Red Sea Mermaid Safari 2023
Cruising along shallow coral reefs and quiet bays between Hurghada and El Quseir. Mermaiding, chilling, freediving, sunbathing, and photoshoots from dawn till dusk. Eight days, full board stay on MY Big Blue.
Time: June 24 to July 1, 2023.
Location: Red Sea, Egypt. Route close to the coastline, completely tailored to mermaiding.
Ship: MY Big Blue (built 2020), 38 meters long, 8 meters wide, 4 decks, 14 cabins. Lounge, sundeck, sitting area with bar on the aft deck and a spacious dive deck.
Support: safety diver, freediving instructor, freediving stations with lines.
Photography: shoots by 2 professional photographers. Underwater mermaid and fashion photography, parachute clothing, beach shoots. Evaluation on the big screen in the evening and learning from each other.
Price including flights, accommodation and photo shoots: € 1645.00.
Put yourself in the spotlight as a mermaid and underwater model, and come back with a breathtaking portfolio of underwater images! The trip is provided by Dive and Travel and will take place with a minimum of 15 participants. Interested? Email r.aarsen@kpnmail.nl
What is the Red Sea Mermaid Safari?
The Red Sea Mermaid Safari is an 8-day trip from Hurghada to El Quseir. We stay on board the MY Big Blue and sail from bay to bay (we call this a 'liveaboard'). At our stops, we have photo shoots in the clear blue waters of the Red Sea and on the beach. In addition, there is plenty of time to sunbathe, swim, lounge and work on your technique under the guidance of a freediving instructor.
Who can join?
The Red Sea Diving Safari is open for all merfolk who can swim in open water. A freediving license is not necessary, and experience with freediving, scuba diving and underwater model photography is not required. You don't have to dive deep or hold your breath for a long time to be a model in an underwater photoshoot. The most beautiful pictures are made just below the surface, where sunlight penetrates the water. Everyone gets individual help that is needed to come home with beautiful photos.
What do the photo shoots entail?
Everyone gets the chance to do 2 photo shoots daily with an experienced underwater photographer. We do these shoots in shallow water, in sheltered bays and coves where the coral reaches just below the surface. We shoot in tail or in outfits that you bring yourself. A parachute dress is also available. This is a nylon dome (white) of 6 meters in diameter that floats beautifully around you in the water. Every shoot is discussed in advance. In the evening we view the results on the big screen and select the images together. The best photos are edited on the spot, ready to share.
Which route do we sail?
We are picked up from the airport and taken to MY Big Blue in the port of Hurghada. We then sail to: Shaab El Erg or Poseidon Reef, Shaab Sheer and the reefs at Safaga, El Gue, Serib Kebi to Dolphin Reef and Mangrove Bay at El Quseir. We always follow the coastline and don't have to cross the open sea anywhere, so less chance of seasickness. The route also depends on what we want. If we want to stay somewhere longer, that is also possible. From El Quseir we are taken back to Hurghada with a minivan.
What does the trip cost?
The travel sum is € 1645.00 per person. This includes: Return flight Amsterdam – Hurghada with TUI Fly, transfers between the airport and the MY Big Blue, 8 days liveaboard based on a 2-person cabin (by layout) and full board (soft all-inclusive) on MY Big Blue, administration costs, contributions for calamity fund and SGR, freediving instruction and photo shoots. Dive and Travel is affiliated with the SGR and the Calamity Fund, this trip is also covered by that.
Will there be additional costs?
Not included are the costs of a visa for Egypt (USD 25.00, payable on arrival), alcoholic beverages and the rental of diving equipment for those who want to scuba dive. Checked baggage is also not included in the price. That’s because it makes a big difference whether you travel with a fabric tail or one made of silicone. When booking you can indicate how much hold luggage you want to take with you: 20 kilos (€ 22/one way), 25 kilos (€ 27/one way), 30 kilos (€ 32/one way), 40 kilos (€ 40/one way) or 50 kilos (€ 50/one way). The prices of the flights may change slightly depending on the time of booking. If petrol prices rise, it is possible that a fuel surcharge will be charged on the spot. Freediving courses are not included in the price. You can make separate agreements about this with the instructor on board.
Do I have to make a down payment?
Due to the charter airline tickets with TUI Fly, adjusted (down) payment and cancellation conditions apply to this trip. Dive and Travel requires a 100% deposit for the flight tickets and 30% for the rest. The remainder of the travel sum must be paid 60 days before departure. In case of cancellation of the flight tickets, the costs immediately amount to 100%. If the liveaboard is cancelled, it is possible to have someone go in your place in the same cabin, against the usual change costs. Cancellation of the liveaboard without replacement costs 100%. Dive and Travel advises to take out cancellation insurance.
