Blue Force 3: "Red Sea - Fun & Relaxing", Sep, 2022,by Tim Williams, CA, US (![]() |
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Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best): |
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Accommodations | ![]() |
Food | ![]() |
Service and Attitude | ![]() |
Environmental Sensitivity | ![]() |
Dive Operation | ![]() |
Shore Diving | N/A |
Snorkeling | N/A | ||
Overall Rating |
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Value for $$ | ![]() |
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Beginners | ![]() |
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Advanced | ![]() |
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Comments |
We had dove the Red Sea once before in 2010. On this trip we found the corals and wrecks in really great shape. Lots of Blue Spotted Rays, large Eels and Crocodile Fish. Amazing snorkel experience with Dolphins, which we also briefly encountered on one scuba dive. Lot's of small reef fish. The only shark we saw was a ragged old Oceanic White Tip. No large rays, no turtles, 1 octopus and nothing "exotic". Viz was good and water was 84 deg F. The staff on Blue Force 3 made the trip really enjoyable. Dive guides Sergio, Mahmoud and Ahmet recognized we had a variety of dive skills in the group and were very accommodating. The Blue Force 3 has charging stations on the dive deck and staff was adamant that all charging takes place at the stations and not in the staterooms. They did a thorough safety briefing at the beginning of the week. There was a nice variety of food at every meal. Desserts were the chefs specialty and they were amazing. Because this was a charter organized by a friend and included others we knew, this was a really fun trip. While the wrecks are interesting and the dolphin snorkel was a unique experience, the Red Sea is crowded with dozens of Live-Aboards and hundreds of day boats. Sometimes it felt like being in a theme park in the summer - waiting in crowds for a quick thrill to see an attraction. I wouldn't recommend the long trip from the U.S. if you're looking for extraordinary diving. But if you are combining the diving with a tour in a Middle East country, it is worthwhile. |
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Websites | Blue Force 3 | ||
Reporter and Travel |
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Dive Experience | Over 1000 dives | ||
Where else diving | California, Hawaii, Florida, Cuba, USVI, BVI's, Belize, Honduras, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, La Paz, Indonesia, Chuuk, Palau, Fiji, Egypt, Saba, Dominica, St. Maarten, Bahamas, New Zealand, Socorro, French Polynesia | ||
Closest Airport | Hurghada | Getting There | LAX - Istanbul - Hurghada |
Dive Conditions |
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Weather | sunny | Seas | currents, no currents |
Water Temp | 82-84°F / 28-29°C | Wetsuit Thickness | 3 |
Water Visibility | 40-100 Ft/ 12-30 M | ||
Dive Policy |
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Dive own profile | yes | ||
Enforced diving restrictions | All guided dives - Nitrox tables | ||
Liveaboard? | no | Nitrox Available? | yes |
What I Saw |
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Sharks | 1 or 2 | Mantas | None |
Dolphins | Schools | Whale Sharks | None |
Turtles | None | Whales | None |
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best): |
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Corals | ![]() |
Tropical Fish | ![]() |
Small Critters | ![]() |
Large Fish | ![]() |
Large Pelagics | ![]() |
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Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best): |
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Subject Matter | ![]() |
Boat Facilities | ![]() |
Overall rating for UWP's | ![]() |
Shore Facilities | N/A |
UW Photo Comments |
The wrecks, especially Thistlegorm, are really good photo subjects. Unfortunately wide angle will always have other dive groups. Outside tabletop for cameras. Inadequate space. Small charging stations could not accommodate large strobes and the few larger stations were difficult to work from. No fresh water rinse tank. No air to blow off excess water. Guided dives have a route for each dive, not always accommodating diver's desire to get shots. |
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