Grand Sea Serpent - Red Sea

Hello Everyone,

We are booked on the Grand Sea Serpent out of Marsa Alam, Egypt for a trip coming up in a few weeks. We've been on liveaboards in many other areas of the world but this is our first trip to Egypt and the Red Sea. We're flying in from London on Thomson through a Tony Backhurst booking. Anyone done this trip and have any last minute recommendations, suggestions, or words of wisdom you care to share?

Thank you!

All the best!

paquito

Check your baggage allowance with Thompson and pre-pay for extra if you need it. TonyB runs some excellent boats and the crews are great, buy a bottle of spirits at the airport to take on board if that's your tipple as they only have beer and some wine on board and there's not much chance to pick any up anywhere else.

Have a good one

The GSS is a nice boat. If i remember correctly, they have a plasma tv and dvd player in the main saloon/dining area, so you might want to take some DVD's as i seem to remember their collection being a bit iffy.

Don't let any crazy russians talk you into going down to 90m on Elphinstone...

Thanks GD and jonhanson!

We'll hit duty-free at Gatwick if we're feeling parched.

We're flying in on Thomson, help with immigration is there when we arrive, transport to the boat, and off we go; hopefully a smooth process throughout.

Is there really any need to hire the 15ltr tanks versus the standard 12ltr? I'm not an hoover (slang for a vacuum cleaner here in the US).

....No worries, I don't speak Russian and besides, been there, done that, though I'd probably be speaking Russian at 90. Camera doesn't like to be talked into past 70m anyways.

I'm going to ask for a contact to the boat in about a week to attempt to find out what the most recent water temps have been. I plan to bring two skins along with a hooded vest, but I'm undecided between my 3mm or my 5mm?

I get cold easy. But I noticed now as I get older that its no longer the thickness of the suit that helps but instead that putting on that dry layer skin for the next dive that makes a difference for me. Any recommendations on what thickness is most consistent for the end of June out of marsa alam?

Packing has always been interesting, and its seems the more we acquire, the more creative we need to be.

DVD's are set aside, can never watch Dark Knight enough.

Cheers!

paquito

Try and go north and get up to Ras Mohammed to see the amazing schools that gather there at this time of the year. One of the great sights in diving.

5mm suit for sure. I have been to Egypt in late June for the last 12 years consecutively (for the schools at Ras Mohammed) and it is always 5mm plus hood at this time of year.

Alex

Hi Alex,

Unfortunately, no opportunity to get north on this trip, wish I could...

Will plan to bundle up for warmth.

Thank you!