Brothers Islands - is it too difficult?

Hi,

My girlfriend and I are considering a diving cruise to Brothers Islands.
We're both AOWD with 55-65 dives but we're a bit rusty not having dived for
a year. We read that this location is for experienced divers only, so we're
a bit worried. Has anyone been there? How difficult is it really and why?

Thanks

Mauro

On Tue, 03 May 2005 22:03:26 GMT, "mauro cipparone" <mauro@nospam.com>
wrote:

>Hi,
>
>My girlfriend and I are considering a diving cruise to Brothers Islands.
>We're both AOWD with 55-65 dives but we're a bit rusty not having dived for
>a year. We read that this location is for experienced divers only, so we're
>a bit worried. Has anyone been there? How difficult is it really and why?
>
>Thanks
>
>Mauro
>
Mauro
How difficult is it ?
Well it depends. Mostly on your scuba skills.
How used are you to diving in currents (entries in my log book mention
fairly strong currents on some of the dives)? Diving from a RIB?
Making 3 dives a day? How comfortable are you with the idea of diving
with sharks (longimanus)?
I went on a liveaboard last October to Brothers Islands, Daedalus &
Elphinstone Reef and loved it. I'd like to do it again in fact.
You could also inquire on uk.rec.scuba
HTH
John

Currents can differ from time to time at the Brothers
I have been there many times and it is never the same!
Take a good live aboard boat with a good dive giude
He/she will lead you through the wonderful Brother Islands
And don't forget... you need current to seen the big fish!

Have a look at my non commercial web site about the Brothers
www.redsea-diving.info

happy bubbles Peter

Op Tue, 03 May 2005 22:03:26 GMT schreef "mauro cipparone"
<mauro@nospam.com>:

>Hi,
>
>My girlfriend and I are considering a diving cruise to Brothers Islands.
>We're both AOWD with 55-65 dives but we're a bit rusty not having dived for
>a year. We read that this location is for experienced divers only, so we're
>a bit worried. Has anyone been there? How difficult is it really and why?
>
>Thanks
>
>Mauro
>

mauro cipparone wrote:

> Hi,
>
> My girlfriend and I are considering a diving cruise to Brothers Islands.
> We're both AOWD with 55-65 dives but we're a bit rusty not having dived for
> a year. We read that this location is for experienced divers only, so we're
> a bit worried. Has anyone been there? How difficult is it really and why?
>

You'll need some divemanship to read the currents.
When the inf/de/flatable drops you at the northernst point of either
island, be dead sure you have taken the right bearing towards the shore,
in case you are a wee bit far and cannot see the ground. If you still
can't after 2 minutes, surface and blow your SMB to alert the Dinghi or
ship. Otherwise you may get adrift into the laminar currents leading to
Sudan.

Once you in and good ( still at the north capes), there may be a fierce
current trying to wash you away. There is shelter from the wreck at BB.
Still you seem unable to get there.
Now have a look at the fish. There is a zone above and outside of the
wreck where there are no currents, the fish standing still without fin
movement. Get there, enjoy. Don't piss of the sharks.
When you have enjoyed enough, get down into the wreck, do what you like
( you can get deeper than you might want to, it goes down to 80m. Beware
of possible downward currents from 45-50 on downwards to ??.
Leave the wreck with the current to dive alongside the western wall,
till you have reached the mooring line joining your boat to the island.
Good divers get the right line ( there will be at least 5 different from
other boats)
You may choose the eastern side of either island. To get there, fight
against the current and win, or let the dinghi drive by the corner cape.
Struggling below over the ridge is by far more fun. The water is most
clear there. At the east side there may be some cold updwellings, or in
the shallow, coldish fresh water streams. At the southern cape, you will
have to fight the current again, to get round the corner to your mooring
line.

At the little brothers southeternst end, there is a fantastic gorgone
garden from 41m on downwards, with a disused aluminium kettle.

Don't mind the lingering sharks under your boat. They belong there.

Matthias