An international array of guests joins a new liveaboard , with the promise of some truly special encounters . Story and photographs by Simon Rogerson
TRAVELSPECIAL
Ghazala Explorer
Exploring the Carnatic
Dare to dream
An international array of guests joins a new liveaboard , with the promise of some truly special encounters . Story and photographs by Simon Rogerson
Right now , the Ghazala Explorer is the liveaboard to be on in the Red Sea . Represented in the UK by Scuba Travel , it delivers a refinement on the liveaboard experience . Earlier this year , I joined a charter that took in the Brother Islands before heading north to the wrecks of Sha ’ ab Abu Nuhas and the tip of the Sinai Peninsula .
My first impression was of space : Oodles of it . The dive platform at the stern is big enough to accommodate all 24 guests and crew , although entry times are staggered to avoid crowding . Helpfully , the suit hangers are located on the dive platform , so you don ’ t get a wetsuit slapping you in the face like a wet haddock when you ’ re putting on your boots .
Moving inside , there ’ s a spacious salon flanked by sofas and day beds , leading into a dining area . Downstairs there ’ s a set of spacious twin cabins leading to a big suite with a double bed . There are a few more cabins and suites on the upper deck , which also has the traditional outside chill-out zone . The fly deck is the domain of the sun worshipper .
Our shakedown dive was at Gota Abu Ramada , just outside Hurghada . If you were staying in Hurghada and using day boats , it may well be the event dive of your week . For liveaboard divers it ’ s an
Fire coral and anthias at Ras Mohammed amuse-bouche , but tasty all the same .
A liveaboard throws people together in a random manner , but you do meet some lovely people . I was fortunate to run into an old buddy , BSAC diver Sharon Savory , one of the few humans patient enough to tolerate my glacial pace . We teamed up with Scuba Travel ’ s in-house photographer , Mario Vitalini .
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