4/9/2007 6:40:49 PM
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Alistair Barnwell
United Kingdom
9/25/2006 6:44:09 AM
Good morning Tarek.I have only just arrived safely at home but thought I would like, before going to bed to send a big thank you to you, your captain and crew and our dive guide Mohamed.It was a really great trip, with a lot of thought from your Captain and Mohamed as to the best route to avoid as many other boats as possible.We started with playing with the Dugong, Guitar Sharks and Green Turtles at Abo Dabab Bay.Then on to Elphinestone, which was lovely and included a beautiful Grey Reef Shark joining us to swim through Elphinstones’s arch/ cave.Overnight to Big Brothers, currents, swell and wind were amazing. At Little brother we found many Grey Reef sharks and diving was excellent. Your crew worked wonders at The Brothers keeping Lady M moored with anchors going and lines separating. They also did a preety good job of collecting us from the blue in the zodiacs when we were swept past our exit points.Then on to what I thought was the “Piece de Resistance”, Daedalus. The corals and marine life here was fantastic. We had a good day getting used to the reef but were sharing with another 8 boats but on the second day (our last of the trip) we found our selves with only one other boat and then the Big Boys came out to play. Dive 1, 12 schooling hammerheads. Dive 2, 2 pods of Dolphins with us whilst diving, one buddy pair got a glimpse of a Thresher Shark. Finally just as we exited from dive 3 and de-kitted along came the Oceanic White Tip, he stayed for about 30 minutes and I am hoping Mohamed’s underwater video has caught him well as he was truly awesome.As always with Lady M, Chef was great and cooked some really good meals.Tarek, thank you for providing me with a great experience, I don’t think I will ever tire of diving on Lady M, for me she is the right size, quick and nimble but with a very good level of comfort, crewed by an extremely competent crew that cannot do too much for you. Cruising with a party of 12-16 is in my opinion the optimum number to ensure quick deployment and exit from the water but just as important it promotes the feeling of belonging to a team and not a bunch of individuals.
Alistair Barnwell
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John and Carla
United Kingdom
9/24/2006 11:15:03 AM
We dived on your boat 3 years ago and we dived last week.The boat and the service are even better.Keep the good work
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Urs Rieggers
Switzerland
6/7/2006 7:28:09 AM
Dear Tarek
Hope you are well! I want to say sorry for the telephone call but the line was really bad. I tryed to call you next morning but you probably have been busy. We had a great time! It was very good diving, with 4 days diving with oceanic whitetip! Christian made a good movie and some have very good pictures. The Lady M was as always good, I really like the ship. And also the crew is very good. We are thinking of coming diving again in October but it depends, if we can get inough people and if I can get more holidays. Anyway, we are allready planning next year about the same time, regardless if we can come in October or not. Kind regards any many thanks Urs
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Janet
United States of America
3/2/2006 5:43:06 PM
I was looking for something else and ran across this site. I really like the layout and colors you chose.
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Martin
United States of America
2/18/2006 9:31:09 AM
Hi. You have very nice website! Beautiful design and very interesting content.
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Katrina Jackson & David Byworth
United Kingdom
12/11/2005 3:02:25 PM
It's not often that, having looked forward to a holiday for so long, it actually meets your expectations. It's unheard of for it to exceed them; but that's what's just happened here! The diving was fantastic made all the more enjoyable by the fact that the crew were incredibly friendly and helpful - a real credit to you. Lady M herself is such a comfortable boat we felt relaxed and at home straight away. We can't wait to get back out there again!
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Alistair Barnwell
United Kingdom
12/9/2005 10:06:15 AM
Good afternoon Tarek
I wanted to take some time to thank you and your crew for helping to make my recent trip simply the best holiday that I have ever experianced, every thing was perfect and I have run out of superlatives to describe the experiance.
I had heard David Underwood talk loving about Lady M over the last year but it was only after spending a week on board did I realise why.
Not only does she look sleek and graceful, putting other boats to shame, but she is also extremely comfortable. Looks and comfort are not every thing, the thing that made it all gel together for me was your crew, from the lads helping on the wet deck to Musser tending the saloon and cabins, to Kallid our chef ( I am a fussy eater but everything he made us was delicious), to our dive guide Mohamed and the Captain, Hassin, nothing was to much trouble for these guys, always flexible with the plan to ensure our trip was "Simply the Best"
Tarek, your crew did you proud, thank you again, I cannot wait until I can rejoin Lady M for some diving.
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Neil
United Kingdom
12/6/2005 12:45:04 PM
Hi Tarek I just like to thank you for yet another brilliant trip on Lady M. It’s the 3rd time I have been on the boat with Dave and it still amazes me how well your crew run the boat. The new guide Mohammed is amazing one of the best guides I have been with and the video he produced is such a good record of the holiday. Of course I have to mention the usual wonderful food the chef produces everyday. The rest of the crew where as usual very helpful and it makes the trip so mush easier knowing that the zodiacs will be at the right place to pick you up whatever the weather conditions.I am already looking forward to coming back next year hopefully to do the Deep South trip.Thanks.Neil
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Jane Stevens
United Kingdom
11/7/2004 6:33:16 AM
Hallo Tarek
Just to confirm that we had a really enjoyable trip to The Brothers, and want to say a big thankyou to both you and all the crew on Lady M. We had some rough seas but the captain still took us to The Brothers. This meant we had the place to ourselves as the other liveaboards did not go, so we were really spoilt! The zodiac crewmen also had to deal with the rough weather,helping us into the boats and managed to get us safely to the drop off andcollecting after the dives and they were always there. The new salloon manwas excellant - very helpful, fun and speaks very good english, which wasnice! The chef as always, cooked the best food with plenty of it and lots of variety and cooked different foods for anyone who did not like a particular dinner. Marcelo has really settled in and has become a really good guide -very safety aware for our divers, checking currents many times before each dive and trying to accommodate everybodies diving.So all in all Tarek, we had a BLOODY FANTSTIC TRIP!!!Many, many thanks and please pass our thanks to all the crew.
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Ludwig List
Germany
11/16/2003 9:48:37 AM
Once again, dear Tarek, I would like to say thank you to you for the wonderful time my friends and I spent on your “Lady M”, November 2003:
for the service of your helpful crew, the excellent maneuvering of the captain and –
last not least : for Khaleb`s fantastic cooking.
And – in addition to that all you - once again – had a lucky hand to engage Karim to be our dive guide. But most of all your merits are: to be able to create an extreme friendly ambient
within the total group; so we felt not only comfortable and well fed but also being among good friends.-
My friends and I wish you: stay healthy and have success and all the time a lucky hand
what ever you will do.
With our kindest regards to all we had the chance to get in contact
yours very truly Old Boy Ludwig
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Dawn
United Kingdom
11/11/2003 9:22:35 AM
Nothing was disappointing about my trip aboard the Lady M. The diving was fantastic, and the crew couldn't do enough to ensure our holiday was the best it could be. Karim, the dive guide, was professional and very friendly. I had an awesome time and can't wait to do it again.
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Christ Aarts
Netherlands
10/13/2003 2:36:37 PM
Hi Lady L.
I was at My Rosetta at the Brothers
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Carlos Braga
Portugal
10/6/2003 5:55:37 AM
Dear Mr. Tarek
I would like to express my satisfaction for the week I spent aboard the Lady M, from the 26th of September to the 2nd of October. Despite the unfavorable weather conditions, we managed to have exelent dives, mainly due to the knowlage and professionalism of the dive guide Karim Eric. His behaviour exceeded by far his obligation. After just one week e became really a good friend. The rest of the crew was always very good in every aspect. I looking forward to be back in the Lady M soon.
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Grahame Skate
United Kingdom
9/30/2003 12:10:35 PM
Dear All
Having just returned from a week aboard the Lady M, I find that I am already looking at booking again for next year. I feel that I can not find the words to express the fantastic time we had on board the vessel so I am going to have to mark it out of 10.
1. Boat 10/10 (clean tidy superb condition)
2. Dive Guide (Karim Eric) 10/10 nothing was too much trouble wonderful guy.
3. Crew 10/10 Always there to help you out just ask and it was there.
4. Food 10/10 The chef deserves a medal superb food always.
5. Diving 10/10 Outstanding sights superb sites and conditions
6. Weather 10/10 Sleeping under the stars in september you cant beat it.
All in all the best holiday Ive had in years so relaxing I feel a new person. Keep it up as I shall be telling all my friends and dive buddies.
Kindest regards
Grahame
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Peter White
United Kingdom
9/28/2003 6:38:50 AM
Tarek,
I am just writing to say a big thank you to yourself and your crew for an excellent weeks diving earlier on this month out on the Brothers with Dave Underwood and Jane.After the deep south in July ,I didn't think that life could get better, but I cannot put into writing how good the diving was and would also like to say a big thank you to Karim (if you could pass this message onto him also).Karim was an excellent diveguide and I don't think it was physically possible for him to have given us better diving,better guidance and a better video at the end of the week.It was also very nice to eventually meet yourself and put a face to the humour that you showed when I requested a 15 litre tank.I am having a few girlfriend problems at the moment,but when I am sorted I am hoping to book onto another couple of weeks next year via Dave on the Lady M.Could you also pass on my wishes to your chef ( and hopefully by now,my congratulations on the birth of his child and wish him all the best for him,his wife and his newborn) and also to thank him for another excellent palet.
Many thanks and kind regards
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Richard Banks
United Kingdom
9/28/2003 6:34:50 AM
I was recently one of the participant on the Lady M expedition to Deep
South. My profound gratitude for the extension to Rocky Island.
I enjoyed the trip all of which made most enjoyable with the aid of
divemaster Karim Eric and the crew of the Lady M. Diving, general
assistance, boatmanship and cooking all to exceptional standards.
I will return
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Jane
United Kingdom
9/24/2003 4:31:25 PM
Hallo Tarek
Sorry we did not see you before we left. But I just wanted to let you know what a great trip everyone had. Despite the sea conditions the
captain and crew did everything that they could to give us brilliant
diving and take good care of us. Your new captain was very concerned
that everything was ok all of the time and checked with us almost daily
that we were satisfied! I hope this may reassure you, especially if
Akmed is not back for a while.
As for Karim - well you were so right! He was fantastic. A really good
guide, understanding what everyone in the group required from their
diving, an excellant sense of humour at all times, and such a very nice
person. He was fanatical about trying to make the very best video for us all and spent many a late night to achieve that.(he will cost Dave a
fortune, as he has really got me interested in video!)
We hope that you keep well and Dave will try to speak to you once he has waded through the usual backlog of work he must now catch up on his
return!
Thanks once again.
very best regards
Jane
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Miki Nagler
Israel
8/19/2003 1:03:20 AM
19/08/03
Dear Tarik,
We have returned from our third safari trip aboard the Lady M, a week ago. The "decompression" necessary for coming back to regular life is difficult after such a fabulous vacation. The 15 of us, from Adina's group, have enjoyed this trip even better than the two previous ones, which were great in their own right.
The boat crew was very nice and helpful, the cook prepared for us wonderful dishes. We have enjoyed in particular Eric, the dive master who did a fantastic job in briefing, guiding and video-ing the dives. The DVD he prepared for us receives high acclaims from all family and friends and will surely entice others to come and dive with you.
We were particularly honoured by you joining the trip in person and enjoyed the stimulating conversations.
Looking forward to the next safari aboard the Lady M.
Miki Nagler and all of Adina's group
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Chantel
United Kingdom
5/1/2003 10:44:58 AM
Hello, its Chantel how are you both? i wanted to say thanks for a great trip. the best trip that my mum and i have ever been on. we are planing on coming to the red sea again next year maybe May, June time.
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Chantel Philp and Eileen Philp
United Kingdom
4/29/2003 7:24:44 AM
We would like to thank all the crew on the Lady M for a great Week commencing 11th April.we both throughly enjoyed every moment of it.Ahmed was a real pleasure to now he tort us alot about the red sea and different places to vist. rehem was so helpful towards us she built our corrage up and took away our fears of diving alone with out a instrutor.the food was very good, and the rest of the crew was very helpful. I would have no hesitation in recommending Lady M to anyone wishing to do a liveaboard in the Rea Sea.Dont be suprised if you see us both next year. many thanks again. Chantel and Eileen Philp
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Sheridan
United Kingdom
4/24/2003 10:30:50 AM
I have just returned from one of the best holidays I have ever had, spent on board the Lady M. Your crew did everything possible to ensure we had a fabulous time - and we did. I have made many new friends and we will be back on board one day. Please pass my thanks to Rehad, Achmed (sorry about the spelling!) and all the crew - especially the chef who made sure us vegetarians didn't starve!!
Thank you so much.
Sheri
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Craig Debenham
United Kingdom
4/23/2003 12:40:30 PM
Lady M Crew
I like to thank you all for a great liveabord holiday. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the week I spent aboard Lady M (Week commencing 11th April).
As a relatively new diver that had never experienced a liveaboard before I was a little concerned as to whether I would enjoy 6 days confined to a boat. Soon after boarding Lady M I had forgotten any concerns I had and was enjoying every moment. After the 6 days I was reluctant to leave.
I thought Reham was an excellent dive guide and host. I felt I was in safe hands. She gave attention to those who needed it most during the dives and allowed the more experienced divers and their buddies the freedom to do their own thing. Her briefings where detailed and added interest to the dive sites.
I especially enjoyed the diversity of the diving as I got to experience drift, night, rib and wreck diving.
Lady M herself was a pleasure to be aboard largely due to her captain and crew who were relentless in their pursuit to keep her in spotlessly clean and in tip top condition. The food was also good.
I would have no hesitation in recommending Lady M to anyone wishing to do a liveaboard in the Rea Sea and don’t be surprised if you see me again later this year.
Thanks again
Craig Debenham
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Nick Judd
United Kingdom
Simply the best - the name of the trip speaks for itself. You will not find a more experienced, reliable, friendly and professional team than Captain Ahmed and Divemaster Pia. Chef Khaled was fantastic at making sure my belly increased in size tremendously - the food was fabulous every day. Captain Ahmed and his crew keep Lady M in such excellent condition that we spent our week in luxury, enjoying some of the best diving I've ever done.
Thanks all...
Nick
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Steven Green
United Kingdom
Hi Tarek,
I just wanted to send you a quick message to thank you for the great
time I had on Lady M recently as I didn't manage to make a comment in
the guest book. It was a pleasure to meet you at the marina and really
nice to have Mostafa and Gehad's company during the week.
I was initially booked on the "Simply the Best" trip and had such a
great time that I stayed an extra week to dive the Brothers again. Both
weeks were excellent - the boat was great, the crew were fantastic and
the diving was extraordinary. I have never seen a team work so hard at
keeping the boat in top condition and the guests so well served. In
particular I would like to mention Mohammed who, despite being the
reserve chef, made such excellent meals and even produced my local
favourites like foul, tahina and humus on request! Then there was Sammy,
the zodiac driver and mooring fixer, always smiling and joking and able
to drop us almost perfectly on every dive. And Ahmed, such an excellent
skipper, totally committed to making the trip the best, yet always
having the time to chat and tell his stories.
Of course what made the trip special was the diving and our excellent
guides, Pia and Moni. During the first week Pia lead the group and we
had some great diving, sampling the best sites at the Brothers, Deadelus
and Elphinstone and seeing more hammerheads than we had hoped for!
But it was the second week that I enjoyed the most returning to the
Brothers, which ultimately became my favourite location. Moni was
fantastic. Despite standing in for Pia and never having led an English
group before she was great. The briefings were informative and precise
and she made sure that every diver saw the best of each site every dive.
This was no mean feat since she was obliged to look after a number of
inexperienced divers in the way an instructor would have done - even
helping them with their basic skills in the early days. It is well known
that the Brothers provides challenging conditions and I was amazed that
these divers had little idea of what they were letting themselves in
for. Effectively therefore, we had to be split into two groups for the
dives, experienced and inexperienced, with Moni always starting with the
inexperienced group. Despite this, she still managed to ensure that the
experienced group benefited from her attention as well, and made a point
of waiting around to show us the best on each dive. There are not many
guides who would have been able to cope so well! And her professionalism
was such that she personally accounted for each and every diver both
during and after the dives. As a result I can honestly say that I
experienced my best, but also hardest diving during that week. The
wrecks and schools of grey reef sharks were simply stunning! Out of the
water too Moni was a delight and she made a point of socialising with
the group and joining us at every meal. I cannot commend her highly
enough!
I am very much looking forward to my next trip to Egypt, perhaps Lady M
again, or perhaps to dive in Alexandria with Mostafa and Gehad.
Kind regards
Steven Green
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Diana Mager
United Kingdom
We got back from our trip on Lady M last night, and back home at 1.30am this morning! I spoke to you on the phone on Thursday and you asked me to Email and let you know how the trip was. It was really good! We have been out 2 years running now on 2 week liveaboards - the first year, we were on Greta, the second year, Sea Serpent - we were the first guests to go out on Sea Serpent!
We were not planning to go on another Red Sea trip this year, but 2 weeks before Easter decided to see what was around - Diving World were offering a one week trip on Royal Emporer and Tony Backhurst was offering a one week trip on Lady M. I remembered that 2 years ago when I EMailed you, you said that Lady M was the best boat in the Red Sea, so naturally we decided to book the trip with you. We were not disappointed!
The crew of the boat were exceptional, very polite at all times, in fact most of the time, we were not even aware they were there, they just did everything before it was asked for - even to the fact that we only brought one small towel with us, as we thought we would have large towels on the boat - on the first day they were only small ones supplied, but it was ok, my fault.
Later in the week, miraculously two large towels were in our room, it
had been noticed that we needed more, and they were provided without us asking - brilliant! The tanks were filled with no hassle - it was a shame that only the back up compressor was working, so it was a bit slower than the normal one, so the only thing that kept us out of the water was the length of time to fill the
cylinders - but long surface intervals are not a bad thing anyway!
The captain was very accomodating, and nothing was too much trouble - there was a disagreement amongst the guests during the week as to the number of dives to do on a specific day - I thought that Pia and Ahmed handled it very well, encouraging the guests to decide between them what they wanted to do, without influencing their choice in any way.
I did feel sorry for Ahmed, sailing through the night all week - it did mean we did not get to see much of him, we would have all liked to pass on our thanks to him on the last day, but were unable to see him as he was sleeping to get ready for the netx trip - please
thank him for us. We have taken Pia's Email address and will keep in touch with her as we would like to do another trip on Lady M - probably next year now. We have seen a lot of the South now, so would like to see the North - a wreck trip
possibly.
There would be only one small thing I would do to improve the Lady M - the 2 planks of wood to get on and off the boat while it is in the marina - it was a scary experience to balance on them when they were at a steep angle as the boat was much lower than the level of the jetty. I don't know what the solution would be, but even just making it a bit wider (another plank of wood?) would help.
Anyway in summary - diving great, crew brilliant, dive guide and captain professional and welcoming, Lady M a well set up and maintained liveaboard boat.
Thanks
Diana Mager
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Nicki & Dirk
Germany
Zum zweiten Mal haben wir eine traumhafte Woche auf der Lady M verbracht. Die naechste Tour ist schon geplant. Wir moechten uns an dieser Stelle ganz herzlich bei Fred, unserem Tour-Organisationstalent, Pia unserem nimmermueden Diveguide, Achmed dem Skipper mit der Traum-Musik und Chaled dem Super-Koch sowie der gesamten Crew bedanken. Es war fuer uns eine besondere Freude, dass Tarek uns wieder fuer einige Tage begleitet hat. Wir hoffen, dass wir uns naechstes Jahr wieder sehen.
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Chris Marshall
United Kingdom
I have been waiting 14years to dive in the Red Sea, I could not have dived from a better boat if I tried, the diving was fantastic and the professionalisim of the dive guide Pia & Ahmed and his crew made this trip one to remember for a very long time to come. Many thanks for the Dream Team from Worksop (Chris, Keith, John)
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Natalie and Martyn
United Kingdom
We can't quite match the essays submitted below, but felt compelled to say
that the trip was fantastic. The boat was beautiful, the captain Ahmed
extremely experienced, and the dive guide Pia really helpful. Her
briefings were superbly detailed, and ensured that you could dive
practically unguided, if necessary. Even though it wasn't shark season,
we saw a few and had an incredible experience with a friendly dolphin.
Definitely recommended , and we'd come back tomorrow if we had the chance.....
Thanks for such a great holiday.
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Peter Engler
Switzerland
It's been some days now since i have returned home from a wonderful, unforgettable trip on the Lady M. Now i wish to keep the promise and send my contribution to the Lady M's testimonials!
I had an absolutely great time on the boat spending some days with really nice and funny people, the most helpful and warm-hearted crew members and of course the cloudless sunny egyptian sky above us all.
As many guest mentionned before there is no need to emphasize or specially mention one the incredible members because they all earn a "1A" rating. Nevertheless i want to give a special "thank you very much" to Nino alias Achmed the skipper with whom i spent many hours at the steering wheel, talking and simply enjoying the moments. Maybe it was the way you said hello to me when we came on board (my friend Martin???) or simply simpathy - i don't know - but these days and nights crusing through the Red Sea will be moments in my life i will never forget! By the way... right now i am listening to the CD "cafe del mar", remember??? I bought it right after returning home...
Well, i am looking forward to my next cruise on the Lady M - hopefully next year. Meanwhile let me again thank you all very much for the fantastic dives, the delicious food and the big big help with all our diving stuff - and last but not least, thanks Pia for guiding us on the reefs of the Brother's, Daedalus, Zabarghad and all the great places down there!
Keep up the good job you are doing, guys! That's exactly what diving and fun is about!!!!
Regards
Peter
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Renaud JOLY
Switzerland
Juin 2001
Personnellement, ce voyage restera inoubliable. A peine le temps de prendre nos baggages que déjà nous étions aimablement pris en charge et amené au bateau Lady M où nous fûmes accueillis chaleureusement et en seigneur par Tarek, Ahmed le capitaine et son équipage. Dans les moindres détails tous est pensé pour profiter au maximum du séjour. Le bateau est de A à Z construit pour la plongée sous-marine, moderne, neuf, comfort et sécurité maximale. Le formidable équipage, dirigé en main de maître par Ahmed, oeuvre d’une manière chaleureuse à satisfaire les moindres exigeances. La nourriture, gargantuesque, est splendide : fine, équilibrée, copieuse, un véritable régal. Et finalement la Dive Guide, Pia expérimentée et joviale qui vous fait decouvrir des merveilles.
Il est évident qu’avec Lady M et son équipage, Tarek oeuvre à la perfection.
Assûrement un voyage extraordinaire.
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Mei Sum LAI
Singapore
We are really lucky to have chosen Lady M as our live-on-board boat for this 1 excellent week of diving in the red sea.
The boat is very comfortable and well equiped, with very warm crews. We must thank Pia for wishing us luck
and bringing us to the hammerhead and fox sharks!! Not forgetting the super captain, Ahmed and the wonderful cook who
pampered us with such delicious food, especially the desserts.
Last but not least, thank you Tarek for your trust and Lady M is certainly THE choice for exporing the secrets of the
Red Sea.
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Grania Wills
United Kingdom
Woops - a whole week has gone by back in London and it already seems an age since I was in the Red Sea!
I was spoilt enough to have two weeks diving, on two different boats. The first Liveaboard was the Lady M and I have never (and probably will never) have such a wonderful time: the diving was phenomenal, the boat itself is pretty perfect and the unique thing about it is that you have a crew who are not only fun, caring, hard working etc., but love their boat as their home.
We were lucky enough to have flat calm seas in the South and as a result could moor wherever we wanted. The Captain, Ahmed, made it his mission to create a unique trip, visiting remote reefs that you would never think possible to do all in one week. In fact, the second boat that I went on, had every intention of doing the same itinerary the following week, but didn't make it!!! (Ahmed's secret: he quietly manoevres the boat at night and you wake up miles from where you nodded off!). The Dive Guide, Pia, is just lovely - the boat is her home too! Pia would miraculously have all the divers in the water at the critical moment and we probably had not one, not two, but about five 'once-in-a-lifetime' dives! I have done quite a good stint of diving in the Red Sea having spent 6 months in Hurghada and have never seen anything like it: an eagle ray circling above my buddy and I; manta rays within touching distance; hammerheads attempting to eat a manta ray; two oceanic whitetips - on separate dives; thresher sharks; and of course, beautiful reefs!! Yes, this is all a case of being lucky, maybe this is just a lucky liveaboard!
I cannot thank the team enough: Ahmed, for being an ace Skipper (and going without sleep for a week!); Pia, for creating the most relaxed and fun atmosphere for a whole week (none of the usual little cliques that you normally expect when you have a group of guests who don't know each other); the Crew for keeping an immaculate boat, despite all our attempts to spill drinks, suncream etc. and generally distribute clobber wherever and whenever the opportunity arose!; Tarek, for owning and maintaining a boat to the highest level with the best team possible and for looking after us guests before, during and at the end of the most fabulous week.
I will be back - not next year - forget that! September this year I hope!
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Marco Schianci
Switzerland
Freitag, 13.10.2000: Acht tauchsüchtige Personen und ein Newcomer steigen mit gewichtigem Gepäck ins Flugzeug und verlassen es erst wieder in Hurghada. Nach dem phantastisch ruhigen Flug durch die Vollmondnacht freuen sich alle auf eine kurze Ruhepause im Hotel - nur ergibt sich plötzlich ein Problem: Wir stellen fest, dass die Reservation nicht gemacht wurde. Also keine Panik aufkommen lassen und ad hoc die Sache selbst in die Hand nehmen.
Mittlerweile wird der Samstag geschrieben und die Sonne steht bereits sehr hoch am Horizont. Endlich ist es soweit, wir besteigen unser kleines Boot und wissen, dass wir es für die nächsten 7 Tage nicht mehr verlassen werden. Habe ich kleines Boot gesagt: Sorry, dass war wohl ein bedauerlicher Schreibfehler. Unser Schiff bestach nicht nur durch seine Grösse sondern auch durch die freundliche Crew, deren Skipper und unserem Dive-Guide Pia.
Ab diesem Zeitpunkt standen eigentlich nur noch zwei Beschäftigungen im Vordergrund: das Tauchen und das süsse Faullenzen. Wie konnten wir damals ahnen, dass noch eine weitere hinzukommen würde - das Essen, doch hiervon etwas später.
Alle Eindrücke und Tauchplätze zu erwähnen würde den Rahmen dieses Berichtes sprengen. Ich möchte mich daher auf einige Highlights beschränken.
Louis, unser Newcomer kam, sah und tauchte, dass es den anderen manchmal richtig die Sprache verschlug. Wer taucht nicht schon gerne mit einem Naturtalent. Daneben waren es unbeschreibliche Momente als er zum ersten Mal mit einem nicht abblasenden Automaten unterwegs war - auch er konnte nun endlich länger als 20 Minuten unten bleiben.
Zwischen genialen Tauchgängen in denen wir über Riff-, Strömungs-, Tief- und Nachttauchen die Fauna und Flora des südlichen Roten Meers genossen und uns ab und zu schon beinahe belästigt fühlten von all den neugierigen Fischen (getreu dem Motto: He ihr da, lasst mich auch mal durch) herrschte eine total fröhliche Stimmung an Bord. Natürlich drehten sich die Gespräche in erster Linie ums Tauchen, aber auch echte Probleme wie korrekter Abriss, Sollbruchstelle(n) oder ähnliches wurden in gemeinsamer Runde diskutiert. Es bleibt an dieser Stelle den Insidern vorbehalten, welche Details hinter diesen Ausdrücken stecken.
Irgendwann einmal hatten dann die ersten Gelegenheit, dass zu sehen, was einem das Herz einfach höher schlagen lässt. Am Shaab Sharm wurden die ersten Haie gesichtet und dies erst noch auf eine kurze Distanz. Ich hatte Ohrenprobleme, konnte nicht abtauchen und musste mit meinem Buddy auf das Zodic warten und in wenigen Metern Entfernung schwamm tatsächlich so ein grosser Brocken. Die restlichen Taucher konnten erst einen Tag später am Elphinstone-Reef ihre Haie sichten, eine grosse Kolonie Hammerhaie sowie etliche Riffhaie.
Zugleich waren diese Tage die Tage der Delphine. Sofern man zu den echten Frühaufstehern gehörte, konnte man sie ums Schiff rum direkt beim Spielen und Schwimmen beobachten - einfach wunderbar.
Nun aber doch noch kurz zum Essen. Man nehme einen wunderbaren Koch, gute Zutaten, eine kleine Kombüse und fertig sind 5-Sterne-Menues inkl. Desserts. Böse Zungen behaupten, dass die Tauchmesser zum ersten Mal Blut gesehen haben, wer verzichtet denn auch schon freiwillig auf die leckersten … mehr wird hier nicht mehr verraten überzeugt euch auf der nächsten Safari doch einfach selbst.
Die Tage rasten nur so dahin und Louis fand beim Chickago-Würfelspiel in Elvis seinen Meister, was ihn dazu bewog, einen zweiten Schluck durch seine Kehle rinnen zu lassen aber auch dies half ihm nicht - verloren ist verloren.
Die Safari ging nach einem gemütlichen gemeinsamen Landgang und dem Rauchen einer Shisha-Pfeife unaufhaltsam zu Ende. Was Paul, Reto, Jürg, Thomas, Elvis, Iwan, Werni, Louis und mir bleibt, sind unvergessliche Eindrücke von einem tollen Boot, einer Supercrew, einem Spitzenkoch und einer hervorragenden Tauchführerin, die uns alle beeindruckt hat durch ihre Kenntnisse und ihren Humor. Ebenfalls im Rucksack auf der Heimreise viele Erinnerungen an Riffe, Korallen und Fische und einige Tropfen Salz.
Marco
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Roger Anlauf
Germany
Hey! I take the first liveaboard with my friends Holgi and Marco (see above)
in May ´99. It was such a wonderful liveaboard to the south reefs in Egypt.
I say ´Thank you` to Tarek that I would see these wonderful underwater
world and he can be proud to have this very nice and comfortable boat. He
can be also very proud to have Pia ("I will say hello to you") and Ahmed
("Hey Nino how are you, my friend? What´s on with your ´babies´?") with
his crew. Well, if, maybe if, you are a guest on the LadyM you must do
nothing all day long exept diving, sleeping, eating and sun tanning. That´s
all. It was such a nice week in ´99 with the boat and the crew that we
take the next liveaboard with our wifes in May ´00. We took the Brother
Island route and believe: I´ve never seen this before. Everyone who dove the
Island would know what I will say. Now it is time to book May´01. I also
will say hello to the ´Ghostdivers´ Jean-P. and Gilles (see above).
Maybe I hope to see you in May. 11-26-00
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Ludwig List
Germany
Lieber Tarek,
nun ist schon wieder eine Woche vergangen seit den schönen Tagen auf der "Lady M" und noch immer klingt und schwingt in mir das unvergeßliche Erlebnis dieser Tauchsafari.
Ich gehöre zu den Vielreisenden und habe große Teile unserer faszinierenden Erde gesehen, aber - ich glaube ich habe das schon einmal gesagt - : das Erlebnis auf der "Lady M" , die nette Taucherkameradschaft,
das unglaublich eindrucksvolle Unterwassererlebnis mit der abwechslungsreichen Vielfalt der Natur im "Roten Meer" und - natürlich die imposanten Wracks - gehören zu den Brillanten meiner Urlaubserlebnisse!
Zu verdanken ist dies, lieber Tarek, sicher in erster Linie Ihnen, die Sie
nicht nur in der Wahl des Bootes an sich, Geschmack und Sinn für das Schöne und Praktische zugleich beweisen, sondern - nicht minder wichtig -
mit der Zusammensetzung "Crew" die richtige Wahl getroffen haben.
Der stolze, eloquente - und soweit ich das beurteilen kann - fähige
Achmed als Kapitän, der seine Mannschaft mit starker Hand, aber unauffällig führt, jeden noch so schwierigen Ankerplatz souverän meistert;
der sich selbst übertreffende Khalet. Er präsentiert jedesmal wenn ich wieder komme neue Varianten seiner Kochkunst, stets freundlich und nett und aufmerksam.
Hassan, der mit unnachahmlicher Manier das Skodiak führt und immer zur Hand ist, wenn man ihn braucht, ebenso wie seine jungen Helfer, bei denen ich mich für ihre Hilfsbereitschaft und Aufmerksamkeit ganz besonders herzlich bedanke und - nicht zuletzt: die lobenswerte Sauberkeit des Schiffes.
Zum Schluß ein bißchen Kritik: die Duschen in den Kabinen könnten besser funktionieren und Khalet könnter sicher mit dem Angebot von Suppen
und "Gelati" zusätzlich Lorbeeren ernten.
Ich bedaure, dass ich mich nicht persönlich verabschieden konnte um Ihnen lieber Tarek , noch einmal herzlich zu danken - auch für die Taxifahrt
nach Sharm el Sheik !
Bleiben Sie gesund und fit- machen Sie weiter so mit der "Lady M"
und ich bin sicher, wir werden uns im nächsten Jahr wieder sehen.!!!!
Ludwig (11.-19.11.2000 - Fred`s Gruppe)
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Marco Angelini
Germany
hallo zusammen! ja, nun soll ich hier etwas über das schiff schreiben!? kann man etwas perfektes noch verbessern? eigentlich ja nicht, aber es gelingt tarek eigentlich jedes mal. ich bin nun schon zum 3.mal auf der "Lady m" gefahren, und werde auch noch ein paar mal fahren. das schiff ist sehr sauber und gepflegt, das fنngt bei den gerنumigen kabinen an, alle mit eigener dusche und wc, individuell regelbarer aircondition, und hِrt an der tauchplattform auf. "rostflecken" an t-shirts, hosen usw. gibt es auf der "lady m" nicht! immer wird überall geputzt und gereinigt! nun kann man ja sagen, das ist nur die نuكere hülle, aber wenn man mal in das "herz" des schiffes, in den maschinenraum steigt, wird man sehen, daك auch dort alles blitzsauber und auf dem neusten stand der technik ist!!! abdhalla ist in dieser beziehung sehr empfindlich! es gibt keine ِligen lappen usw. die 2 maschinen, die generatoren und kompressoren sind immer in einem tadellosen zustand! für gنste, die ohne zu hause nicht kِnnen, steht auch ein satellietentelefon zur verfügung. platz genug ist für jeden da, es verteilt sich auf die 3 decks, man kann sich auf dem sonnendeck breitmachen, oder sitzt unter dem schattensegel, oder ist im salon usw. das essen an bord ist jedes mal von gleichbleibend hoher qualitنt, "schuhsohlenfleisch" ist auf der "lady m" ein fremdwort, und khaled, der koch, zaubert zu jeder tages- und nachtzeit etwas leckeres aus seiner kombüse hervor. die crew ist allgemein sehr hilfsbereit und sehr zuvorkommend ( grüكe an mansour! ). man braucht sich eigentlich um nichts selber kümmern, nur tauchen muك man selber! die wahl der route kann man mit den gنsten absprechen, doch ist die vorgeschlagene route meiكtens die bessere alternative! das schiff ist mit gps, sonar, und allen wichtigen techn. einrichtungen versehen, so daك auch nachts gefahren werden kann! das bringt einen erheblichen zeitvorteil mit sich, speziell bei langen überfahrten, z.b zu den "brother`s". kapitنn ahmed ( nino ) ist ein erfahrener, besonnener mann, dem man sich gerne anvertraut. er behandelt das schiff wie ein rohes ei, zum wohl der gنste. schaukelorgien, und wassereinbrüche gibt es nicht! die abwicklung des tranfers vom airport ist immer problemlos, die visamarken liegen schon bereit wenn man vom vertreter der "lady m" am flughafen empfangen wird. wنhrend die "normalen" touris noch lange anstehen müssen, sind die gنste der "Lady m" schon auf dem weg zum schiff! das ist alles sehr bequem und angenehm. da der 1. tag aufgrund der verschiedenen flugzeiten immer im hafen verbracht wird, ist genug zeit sich mit dem schiff, der crew, und allen wichtigen sachen vertraut zu machen. die kabinen werden verteilt, das "tauchgerِdel" ausgepackt, und wer lust hat, kann seinen bleicheck/eingewِhnungstauchgang gleich im hafenbecken machen. abends empfنngt tarek el shawi, der eigner des schiffes, die gنste persِnlich bei einem bierchen und stellt sich und die crew den gنsten vor. er hat immer ein offenes ohr für probleme, sorgen oder verbesserungen. das ist wohl das geheimnis des erfolges! man fühlt sich wie in einer groكen familie! das schiff ist für taucher konzipiert, daher ist alles sehr gut durchdacht. jeder bekommt eine box für die sachen, jacket bleibt wنhrend der ganzen zeit an der flasche montiert, da mit 4 langen schlنuchen luft nachgefüllt wird. das tauchdeck ist groك und gerنumig, so daك alle genug platz haben. die tauchplattform ist sehr groك, man kann ohne probleme dort 10 taucher platzieren. 2 süكwasserduschen sind auكerdem vorhanden. getaucht wird entweder direkt vom schiff, oder vom zodiak, das von hassan mit sicherer hand und geübtem auge gesteuert wird. die zahl der tauchgنnge ist nicht limitiert, es muك nur im rahmen der eigenen sicherheit getaucht werden. pia, die "gute seele" des schiffes, und diveguide in ihrer funktion hat das breefing und die tauchgنnge voll im griff, bis jetzt ist noch jeder zufrieden gewesen, eagl ob fotografen, weniger erfahrene taucher, oder "alte hasen". in der regel werden 3-4 tg. gemacht, wenn es mِglich ist noch ein nachttg. zwischen den tg. ist genügend zeit zum essen, schlafen, sonnen, oder was man sonst noch machen will. nach dem tauchen wartet immer ein heiكer tee, gebنck, oder mal wieder das nنchste warme essen auf die gنste. abends trfft man sich an deck, oder im salon, genieكt die schِnen sonnenuntergنnge bei einem dekobier oder sonstigen getrنnken. wasser, kaffe und tee ist übrigens im reisepreis bereits enthalten! malediventaucher werden dieses zu schنtzen wissen, gerade an wasser kommen schnell ein paar mark zusammen! bier und andere getrنnke müssen bezahlt werden. nach einem langen, "anstrengendem" tag fنllt man abends müde in die koje und freut sich schon auf den nنchsten tauchgang an einem der schِnen riffe des roten meeres! die qualitنt der divespots ist immer besser, als wenn man mit einem "dailyboat" tauchen fنhrt, da man auch exponierte stellen anfahren kann! die "brother´s" im mai, und die riffe des südens ( fury shoals, elphinstone reef usw. ) gehِren sicherlich zu den top spots نgyptens, wenn nicht in der welt! so vergeht eine woche wie im flug, und bald hat man den letzten tauchgang gemacht. am letzten abend wird dann ordentlich gefeiert, meiكtens bis in die frühen morgenstunden!!! am letzten tag verlassen dann alle wehmütig das schiff, einige hنngen ihren erinnerungen an eine tolle woche nach! man verabschiedet sich von neu gewonnenen freunden, und vielleicht gibt es ja ein wiedersehen, wird man zum "wiederholungstنter" wie ich, beim nنchsten tِrn mit der "lady m"!!! noch einmal viele liebe grüكe an tarek und die crew, und nicht zu vergessen an pia!!! und ein herzliches "marsa`lama" ( auf wiedersehen ). ich hoffe ich habe es richtig geschrieben!? für weitere informationen, oder photos vom schiff bin ich immer zu erreichen. ich würde mich über e-mail kontakt zu intressierten sehr freuen, das ganze geht natürlich auch auf english! marco angelini, im wiesengrund 2, D-31558 hagenburg, tel./fax: +495033-6790, mobil: +491724169577, e-mail: malini@t-online.de
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Yaron Azruel
Israel
We first saw the Lady M coming back from another safari. We talked with the crew and the owner of the boat and received a lot of promisses saying our next safari on the lady M, will be the best one we ever experienced.Well, this is one promiss you need to work hard to fulfill, especially to an experienced group like ours... The expectations were high in the sky!Coming back from the safari on the lady M, proved to us that this is one boat with international standards, in all aspectes: Accomodation and service (best service I've seen in a long time!),safety - one boat that is aquiped with all necessary equipment for ANY case, and a crew that helped us plan the best route and diving site for a really amazing safari!In short: I had a lot of safaris in Sinai. The one I had on the Lady M has been the best safari any one can expect. This boat and its crew keeps its promisses and much more.Have fun!
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Gilles MULLER
France
Mai 2000 , Brothers ; ce voyage à bord du LadyM restera un grand moment , marqué par un accueil chaleureux , grande sympathie et grand professionnalisme de l'équipage , bateau très agréable , et sites de plongée magnifiques ... que vouloir de plus si non de repartir !
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Gusty Hufschmid
Germany
Dieses Jahr machen wir die 5. Tauchsafari auf der Lady M. Alle von uns sind nach wie vor vom guten Service und dem gepflegten Boot begeistert.
Wir freuen uns auf das naechste Mal.
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Tim Screen
United Kingdom
I went on Lady M in June for the trip of a lifetime. The crew were fantastic the diving amazing, Pia and ahmed were very helpful and managed to take us to some of the best dive sites in the world. Definately the pick of the bunch was Deadalus just incredible hammerheads mantas the works.Thanks guys for making it a trip of a lifetime
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David Borus
United States of America
The best boat in the Red Sea. Immaculate and very well maintained. Captain is great. Very Experienced, skilled and knows best and even undiscovered dive sites. Travel and reach your destination at night,
wake up to incredible diving. Dive Guide, Cook and Crew are fantastic and very attentive to all. And the Owner is a really great guy. A fantastic, wonderful, amazing and awsome experience. I have met and made friends with really wonderful people from all over the world, and I have really great underwater and land photos to show for it. I loved every minute of every day on multiple liveaboard safaris with the Lady M. I did not want to leave and can not wait to return. In fact,sign me up now for next year
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