TimG 62 Posted August 29, 2010 I’ve just returned from a week in the Red Sea diving with Emperor Divers off their boat, the MV Superior. I thought Wetpixelers may welcome a trip report given how popular the Red Sea is with European divers. I booked a safari known as Simply The Best directly with Emperor Divers and a plane ticket to Hurghada with Thomson Airlines. Contact with Emperor Divers was easy and their booking staff were helpful and quick to respond. They wanted a certain amount of pre-trip information: passport details and dive experience. There is a trip requirement of having logged 50 dives. I flew Manchester-Hurghada. As I have reported separately, Thomson Airlines did not weigh my cabin baggage and I travelled with a hold-loaded bag of dive gear at about 21kgs and a 1510 Pelican roller case as cabin baggage weighing about 14kgs. Thomson Airlines charge for everything: the initial 20kgs of baggage, seat reservations (note: they consider seats adjacent across an aisle as “sitting next to each other” - so on their B757s seats C and D), food and all drinks. They allow an extra 5kgs for divers and 5kgs of cabin baggage. So divers should get a total of 30kgs. On the way back from Hurghada cabin baggage was weighed and although not limited to 5kgs, the check-in staff wanted to charge extra for being slightly over the total of 30kgs. Egyptian immigration charge $15/£13 for a visa on arrival. Arriving about 7pm, I was through immigration and customs quite quickly and was met by a taxi driver sent by Emperor who drove me the 45-minutes south to Safarga pier where the Superior was tied up. A friendly welcome on board by the two expat dive guides (one Canadian, one Spanish) who were very good – and a nice supper of chicken and salads. Superior is an excellent boat. Very nicely finished, air conditioned through-out, good sun decks, a Jacuzzi, a friendly, fun crew – and a huge dive deck. Lots of plug–ins for batteries and chargers. Big flat screen for slide shows. There were 21 guests on board and this never felt crowded. Food was always good and plentiful. Lots of cookies and cake for ‘tween dive snacks. Tea and coffee (including an espresso maker!) and soft drinks constantly available. Beer and wine available for a reasonable charge. The day usually started with a 5am wake-up and a 5.30 briefing for the first of the day’s three dives. Surface intervals were usually 3 hours. Apart from one night dive, the diving ended about 4.30pm. Diving was generally from RIBs launched from Superior. Dives ended either at Superior or, by launching an SMB, a RIB pick-up. We did 2 dives on the first and last day, the middle 4 days were all three dive days. There was one night dive. A guide was available if required but dive plans were straight-forward and a guide was not necessary. There was no pressure on dive time limits – but you had to carry (and sometimes needed) an SMB for the end of the dive. Nitrox was available at no extra charge. We did Elphinstone Reef, Daedalus Reef, the Brothers and the Salem Express wreck. Given the huge loss of life I had mixed feelings about this but it was an amazing dive and possible to photograph almost the whole 100m wreck given the visibility and a Tokina 10-17mm. 16 dives, nearly all in the 25-35m range. We saw hammerheads, reef sharks and – and one lucky group saw a whale shark. I had taken 10-17mm and 60mm lenses. I used the 60mm twice and have only 1-2 keepers. The 10-17 was perfect especially, for travelling purposes, when combined with the Zen 100 dome. I have some pics which I am delighted with! A couple are attached. I would not have used any other lenses even if they had been available. 30C degree water temperatures and viz at around 20-30 metres combined with Emperor Divers excellent organisation made for a very enjoyable trip. PM me if you’d like more info. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tdpriest 115 Posted August 29, 2010 Did you hear the ghosts on the Salem Express? Not a friendly wreck, at all... Tim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimG 62 Posted August 30, 2010 Did you hear the ghosts on the Salem Express? Not a friendly wreck, at all... Tim Thankfully not. But it wasn't hard to imagine them, Tim. I really had mixed views about diving the wreck - as did many of the guests. But no-one regretted it afterwards. It really is an amazing sight/site. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Msorougi 0 Posted May 31, 2016 Hi Tim! Thanks for the great piece! I have a question, and may be you can help. I am new to underwater photography (and for some reason, mind blown by wide angle; macro for some reason doesn't do it for me), and I can't decide whether I should go for the Simply the Best, or Get Wrecked itinerary with Emperor Divers, you know, to improve my photo skills? Thanks! -Moose Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimG 62 Posted May 31, 2016 Hi Tim! Thanks for the great piece! I have a question, and may be you can help. I am new to underwater photography (and for some reason, mind blown by wide angle; macro for some reason doesn't do it for me), and I can't decide whether I should go for the Simply the Best, or Get Wrecked itinerary with Emperor Divers, you know, to improve my photo skills? Thanks! -Moose Hey Moose Hmm, tough question to answer. I've not done Get Wrecked but know what it consists of. The Red Sea is definitely wide-angle territory and on my last two trips there I might as well have not bothered hauling my macro stuff along. Last trip I used a 15mm lens (on FX) almost all the time. When I did the Simply the Best Trip it was 10-17 on DX. So if you want to do wide-angle, you are going to the right place. Simply the Best visits a number of the best known dive sites such as The Brothers and Daedalus Reef which are some distance off-shore. If you are fortunate, you might see some Big Stuff. And then, for our trip at least, there was the dive on the Salem Express. Get Wrecked is, of course, diving on wrecks. And there are some good ones to see in the Red Sea. I have to admit I am not massive wreck enthusiast and prefer nice sunny reefs teeming with fish - and, for that reason, maybe I take better images in those conditions rather than, as I see it, in the murk and gloominess of some wreck. But I guess comparing Simply The Best and Get Wrecked is a bit like comparing apples and oranges. Either will give you very good wide-angle opportunities. I'd suggest it boils down to what you prefer. Where do you feel happiest? I always reckon if you feel relaxed and happy in the water you will take better pics. Well, I do anyway! Whichever you choose I'm sure you will have a great time. I've been with Emperor 3-4 times and they have always been excellent. Elite and Superior are cracking boats. Have fun and good luck! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Msorougi 0 Posted June 2, 2016 Hey Moose Hmm, tough question to answer. I've not done Get Wrecked but know what it consists of. The Red Sea is definitely wide-angle territory and on my last two trips there I might as well have not bothered hauling my macro stuff along. Last trip I used a 15mm lens (on FX) almost all the time. When I did the Simply the Best Trip it was 10-17 on DX. So if you want to do wide-angle, you are going to the right place. Simply the Best visits a number of the best known dive sites such as The Brothers and Daedalus Reef which are some distance off-shore. If you are fortunate, you might see some Big Stuff. And then, for our trip at least, there was the dive on the Salem Express. Get Wrecked is, of course, diving on wrecks. And there are some good ones to see in the Red Sea. I have to admit I am not massive wreck enthusiast and prefer nice sunny reefs teeming with fish - and, for that reason, maybe I take better images in those conditions rather than, as I see it, in the murk and gloominess of some wreck. But I guess comparing Simply The Best and Get Wrecked is a bit like comparing apples and oranges. Either will give you very good wide-angle opportunities. I'd suggest it boils down to what you prefer. Where do you feel happiest? I always reckon if you feel relaxed and happy in the water you will take better pics. Well, I do anyway! Whichever you choose I'm sure you will have a great time. I've been with Emperor 3-4 times and they have always been excellent. Elite and Superior are cracking boats. Have fun and good luck! Hi Tim! Thanks for the reply! Tbh, wrecks don't do it for me. I too, am much happier in a natural coral reef. I guess I was wanting to go with wrecks, because it felt like that photographic composition would be easier (especially that i am new, wanting to see bang for my buck, with as little effort as possible lol!). But you are right, if I am not happy, then why do it at all. "Simply the Best", here we come! -Moose Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimG 62 Posted June 3, 2016 Hey Moose I don't think you're going to be disappointed with Simply the Best. You are right, you might find composition a little trickier on a reef rather than a wreck - the angles and possibilities are less evident. But if you feel happier hanging and composing on a reef I am sure you will do better than maybe lots of grab shots on a wreck where you might feel less comfortable. And the satisfaction levels of getting that cracking reef short will be much higher as, perhaps, you had to work harder to get it! Some suggestions: - try and shoot upwards behind, e.g. fan corals so you get the colour changes in the blue up towards the surface - look for sticky-out bits of corals to provide a feature - especially colourful soft corals - which, again, you can isolate against the blue - so you are shooting out into the blue or at a 45 degree angle from a wall out into the blue. - see if you can find a diver willing to model a bit for you and use him/her to give context to the shot. Get them to swim towards you - exhaling gently AND with their eyes open - use your strobe(s) to highlight the sticky-out bit. Ambient light can do the rest. - stay in one spot for a while and play around with angles and strobe positions. If you are happy and have an interesting bit of reef there is little need (other than staying with your buddy) to explore the whole reef. Perhaps do one or two dives almost just under the boat to play around. If you'd like to see some examples of what I'm trying to explain, have a look at my website (www.timsimages.uk) or Shutterstock collection. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Msorougi 0 Posted June 19, 2016 Hey Moose I don't think you're going to be disappointed with Simply the Best. You are right, you might find composition a little trickier on a reef rather than a wreck - the angles and possibilities are less evident. But if you feel happier hanging and composing on a reef I am sure you will do better than maybe lots of grab shots on a wreck where you might feel less comfortable. And the satisfaction levels of getting that cracking reef short will be much higher as, perhaps, you had to work harder to get it! Some suggestions: - try and shoot upwards behind, e.g. fan corals so you get the colour changes in the blue up towards the surface - look for sticky-out bits of corals to provide a feature - especially colourful soft corals - which, again, you can isolate against the blue - so you are shooting out into the blue or at a 45 degree angle from a wall out into the blue. - see if you can find a diver willing to model a bit for you and use him/her to give context to the shot. Get them to swim towards you - exhaling gently AND with their eyes open - use your strobe(s) to highlight the sticky-out bit. Ambient light can do the rest. - stay in one spot for a while and play around with angles and strobe positions. If you are happy and have an interesting bit of reef there is little need (other than staying with your buddy) to explore the whole reef. Perhaps do one or two dives almost just under the boat to play around. If you'd like to see some examples of what I'm trying to explain, have a look at my website (www.timsimages.uk) or Shutterstock collection. Hi Tim! Thanks for the tips, I REALLY appreciate it! Wish me luck, I will keep you posted on the results Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trimix125 73 Posted August 1, 2016 Hi Tim,i ve been often in the Red Sea,and i ve enjoyed both,wide angle and macro.The problem there is simply that not many guides know what is there in the water....You can get nice shrimp, pygmies and a lot of other stuff,but most time not guided, only if you find it by yourself.Most of the guides are europeans who wanna make money and dive, or egypts, who are not really trained for it.If you visit like me some places for years, you will find out, that the guides even dont know their house reef...And after a change, iwas not interested going there again, because i am not willing to have to take a guide with me, who is not knowing what i know, and is limiting me....I have been to a hotel with a great housereef, and in a two week trip, did half of the dives there, because it had everything.Including turtles, eaglerays, white tips, and lots of macro stuff.But after a change in the dive center, it was not possible to go there and enjoy it and get pictures...Regards,WolfgangPS: was using the 70 - 180mm Nikon Macro zoom lens ;-)) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
