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Monty Halls to launch Innovative Expedition Boat at DIVE 2014
TV explorer Monty Halls will unveil a revolutionary new dive and expedition vessel at DIVE 2014 at the Birmingham NEC this weekend.
The boat is the result of over a year’s collaborative work between Halls and many of the leading brands in the fields of marine exploration and design. The 7.5 metre fast RIB – called “Odyssey” – is designed to access remote regions at high speed, ferrying divers, scientists and natural history film makers through challenging environments in comfort and safety. And it is not just the exterior of the boat that is special.
“Much of the cutting edge technology in this vessel is unseen,’ said Halls. “For example the lean burn engine uses far less fuel than standard engines, giving us greater endurance and a lower environmental footprint. The electronics are absolutely space age, and give what is a relatively small craft genuinely large boat capabilities. The design work of the boat manufacturers at Humber has also created ground breaking stowage facilities and safety features. There really is nothing like this boat anywhere in the UK, and possibly the world. It has been designed from the keel up for adventure and exploration.”
The boat is a truly collaborative venture, involving equipment manufacturers from all spheres of both the diving, adventure, and boating worlds. The main aim from the outset was to create something unique, to shake up the design of RIB’s which has essentially remained unchanged for many decades. Halls has no doubts that it will prove a genuine talking point at the show and beyond.
“I can’t wait for the covers to come off this weekend. I’ll be very interested to see what the diving public make of it, and how commercial users such as expedition teams and scientists view some of the features we’ve incorporated.”
The next question is which projects the boat will be involved in after the launch? Halls is already discussing options for expeditions with various conservation groups and charities, as well as collaborative ventures with those involved in the build.
“It’s one thing at a time with this vessel. So much has gone into the design and the build, that I think we’ll pause for thought before our first expedition with it. There are a few ideas on the table, all of which will present real challenges to “Odyssey” after the launch. Suffice it to say that she will soon be on the water working, and hopefully pushing the limits of small boat exploration.”
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Jake Davies boards Ghazala Explorer for an unforgettable Red Sea diving experience…
Overnight, the wind picked up, making the planned morning dive a bit bumpy on the Zodiacs to the drop point on Thomas Reef. There, we would dive along the reef before descending through the canyon and then passing under the arch before ascending the wall with a gentle drift. The site provided great encounters with more pelagic species, including shoals of large barracuda, tuna, and bigeye trevally.
Once back on the boat, it was time to get everything tied down again as we would head back south. This time, with the wind behind us, heading to Ras Mohammed to dive Jackfish Alley for another great gentle drift wall dive before then heading up the coast towards the Gulf of Suez to moor up at the wreck of the Thistlegorm. This being the highlight wreck dive of the trip and for many onboard, including myself, it was the first time diving this iconic wreck. I had heard so much about the wreck from friends, and globally, this is a must on any diver’s list. Fortunately for us, there was only one other boat at the site, which was a rarity. A great briefing was delivered by Ahmed, who provided a detailed background about the wreck’s history along with all the required safety information as the currents and visibility at the site can be variable.
Kitting up, there was a lot of excitement on deck before entering the water and heading down the shoreline. Descending to the wreck, there was a light northerly current which reduced the visibility, making it feel more like the conditions that can be found off the Welsh coast. At 10m from the bottom, the outline of the wreck appeared as we reached the area of the wreck which had been bombed, as our mooring line was attached to part of the propeller shaft. Arriving on deck, instantly everywhere you looked there were many of the supplies which the ship was carrying, including Bren Carrier tanks and projectiles that instantly stood out.
We headed around the exterior, taking a look at the large propeller and guns mounted on deck before entering the wreck on the port side to take a look in the holds. It was incredible to see all the trucks, Norton 16H, and BSA motorcycles still perfectly stacked within, providing a real snapshot in time.
Overall, we had four dives on the Thistlegorm, where for all of the dives we were the only group in the water, and at times, there were just three of us on the whole wreck, which made it even more special, especially knowing that most days the wreck has hundreds of divers. Along with the history of the wreck, there was plenty of marine life on the wreck and around, from big green turtles to batfish, along with shoals of mackerel being hunted by trevally. Some unforgettable dives.
The final leg of the trip saw us cross back over the Suez Canal to the Gobal Islands where we planned to stay the night and do three dives at the Dolphin House for the potential of sharing the dive with dolphins. The site, which included a channel that was teeming with reef fish, especially large numbers of goatfish that swam in large shoals along the edge of the reef. These were nice relaxing dives to end the week. Unfortunately, the dolphins didn’t show up, which was okay as like all marine life they are difficult to predict and you can’t guarantee what’s going to be seen. With the last dive complete, we headed back to port for the final night where it was time to clean all the kit and pack before the departure flight the next day.
The whole week from start to finish on Ghazala Explorer was amazing; the boat had all the facilities you need for a comfortable week aboard. The crew were always there to help throughout the day and the chefs providing top quality food which was required after every dive. The itinerary providing some of the best diving with a nice mixture of wreck and reef dives. I would recommend the trip to anyone, whether it’s your first Red Sea liveaboard in the Red Sea or you’re revisiting. Hopefully, it’s not too long before I head back to explore more of the Red Sea onboard Ghazala Explorer.
To find out more about the Northern Red Sea reef and wrecks itineraries aboard Ghazala Explorer, or to book, contact Scuba Travel now:
Email: dive@scubatravel.com
Tel: +44 (0)1483 411590
Photos: Jake Davies / Avalon.Red
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