M/Y Whirlwind Liveaboard
THE WHIRLWIND LIVEABOARD - RED SEA REVIEW
I spent a fantastic week on the Whirlwind in June 2014. It was a great introduction to liveaboards for me, and I couldn't have asked for a better week.
The marine life was plentiful; arriving in early summer, we timed our trip to coincide with the spawning that occurs in the Red Sea at this time of year. Shark and Yolanda Reef in the Ras Mohammed National Park (by far the best reef dive in the area) was awash with schools of Bohar snapper, barracuda, unicornfish, batfish, and jacks. We also sampled a number of wrecks, such as the Giannis D, which was fantastic for exploration of its engine room, the Carnatic, which was draped in soft coral, and the Chrisoula K, which boasted impressive corridors and an amazing workshop. The Thistlegorm was by far the best wreck of the week, however. We spent an entire day exploring every nook and cranny of it, and the staff of the Whirlwind were very knowledgeable guiding us through all of its labyrinthian passages.
The accommodations on the boat were spacious. Rooms were good sized, with robes and plenty of towels provided, as well as nice warm showers. We did have problems with the smell of our bathroom, however, and we were unsure whether this was due to faulty plumbing or whether that is just to be expected on a boat. Either way, it was not a big deal, and it certainly did not detract from the rest of the boat. There was a spacious salon which was able to accomodate 17 photographers and their laptops, a very nice dining room, and a spacious sundeck. Food was also varied, plentiful, and very good, with meals being varied from day to day. My only gripe was that there were very few pre-morning dive snacks, meaning that we were essentially diving on empty stomachs for the early morning dives.
Finally, the staff were what made the trip all that it was. They were always smiling and happy to help, and no task was ever too much. The dive staff made us feel safe, and I would not hesitate to dive with them anywhere. By the end of the week, the entire crew of the boat felt like family, and I cannot wait to return to see all of them.
Overall, it was an incredible week spent onboard Whirlwind, and one I hope to repeat soon.
