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Dive Review of Red Sea Explorers in
Red Sea/South and St. Johns

Red Sea Explorers: "Sharks and Corals", Oct, 2015,

by Lisa C. Evans, CO, US (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 24 reports with 11 Helpful votes). Report 8617.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments This company seems to deal mostly with a travel agent out of Scandinavia - everyone else on the boat was from Sweden.

Because tiger sharks had been seen at Rocky Island (not on the itinerary), we went there - and did see the tiger sharks and also oceanic white tips.

The diving is mostly wall diving, with a few coral gardens. Coral appears to be healthy, but it seemed like there weren't as many fish as you'd expect - very few large fish, some schools of medium-sized fish, and a smattering of angelfish and butterflyfish and parrotfish. Tons of anthias, lots of big morays, blue spotted stingrays and some squirrel/soldierfish.

We didn't get to see much of St Johns, as there was an emergency involving the captain being injured and we had to take him to the nearest port, 6 hours away. No one minded, of course, but it did change the dive itinerary to some places closer to shore.

One highlight of the trip other than the sharks was finally seeing a Spanish Dancer nudibranch on a night dive.

This boat has scooters - which we tried once. They are fun and would be useful for covering long distances around an island/reef in search of sharks. But for me it was like hiking (regular diving) vs ATV (scooters.)

The boat is nice. Cabins were fine and comfortable and showers were always hot. Food was good and varied - lots of salads and vegetables, as well as meat and pasta.

This itinerary had 4 dives on several days. Wake-up was 5:30am with first briefing at 6 and dive by 6:30am. There wasn't food available consistently before the dive - generally some leftover pastries and some packaged cookies and sometimes some fruit - it would have been nice to have some healthier options. I can't do a dive without some food first.


Websites Red Sea Explorers   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving GBR, Philippines, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Komodo, Raja Ampat, Lembeh, Bali, Caribbean
Closest Airport Hurghada Getting There via Cairo. Easy.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy Seas calm
Water Temp 86-°F / 30-°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 40-80 Ft/ 12-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Dives were generally about 60 minutes. Stayed with the guide. Max depth 35 meters or MOD.
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 2 stars Large Fish 2 stars
Large Pelagics 4 stars

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

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities 1 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments Wide angle opportunities and some fish shots, though the fish were very shy. Not much small stuff. The boat had only 2 small rinse tanks that were supposedly for cameras but other things ended up in there. No photo area on the boat - they suggested putting cameras in the salon on the floor but I felt better taking it to my cabin.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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