Emperor Divers News

Exploration Safaris - virgin diving

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:17:38 +0000

Dive where other dive boats have never dived before! Here's your chance to discover and explore new sites that even our most experienced dive guides haven't yet ventured.

We can't guarantee what you'll discover but we can guarantee a memorable time and an exciting adventure. It could be you discovering a new ancient wreck, an unknown destroyer such as the Myngs or a pristine reef! On the first and last days you'll dive some of the best known reefs in the St Johns and Fury Shoals area.

2010 dates:

16/04 - 23/04: Emperor Elite
13/08 - 27/08: Emperor Elite

Other dates available to groups on request.

Email safaris@emperordivers.com for more information

New from April - Sinai Classic & Mini Cruises and Deep North from Sharm el Sheikh

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:37:38 +0000

Do something a little different this year and join Emperor Fleet for some promising NEW dive adventures!

Sinai Mini Cruise
- Ras Mohammed - Dunraven - Thistlegorm

Sinai Classic Cruise
Ras Mohammed - Thistlegorm - Abu Nuhas or Straits of Tiran

Deep North
Ras Mohammed - Ras Mamlach - Ras Abu Galum - Dahab - Nuweiba

With prices at just over £290 for a mini cruise...what are you waiting for?

Email info.safaris@emperordivers.com today

Update on cargo vessel wrecked on Woodhouse Reef

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:20:39 +0000

Since hitting the reef on New Year's Eve, the 260m-long, Hong Kong-flagged CSCL Hamburg is not interfering with diving in the area as it's on the outside of the reef. Damage is allegedly limited to the bow area and, fortunately, there are no oil or fuel leaks at present.

The extent of damage to corals is to be assessed.

The reason for the incident is not known as yet.

Our thanks to Simon Burrows, aged 12, who is currently diving with Emperor Sharm for these photos of the incident.

'Get Wrecked' liveaboard - 1 in 6 goes free

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:04:08 +0000

Book 5 places and the 6th person goes FREE*
FREE nitrox (subject to availability)

Dive the best of the best of the famous wrecks of the northern Red Sea.

Sailing from Hurghada on Asmaa (pictured left), the aim is to dive all the wrecks in the area including El Mina, an Egyptian mine sweeper lying just outside Hurghada's harbour; Suzanna, a small pleasure yacht, the Carnatic, the tile wreck, the lentil wreck and Giannis D at Abu Nuhas. At Gubal islands we dive the Barge, the Ulysses (sunk in 1887) and the Rosalie Moeller, then onto the Kingston (or Sarah H, sunk in1881) lying at Shag Rock; then the Carina (sunk in 1926) lying close to Shab Ali and, of course, the Dunraven (sunk 1876) at beacon rock situated in the Ras Mohammed National Park.

Finally the most famous wreck in the Red Sea the Thistlegorm, which lies at Shab Ali.

These wrecks are spectacular and make fantastic material for the underwater photographer being smothered in corals. The famous SS Thistlegorm and the Rosalie Moller are World War II wrecks and one of the highlights of this cruise.

In between wreck dives you will also visit the reefs of the Straits of Gubal, Gulf of Suez and those to the north of Hurghada. A variety of deep walls and hard coral gardens with an abundance of reef fish make them well worth a visit.

All wrecks are subject to divers' experience and weather conditions. A minimum of 20 logged dives and Advance OW Diver is required to be able to dive the deeper wrecks - or you can do your Advanced course on board!

* Free place just pays an extra 30 Euro for Marine Park and fuel surcharge fees.
Offer excludes Easter week and 15/09/10 - 15/11/10.

Email info.safaris@emperordivers.com for more details or to book today!

TEKSTREME - the next generation

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:35:49 +0000

2009 has proved to be a year of changes for Emperor Divers and their technical arm, Tekstreme Diving. Long has Emperor been able to boast one of the most well-established professional Technical diving operations, with much credit going to the expertise and experience from the Manager at the time, Aaron Bruce. Aaron was with the operation for nine years, training the team to extremely high standards resulting in Tekstreme Diving having such a first-class reputation.

Aaron, along with fellow Instructor Chris Berry, has now branched out to create their own Technical centre, which has a large emphasis on the world of Rebreathers. So what does that mean for Tekstreme Diving? It means the "Next Generation".
What Aaron leaves is a team of Technical Instructors that will lead the way and maintain and grow the excellent character and service of Emperor's Technical department.

The team now falls under the watchful eye of Cat Parfitt (pictured left and below). Cat has been with Emperor Divers for eight years working as a safari guide and Instructor. She began her diving career many years ago by doing a try dive with Emperor Divers. Since that point she has completed all courses under the Emperor umbrella with her Technical Instructor courses under Aaron. Cat's main drive and focus over the last five years has been to establish herself within the Tekstreme Team and with a mentor such as Aaron she could not have wished for any better guidance.
Tekstreme Diving will continue to offer technical courses, technical guiding and safaris in all Emperor's centres. "We welcome new and existing friends and guests to dive with our team, which is bursting with enthusiastic, professional instructors who have a strong commitment and passion for what they do," explains Cat.

You can keep up to date with recent events and special offers by checking out the web site www.tekstremediving.com. Or join the Tekstreme Diving Facebook group with postings on the most recent diving courses with a variety of on-land and underwater photos. Your input is welcomed so that the Team can provide an extensive information source for the diving community.

"Take care to all, happy diving and we hope to see you soon with us here at Tekstreme Diving."

Cat Parfitt and the Tekstreme Team

Better 'Seasafe than sorry' - Emperor's new alert tracking system for divers

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:12:51 +0000

Although it is very rare in this day and age for someone to go missing at sea, unfortunately it can happen.

As Emperor Divers has always been at the forefront of safety in the Red Sea, it's reassuring to know that we will soon have a Missing Diver Location System on all Emperor Fleet liveaboards. It's hoped that other operators will also install this in order to help us give search cover for much of the Red Sea's famous dive sites.

The system is called Seasafe, whereby the diver wears a small compact tracking unit on either their arm or BCD. With just the touch of a button a missing diver at the surface with a problem can alert all boats in the area with the Seasafe system. This alert triggers a series of steps to co-ordinate a search using a powerful directional antenna to pinpoint the missing diver. During an Emperor training and demo session recently the system tested accurately up to 18km away.

Trip Report: Overnight Thistlegorm from Marsa Alam via Hurghada

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:12:33 +0000

We have dived with Emperor Divers now quite a few times but for this diving holiday we decided to go to Marsa Alam and stay at the Coral Beach Marina Lodge where Emperor are based. Whilst we were there we had the chance to enrol on a mini wreck safari. As soon as we heard about the trip we signed up straight away. Then the news got even better as we found out that Nick Hough was the guide on the trip. We knew Nick from Hurghada so we knew we were in safe hands (creep creep).

I have to say that the trip was well worth the money and the time away from the hotel. The liveaboard that awaited us was the Emperor Fraser. The crew made us all feel right at home and nothing was too much trouble which is a credit to the Captain on how he runs his boat. The Fraser was very homely and welcoming, the cabins were clean, cosy and had air conditioning which was great.

Day 1.

Luxury bus transfer to Hurghada, join the boat and then travel up to the Thistlegorm wreck site and moor over the wreck - good chance to catch some rays and some sleep. What was good about the trip was how the times were planned so that when we arrived the daily boats were just leaving the wreck site so we had the wreck all to ourselves apart from one other liveaboard. We did an afternoon, night and a dawn dive on the Thistlegorm. Nick timed our dives so that when the other liveaboard divers were leaving the water we jumped in so again, we had the wreck all to ourselves which was fantastic. After the night dive we got changed and spent an hour on the top deck with a few beers watching the world go by, which is fantastic as the peace and quiet is great.

Day 2

We woke up for the dawn dive at 06.30. Nick briefed us and then we jumped. This again was a great dive as we were the only divers on the wreck. We didn't see the turtle but we did see the resident Napoleon Wrasse around the stern and also got some amazing pictures inside the cargo hold of the trucks, motor cycles and rifles that are stored there. We then left the Thistlegorm and made our way across to Abu Nuhas to dive the Carnatic and Ghiannis D. The trip down gave us time to catch some more rays and some more sleep! Once at Abu Nuhas we moored away from the Wrecks. Nick briefed us and we dived off the zodiacs, diving the Carnatic first and then Ghiannis D which are both fantastic wrecks. If you like a modern wreck then Ghiannis D is the one for you but if, like me, you prefer older more vintage wrecks then Carnatic is great - it is my favourite for the hard and soft corals and the marine life that now inhabits the wreck.

We had the option of a dive at Fanous on the way back into Hurghada which we all jumped at with the possibility to dive with the pod of dolphins that are resident there. The dive was great apart from no Dolphins but we did see a very friendly pair of octopi 'getting it on' so to speak. Then back on the bus and back to the hotel in time for dinner!

The trip is well worth the money: the food on the boat is brilliant, the crew on the Fraser were excellent and Nick, well, what can we say? Professional as ever but also having fun at the same time.

A trip not to be missed because if you do you will regret it.

Andy (Gibbo) Gibbons and Sarah Gibbons

P.S big love to all the staff at Marsa Alam especially Luke and Tracey xxxx

Emperor saves unique overnight trips to Thistlegorm

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:08:27 +0000

As you most probably know Emperor Divers in Sharm offers the unique opportunity to do a mini overnight safari to see the Hammerheads off the back of Jackson Reef or do night dives on Thistlegorm. Well we did until the Egyptian Authorities changed the rules on the specification of boats that could do this. The changes do make sense and boats now have to be equipped to full safari boat standard if they are to stay out overnight.

So Emperor has purchased a safari boat - meet the latest addition to the Sharm fleet - MY Orchid.

Now there is every likelihood that Emperor Sharm will rule the local waters and be the only land based dive centre to offer these unique overnight trips. If you are not sure about being on safari all week but fancy giving it a go and do a "Cruise and Stay" type arrangement come and try our overnight trips aboard Orchid.

Thistlegorm and Abu Nuhas from Hurghada and Marsa Alam

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:10:37 +0000

Now you can visit the best of the Red Sea's wrecks on an overnight trip from Hurghada and Marsa Alam. For guests from Marsa Alam a transfer leaves at 7am to make the scenic drive through the desert to Hurghada. On the way you pass through the picturesque town of El Quseir. The town gives you a glimpse of real Egypt and you'll see the ancient fort built by the Romans and renovated by British and French colonial forces.

The boat (one of Emperor's luxury liveaboards) leaves from the Hurghada Marina at 10am (giving guests from Hurghada a pleasant lie in). You'll travel straight up to the mighty Thistlegorm for an afternoon dive (after the daily boats have left), followed by an atmospheric night dive on the ghostly wreck. There is time for an early morning dive (before the daily boats arrive) and then we head across to Abu Nuhas 'the ultimate reef for wreck-diving in the Red Sea' for two dives (normally on the Carnatic and the Giannis D).

New 'Exploration' and 'Best of Exploration' Safaris

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 06:43:46 +0000

Exploration Safaris take you to reef systems that other safari boats have never dived. Here's your chance to discover and explore new sites that even our most experienced dive guides have never visited before. We can't guarantee what you'll discover but we can guarantee a memorable time and an exciting adventure. It could be you discovering new ancient wreck (see Diver magazine July 2008); an unknown destroyer such as the Myngs or a pristine reef! On the first and last days you'll dive some of the best know reefs in the St Johns and Fury Shoals area.

Best of Exploration Safaris take you to the most interesting sites discovered on the previous four years of Exploration Safaris. Come with us to the 'top secret' sites where you'll dive the best known reefs (Daedalus, Elphinstone and St. Johns) with far lesser known sites as far south as the Elba Reef system. You might see other boats at the better known sites but we can almost guarantee you will be alone with the sea, reefs and your fellow divers on quite a few of the days.

2009

01 - 15 May 'Best of Exploration'

17 - 31 July 'Exploration'

20 November - 4 December 'Exploration'

Other dates available to groups on request

Another wreck for Hurghada - the Mohammed Hasabella

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:43:49 +0000

Situated just two minutes sailing from Emperor Divers' marina is the wreck of the Mohammed Hasabella, an Egyptian fishing trawler.

From 9m - 90m and beyond, Hurghada is Egypt's wreck diver's heaven

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:01:25 +0000

While the Red Sea has some of the best coral reefs in the world, some divers also want the added thrill of exploring wrecks. Well in Hurghada, you can do both! Whatever your diving experience there are wrecks to suit everybody.

At just 9m to the surface is the wreck of the former liveaboard, Belina. Teeming with life, including large shoals of barracuda, batfish and rabbitfish, the wreck can be explored easily and makes an ideal third dive of the day. In the main harbour, less than 5 minutes from Emperor Divers' new centre, are the wrecks of El Mina, an Egyptian minesweeper in 30m sunk back in the six-day war between Egypt and Israel. Excalibur, another liveaboard vessel sits in 21m and is full of glassfish and the recently sunk Mohammed Hasabella is a fishing trawler in 33m of water.

Ghiannis D wreck

Further north is the ship's graveyard of Abu Nuhas reef with four wrecks: The Giannis D, Carnatic, Chrisoula K and Kimon M all with a maximum depth of 27 metres. Going deeper is Egypt's first artificial wreck reef, the Hebat Allah, lying in 27-45 metres and is ideal for advanced divers and technical divers. The reef of Shaabruhr Umm Gamar is the final resting place of two wrecks for the technical diver. The wreck of Colona IV lies at 62m and the support vessel, Gulf Fleet 31, lies at a maximum of 103m. Trimix divers are regularly seen decompressing at the southern end of the reef.

The last wreck in Hurghada's daily region, and the most recently discovered by Emperor Divers' own Tekstreme dive team, is that of the huge ferry, Al Qamar Al Saudi Al Misri. Going from 65-83m this is an unforgettable dive. It's impossible to describe any of the wrecks in detail here so look out for individual wreck features in this blog over the coming months.

NEW! Overnight Thistlegorm trips from Sharm

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 06:58:19 +0000

This is your opportunity to dive one of the Red Sea's must-see WWII wrecks, SS Thistlegorm, on our newly scheduled overnight trip.

NEW! Overnight trips to Ras Mohamed

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 06:48:12 +0000

The dive sites:

Shark & Yolanda Reef: - The most famous dive site in Sharm and one of the top ten dive sites of the world. Strong currents can make this an exhilarating drift dive along sheer walls leading to beautiful coral gardens and the wreck of Yolanda. The possibility of Black Tipped Reef Sharks swimming with spiralling Barracuda and shoals of Snapper, Batfish and Unicorn fish are not uncommon. Not to mention the Turtles, Rays, Napoleon fish and numerous Moray Eels.