Red Sea Liveaboard - First Experience

[Mikeyd71]

Hi, I am traveling on the Blue Melody in May for a week, I was just wondering what to expect, appreciate I will nedd to bring the usual first aid stuff, and I will eat, sleep and dive. But is there anything else I should need to be aware off, do I tip the boat staff at beginning or end, do they hire torches for any night dives is there any extras to pay for apart from alcohol and nittrox

Anything that could help me and my partner prepare for what I hope will be an excellant trip

Mike

[Eddie Clamp]

Hi, I am traveling on the Blue Melody in May for a week, I was just wondering what to expect, appreciate I will nedd to bring the usual first aid stuff, and I will eat, sleep and dive. But is there anything else I should need to be aware off, do I tip the boat staff at beginning or end, do they hire torches for any night dives is there any extras to pay for apart from alcohol and nittrox
Anything that could help me and my partner prepare for what I hope will be an excellant trip
Mike

Hi Mike

There are a load of liveboard reports written by "divers for divers" here:

http://www.bsac.com/findit.asp?cat=tripreports&section=0001000100150047&view=list&glat=&glng=&gzoom=&keyword=Egypt&subcat=0001300000010008&submit.x=76&submit.y=6

Have a browse through them to get a feel of what you will experience during your week. :)

Never been on Blue Melody but all the good boats usually have a comprehensive first aid kit onboard. Although I do take my own medication for the odd gippy tum etc. If you have your own torch and batteries - take them. Some boats are offering free nitrox as a part of their winter offers. You will pay for beer but soft drinks are normally free. If you wish spirits, buy it in duty free before you depart. Tips, a large part of the crew's income, is usually around 30 Euros and 10 for the dive guide.

You both are going to have a wonderful week - enjoy it. I love the Red Sea. I go at least twice a year. My favourite itinery is Brothers and Daedalus but all the trips have something different to offer. :D

HTH

[Mike Halligan]

Hi Mike

Blue Melody is one of the very best, IMHO. Blue O Two seem to set the standard for others to attempt. I was on Blue Fin last Feb, Blue Melody this and have already booked for 2011, but I'm spoiled by the company I keep :) :) :)

Melody's cabins, lounges and dining are of the highest standards, dive deck a little cramped but that can be managed. She landed 2 AirCon pumps as we left, whether for repair or replacement we know not. Blue O Two fleet carry a good general first aid kit and a range of medication the Dive Guides are able to offer, with patient notes for self-medication. We avoided gippy tummy by the old preventative of local yoghurt and local honey every morning at breakfast - it does seem to work. However, the local trait of pumping ballast whilst the divers are away can catch you out once in a while.

Just about any kit can be hired if you ask in sufficient time. IIRC, the tips on our trip (pp pw) were around GBP30 for the crew, GBP15 for the guides. We tried the new offering this year, Straits of Tiran & the Brothers, very nice. Next year, the deeper South, out of Marsa Alam. :cool:

HTH

[DarrenA]

Blue Horizon last September.

Report is http://www.bsac.com/diverreports.asp?itemid=6954&itemTitle=Blue+Horizon+Northern+Wrecks+and+Reefs+S eptember+2009&section=1242&sectionTitle=Middle+East

Covers most of it I think but feel free to PM me or post here if you have any specific questions.

Enjoy! :)

[Mikeyd71]

Thanks for the feedback, all very useful

Mike

[Howard Payne]

A small tip at the end is always appreciated - they leave out envelopes for you

Just beer and Nitrox - expect a bill for no more than £80 or so

Buy some torches, you'll cover their costs and you know you can trust your own. The UK LED range are fine for this sort of thing.

Expect to have an amazing time with lots of great diving, on a super luxurious boat :)

[robforrest]

Hi, I am traveling on the Blue Melody in May for a week, I was just wondering what to expect, appreciate I will nedd to bring the usual first aid stuff, and I will eat, sleep and dive. But is there anything else I should need to be aware off, do I tip the boat staff at beginning or end, do they hire torches for any night dives is there any extras to pay for apart from alcohol and nittrox

Anything that could help me and my partner prepare for what I hope will be an excellant trip

Mike

Hi Mike
I just came back from our first Blue O Two trip a couple of weeks ago. We were on Blue Horizon but I expect Blue Melody will be similar if not exactly the same.

In terms of first aid stuff, they seemed to have a comprehensive kit on board but if you want to be sure, worth taking your own (small) kit.

Nitrox is available (max 31-32% and not customisable mix). Think its £4.50 or something per fill of you can pay £60 for unlimited. Even if you have it on a per-fill basis the maximum you will pay is the £60.

All water, soft drinks, tea/coffee etc are free. You pay for beer / wine at the end of the week - there is an honesty sheet by the bar that you fill in when you take one. I think the beer was £2.50 per can. A number of the people on our boat purchased spirits from the airport and took them on board.

They did have torches for hire - not sure how much. They had a small supply of spare batteries on board but ran out so worth taking spares if you think you'll need them.

Don't bother taking tools - they have allen keys, spanners, screw-drivers etc. The only spares I took were mask strap, cave line, tie-wraps and a spare mouth piece. Didn't need any of them.

Don't bother taking shoes - you are bare foot on the boat from when you board to when you leave.

At the end of the week there are two tip envelopes - one for the guides and one for the crew. We were advised by the guide how much to put into the crew envelope but its up to you whether you go with that or not. I cant remember exactly but what we were advised seemed a bit low for the fantastic efforts they put in so I put a little more in.

Have a fantastic time - I'm sure you will :)

Rob

[John Bantin]

Remember that the tip you leave will be split between all the crew. I usually leave £60 for a week. Dive guides are usually tipped separately.

[ChristianG]

I have some advice as far as medications are concerned.

If the device is intrusive, think things such as ear treatment applications where you need to squirt something into your ear via a tube, always take your own.

There is no point in using a generally available device such as that which someone else has used who has some kind of contagious condition, SCUBA related or not.

[Russ_H]

Mike,

There has been much good advice already posted, but may I add one or two points?

Take a delayed SMB. If you don't fancy dragging a reel with you, take a spool,
and practise with it before you go. You might not use it, but at least you'll have
it available. There are occasionally big waves in the Red Sea - you'll be glad to have
an SMB with you.

If you can manage, buy a torch before you go.

There are usually snacks and biscuits lying around, but take some sweets with you.

In the early part of the year, the Red Sea can be colder than you might imagine.
I'm soft, but for Easter trips I take a 5mm one-piece and an extra sleeveless
jacket for torso warmth. Scubapro, and possibly others, make them with a built-in
hood.

Regards,

Russ