Dive Review of Katerina Maha in
Red Sea/Yemen

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Katerina Maha, May, 2003, by Kaz Kotlow, VA, USA . Report 494.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	The diving was just fabulous. The water was extremely clear on most dives and temperatures very comfortable. Captain Maurizio Pazelli is the owner/operator of the Katerina Maha. You can contact him directly on his website info@captainmaurzio.com or call at Country Code 967- 7159-7054. This is the only live-aboard opportunity out of Yemen, and the Yemeni islands in the Red Sea offer a unique and unparalleled dive opportunity. Captain Maurizio is highly knowledgable of the various dive spots, having spent the last four years focusing on this area. With limited tourism, the Yemen islands provide pristine conditions with no other divers to distract from the experience. We saw magnificent coral formations, and wide varieties of fish. Dolphins appeared on several occasions. At the last spot we saw a huge grouper that was approximately 7 feet long and perhaps three feet wide. We also did some lobster hunting. Captain Maurizio has a professional crew that will courteously attend to the needs of the visitor. Conditions on the boat are comfortable but not luxurious. Food quality is generally excellent, with fresh seafood often provided via the hunting skills of the first mate. The overall atmosphere is relaxed and enjoyable. The boat can accomodate about 12 but there is only enough SCUBA gear for 5. The equipment provided is servicable but not fancy. I suggest arriving with as much of your own gear as possible as there are no shops to buy last minute dive items. According to the captain, the only bad times for diving in this area are late November thru January. My previous trip in February, we were not able to get to the best dive sites due to wind conditions. Late September into October provides an opportunity to see whale sharks.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	26-50 dives
Where else diving	Thailand, Australia, The Red Sea (off Jeddah), and Key Largo.
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	80-85°F / 27-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	0
Water Visibility	80-100 Ft/ 24-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	?
Enforced diving restrictions	We used our computers to ensure that we stayed within the no decompression limits. Max depth for any of the dives was 115 feet
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	Yemen provides little to no support for underwater photography. The Katerina M. has a basic underwater camera for use. The clear water and variety of sea life make for unforgettable photos.

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Dive Review of Katerina Maha in Red Sea/Yemen

Katerina Maha, May, 2003,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Katerina Maha in
Red Sea/Yemen