Don't you lazy english think you should learn some arabic for our trip? Well here a start boys and girls.
http://lexicorient.com/babel/arabic/003.htm
Soon we'll all get the gist. Al-hamdu lillah
ma'a salama
Neill
Sunday 14 January 2007
Saturday 13 January 2007
Venture Adventure
Pete has agreed to the 9 -10 June. So we have 2 boats booked in June so we'd better fill them. Waiting to hear on a boat (or 2?) for may and a second for September.
Tuesday 9 January 2007
Amoco a GO-GO
Spoke to Dave last night and we have booked Amoco for the June and September weekend. Dave is speaking to another skipper for us to arrange a second boat for those weekends. We, potentially, have spaces.
Cool
Cool
Saturday 6 January 2007
Red Sea - May 2002 - VIP One.
Here is a summary of my last trip to the Red Sea. The check out dive was my 18th dive.
Neill as Skipper
This comes from arecent post on SWM. Deep Blue are selling Endeavour (read thread - via Link)
Which is all very interesting. However mooch through this list and you will see Redeemer is also for sale at the bottom! Now I really wouldn't care less if I didn't do another day in my current job, so - does anyone have a hundred grand I could have. I would be your own personal skipper and your diving needs would be thoroughly catered for. So give it a thought divers - make me your skipper - send money.
Plymouth Diving 2007
This years diving.
All out of Plymouth.
19th & 20th May - 13 Names
9th & 10th June - 12 Names
22nd & 23rd September - 12 Names
9th & 10th June - 12 Names
22nd & 23rd September - 12 Names
I will need to arrange 2 boats.
Slightly stricter booking and deposit rules. I am going to ask for adeposit this year and if you have to drop out it will be your responsibility. So the following will be circulated for each weekend.
£?? per diver per day deposit - once I receive the deposit you're booked onto the trip. If you can't make it then it's your responsibility to find a replacement (although of course I'll help) and if a replacement isn't found then you're liable for the cost of your space.
Additional stuff from recent email.
Any way the dates for next year. I have hung back to get a local tide table as this can reveal the details of the tides. Popped into newsagents last night whilst waiting for my Chicken Bhuna.
We all agree so far on the 22nd & 23rd September. So thats firmed up - need to here from Rob & Brian, John & Lou and any others. The other dates - 9th & 10th June looks very good for tides and fits with everyone.
19th & 20th May coming off small springs but with a morning High tide slack for the wrecks.
Not all these dates are convenient for everyone, they are a good stab at fitting in with everyone and tides.
so Firm dates.
19th & 20th May
9th & 10th June
22nd & 23rd September
Please email me that these dates are generally ok (Thanks Rab & Alan). I will then open a list for each weekend and we will book boats. I would like to book boats asap and will then be looking for deposits at the end of January. I will most likely try and book Venture(10-12spaces) x 1 and Amoco(8-10 spaces) x 2.
Once we have confirmed boats and taken deposits I will open up the remainder spaces to our wider group.
Planned dives.
I am still waiting to do Hand Deeps ! Also the Maine is a priority.
Last years favourite dives for me were Hillsea Point, Abelard and Dave's hard core Mewstone Ledges mark that I did with Rob and Brian.
No doubt we will do the James Eagan Layne and Scylla but I never had a decent dive on them last year due to the viz. Interesting to see what the storms have done this winter.
Have a jolly hols. Ask santa for some new speedo's for July.
Here is a link to more pictures - I'll expect you to know your way round them by the time we get there..........
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/worldphotos/wrecks_reefs.htm
South West Mafia is a local forum
http://www.southwestmafia.com/forumswm/portal.php
Yorkshire Divers more varied but more useful.
http://www.yorkshire-divers.com/
Have fun.
Neill
We all agree so far on the 22nd & 23rd September. So thats firmed up - need to here from Rob & Brian, John & Lou and any others. The other dates - 9th & 10th June looks very good for tides and fits with everyone.
19th & 20th May coming off small springs but with a morning High tide slack for the wrecks.
Not all these dates are convenient for everyone, they are a good stab at fitting in with everyone and tides.
so Firm dates.
19th & 20th May
9th & 10th June
22nd & 23rd September
Please email me that these dates are generally ok (Thanks Rab & Alan). I will then open a list for each weekend and we will book boats. I would like to book boats asap and will then be looking for deposits at the end of January. I will most likely try and book Venture(10-12spaces) x 1 and Amoco(8-10 spaces) x 2.
Once we have confirmed boats and taken deposits I will open up the remainder spaces to our wider group.
Planned dives.
I am still waiting to do Hand Deeps ! Also the Maine is a priority.
Last years favourite dives for me were Hillsea Point, Abelard and Dave's hard core Mewstone Ledges mark that I did with Rob and Brian.
No doubt we will do the James Eagan Layne and Scylla but I never had a decent dive on them last year due to the viz. Interesting to see what the storms have done this winter.
Have a jolly hols. Ask santa for some new speedo's for July.
Here is a link to more pictures - I'll expect you to know your way round them by the time we get there..........
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/worldphotos/wrecks_reefs.htm
South West Mafia is a local forum
http://www.southwestmafia.com/forumswm/portal.php
Yorkshire Divers more varied but more useful.
http://www.yorkshire-divers.com/
Have fun.
Neill
Friday 5 January 2007
Where do we go from here?
The Bends.
I may have had the bends. I had a completely uneventful dive on Tuesday night (09/05/06) . 33mins (surface to surface) at 22.8metres on Nitrox 32. Good profile, no rapid accents, I deployed SMB and never overtook the line. Did as 3mins at 5.5metres safety stop. Dark and cold but no dramas. No recent alcohol.
No symptoms on surfacing. Joanne says, I mentioned I had a sore hip when I got in about 9pm. I woke in the night 1230 in considerable discomfort in my right hip which was a tooth-achy pain that went all down my leg to my second toe which was a bit pins and needles. I went (hobbled) downstairs and took 800mgs of ibuprofen. Went back to sleep to 0600 and awoke in discomfort again. Had a conversation with Jo and aid I wondered if it could be a bend. I readily agreed to get some advice from DDRC when they opened. Took more brufen. Got ready for work and drove in, before I went into work I called DDRC and spoke to Dr Christine Cridge. She advised me to come in for evaluation. Cancelled my appointments, drove to DDRC. I was limping at this time. On balance I didn’t think it was a bend.
Was examined including (neuro exam) and we decided to put me in the pot. Did about 4 ½ hours on 100% O2 at 18m (60ft – US Navy tables). Was accompanied by Megan who looked after me (tolerated me) for all this time. The pain did certainly ease at pressure and my limp resolved. I was of course resting on a trolley. It did feel a little worse when we surfaced. Dr Christine felt it was on balance more likely to be DCI (a bend) than not. She felt that there was weakness in my right leg that had resolved on HBO/ recompression treatment.
I have always had crappy joints and regularly experience pain (but not usually to this extent) after football for example. Dr Christine felt that weakened and damaged tissue does attract bubbles. Took more brufen, slept well and felt slightly better on Thursday morning.
Went back to DDRC and they stuck me in the pot again 2 hours at 14m on 100% O2 – this time with the medical HBO patients some of whom were a bit snotty about going all the way to 14m because of the diver (cheeky twats). Neuro exams unchanged no difference to the now mild discomfort. Dr Simon not sure if bend or not. I didn’t think it was a bend. Went home took more ibuprofen. ( a lovely days annual leave!)
Went back this morning for evaluation. Had a conversation with Dr Simon we agreed further recompression unlikely to move us forward as symptoms largely resolved. On balance I didn’t think it was a bend, but I’m very aware of the denial factor with divers.
However I had done some internet research and had resolved my self to 4 weeks off diving based on what I had read. It would be absolutely the only option to follow the advice of the medics, whether it was a bend or not. I am resolved to treat it as if it was a very undeserved hit. The advice and explanation given by Dr Christine of tissue vulnerability is the most lucid.
I was devastated when I was advised to stop diving for a few months….. I have a follow up appointment with the medical director Phil Bryson on 30th May to review me. Until then I am dry.
I am well and healthy and hugely grateful to the prompt and superb treatment at DDRC. We are so fortunate to have this facility locally (don’t fancy going to Cardiff or London or wherever). They couldn’t have been better and I’m am trying not to be a brat about it but I’m gutted.
This rules me out of the first weekend, very probably the second and hopefully not for the August trip. The big worry is there a reason a had such an undeserved hit? 110 dive no probs – why me why now. Risk factors I am overweight, but I am reasonably fit, have done quality work up dive this year I am super cautious. Disafuckingpointed.
August 2006.
Had my medical which went well. Have a 6 month fitness to dive certificate. However have to dive Nitrox on air tables and lose 6kgs in 6 months.
January 2007.
My weight has yoyo’d over the last 5 months. I have been down to 83 from 85kg. The scales were read wrong at my medical and I was 88kgs but was recorded at 85kg. Currently I’m 86kgs so I’m gonna beast myself for 6 weeks.
I may have had the bends. I had a completely uneventful dive on Tuesday night (09/05/06) . 33mins (surface to surface) at 22.8metres on Nitrox 32. Good profile, no rapid accents, I deployed SMB and never overtook the line. Did as 3mins at 5.5metres safety stop. Dark and cold but no dramas. No recent alcohol.
No symptoms on surfacing. Joanne says, I mentioned I had a sore hip when I got in about 9pm. I woke in the night 1230 in considerable discomfort in my right hip which was a tooth-achy pain that went all down my leg to my second toe which was a bit pins and needles. I went (hobbled) downstairs and took 800mgs of ibuprofen. Went back to sleep to 0600 and awoke in discomfort again. Had a conversation with Jo and aid I wondered if it could be a bend. I readily agreed to get some advice from DDRC when they opened. Took more brufen. Got ready for work and drove in, before I went into work I called DDRC and spoke to Dr Christine Cridge. She advised me to come in for evaluation. Cancelled my appointments, drove to DDRC. I was limping at this time. On balance I didn’t think it was a bend.
Was examined including (neuro exam) and we decided to put me in the pot. Did about 4 ½ hours on 100% O2 at 18m (60ft – US Navy tables). Was accompanied by Megan who looked after me (tolerated me) for all this time. The pain did certainly ease at pressure and my limp resolved. I was of course resting on a trolley. It did feel a little worse when we surfaced. Dr Christine felt it was on balance more likely to be DCI (a bend) than not. She felt that there was weakness in my right leg that had resolved on HBO/ recompression treatment.
I have always had crappy joints and regularly experience pain (but not usually to this extent) after football for example. Dr Christine felt that weakened and damaged tissue does attract bubbles. Took more brufen, slept well and felt slightly better on Thursday morning.
Went back to DDRC and they stuck me in the pot again 2 hours at 14m on 100% O2 – this time with the medical HBO patients some of whom were a bit snotty about going all the way to 14m because of the diver (cheeky twats). Neuro exams unchanged no difference to the now mild discomfort. Dr Simon not sure if bend or not. I didn’t think it was a bend. Went home took more ibuprofen. ( a lovely days annual leave!)
Went back this morning for evaluation. Had a conversation with Dr Simon we agreed further recompression unlikely to move us forward as symptoms largely resolved. On balance I didn’t think it was a bend, but I’m very aware of the denial factor with divers.
However I had done some internet research and had resolved my self to 4 weeks off diving based on what I had read. It would be absolutely the only option to follow the advice of the medics, whether it was a bend or not. I am resolved to treat it as if it was a very undeserved hit. The advice and explanation given by Dr Christine of tissue vulnerability is the most lucid.
I was devastated when I was advised to stop diving for a few months….. I have a follow up appointment with the medical director Phil Bryson on 30th May to review me. Until then I am dry.
I am well and healthy and hugely grateful to the prompt and superb treatment at DDRC. We are so fortunate to have this facility locally (don’t fancy going to Cardiff or London or wherever). They couldn’t have been better and I’m am trying not to be a brat about it but I’m gutted.
This rules me out of the first weekend, very probably the second and hopefully not for the August trip. The big worry is there a reason a had such an undeserved hit? 110 dive no probs – why me why now. Risk factors I am overweight, but I am reasonably fit, have done quality work up dive this year I am super cautious. Disafuckingpointed.
August 2006.
Had my medical which went well. Have a 6 month fitness to dive certificate. However have to dive Nitrox on air tables and lose 6kgs in 6 months.
January 2007.
My weight has yoyo’d over the last 5 months. I have been down to 83 from 85kg. The scales were read wrong at my medical and I was 88kgs but was recorded at 85kg. Currently I’m 86kgs so I’m gonna beast myself for 6 weeks.
Typhoon warts and all - I found this review online - thanks Atticusuk.
Blowing in the wind
A review by atticusuk on Typhoon (Red Sea Liveaboard)May 3rd, 2006
Author's product rating:
Customer Service on Board - Outstanding
Activities on Board - Good fun
Value for Money - Good
Advantages:
Great crew and good facilities
Disadvantages:
Engine noise in the morning .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Typhoon was my home for a seven day diving holiday visiting the wrecks and reefs of the Red Sea. This itinerary saw us crossing the Straits of Tiran and the Straits of Gubal so it was a good test of the boats comfort and stability in rough seas however it is as a dive platform and a place to relax and unwind between a dive that is most important. For those of you not used to a diving liveaboard then it is important to remember that this is a boat geared up for a particular holiday. Some of the facilities like ensuite have not always been a feature of dive boats in the past indeed some of the boats I have used in the UK boast an outdoor toilet for men and the need for excellent balance.
Technical DetailsI had booked the trip through Tony Backhurst Travel and Typhoon is part of the Tornado Marine Group who has an excellent reputation in the Red Sea so I was really looking forward to my trip. For the dates and itinerary that I wanted I had the choice of two boats and had chosen the more expensive option for the extra comfort level and the fact that the boat was a newer build.The dimensions of the boat are 33m in length with an 8m beam. Fully air conditioned throughout, two 700 Hp Cummings engines provide the power. There are two K14 compressors to fill he dive tanks and the boat can provide Nitrox and is also able to facilitate re-breather divers.For the diving there are 2 tenders which comfortably carry up to eight divers at a time and have 40 bhp engines, there are also two life rafts with capacity for 50 people however we had no need to put these to the test fortunately.
The Cabins
There are ten cabins in all meaning that there I capacity for 20 guests on any one trip and for my trip it was fully booked. If you are assessing a boat for a diving holiday then seeing it fully booked is ideal as you are better able to assess the facilities when it is being fully utilised.All of the cabins have ensuite facilities that consist of a shower, wash basin and toilet. I was impressed with the size of our cabin, both single beds had plenty of room (often bunk beds are the norm but not on Typhoon) and there was plenty of storage space for the limited amount of clothing that you need. Storage for one person was under their bed whilst under my bed was the AC unit. There was a hanging closet with additional shelf space and also a small safe which neither of us could work out how to operate.The shower worked well as did the toilet however only if you remembered to use the small bin for any waste paper as the plumbing could not cope with toilet paper in the system, this is quite common for some land based holidays I have been on in Southern Europe so was not a big deal on a boat.The AC unit worked really well however the fact that the cold air blew out from beneath my bed directly at your feet meant that I was in danger of catching frostbite while I was unpacking and to be honest the AC spent more time off than on, needless to say in the height of summer it would be able to do the job.Now they always say location is everything and that certainly is the case with cabins on Typhoon. There are seven cabins below decks for guests plus one more for the dive guides. There are a further two on the main deck and the tenth is on the upper deck.There appeared to be a certain trade off of pros and cons between the cabins. The higher your cabin is then the more sway you will experience in rough sea. The lower it is the more stable and given the itinerary we had included two bumpy crossings then I was glad to be as low as possible.On our trip there was a slight problem with the water supple which had a habit of switching off, this problem seemed to affect the upper cabins and hot water was a rarity for them while our cabin enjoyed a constant supply of hot water. However this did come at a price as being below decks meant that we were quite near the engine room which meant we had an alarm call most mornings at 5.30 as the boat traveled from the overnight mooring to the first dive site of the day, given that the first dive is at 6.30 this is not too bad but it is a bit of a shock to the system. To be fair the water problems will be a one off but the stability and engine noise are not so if you have a preference put in a request when booking. Overall the cabins were clean although showing signs of wear and tear however they were made up every day and the towels changed frequently and they were very comfortable.
Other Facilities
The dive deck is one of the most important facilities on a dive boat as this is where your kit is set up and the cylinders stored.There were certainly more than 20 spaces available to kit up and each area had its own storage box for fins and torches and other bits of kit. It did get crowded with 20 divers on it however the fact that most of the diving was by tender meant that most times we would go in three waves of divers and therefore the kitting up was staggered. There were three steps down to the dive platform which was spacious and could comfortably hold ten divers at a time. Entry to the boat from the water was by two ladders which were stable and easy to use.Also on the dive platform there was a storage tank solely for camera equipment and a couple of wracks for fins. There were numerous charge sockets for torches and cameras as well as storage facilities for towels and t-shirts.The dining room was on the main deck and was very spacious with five circular tables seating six people which allowed for people to rotate where they sat to get to know everyone.On the upper deck was the lounge which had a stereo system and plasma screen for entertainment as well as the ability to plug in a PC for dive briefings. Most importantly there was a small bar to get drinks after a hard days dive. If I have one criticism of the lounge it was that it could have been a bit bigger as not all twenty guests could sit down together and also the seats were not the most comfortable. Outside on the same deck there were a number of tables sheltered partially by the sun deck above and these provided a nice place to sit either in the sun or shade to read and have a chat.The top deck was home for the sun worshippers or those who wanted to lounge around on the sun beds. Partially shaded as well this was a good place to sleep between dives. There was also a Jacuzzi on this deck but this was never used as it had to be filled with cold water and then allowed to heat up by the sun and the weather was not really hot enough to achieve this.
The Crew
In all there were about 12 Egyptian crew members and two English dive guides each with specific roles to play.The big bonus for me was the excellent crew on Typhoon. They are the friendliest happiest bunch that I have come across and very good t their work. They did make the difference on this trip as I have traveled with crews before where you can tell they are on edge, either due to a bossy captain or some other friction.Barry and Tori the two English dive guides were excellent at their job with good detailed briefings and always being available to help.The rest of the crew were always smiling and ready to play a joke on the guests, this usually involved bringing you the wrong breakfast or some other prank and it just helped to keep everyone relaxed.I was particularly impressed with the boat handlers who dropped us in over every dive site and were very alert if a diver popped to the surface unexpectedly.
The Food
This is an important factor of a week's liveaboard as there is no where else to go to eat if the food is bad. On this type of holiday you become like one of Pavlov's dogs, a bell is rung which either means it is time to dive or to eat. The bell rings a lot and you enjoy three large meals a day with additional snacks in the afternoon and a constant supply of Egyptian cakes and western biscuits.All of the meals are served buffet style with a range of choices and there was plenty of food for everyone. There is always a vegetarian option and often the chef would prepare something special for the two veggies on the boat in addition to the standard choice. The chef did like to use lots of chili and garlic particularly in the vegetable for some reason but the food was excellent and no one ever went hungry.There was a constant supply of free soft drinks as well as tea and coffee with the option to purchase beer or wine but no hard spirits however you are welcome to bring your own from duty free.
Costs
The weeks diving on Typhoon cost £865 which included flights, transfers, full board, marine park fees and a nights say in a hotel in Sharm on the last night. The only compulsory extra is the entry visa which was £10 I think.On the boat you need very little money however there are a few extras that can add up. Cans of beer were $4 which I thought was a little pricey and would probably take my own next time.If you want to use Nitrox then it is £5 a fill or there is an unlimited option of £60 for the week which usually works out cheaper.Barry and Tori produce both a DVD and a photo CD of the trip both of which are well produced the CD cost £15 and the DVD was £25 I think. You can also purchase a range of t-shirts and bath towels with the boats name on it.The only other cost is that it is customary to tip the staff if you wish and certainly after the excellent service I received I was only too happy to. In total I tipped $50 between the crew and dive guides and this is collected in one group envelope and handed over at the end of the trip.
Summary
Typhoon primarily caters for the Northern Red Sea, running three different itineraries however it does also travel to the Southern Red Sea to do the Brothers Island however there are more luxurious boats covering this route in my opinion.I would definitely book to use this boat in the future and would certainly use the company again. Despite the few niggles the benefits clearly out weighed them and the trip was very enjoyable despite the fact that I had a cold for most of the time which affected my diving a little.The quality of the crew was a key factor with all of the other facilities providing the base for a great weeks diving.
Blowing in the wind
A review by atticusuk on Typhoon (Red Sea Liveaboard)May 3rd, 2006
Author's product rating:
Customer Service on Board - Outstanding
Activities on Board - Good fun
Value for Money - Good
Advantages:
Great crew and good facilities
Disadvantages:
Engine noise in the morning .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Typhoon was my home for a seven day diving holiday visiting the wrecks and reefs of the Red Sea. This itinerary saw us crossing the Straits of Tiran and the Straits of Gubal so it was a good test of the boats comfort and stability in rough seas however it is as a dive platform and a place to relax and unwind between a dive that is most important. For those of you not used to a diving liveaboard then it is important to remember that this is a boat geared up for a particular holiday. Some of the facilities like ensuite have not always been a feature of dive boats in the past indeed some of the boats I have used in the UK boast an outdoor toilet for men and the need for excellent balance.
Technical DetailsI had booked the trip through Tony Backhurst Travel and Typhoon is part of the Tornado Marine Group who has an excellent reputation in the Red Sea so I was really looking forward to my trip. For the dates and itinerary that I wanted I had the choice of two boats and had chosen the more expensive option for the extra comfort level and the fact that the boat was a newer build.The dimensions of the boat are 33m in length with an 8m beam. Fully air conditioned throughout, two 700 Hp Cummings engines provide the power. There are two K14 compressors to fill he dive tanks and the boat can provide Nitrox and is also able to facilitate re-breather divers.For the diving there are 2 tenders which comfortably carry up to eight divers at a time and have 40 bhp engines, there are also two life rafts with capacity for 50 people however we had no need to put these to the test fortunately.
The Cabins
There are ten cabins in all meaning that there I capacity for 20 guests on any one trip and for my trip it was fully booked. If you are assessing a boat for a diving holiday then seeing it fully booked is ideal as you are better able to assess the facilities when it is being fully utilised.All of the cabins have ensuite facilities that consist of a shower, wash basin and toilet. I was impressed with the size of our cabin, both single beds had plenty of room (often bunk beds are the norm but not on Typhoon) and there was plenty of storage space for the limited amount of clothing that you need. Storage for one person was under their bed whilst under my bed was the AC unit. There was a hanging closet with additional shelf space and also a small safe which neither of us could work out how to operate.The shower worked well as did the toilet however only if you remembered to use the small bin for any waste paper as the plumbing could not cope with toilet paper in the system, this is quite common for some land based holidays I have been on in Southern Europe so was not a big deal on a boat.The AC unit worked really well however the fact that the cold air blew out from beneath my bed directly at your feet meant that I was in danger of catching frostbite while I was unpacking and to be honest the AC spent more time off than on, needless to say in the height of summer it would be able to do the job.Now they always say location is everything and that certainly is the case with cabins on Typhoon. There are seven cabins below decks for guests plus one more for the dive guides. There are a further two on the main deck and the tenth is on the upper deck.There appeared to be a certain trade off of pros and cons between the cabins. The higher your cabin is then the more sway you will experience in rough sea. The lower it is the more stable and given the itinerary we had included two bumpy crossings then I was glad to be as low as possible.On our trip there was a slight problem with the water supple which had a habit of switching off, this problem seemed to affect the upper cabins and hot water was a rarity for them while our cabin enjoyed a constant supply of hot water. However this did come at a price as being below decks meant that we were quite near the engine room which meant we had an alarm call most mornings at 5.30 as the boat traveled from the overnight mooring to the first dive site of the day, given that the first dive is at 6.30 this is not too bad but it is a bit of a shock to the system. To be fair the water problems will be a one off but the stability and engine noise are not so if you have a preference put in a request when booking. Overall the cabins were clean although showing signs of wear and tear however they were made up every day and the towels changed frequently and they were very comfortable.
Other Facilities
The dive deck is one of the most important facilities on a dive boat as this is where your kit is set up and the cylinders stored.There were certainly more than 20 spaces available to kit up and each area had its own storage box for fins and torches and other bits of kit. It did get crowded with 20 divers on it however the fact that most of the diving was by tender meant that most times we would go in three waves of divers and therefore the kitting up was staggered. There were three steps down to the dive platform which was spacious and could comfortably hold ten divers at a time. Entry to the boat from the water was by two ladders which were stable and easy to use.Also on the dive platform there was a storage tank solely for camera equipment and a couple of wracks for fins. There were numerous charge sockets for torches and cameras as well as storage facilities for towels and t-shirts.The dining room was on the main deck and was very spacious with five circular tables seating six people which allowed for people to rotate where they sat to get to know everyone.On the upper deck was the lounge which had a stereo system and plasma screen for entertainment as well as the ability to plug in a PC for dive briefings. Most importantly there was a small bar to get drinks after a hard days dive. If I have one criticism of the lounge it was that it could have been a bit bigger as not all twenty guests could sit down together and also the seats were not the most comfortable. Outside on the same deck there were a number of tables sheltered partially by the sun deck above and these provided a nice place to sit either in the sun or shade to read and have a chat.The top deck was home for the sun worshippers or those who wanted to lounge around on the sun beds. Partially shaded as well this was a good place to sleep between dives. There was also a Jacuzzi on this deck but this was never used as it had to be filled with cold water and then allowed to heat up by the sun and the weather was not really hot enough to achieve this.
The Crew
In all there were about 12 Egyptian crew members and two English dive guides each with specific roles to play.The big bonus for me was the excellent crew on Typhoon. They are the friendliest happiest bunch that I have come across and very good t their work. They did make the difference on this trip as I have traveled with crews before where you can tell they are on edge, either due to a bossy captain or some other friction.Barry and Tori the two English dive guides were excellent at their job with good detailed briefings and always being available to help.The rest of the crew were always smiling and ready to play a joke on the guests, this usually involved bringing you the wrong breakfast or some other prank and it just helped to keep everyone relaxed.I was particularly impressed with the boat handlers who dropped us in over every dive site and were very alert if a diver popped to the surface unexpectedly.
The Food
This is an important factor of a week's liveaboard as there is no where else to go to eat if the food is bad. On this type of holiday you become like one of Pavlov's dogs, a bell is rung which either means it is time to dive or to eat. The bell rings a lot and you enjoy three large meals a day with additional snacks in the afternoon and a constant supply of Egyptian cakes and western biscuits.All of the meals are served buffet style with a range of choices and there was plenty of food for everyone. There is always a vegetarian option and often the chef would prepare something special for the two veggies on the boat in addition to the standard choice. The chef did like to use lots of chili and garlic particularly in the vegetable for some reason but the food was excellent and no one ever went hungry.There was a constant supply of free soft drinks as well as tea and coffee with the option to purchase beer or wine but no hard spirits however you are welcome to bring your own from duty free.
Costs
The weeks diving on Typhoon cost £865 which included flights, transfers, full board, marine park fees and a nights say in a hotel in Sharm on the last night. The only compulsory extra is the entry visa which was £10 I think.On the boat you need very little money however there are a few extras that can add up. Cans of beer were $4 which I thought was a little pricey and would probably take my own next time.If you want to use Nitrox then it is £5 a fill or there is an unlimited option of £60 for the week which usually works out cheaper.Barry and Tori produce both a DVD and a photo CD of the trip both of which are well produced the CD cost £15 and the DVD was £25 I think. You can also purchase a range of t-shirts and bath towels with the boats name on it.The only other cost is that it is customary to tip the staff if you wish and certainly after the excellent service I received I was only too happy to. In total I tipped $50 between the crew and dive guides and this is collected in one group envelope and handed over at the end of the trip.
Summary
Typhoon primarily caters for the Northern Red Sea, running three different itineraries however it does also travel to the Southern Red Sea to do the Brothers Island however there are more luxurious boats covering this route in my opinion.I would definitely book to use this boat in the future and would certainly use the company again. Despite the few niggles the benefits clearly out weighed them and the trip was very enjoyable despite the fact that I had a cold for most of the time which affected my diving a little.The quality of the crew was a key factor with all of the other facilities providing the base for a great weeks diving.
August 2005 - Plymouth
A weekend of contrasts. An average Saturday with a stunning Sunday.
Rab Hunter's Report.
Well here goes for my first Trip Report for the World Infamous Neill’s Diving Page. What can I say? The morning of the gathering went like clockwork. All kit loaded and ready to go with time to spare.
The Buddy pairs Rob Chinnock & I teamed up for some “Quality” diving with Dave and the Amoco. Once the itinnery had been bashed out in the wheel house over a brew it was off to the Rosehill, a dive we’d done on a previous trip. Again the Skipper put us bang on the wreck and Rob & I brought up the rear of the Dive pairs.
The Shot was just off the Boilers so we headed towards the Gun Housing into a slight current stumbling over a HUGE moray eel curled up in the broken structure. After giving it the once over and a wide berth to pass it we carried on towards the gun housing, but never got that far. A quick air time appreciation led us to return to the shot. With the current behind us it took less than the time we anticipated so a grot around was had then off to the surface to discuss the size of the Moray!
Dive Two of the day saw us on the James Eagan Layne, one I’d not done before so Rob gave me a guide tour. What a quality wreck. Nicely broken up with plenty of swim throughs if you’re thin enough and gradually swimming shallow to the top of the wreck at 4m. Cheers Rob.
The Sunday brought us glorious weather and even better diving than the Saturday, all be it with an early rise. The early start gave us the travelling time to get to the Maine. Again Dave was bang on with the Shot and as before Rob and I dropped in last to find the huge hulk jam packed with some huge fish. Getting access into the wreck was no problem and the swim throughs available are huge. Exploring around the Bow to Mid-ships was our plan and what a plan. Once the inside was completed the outside was an experience to behold, all the way around til some twat with a twinset popped up out of the deep blue.
The last dive of the weekend was off Fairylands and one of Dave’s secret wrecks. A quality grot around, and off to the west for a look around the reef. A bit of liberating of those who didn’t want liberating (the dog fish was most appreciative) and with a mission to get as long as possible out of our 12’s brought us up on our longest dive of the weekend. A fantastic weekend. Thanks to all.
Rab H.
Rab Hunter's Report.
Well here goes for my first Trip Report for the World Infamous Neill’s Diving Page. What can I say? The morning of the gathering went like clockwork. All kit loaded and ready to go with time to spare.
The Buddy pairs Rob Chinnock & I teamed up for some “Quality” diving with Dave and the Amoco. Once the itinnery had been bashed out in the wheel house over a brew it was off to the Rosehill, a dive we’d done on a previous trip. Again the Skipper put us bang on the wreck and Rob & I brought up the rear of the Dive pairs.
The Shot was just off the Boilers so we headed towards the Gun Housing into a slight current stumbling over a HUGE moray eel curled up in the broken structure. After giving it the once over and a wide berth to pass it we carried on towards the gun housing, but never got that far. A quick air time appreciation led us to return to the shot. With the current behind us it took less than the time we anticipated so a grot around was had then off to the surface to discuss the size of the Moray!
Dive Two of the day saw us on the James Eagan Layne, one I’d not done before so Rob gave me a guide tour. What a quality wreck. Nicely broken up with plenty of swim throughs if you’re thin enough and gradually swimming shallow to the top of the wreck at 4m. Cheers Rob.
The Sunday brought us glorious weather and even better diving than the Saturday, all be it with an early rise. The early start gave us the travelling time to get to the Maine. Again Dave was bang on with the Shot and as before Rob and I dropped in last to find the huge hulk jam packed with some huge fish. Getting access into the wreck was no problem and the swim throughs available are huge. Exploring around the Bow to Mid-ships was our plan and what a plan. Once the inside was completed the outside was an experience to behold, all the way around til some twat with a twinset popped up out of the deep blue.
The last dive of the weekend was off Fairylands and one of Dave’s secret wrecks. A quality grot around, and off to the west for a look around the reef. A bit of liberating of those who didn’t want liberating (the dog fish was most appreciative) and with a mission to get as long as possible out of our 12’s brought us up on our longest dive of the weekend. A fantastic weekend. Thanks to all.
Rab H.
Falmouth 2005
This was a great weekends diving.
Below is my summary, Trip report and Highlights Gallery. Also included Is Epic Neil's report of the Saturday, selected links and individual galleries for the contributing photographers.
Below is my summary, Trip report and Highlights Gallery. Also included Is Epic Neil's report of the Saturday, selected links and individual galleries for the contributing photographers.
Neill
Dom
John
Suzi
Alan
Liz
Jo
Chris
Epic Neil
Trip Report. Didn't fancy the weather but it all turned out grand.
I have never been to Falmouth before, despite living in Cornwall since 1980 this is in fact shamefully the furthest west I have been! Doh! A situation which I will endeavour to rectify.
Easy trip down, no navigation problems, all arrived present and correct. From the moment we saw Redeemer we knew we were in for a good weekend as she is a good looker; broad across the stern giving ample kitting up space for all. I was very excited about diving the Manacles and the famous wrecks but was not blown away but enjoyed the dives very much. We seem to have become a camera packing group! The buddy groups fell naturally Dom pairing with Jo, Suzi with Chris, John with Alan. I was going to be buddying up with one of Epic's (Neil) group but they seemed to have clear plans and I preferred a meander so I tagged on to the Bristol pair. Visibility was good and the highlight for me was spotting an Anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius) about 1m in length.
Mohegan
Volnay
Saturday concluded we proceeded to the pleasant but unenthusiastic B&B. We divided the rooms up and Alan made a uncharacteristic sprint for the double bed in the lads room. We proceeded out for a shandy and bite in the pleasant Falmouth quayside. We had a pretty fine waitress or two and the grub wasn't bad. For the record we went to the Warehouse Bistro.
The odd glass was taken in the pub. We slept like babies.
The day dawned and we had a pleasant breakfast, nice ingredients but could've eaten it twice, from unenthusiastic landlady, who missed her lie-in. Shaun and Becky were twiddling their thumbs whilst we minced down to the quay. Relief at not drinking too much or stuffing oneself at breakfast as it was a mite choppy. We sped east to dive 'the bizzies' - nice but not spectacular and the gutwrenchingly fantastic Hera. Bizzies is a nice reef/drift - if you want more info I can let y'all read my 100 Best Dives in Cornwall Book.
Dive of the weekend (dive of the year for me) was the Hera. Knockout dive relatively shallow at 15m - great visibility at 10m plus. Wreck largely broken up but because she lies on a sandy/shell bottom the light quality is entrancing. Many people lost their lives when she went down but they could not have a more beautiful final resting place ( not a huge consolation ) than the impressive Gull rock. Hera is a top UK dive.
Shaun slammed her back to the Carrick roads and we said farewell to Falmouth.
Best Dive - Hera
Best Diver - Jo - looked like a pro on her UK debut.
Best Photo - Alan's Shot of Me with SMB
Best Portfolio - Dom just taking it with Crustacean Shots.
Best Fish Spotter - Me taking Suzi's crown.
Special Award for Seasickness Conquered - Suzi.
Best Seagull Feeder - Chris - what an arm for pasty throwing.
Stealth Diver - John
Best Cock up - Me hot chocolate deck spreader.
Best Bed Blagger - Alan
Feedback from Dom: Latest update is looking good although for some reason you seem to concentrate much more on the B&B than the diving ... at least we know where your priorities lie!! Also sadly lacking in a mention for my lobster and conger not to mention the monster pasty eating contest followed by the scene from 'The Birds'.
What Conger? Show Me a Picture...... All contri's welcome.
Dom
John
Suzi
Alan
Liz
Jo
Chris
Epic Neil
Trip Report. Didn't fancy the weather but it all turned out grand.
I have never been to Falmouth before, despite living in Cornwall since 1980 this is in fact shamefully the furthest west I have been! Doh! A situation which I will endeavour to rectify.
Easy trip down, no navigation problems, all arrived present and correct. From the moment we saw Redeemer we knew we were in for a good weekend as she is a good looker; broad across the stern giving ample kitting up space for all. I was very excited about diving the Manacles and the famous wrecks but was not blown away but enjoyed the dives very much. We seem to have become a camera packing group! The buddy groups fell naturally Dom pairing with Jo, Suzi with Chris, John with Alan. I was going to be buddying up with one of Epic's (Neil) group but they seemed to have clear plans and I preferred a meander so I tagged on to the Bristol pair. Visibility was good and the highlight for me was spotting an Anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius) about 1m in length.
Mohegan
Volnay
Saturday concluded we proceeded to the pleasant but unenthusiastic B&B. We divided the rooms up and Alan made a uncharacteristic sprint for the double bed in the lads room. We proceeded out for a shandy and bite in the pleasant Falmouth quayside. We had a pretty fine waitress or two and the grub wasn't bad. For the record we went to the Warehouse Bistro.
The odd glass was taken in the pub. We slept like babies.
The day dawned and we had a pleasant breakfast, nice ingredients but could've eaten it twice, from unenthusiastic landlady, who missed her lie-in. Shaun and Becky were twiddling their thumbs whilst we minced down to the quay. Relief at not drinking too much or stuffing oneself at breakfast as it was a mite choppy. We sped east to dive 'the bizzies' - nice but not spectacular and the gutwrenchingly fantastic Hera. Bizzies is a nice reef/drift - if you want more info I can let y'all read my 100 Best Dives in Cornwall Book.
Dive of the weekend (dive of the year for me) was the Hera. Knockout dive relatively shallow at 15m - great visibility at 10m plus. Wreck largely broken up but because she lies on a sandy/shell bottom the light quality is entrancing. Many people lost their lives when she went down but they could not have a more beautiful final resting place ( not a huge consolation ) than the impressive Gull rock. Hera is a top UK dive.
Shaun slammed her back to the Carrick roads and we said farewell to Falmouth.
Best Dive - Hera
Best Diver - Jo - looked like a pro on her UK debut.
Best Photo - Alan's Shot of Me with SMB
Best Portfolio - Dom just taking it with Crustacean Shots.
Best Fish Spotter - Me taking Suzi's crown.
Special Award for Seasickness Conquered - Suzi.
Best Seagull Feeder - Chris - what an arm for pasty throwing.
Stealth Diver - John
Best Cock up - Me hot chocolate deck spreader.
Best Bed Blagger - Alan
Feedback from Dom: Latest update is looking good although for some reason you seem to concentrate much more on the B&B than the diving ... at least we know where your priorities lie!! Also sadly lacking in a mention for my lobster and conger not to mention the monster pasty eating contest followed by the scene from 'The Birds'.
What Conger? Show Me a Picture...... All contri's welcome.
Epic Neil's Trip report for the Saturday.
Yesterday I was out on a local boat, Redeemer, with a group which included Red Neill from this site, and MarkG. Another chap, Ben who is local and dives on Friday night trips came along too.We loaded up at Customs House Quay at about 10am. I was out on the Friday night and it was pretty choppy, so I was expecting the same today. I had no idea where we were off to, but Neill asked Shaun (Skipper) and he said that we could go to the Mohegan & Volnay if we wanted, and I think everyone was happy with this - I know that some of the group hadn't dived either site beforehand.Off we went and I was surprised that the conditions had died down a little. There were some RIB's already there when we got to the Mohegan, but nothing too major.I dived with MarkG and Ben. We were last in. 1st thing I noticed was that the vis was pretty good, about 10m. I went straight down the shotline, head first, going straight through the bubbles from the other group. The Mohegan came into view, so I slowed down and waited for the other two. Again, vis was still good at this depth. We followed the wreck along the edge of it. As Mark and I went over the wreck, I noticed Ben busy looking around. There were alot of Cuckoo Wrasse around, brightly coloured orange and purple. Pollack and Bib were around in large numbers too. I came across a fairly large Spider crab that was busy hiding itself underneath a piece of wreckage. Looking around at the wreck I noticed a large opening within a plate, so I went down to have a look. Shining my torch in I noticed that there was an opening at the other end. I slowly moved down so I was actually underneath the wreckage, being careful that I had a clear exit-point. I then remembered that Mark was with me, and I hoped that he hadn't follow me into the wreck. I had a quick look around - nothing much about. I then slowly backed myself out, and noticed that Mark was above the area that I had entered.Further along the stern of the wreck we came across a large rectangular piece of wreckage that had 2 very large bollards attached. We hovered over this for a couple of minutes having a look. We then continued along the opposite side of the wreck.I came across an area where a large plate had collapsed against another - at the edge was a rectangular opening which I made out to be a window.All along the wreck were broken pieces of china plate. I didn't really 'dig' around for anything, but it would have been nice to find one with the ships crest on. I was speaking to one of the group later in the day and they think that they might have had enough broken pieces to glue together to make a whole plate!Shortly after we sent up the blob and started our ascent. Going through the Plankton, I looked above and realised that I could see the SMB on the surface. A quick check on my computer told me that I was at 12.5m. Not bad.Back onboard, we de-kitted and moored up off Porthkerris, and had a bite to eat. The weather had brightened up a little, but was still hard to believe that this was the 1st weekend in June – was more like April.After a while we went off to the Volnay, myself and a couple of others hopeful of finding some brass timing heads (yes, they are still around), amongst things! Armed with a crowbar (!) we went in last, and followed the shotline down to the wreck. After making sure that the line wasn’t snagged we went off around to the wreck. I did tend to stay close to the 2 large boilers this time, as on other occasions I explored more of the wreck without looking too much at them. There were a lot of Pollack and bib around, as on the Mohegan, but I didn’t come across and timing heads this time!Eventually Mark and I decided to ascend. As we did we came alongside, then over, the boilers. There were about 3 HUGE Pollack just hovering there. Mark moved his hand towards one, as he was really close and it moved away a little.Back onboard we started to de-kit as other divers were picked up and off we went back o Falmouth.'Idiot of the day' award would be either RedNeill for chucking his hot-chocolate all over the deck, or myself for putting my rig on without my weightbelt. On the evening I met up with the group who were staying in a B&B and had a couple of beers. They went out today, but I had other commitments. I had a great time on the Saturday, I hope the Sunday was just as good.
Thanks Neil for that.
http://www.southwestmafia.com/forumswm/index.php?
Yesterday I was out on a local boat, Redeemer, with a group which included Red Neill from this site, and MarkG. Another chap, Ben who is local and dives on Friday night trips came along too.We loaded up at Customs House Quay at about 10am. I was out on the Friday night and it was pretty choppy, so I was expecting the same today. I had no idea where we were off to, but Neill asked Shaun (Skipper) and he said that we could go to the Mohegan & Volnay if we wanted, and I think everyone was happy with this - I know that some of the group hadn't dived either site beforehand.Off we went and I was surprised that the conditions had died down a little. There were some RIB's already there when we got to the Mohegan, but nothing too major.I dived with MarkG and Ben. We were last in. 1st thing I noticed was that the vis was pretty good, about 10m. I went straight down the shotline, head first, going straight through the bubbles from the other group. The Mohegan came into view, so I slowed down and waited for the other two. Again, vis was still good at this depth. We followed the wreck along the edge of it. As Mark and I went over the wreck, I noticed Ben busy looking around. There were alot of Cuckoo Wrasse around, brightly coloured orange and purple. Pollack and Bib were around in large numbers too. I came across a fairly large Spider crab that was busy hiding itself underneath a piece of wreckage. Looking around at the wreck I noticed a large opening within a plate, so I went down to have a look. Shining my torch in I noticed that there was an opening at the other end. I slowly moved down so I was actually underneath the wreckage, being careful that I had a clear exit-point. I then remembered that Mark was with me, and I hoped that he hadn't follow me into the wreck. I had a quick look around - nothing much about. I then slowly backed myself out, and noticed that Mark was above the area that I had entered.Further along the stern of the wreck we came across a large rectangular piece of wreckage that had 2 very large bollards attached. We hovered over this for a couple of minutes having a look. We then continued along the opposite side of the wreck.I came across an area where a large plate had collapsed against another - at the edge was a rectangular opening which I made out to be a window.All along the wreck were broken pieces of china plate. I didn't really 'dig' around for anything, but it would have been nice to find one with the ships crest on. I was speaking to one of the group later in the day and they think that they might have had enough broken pieces to glue together to make a whole plate!Shortly after we sent up the blob and started our ascent. Going through the Plankton, I looked above and realised that I could see the SMB on the surface. A quick check on my computer told me that I was at 12.5m. Not bad.Back onboard, we de-kitted and moored up off Porthkerris, and had a bite to eat. The weather had brightened up a little, but was still hard to believe that this was the 1st weekend in June – was more like April.After a while we went off to the Volnay, myself and a couple of others hopeful of finding some brass timing heads (yes, they are still around), amongst things! Armed with a crowbar (!) we went in last, and followed the shotline down to the wreck. After making sure that the line wasn’t snagged we went off around to the wreck. I did tend to stay close to the 2 large boilers this time, as on other occasions I explored more of the wreck without looking too much at them. There were a lot of Pollack and bib around, as on the Mohegan, but I didn’t come across and timing heads this time!Eventually Mark and I decided to ascend. As we did we came alongside, then over, the boilers. There were about 3 HUGE Pollack just hovering there. Mark moved his hand towards one, as he was really close and it moved away a little.Back onboard we started to de-kit as other divers were picked up and off we went back o Falmouth.'Idiot of the day' award would be either RedNeill for chucking his hot-chocolate all over the deck, or myself for putting my rig on without my weightbelt. On the evening I met up with the group who were staying in a B&B and had a couple of beers. They went out today, but I had other commitments. I had a great time on the Saturday, I hope the Sunday was just as good.
Thanks Neil for that.
http://www.southwestmafia.com/forumswm/index.php?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
