Splash pool with seats Spacious double cabin
were land-based . On a liveaboard , they serve as an appetiser for the adventures to come , plus an opportunity for the guides to assess everyone ’ s abilities and experience levels .
Speaking of guides , Scuba Scene is managed by two of the most experienced in the industry , Ahmed Fadel and Dr Elke Bojanowski , AKA The Shark Lady . Ahmed is a technical instructor of high standing , while Elke is a biologist specialising in the study of Red Sea shark populations , and the founder of the Red Sea Sharks Trust .
The first day saw us organised into three
Briefing in the saloon
groups and entering the water from the back of the boat as we visited Fanous East and Gota Abua Ramada . Both perfectly decent dive sites with plenty of ‘ usual suspect ’ reef fish , the highlights being a crocodilefish , some picturesque coral columns and skittish blue-spotted rays . The guests were all happy , the collective diving ability was solid and we were ready to strike out for open sea .
The crossing to the Brother Islands allowed me time to familiarise myself more fully with Scuba Scene ’ s unusual layout . Due to demand , all of Scuba Scene ’ s cabins are located above the waterline , while an area below-decks has been designated as a galley and dining area . Meals are served buffet-style , with an emphasis on fresh produce , stews and crowd pleasers . Every now and then you look up and notice the blacked-out windows , but everyone agreed it was a small price to pay for having sea views from the cabins .
The 16 twin cabins – including two ‘ honeymoon suites ’ are laid out across four decks , mercifully with none of them in the noisy spot next to the engine room . Three decks up is a massive saloon with a TV screen the size of a snooker table ; a place for relaxing and pre-dive briefings . I made a point of visiting the cinema / gaming room , which is endowed with another huge screen , but the guests on this particular cruise were not cinephiles , so it was underused .
So to the swimming pool , or to be more accurate the sitting-and-having-a-drink pool . It ’ s a salt water pool , filled directly from the sea when the boat is stationary , then emptied when motoring . With a lot of travelling , there weren ’ t many opportunities to fill it on this voyage . Want to know the real reason for having a swimming pool on a liveaboard ? I ’ ll set it out right at the end of this feature . Let ’ s get back to the diving , shall we ?
Exploring the wall at Big Brother
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