The trip:  One weeks liveaboard 'safari' on M.V Orchid, out of Sharm.
On board, 12 pax, including my crew and Mr and Mrs Splosh Junkie, of
this parish.

The boat:  Comfortable and spacious for 12.  Looking a little tired,
but this was it's last week before going into dry dock for refit.  The
crew were excellent, particular qudos to M.C. Teta and to chef Abdul -
who managed to produce superlative food in sea conditions where I
didn't much fancy standing up, let alone cooking.

Dive guide Sharif was more or less tolerant of 'avoid the crowds'
approaches to dive planning, though a little strict on max dive times
(possibly due to his usual job on day boats).  Up to the last day
where he made his point that he wanted us to play duckings by waving a
large knife to emphasise the words 'guided dive, OK?'  :-)

Sea conditions:  Variable, from limpid lagoons to full-on North Sea
squalls.  One day we were already moored in Tiran, while a portentious
forecast combined with a flaying sandstorm to prevent all dayboats
leaving Sharm, meaning we had the surreal experience of sailing down
the Sinai coast with nary another boat in sight.

Stuntperson of the week award to Mrs Splosh, for her wave-powered
lying position leap right over one table over to the other side of the
saloon.  Hope the shins are healing!  Second place to Dave for his
unplanned horizontal sideways entry technique after being skittled off
the dive platform.

The diving:  Underwater, conditions were much better - viz usually
25-30 metres, 23/24 degrees all week.  All the drama at the surface
was just wind-wave, and didn't produce surge deeper than two or three
metres.

The diving was good, but not the Red Sea at it's best, my top dive of
the week a rare current-free encounter with the old favourite, Shark
and Yolanda.  January isn't the best time to see either big Pelagics
or big schools of reef fish - combined with the intermittent squally
topside weather, I wouldn't rush back to the Red Sea in Jan.  Still a
top week, on a good boat.

Ras Katy             - 26.3m for 44 min, viz 30m, Nitrox 32
Ras Ghazlani         - 19.1m for 47 min, viz 30m, Nitrox 30
Dunraven             - 29.3m for 45 min, viz 30m, Nitrox 32
Shag Rock/Sarah H    - 19.9m for 44 min, viz 30m, Nitrox 31
Thistlegorm          - 25.1m for 32 min, viz 15m, Nitrox 30
Thistlegorm          - 24.0m for 32 min,   Night, Nitrox 31
Thistlegorm          - 22.3m for 38 min, viz 25m, Nitrox 32
Small Passage        - 15.0m for 50 min, viz 25m, Nitrox 32
Small Passage        -  6.7m for 27 min,   Night, Nitrox 30
Shark/Yolanda Reef   - 30.5m for 50 min, viz 25m, Nitrox 31
Jackfish Alley       - 18.7m for 51 min, viz 25m, Nitrox 31
Thomas Reef, Tiran   - 32.6m for 41 min, viz 30m, Nitrox 31
Jackson Reef, Tiran  - 26.6m for 46 min, viz 30m, Nitrox 31
The Temple           - 18.9m for 38 min, viz 25m, Nitrox 32
Ras Umm Sid          - 14.6m for 44 min, viz 25m, Nitrox 30

Cheers,
Huw