On Thursday 10th August 2023 seven members of the Torbay Sub-aqua Club flew to Hurghada to board the Blue Pearl, a live-aboard run by the Blue Planet on a trip organised by RegalDive. They returned on Thursday the 17th after averaging between 18 and 21 dives in the Northern part of the Red Sea and on a number of famous wrecks.
During the course of the diving the following sites were dived on one or more occasions.
Off Hurghada the shake down dive was made at Poseidon’s Garden at El Gouna. Before venturing out on to the Straights of Gubal where several sites were dived, including The Barge at Gubal Soraya.
The Barge was well broken up but offered plenty of fish life, two huge Moray Eels, of some age and the chance for a drift dive.
Whilst in the Strait of Gubal the expedition visited Adu Nuhas where the Carnatic, Chrisoula K and the Giannis D were dived in rough weather.
These three wrecks were approached by Zodiac from behind the shelter of the reef and the divers dropped into rough seas with negative buoyancy. The pickup was less simple and was a somewhat strenuous activity!
Of the three the schooner, the Chrisola K was memorable because of its characteristic structure and prominent bow.
On the Eastern side of the Strait, we dived the Thistlegorm and the Dunraven. Between these two the extreme Eastern extent of the trip and making the most memorable dive on Shark Reef and the Yolanda in Ras Mohammed National Park.
On the Thistlegorm visibility was less than perfect but over three dives the excellent guide took the divers through three levels as well as seeing the steam trains and anchor.
Although upside down the swim through the Dunraven was memorable for just this fact. Empty apart from the large boiler amidships.
The dive in Ras Mohammed was for some, the most memorable dive. Visibility was exceptional and must have been 30m plus. The biodiversity at Shark Reef was staggering and the wreck of the Yolanda entertaining.
With threatening weather, the Blue Pearl recrossed the Straights of Gubal to visit the El Gouna off Hurghada where dives were made at Sha’ab El Erg (Dolphin House) and Gezira Syul Kebir (Seal Island). Night dives were made on these sites as well as others. Most memorable was a Trevally attaching a school of bait fish virtually under the boat.
Dolphin House lived up to its name and on the penultimate dive dolphins did swim with the divers. In addition, the uncommon Red Sea Walker was found by Mike.
And finally on the last day Shabruhr Umm Gamar was dived. This was a most memorable dive to 27m where there was a cave to be explored.
Photos from the trip can be found in the Galleries section of this website: Red Sea 2023