Non Profit project on newly discovered Ferry near Hurghada!

Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC · November 15th, 2007, 09:08 AM

Hi everyone,

Last week, I had one of the best dives I had in a long time. We dived the wreck of the ferry Al Qammar al Saudi Al Masri which lays at a depth of 85m max and starts at just 70.

Originally noted by Phil Collings in his book, she was discovered by Paul Vinten from Tek Stream in September and they have written numerous articles about the wreck ever since.

The only trouble is that all the live aboard trips that go out there rarely have the ability to spend more than a dive there. This is because it is far from decent reefs, so staying there for longer than 1 afternoon will ruin the trip for the recreational divers (who seem to be a continuous presence).

A few friends of mine and I have decided to go there for 3 days and conduct 6 dives for the purpose of making a complete and detailed map as possible of the site and prepare for a properly scripted video project.

Till now the date is 2nd week of December. We have not decided on a boat yet. Since we are making no money (which means I will pay to dive for the first time in my life) we are looking for a cost effective boat and have not decided yet which one.
One boat I looked at is the good old "Capitano". Old School safari style

Cost of boat, food, helium and oxygen will be divided evenly amongst the project members.

We are expecting it to cost around $500 to $750 each.
If we find an live aboard operator who truly shares our passion and is willing to take us out at cost price in this dead season, it will get much cheaper

Since this has all been done in a rush, I am sure a lot of you guys who would originally want to come simply will not find the time. But if anyone just happens to be in the area, please do tell us. The more people on this type of trip the cheaper it gets!

I will be updating this thread as things develop.
Clare, please feel free to move this thread to any place you feel it should actually be.

decoweenie · November 15th, 2007, 09:56 AM

I will be in the area sometimes from December onward and would be interested pending I have my dive gear by the time the trip is on.

Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC · November 16th, 2007, 11:17 AM

1. We have got some some outstanding divers stepping up for the project.
The more teams the better, as we will be able to split up tasks more effectivly to reach better results.

2. It seems we won't have to do it old school style after all!
A few of my friends who own luxery live aboard boats have volanteered their boats as they find it to sound interesting and fun.

Anders Knudsen · November 16th, 2007, 11:53 AM

Hi Ahmed,

As we talked about I would like to join, if the dates fits into my school and money allows.

I will update you on both issues as soon as I know somthing.

best regards

AK

MonkSeal · November 16th, 2007, 01:46 PM

Ahmed, as we chated few days ago I won't be able to join. I hope you'll do the dives instead of me. If the project is successful, maybe you'll repeat it next year. Keep us posted.

BTW What about transporting the equipment from remote locations? All my Egypt diving was limited to rec diving (bp/w, wet suit, one reg) due to air transport limitations. For such dive I need at least 5 regs, can light, backup lights, reel and all other thingies equiped with SS bolt snaps and double enders, which can be pretty heavy. Don't want to mention that I would be more then happy to carry my tanks since I prefer steel doubles over AL80. What can be obtained localy and what must be carried?

Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC · November 16th, 2007, 02:56 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by MonkSeal)

Ahmed, as we chated few days ago I won't be able to join. I hope you'll do the dives instead of me. If the project is successful, maybe you'll repeat it next year. Keep us posted.

BTW What about transporting the equipment from remote locations? All my Egypt diving was limited to rec diving (bp/w, wet suit, one reg) due to air transport limitations. For such dive I need at least 5 regs, can light, backup lights, reel and all other thingies equiped with SS bolt snaps and double enders, which can be pretty heavy. Don't want to mention that I would be more then happy to carry my tanks since I prefer steel doubles over AL80. What can be obtained localy and what must be carried?

Hi,
After we complete the project, it will just become more interesting to dive the wreck. Also, it will make those single days there all the more interesting as well because divers will be able to make better choices of which parts of the wreck to visit.
Basically, you can use the information we compile very well.

I am also sure there will be other teams doing similar projects, so by next year, you will have the info you need.

About gear worries. I basically have ALL the gear you would need including steel doubles (12 liters). The only thing that MIGHT be a problem is canister lights. Better get your own. Even a small one is fine for Red Sea with the ambiant light conditions that we have.

Hope to see you down here soon.

Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC · November 16th, 2007, 05:05 PM

It makes me really happy to say that Paul Vinten, the bloke who discovered the wreck of the Qammar al Sauidi Al Masri is probably joining.
Since it is low season he can get time off work (basically a hard working diver will take a holidat to go diving, fantastics)

He is not 100% sure, but it looks promising. He has done many dives on the wreck so his wealth of knowledge will help us achieve a better result. Also, as I said before, the nature of the site in with the nature of the business, make it very rare to find a few days to get a well trained team out there for a few days.

*JohnKendall* · November 17th, 2007, 06:32 PM

This would be excellent fun. It's an amazing wreck, and well worth diving. I'd love to be able to come back out for it, but need to check with the bank manager first

John

November 15th, 2007, 09:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC(Offline) New Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: hurghada Posts: 849	Non Profit project on newly discovered Ferry near Hurghada! Hi everyone, Last week, I had one of the best dives I had in a long time. We dived the wreck of the ferry Al Qammar al Saudi Al Masri which lays at a depth of 85m max and starts at just 70. Originally noted by Phil Collings in his book, she was discovered by Paul Vinten from Tek Stream in September and they have written numerous articles about the wreck ever since. The only trouble is that all the live aboard trips that go out there rarely have the ability to spend more than a dive there. This is because it is far from decent reefs, so staying there for longer than 1 afternoon will ruin the trip for the recreational divers (who seem to be a continuous presence). A few friends of mine and I have decided to go there for 3 days and conduct 6 dives for the purpose of making a complete and detailed map as possible of the site and prepare for a properly scripted video project. Till now the date is 2nd week of December. We have not decided on a boat yet. Since we are making no money (which means I will pay to dive for the first time in my life) we are looking for a cost effective boat and have not decided yet which one. One boat I looked at is the good old "Capitano". Old School safari style Cost of boat, food, helium and oxygen will be divided evenly amongst the project members. We are expecting it to cost around $500 to $750 each. If we find an live aboard operator who truly shares our passion and is willing to take us out at cost price in this dead season, it will get much cheaper Since this has all been done in a rush, I am sure a lot of you guys who would originally want to come simply will not find the time. But if anyone just happens to be in the area, please do tell us. The more people on this type of trip the cheaper it gets! I will be updating this thread as things develop. Clare, please feel free to move this thread to any place you feel it should actually be. __________________ It has just dawned on me.... We are all just recycled stardust Ahmed Adly, www.deepvoyage.com

November 16th, 2007, 11:17 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC(Offline) New Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: hurghada Posts: 849	Great news! 1. We have got some some outstanding divers stepping up for the project. The more teams the better, as we will be able to split up tasks more effectivly to reach better results. 2. It seems we won't have to do it old school style after all! A few of my friends who own luxery live aboard boats have volanteered their boats as they find it to sound interesting and fun. __________________ It has just dawned on me.... We are all just recycled stardust Ahmed Adly, www.deepvoyage.com

November 16th, 2007, 11:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
Anders Knudsen (Online) Gadevang Underwater Explorers Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Denmark Posts: 179	Hi Ahmed, As we talked about I would like to join, if the dates fits into my school and money allows. I will update you on both issues as soon as I know somthing. best regards AK __________________ If someone standing on dry land tells you they're safe diving deep on air, give them a wide berth. If they're that stupid at 1 ATA, you know they won't get any smarter at depth

November 16th, 2007, 02:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC(Offline) New Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: hurghada Posts: 849	Quote: (Originally Posted by MonkSeal) Ahmed, as we chated few days ago I won't be able to join. I hope you'll do the dives instead of me. If the project is successful, maybe you'll repeat it next year. Keep us posted. BTW What about transporting the equipment from remote locations? All my Egypt diving was limited to rec diving (bp/w, wet suit, one reg) due to air transport limitations. For such dive I need at least 5 regs, can light, backup lights, reel and all other thingies equiped with SS bolt snaps and double enders, which can be pretty heavy. Don't want to mention that I would be more then happy to carry my tanks since I prefer steel doubles over AL80. What can be obtained localy and what must be carried? Hi, After we complete the project, it will just become more interesting to dive the wreck. Also, it will make those single days there all the more interesting as well because divers will be able to make better choices of which parts of the wreck to visit. Basically, you can use the information we compile very well. I am also sure there will be other teams doing similar projects, so by next year, you will have the info you need. About gear worries. I basically have ALL the gear you would need including steel doubles (12 liters). The only thing that MIGHT be a problem is canister lights. Better get your own. Even a small one is fine for Red Sea with the ambiant light conditions that we have. Hope to see you down here soon. __________________ It has just dawned on me.... We are all just recycled stardust Ahmed Adly, www.deepvoyage.com

November 16th, 2007, 05:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC(Offline) New Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: hurghada Posts: 849	Cool passenger update! It makes me really happy to say that Paul Vinten, the bloke who discovered the wreck of the Qammar al Sauidi Al Masri is probably joining. Since it is low season he can get time off work (basically a hard working diver will take a holidat to go diving, fantastics) He is not 100% sure, but it looks promising. He has done many dives on the wreck so his wealth of knowledge will help us achieve a better result. Also, as I said before, the nature of the site in with the nature of the business, make it very rare to find a few days to get a well trained team out there for a few days. __________________ It has just dawned on me.... We are all just recycled stardust Ahmed Adly, www.deepvoyage.com

November 15th, 2007, 09:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
decoweenie(Offline) New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: - Posts: 154	I will be in the area sometimes from December onward and would be interested pending I have my dive gear by the time the trip is on.

November 16th, 2007, 01:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
MonkSeal(Offline) Old Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Posts: 475	Ahmed, as we chated few days ago I won't be able to join. I hope you'll do the dives instead of me. If the project is successful, maybe you'll repeat it next year. Keep us posted. BTW What about transporting the equipment from remote locations? All my Egypt diving was limited to rec diving (bp/w, wet suit, one reg) due to air transport limitations. For such dive I need at least 5 regs, can light, backup lights, reel and all other thingies equiped with SS bolt snaps and double enders, which can be pretty heavy. Don't want to mention that I would be more then happy to carry my tanks since I prefer steel doubles over AL80. What can be obtained localy and what must be carried?

November 17th, 2007, 06:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
JohnKendall(Offline) GUE Instructor/DIRX Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 1,100	This would be excellent fun. It's an amazing wreck, and well worth diving. I'd love to be able to come back out for it, but need to check with the bank manager first John __________________ John Kendall http://www.guetraining.com/ GUE Instruction, Santi and Halcyon Equipment NEW - Online Santi Shop