Diving in the Red Sea is no longer synonymous with escapades in merely functional boats. The All Star Liveaboards company now offers cruises aboard a new generation ship, designed as a floating hotel, the
All Star Scuba Scene Red Sea
. With a length of 48 meters and a capacity of 14 cabins, this yacht combines sleek design, careful layout and personalized on-board service, with no less than 19 crew members for 26 passengers. A cozy and cozy cocoon, capable of attracting a clientele hitherto put off by a very average range offer, and for whom diving remains an activity among others.
“I wanted to redefine the criteria for diving cruises in the Red Sea to open this type of experience to low-level divers and even welcome non-divers who attach importance to the comfort of life on board,”
underlines Ahmed Fadel, the Egyptian director of the company, and a leading authority on diving in the Red Sea. From the cabin design to the common areas, this yacht is one of a kind. Stable and silent, with five decks, it is designed as a living space, with a sundeck, a jacuzzi, cabins equipped with panoramic bay windows, a comfortable lounge, a large dining room, a platform dedicated to diving, where everyone can relax, and even a small swimming pool. As for the crew, very experienced, they only work for the company. Added to this is an environmental approach: non-biodegradable waste is collected and sorted to be recycled.
“
We know every nook and cranny of all the reefs”
Ahmed Fadel, Egyptian director of All Star Liveaboards
The presence of Ahmed Fadel on board, alternating with another great figure in Red Sea diving, marine biologist Elke Bojanowski, is an additional asset.
“Between us, we have more than forty years of experience. We know every nook and cranny of all the reefs. »
The organization of the itinerary, timed so as to avoid meeting other boats on the most frequented sites, provides an appreciable feeling of exclusivity.
An underwater museum
Departing from Hurghada, the North cruise (7 days) is the opportunity for exceptional underwater immersions. Small-level divers, particularly pampered and quickly given confidence by the management staff, have the opportunity to safely explore world-famous wrecks, including the
Thistlegorm,
sunk in 1941 by a German air raid. On a sandy bottom between -18 and -30 meters, its holds house military equipment (trucks, motorcycles, rifles, automobiles, boots, medical equipment) that have remained almost intact. A real museum. As for the mythical reefs of the Ras Mohamed Marine National Park, at the southern tip of Sinai, full of shimmering fauna and sumptuous corals in just 10 meters of water, they leave unforgettable memories. Good news for non-divers: on most sites, you can practice snorkeling (fins, mask and snorkel), in turquoise water at 28°C, and enjoy the spectacle of marine life, under the supervision of a monitor. With, as a bonus, the regular presence of dolphins.
All Star Liveaboards
(Allstarliveaboards.com)
. 7-day cruise from €1770 per person full board, dives included (2 to 4 per day), departing from Hurghada. French-speaking instructors on board. Our advice: cruise to combine with a land extension to Luxor, 2 hours away.