RED SEA TRIP ADIVICE

Hi,

I am looking to go to the Red Sea next year and wondered if anyone give me any advice/tips. I have been to Nuweiba, Sharm & Dahab. My main aim of the trip is really to get some good picture oppurtunites, whilst i enjoy macro photography very much, i would like to extend my portfolio with larger species/pelagic encounters & sea scapes etc.

I cant get away that often and would really like too make the most of my time away. The chances are i will be travelling by myself and do not have a massive budget. I have had a DSLR Set up for around three years and would regard my abilities as intermediatte - with room for lots of improvement

I have narrowed it down to a number of options and hopefully someone can give me there experiances or advise an alternative.

1. Liveaboard - Blue O Two through the lens iteniary, southern red sea looking at photography related sites with longer bottom times etc, includes Elphinstone and Salem Express(dont feel too comfortable taking pictures on this dive due to the fairly recent loss of life) coaching with Dray & Karin Vanbeek.

Plus points: Diving with like minded people, good chance of pelagic encounters, photography coaching, dive sites geared to photography.

Minus points: On a boat for 7 days, bad weather, limited on taking "out" of the water pictures, could get lumbered with a fruit cake.

2. Land Based Trip - Marsa Alam. Staying at the Oasis Dive Resort, making the best of the local dive sites - not uw photography orientated.

Plus Points: In theory lots of variety ie Good House Reef, Shore diving by jeep around the coast, day boat trips to Elphinestone and other sites, beach during dives, top side photo oppurtunities.

Minus Points: Sticking too each other like glue on dives, diving with control freak guides, not having enough time to capture the picture etc, diving sites which are not photo friendly. I realise that these type of operations have to cater for the majority of the divers on them.

After reading the above i think i have made my mind up, any tips/ experinaces would be would be very useful especially on the Blue o Two option.

Cost wise there is not much between the two.

Regards

Brian in the UK

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Hi Brian,

I'd definitely recommend a photography-oriented trip. I've done a few Red Sea trips now have found it most enjoyable to dive with other photographers- plus you can waffle away about photography between dives. You don't feel bad about holding up a buddy when you both have cameras. Elphinstone is great. The last time I was out there it was really blowing hard, but we still got our dives in and it wasn't too uncomfortable. The captain was always good at finding sheltered spots to moor.

As for liveaboard vs. land-based, again I've done a bit of both, but liveaboard is probably the easiest as far as the diving is concerned. You almost roll out of bed and into the water. It's really quite luxurious often. The crews in the red sea seem to have it down to a fine art now.

Either way, I'm sure you'll have great fun!

Fergus