Djibouti - anyone dived there? [Archive] - BSAC Scuba Diving Forums

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IainC

11-04-2006, 14:12

I am being tempted by Regal's liveaboard trip to Djibouti.

Does anyone have experience of the boat (MY Mila) or the location?

The FCO advice makes it seem about as dodgy a location as the rest of North Africa (diseases, pirates, etc.) but not much worse than Eqypt.

What are the seven brothers like?

Is there anything to see in the devil's couldron apart from Whale Sharks?

Iain C.

zippy

12-04-2006, 00:38

Hi Iain . I have not dive their but try this site "http://www.emotion-sous-marine.com/index.htm" . I did lot of homework Djibouti going look at it gain in nov 06 a gain. The site was work of a franch soldier posted there for 2 years . If you looking to go keep in touch .bye zippy

Regaldive - BSAC PTP

12-04-2006, 15:41

Hi Iain -

Simon Rogerson, editor of DIVE magazine, went out to Djibouti with us in January. If you've not already seen the article, I'd recommend getting hold of a copy of the April edition of DIVE.

Simon dived the Goubet al-Kharab and had some truly amazing encounters with whale sharks. Our charters this winter will combine the whale sharks of the Goubet, with the Seven Brothers - a group of islands offering fine corals and a high concentration of marine life.

Simon posted this on the DIVE forum:
http://www.divemagazine.co.uk/forum/forummessages.asp?dt=4&utn=368&last=1&V=1&SP

If you'd like more information, give Jonathan, our product manager, a call on 0870 2201 777. He'd be happy to talk to you more about the itinerary and the dive sites you'll visit.

Laura

Josepherely

25-09-2006, 21:08

Hello, i am going in November so hopefully will be able to give you some feedback. I was there a number of years ago to dive, however due to the boat not turning up :mad: didn't get any diving, so trying again :)
Joe

Fran Duinker

25-09-2006, 21:28

Hi,
we went out there in April through Regal DIving. It depends very much on what time of year you go as to where they take you. We went out to the Sept Frere. The diving was very good. We were the only Brits on the boat, as it's not really a Bristish location. The diving can be very challenging. You have to remember that the Sept Frere are in the middle of the chanel at the narrowest part of the Red Sea. Lots of huge shoals of fish, we were circled on one dive by a shoal of about 30 baracuda. You need to have a certain amopunt of toughness about you to dive there. It's alwaays windy a minimum of a 3 usually a 4. Although we lived on a boat, we travelled to the dive sites it long glass fibre canoes, this might seem strange but they cut through the water very well, but we did travel for upto an hour to get to a dive site.
The bonus is that you'll see dive sites which very few other people have seen before and huge shoals of fish, If you want to see whale sharks, then December & January are the best times to go, we spoke to Bruno who runs the operation and that's when the big gathering takes place.
Would we go again?
Fingers crossed we're going back in December 07.
Land sights to see is Lake Assal, the hotest place on Earth. Take plenty of water!
Fran:)

John Bantin

25-09-2006, 21:52

http://www.divernet.com/travel/0902redsea.htm

Alison Boler

26-09-2006, 12:58

We also have a fantastic trip report on Djibouti
http://www.bsactravelclub.co.uk/reports/djibouti.htm

Josepherely

02-10-2006, 21:25

Thanks for the links, will let you know how got on in November
Joe

Josepherely

04-12-2006, 22:23

Just back from diving in Djibouti, diving so OK, but nothing to write home about compared to other locations.... the whale sharks were however spectacular, with some excellent photos and congregations of several of them together, well worth the trip for this. If you want to see whale sharks (and lots of them) then this is the place to go.

Unfortunately you have to spend a couple of extra days hanging around Djibouti Town at the end of the trip which is not the best fun location in the world, very little to see and nothing much to do, defenitely the low point of the trip.

The trip was to the Gulf of Ghoubet (not the 7 brothers islands which is difficult due to wind condtions at this time of year).

Joe

IainC

05-12-2006, 10:43

Thanks Joseph, more or less confirms what I heard.

Iain.

Josepherely

02-02-2007, 00:05

Had a good time on the Djibouti Divers II (rated as a "new" boat but really an overhauled 2nd tier Egyptian boat) Nice people (semi organised) but good enough for the trip. Enjoyed the athmosphere on the boat.

The diving was not on the 7 brothers but in the bay in from Djibouti (wrong time of year for 7 brothers) and was so so. Nice but if you have travelled a bit you will have done better.

The star attraction was the whale sharks which turned up on time and performed very nicely. Well worth it for this.

Mix of life from the red sea and the Indian ocean. A nice wreck (poor viz but good life).

Would I go back? not for the diving, maybe for the 7 brothers.

Djibouti town itself is a flea bitten place, salt lakes worth the diversion if you have nothing else to do.

Joe

IainC

02-02-2007, 13:57

THanks,

have kind of ruled it out for now, got a year full of UK stuff planned and other places to look at :-)

stevestudley

20-02-2007, 01:13

Hi there,
I spent many months in Djibouti whilst serving on exchange with the French Navy. We dived the area extensively. I personally wouldn't go out of your way as it were to dive there. Especially if it means spending any time in at all in the Port of Djibouti I would say save your money and go somewhere a little more exotic.

ammc

06-06-2007, 16:40

Delayed answer but:

I went on one of Regal's charter late Oct last year (2006)

MV Mila is supposed to be a new boat but is very low standards. Toilets overflowing almost every day, air conditioning with diesel smell, linen or towel not changed once in the whole week, atrocious food, a couple of bad fills etc...

The dive guide was not great and limited dives to 45 mins or less (OK in 7 Freres where currents can be strong but why elsewhere?)

Diving was good despite lack of big stuff due to overkill by Yemeni fishermen. Viz not great but accptable. Lovely warm water (29c).

Snorkelling with whale sharks was amazing, there is no words! Note that it is not diving with them, just snorkelling when around whale sharks.

The problems re boat was taken on board by Regal when we all complained on our return so things might be better now.

One thing: Djibouti is a former French territory so French, not English is widely spoken. Do not expect to be understood by everyone if you only speak English.
A

Ema

07-04-2010, 08:01

I dive regularly in Djibouti it is GREAT!!! :)

The best period is from October to January, at that time the weather is simply PERFECT and of course you can see the Whale Sharks.

Other than that you have the best Diving Centre in Djibouti with cheap courses under PADI and FFESSM/CMAS. The best diving instructors from Djibouti and around the world.

They have two diving Centres, one on Moucha Island (they are the only ones on the Island so private!) and another one on the luxurious Kempinski 5 stars hotel.

They have 2 dives a day every single day!!! you can leave Djibouti at 08:30 for a dive and come back at 12:30 or leave for a fun dive at 14:00 and come back to Djibouti at 17:30!!!

You can also do 2 dives a day and have lunch at the great restaurant on Moucha Island or enjoy several days of diving by sleeping in Moucha Island in one of their 19 Air conditionned fully equipped bungalows!!!

I simply LOVE that diving centre and of course I recomend it to EVERYBODY!!!

Give them a call or drop an email to have the week packages during Whale Shark season or to visit the 7 BROTHERS!!!

Discover the land of gods!!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Links removed by Mod as poster is linked commercialy)

Eddie Clamp

07-04-2010, 10:18

PeteM

07-04-2010, 10:34

I dive regularly in Djibouti it is GREAT!!! :)

Guys

No idea if Ema is legit, they are posting from Djibouti but the fact they mention two different dive organisations makes me think they might be OK. As such I am giving them the benefit of the doubt and going to leave the post.

P

Eddie Clamp

07-04-2010, 15:58

Hey Guys!!!

Well I guess things are moving around in Djibouti!
)

Pm'd you Ema. :rolleyes:

Eddie Clamp

08-04-2010, 09:09

Guys

No idea if Ema is legit, they are posting from Djibouti but the fact they mention two different dive organisations makes me think they might be OK. As such I am giving them the benefit of the doubt and going to leave the post.

P

Just received a very nice email from Ema. Will be incorporating some of her material into our BSAC Dhibouti website :p