbet el Kharab and 7 Brothers, I guess as at this time of year the whale shark activity cannot be guaranteed.

All in all sounds like the sort of trip that I quite like.

Thanks for the input.

Paul C

[Simon K.]

Can you post a link to the Operator/Boat you are planning to use?

[PRC]

Yea sure :-

http://www.regal-div...ons&resortid=42

We are going on the 1st Nov.

There is an article going in Dive mag in April featuring this trip so I would expect the boats to fill very quickly ( read instantly ) after that.

Price was pretty much as advertised - they were not keen to discount due to the upcoming article. As of yesterday all of the dates had availability.

Let me know if you are to be on board also.

Paul C

[PRC]

Other links I have found are :-



http://www.geography...i_climate_c.htm
http://www.divetours...cationframe.htm
http://www.divernet....4djibouti.shtml
http://www.divernet..../0902redsea.htm


Not very much out there so far - let me know of any others that I have no doubt missed.

Paul C

[Chrispie]

Other links I have found are :-
http://www.geography...i_climate_c.htm
http://www.divetours...cationframe.htm
http://www.divernet....4djibouti.shtml
http://www.divernet..../0902redsea.htm
Not very much out there so far - let me know of any others that I have no doubt missed.

Paul C

Someone must have tried Djibouti since Feb 2006?

An takers??

[ripli]

I'm travelling to Djibouti next December, for new year....all information wil be thankful

[RedSeaDiver]

I led a liveaboard trip from Egypt all the way down to Djibouti in the summer of 1992. We chose summer because we figured that the weather is best for Rocky Island and Zabargad then, so therefore it is probably the best time to go further - logical thinking, but we didn't take into account the heat in summer down there - I was accustomed to living in Egypt by then so I was used to heat, but the heat down there was a lot hotter again.

The diving is superb - huge numbers of just about every species of fish that you see in the northern Red Sea - a lot more fish on every reef than what you see in Egyptian waters. There is a nice wreck from WWII, great corals as well. We didn't see any whale sharks in Djibouti, but we did see them in nearby Eritrea.

It is definently worth a trip down there.

[CamDiver]

Lived there for two years during military service back in the very early 90's. Great diving back then. Had a 'secret' spot near Obock which was great for Mantas and the occasional Tiger Shark. The whole Gulf of Tadjourah can come alive with Dolphins at the right time of year.

No idea what it's like now but had a great time back then, especially night dives around 7 Brothers.

Cheers,
Mark.

[PRC]

Kinda hesitant to post this - but.

We did do the trip and frankly it was from a fish and picture point of view - awful.

The vis was poor (Ok I was expecting that). The Seven Brothers was not spectacular though I am lead to believe that there were a couple of better sites that we could not attempt due to some weak divers on the boat.

The coral is pretty much dead - if you are used to Red Sea such as Brothers or Sudan then bring a good book.

Whalesharks - yes these were 'good', vis was again poor but that is expected what I did not like was that every time a poor shark was spotted three or more Ribs converged on the animal and dumped in 10 snorkelers each who then chased the thing down. To be honest I stayed on the Rib some of the time.

The Whalesharks are Juvanile animals that spend time here - and there are not that many of them. When we were there there were more boats than sharks.

All in all - it is not on my must do again list - boats and operators were fine.

If anyone wants more info then PM me.

Paul C September 2007