SEA SERPENT - SOUTH TOUR
MARSA ALAM - daedalus - ROCKY - ZABARGAD - St. John's - FURY SHOAL - MARSA ALAM
This week long itinerary begins and ends in Port Ghalib and offers the very best of the southern Red Sea. Packed with dives along the vibrant reefs and pelgaic encounters, it's best suited for exeprienced divers.
Day one is a leisurely start and includes 2 check-out dives at nearby Marsa Alam sites. After a possible third or night dive, the boat sails south overnight towards Daedalus Reef (Abu El Kizan).
Wake up on the most remote reefs in the Egyptian Red Sea. Extremely popular amongst divers, the marine park boasts pristine conditions and a diving experience worth every minute of the journey. The rocky outcrop attracts an inredible marine life including thresher and schooling hammerhead sharks which are often encountered. The pelagic action doesn't stop there, expect to see tuna, silky sharks and mantas. In addition, there's a chance to see dottybacks and endemic fish amongst the plethora of anemones. Hard coral formations provide homes to morays eels and there are numerous cleaning stations with visitors such as grouper and wrasse. The currents can be strong here; amazing drift diving sites! Enjoy 3 dives today before continuing to Rocky and Zabargad islands overnight.
On Day 4, enjoy 2 dives at Rocky and Zabargad. Located near to each other, Rocky is characterised by its sheer walls adorned in forests of soft corals and grogonian fans. White-tip sharks can often be observed sleeping under huge overhangs, coupled with sightings of mantas and other species of shark, this a very popular dive spot. Equally impressive is Zabargad island with its walls, shallow plateaus and pinnacles surrounded by clouds of red anthias; not forgetting the wreck off the east coast and the friendly groupers that are attracted to the area along with other pelagic species. Later in the day, the boat sails to St. John's where there is the chance of a night dive.
The morning of Day 5 is spent at St. John's. Enjoy 2 dives here. One of the most renowned diving locations in the Red Sea this is a collection of small reefs with stunning hard and soft corals and a marine life to boot. Expect to encounter grey reef and silver-tip sharks, with a little luck, schools of hammerheads as well as the impressive and inquisitive bumphead parrot fish, schools of jacks, barracuda and sometimes, mantas. Dive sites visited include Big Gota, Habili Ali and St. John's Caves. Possible night dive here before an overnight sailing to Fury Shoal, mooring at Wadi Gamal. Continue to Fury Shoal. Possible night dive.
The last full day of diving (3 dives) is at Fury Shoal with its diversity of sites, offers something for everyone - reefs, drop-offs, wrecks, swim-throughs. The colourful reefs are home to a wealth of marine life including reef fish, Napolean wrasse and anemones with a number of patrolling shark species often observed and dolphins a plenty. This evening the boat sails back towards Port Ghalib.
Day 7. Enjoy 2 last dives in the Marsa Alam area. Weather permitting this may include the legendary Elphinstone Reef, a rewarding dive especially in the early morning when encounters with hammerhead and grey reef sharks are most likely. Frequent sightings of inquisitive oceanic white-tip sharks are best from the northern plateau. Once diving is completed, the boat heads back to Port Ghalib where you spend the final night on board.
Experience level:
You must be a PADI Open Water diver or equivalent and have logged a minimum of 30 dives to join this safari.
For the best possible diving experience it is highly recommended that you are qualified to an Advanced and Deep Diver certified (courses can be taken onboard).
As with all diving activities, the dive guide has the final decision regarding any divers competency to complete any particular dive.
Please note that night diving is prohibited in the marine parks.