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M/Y Emperor Asmaa

Good value for money and very comfortable.

Join the Emperor Asmaa for a week of thrills. A choice of diving around southern locations like St Johns and Daedalus. Do a Nitrox course for only £99 whilst on your trip including books and cert.

M/Y Emperor Asmaa is a 28 metre custom built boat designed with divers in mind offering charters around the Red Sea. She offers 7 night itineraries departing from Marsa Ghalib Port with a choice of 6 routes to choose from visiting Sha’ab Claudio, Wadi Lahmi, Thistlegorm and Dunraven Wreck. The experienced captain, 8 friendly crew and 2 guides will lead you through the trip whilst helping with any questions or queries you may have regarding the boat or the itinerary.

M/Y Emperor Asmaa comfortably accommodates 20 guests in 10 twin bed cabins all with en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, plenty of storage and two towels per guest. The food aboard is a variety of European and local cuisine suiting the needs of most customers, any dietary requirements must be stated at time of booking so the chef can adhere to any guests needs.

The dining area is furnished with tables and chairs comfortably accommodating 20 guests for all meals with the large salon offering you the perfect place to relax with a film or a book at the end of the day. The large lower sundeck is partially shaded and complete with tables, chairs and bar making for a good place to take in the views of the open water. The large dive deck provides ample space for divers to gear up with the dive deck just a few steps down with 2 steel ladders into the water.

Standard Twin Stateroom

The Emperor Asmaa accomodates 20 guests in 10 twin bedded cabins (4 of which are on the upper deck). The cabins all have private bathrooms with some bathroom amenities and plenty of storage.

  • Twin beds
  • Individual air conditioning controls
  • Ensuite bathroom
  • Two towels provided per guest
  • Storage

Upper Deck Twin Stateroom

There are 4 cabins on the upper deck, the rest are on the loweer deck. The cabins all have private bathrooms with some bathroom amenities and plenty of storage.

  • Twin beds
  • Individual air conditioning controls
  • Ensuite bathroom
  • Two towels provided per guest
  • Storage

Route Options

Simply the Best offers divers the chance to explore the 'Best Top 3' sites in this area: Big and Little Brothers, Daedalus Reef and Elphinstone. A fabulous mixture of reef and wreck diving

The Brother Islands are the pinnacles of two undersea mountains rising from the depths of the abyss and are located about 60 miles offshore. Part of the Marine Park Islands National Park, these islands offer stunning wall diving, with the walls being covered in soft corals and forests of gorgonians, creating a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours. They attract a diverse array of marine species and large pelagics. Large tuna, jacks and snappers cruise in the blue, accompanied by occasional hammerheads, silvertips, silky and oceanic white tip sharks and mantas. Even the rare thresher shark can be found here. Sightings of the grey reef shark are almost guaranteed on the North and South Plateaux of Small Brother.

For the wreck diver, the Aida II, an Egyptian supply vessel, and the Numidia, a cargo ship, lie on the walls of the Big Brother. Both are covered in a rich growth of soft and hard corals. Marine life includes a family of Napoleon wrasse and grey reef sharks.

Daedalus Reef, also part of the Marine Park, is a large, oval reef with a lighthouse and is the furthest offshore reef in the Egyptian Red Sea. Its deep walls and drop-offs offer some of the most spectacular diving to be found. Daedalus has mountainous, pristine, hard coral formations. There is also a strong chance of spotting schooling hammerheads and grey reef sharks.

Elphinstone, with its sheer walls covered in soft corals, offers a likely encounter with oceanic white tip sharks.

South & St.Johns guarantees some of the best diving the Red Sea has to offer, the diving is less arduous so it's a trip for those who want to see the best but have a more relaxed time while doing so.

This trip takes you to some of the best diving the Red Sea has to offer. Here the diving is less arduous so it's a trip for those who want to see the best but have a more relaxed time while doing so. Sailing to the southernmost reefs, you'll depart from Marsa Ghalib Port and dive some sites to the South before sailing overnight to your southernmost point in the St. John's area. Depending on weather, government approval and marine life sightings in recent weeks, we may sail to the southernmost islands of Rocky and Zabargad, or we'll moor instead in the vast reef system of St John's to begin the adventure in the South.

When leaving Marsa Ghalib the route can sometimes take in a dive at Abu Dabab on the first or last day. Often spoilt for choice, your guides will pick sites that they know to be the best for the time of the year and can find excellent alternatives should the weather affect the normal route. Although the distances are long, where possible we travel overnight so, as a 21 plus route, our aim is to get as many dives in as possible at some of the most impressive reefs. Below are some of the highlights.

On the way to Fury shoals, dive Sha'ab Sharm with its wall dives and white tip reef sharks. Oceanic white tips and silky sharks can sometimes be found in the blue and turtles often visit the south side before heading further south. At Fury Shoals, dive Sha'ab Claude with its famous swim-throughs and huge porite corals. White tip reef sharks and an anemone and clownfish settlement can be seen a little off the reef to the South. Abu Galawa Soraya has a fantastic coral garden and a wreck of a private sailing boat populated with glass fish.

St Johns is a vast collection of small reefs offering some of the most remote and rewarding diving in the Red Sea. This incredibly beautiful reef lies a short distance north of the Sudanese border. The reef covers a huge area and many dives would be needed to explore the numerous coral heads and islands. Habili Ali offers giant gorgonians and black corals whilst grey reef, silvertip and schools of hammerhead sharks might be found on the west side. Habili Gafaar is a mass of soft corals teaming with shoals of snappers, butterfly fish and barracudas. Mantas, grey reef and silvertip sharks can often be seen in the blue.

Gota Kebir is a massive reef, famous for its tunnels and south plateau, where jacks and barracudas can be seen and the occasional manta. The tunnels are ideal for novice cave divers.

Gota Soraya is rated as possibly one of the best wall dives in the Red Sea, with overhangs and cracks in the reef wall full of glass fish and sweepers and an abundance of corals, Grey Reef, Silvertips and Hammerhead sharks.

On the last day as we head back to port, we will try to take in a dive or two on the world famous Elphinstone Reef if weather and diver experience permits us, or we will finish in the Abu Dabab area perhaps with another dive or two closer to Port Ghalib to relax and unwind before your final night in port.

Famous Five route covers Abu Nuhas that has 4 well known wrecks offering spectacular dives with sightings of a variety of fish life, Ras Mohamed and Brother Islands

Starting from Hurghada, we sail north towards Gubal Island and on to Abu Nuhas and its four well-known wrecks: Giannis D, Carnatic, the 'Lentil Wreck' and the 'Tile Wreck', all offering spectacular dives and plenty of fish life. Explore the Rosalie Moller (the sister ship of the slightly more famous Thistlegorm), which lies from 30 to 50 metres deep and is in excellent condition. Although the visibility is not always good the wreck is covered in glassfish from bow to stern and hunting them are masses of lionfish. Around the wreck are the usual pelagics such as tuna, trevallies, Emperor fish and many more.

A short ride across the Straits of Gubal and you visit the most famous wreck of the Red Sea, the SS Thistlegorm! An awe-inspiring World War II British vessel with a cargo full of armaments, Bedford trucks and BSA motorbikes, which were all destined for the British troops in North Africa. She was sunk by the German Luftwaffe and now lies in 30 metres of water. Depending on divers' experience, along with weather and current conditions, we try to offer a night dive here. Nearby is the Ras Mohamed National Park, offering a morning dive at the renowned 'Shark and Yolanda' reefs. Ras Mohamed National Park is the furthest Sinai destination before heading south towards the Brothers.

The Brother Islands are the pinnacles of two undersea mountains rising from the depths of the abyss and are located about 60 miles offshore from El Quseir. Part of the Marine Park Islands National Park, these islands offer stunning wall diving, with the walls being covered in soft corals and forests of gorgonians, creating a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours. They attract a diverse array of marine species and large pelagics. Big tuna, barracudas, jacks and snappers cruise in the blue, accompanied by occasional hammerheads, silky and oceanic white tip sharks and mantas. Even the rare thresher shark can sometimes be found there. Sightings of the grey reef shark are almost guaranteed on the North and South Plateaux of Small Brother.

For the wreck diver, the Aida II, an Egyptian supply vessel, and the Numidia, a cargo ship, lie on the walls of the Big Brother. Both are covered in a rich growth of soft and hard corals. Marine life includes a family of Napoleon wrasse and grey reef sharks.

The boat will then sail back to Hurghada via Safaga where you can dive at Panorama Reef or the famous wreck of Salem Express for a memorable finale!

The Reefs & Wrecks itinerary presents the best of both worlds, where you visit famous wrecks in the northern Red Sea along with some stunning reef diving.

This itinerary presents the best of both worlds, where you visit famous wrecks in the northern Red Sea along with some stunning reef diving.

The famous horseshoe shaped reef of Shaab El Erg is a perfect example of the reefs on offer on this cruise with its beautiful hard coral garden and the chance to see dolphins.

Abu Nuhas has four well-known wrecks Giannis D, Carnatic, the Chrisoula K ('tile wreck') and the Kimon M ('lentil wreck'), all offering spectacular dives and plenty of fish life.

In between wreck dives you will also visit the reefs of the Straits of Gubal, Gulf of Suez and those to the north of Hurghada. A variety of deep walls and hard coral gardens with an abundance of reef fish make them well worth a visit.

Night dives can be superb as Gubal Island offers protected anchoring for the night. A small wreck at 8-10 metres makes for a spectacular night dive with lionfish, scorpion fish and its resident giant moray eel as well as the wreck of the Ulysses. Next onto the Kingston lying at Shag Rock, the Carina lying close to Sha'ab Ali and the Dunraven at Beacon Rock.

Ras Mohamed lies on the southernmost tip of the Sinai and is one of the best kept National Parks in Egypt with waters full of nutrients, steep walls going down to a depth of 1000 metres attracting a large amount of big fish and earning itself a reputation as one of the top diving areas in the world. Whilst here, you may have the chance to dive at Shark Reef, a sheer wall falling into the blue, as well as the wreck of the Yolanda.

Jackson Reef, locally named the 'Aquarium', is Tiran's most popular dive with the 'Jackson Drift' being Sharm's' fastest and most exhilarating drift dive past a stunning wall bursting with prolific coral growth. Occasionally, in the summer months, a school of scalloped hammerheads can be seen. Thomas Reef gives you plunging walls covered with soft coral, gorgonians and colourful fish life. The west wall is darker with overhangs and caves full of glassfish and sweepers. A night dive at Gordon Reef promises various species of coral, small nudibranchs hidden in the crevices and the soft corals and a chance to see white tip reef sharks, eagle rays, octopus and different types of eel such as moray, peppered and gold edged morays.

Finally the most famous wreck in the Red Sea, the SS Thistlegorm, at Shaab Ali and including a night dive on Thistle. The Thistlegorm was sunk in 1941 after being bombed by the German Luftwaffe while on a mission to deliver a cargo of ammunition and other war materials to the British troops in North Africa.

A week long diving safari starting and ending in Hurghada North & Easy runs from May to September and has been designed to showcase some of the highlights of the Northern Red Sea.

Designed to showcase some of the highlights of the Northern Red Sea at a relaxed pace whether diving or snorkelling, it's ideal for both divers and non-divers. It's also the best time of year for dolphin spotting and the world class fish schooling event at Ras Mohamed.

Discount for non-divers: €150 per person.

We spend more time moored at each location and less time travelling from dive site to dive site; perfectly designed for the divers who like to take things easy, the photo enthusiasts looking for more dive time to capture that perfect photo opportunity or for non-divers looking to soak up the scenery, both below and above the water. Our open deck policy at certain dive sites on these trips mean you can simply relax and sunbathe or grab your snorkel or dive gear whenever you want to hit the water.

Enjoy the breath-taking scenery as we start from Hurghada, sail across to well-known areas such as Sha'ab El Erg, two of the world's best dive sites including Ras Mohamed National Park (Shark and Yolanda reefs) and the wreck of the Thistlegorm, breath-taking schools of glass fish on the wreck of the Dunraven and the colourful coral gardens on the islands of Tiran.

Day 1 Arrive on board from 6pm onwards. We stay in port overnight and depart early the next morning.

Day 2 Sail across to Sha'ab El Erg known for its corals, pinnacles and a lagoon home to a large number of bottlenose dolphins, famous for their appearance on Blue Planet! This location is the best chance for divers and snorkellers to see them in the wild. We later cross to the Alternatives and moor at Stingray Station, so named due to the many blue spotted stingrays that gather here. Thanks to the shelter that the reef provides and the shallowness of the surrounding water this is a very popular spot for snorkellers. An 'introductory dive' can be done here too.

Day 3 We will arrive at Ras Mohamed in the morning and visit the schooling fish event at Shark & Yolanda. This really has to be seen to be believed with huge schools of snapper, batfish, trevally, parrotfish and barracuda amongst others - incredible! We stop at Marsa Bereika for another chance for introductory dives to complete the morning. In the afternoon, we will either make some local sites or head to the Straits of Tiran for our first taste of open deck diving. In the afternoon, you'll have the choice to swim or dive when you want, either with the guided group or with a buddy. See for yourself why the Red Sea is so named and take in the breath-taking backdrop of the Sinai mountains during sunset.

Day 4 We start the day as we finished the last with open deck diving/snorkelling at Tiran. Tiran is amazing whether explored below or above the surface. Keep your eyes peeled and you'll be mesmerised by the variety of life here; turtles cruising by walls covered in healthy and colourful hard and soft corals, schools of reef fish as far as the eye can see in crystal clear blue water. Topside and around sunset, look out for dolphins too. Later we go to some amazing local sites for more dives and swimming.

Day 5 Early morning dive or snorkel at the Dunraven wreck. Life inside and around the wreck can hold a delight or two, especially macro and small life for underwater photo enthusiasts. If you are lucky, you may see dolphins on their early morning commute. Late morning, we take the short trip across to the wreck of the Thistlegorm and spend the afternoon here. Overnight sailing to the Straits of Gubal.

Day 6 Wake up moored at Bluff Point/The Barge where we spend a whole day with an open deck. Huge fan corals cover an impressive drop off with caves and glass fish. Sightings of turtles and Napoleon fish are common. A barge wreck lies on the reef 300m north of the lighthouse, starting at 5m depth and sloping to 25m. The barge is literally crammed full of fish, along with several lionfish. An 'introductory dive' can be done here.

Day 7 Time to relax on board or jump back in the water to dive or snorkel at your leisure with open deck until 10am before heading back to Shaab El Erg for one last visit. Returning to Hurghada port mid-afternoon to stretch your sea legs and overnight in the port. All dives on this day must observe no diving 24 hours before your flight.

Red Sea Sharks offers divers the chance to explore the majestic Red Sea during the warm summer months of May to August speically for some shark action.

Looking for some shark action? We know the best time to have the best chance to see those sharks in action! Explore the majestic Red Sea during the warm summer months of May to August with our much anticipated Red Sea Sharks itinerary offering flexibility and focus for 'action' dives. These months are best-known for the variety of sharks visiting some of the remote offshore reefs. But be prepared to change diving plans at the last minute because we go where the action is.

Our guides select the best possible action sites to visit based on their immense local knowledge and on insider-data on recent activity including a variety of Red Sea sharks, dolphins and anything else that chooses to join the party.

Some of the sites we might visit are St John's, Rocky, Daedalus and Elphinstone. However, please remember that the focus of this trip is not about where we go but about what we want to see...sharks! To that end, if we've had better shark sightings at, say, The Brother's Islands, then we'll head off there to catch the action! As always reefs we can visit may be restricted by weather conditions.

Safaga, Brothers & Elphinstone route encompasses some great diving, some of the best being the offshore reefs of Panorama Reef, Middle Reef and Abu Kafan.

The area around Safaga has some great diving, the best being the offshore reefs of Panorama Reef, Middle Reef and Abu Kafan. Some divers say this area equals the great sites of Ras Mohamed. The diving offers a combination of shallow reef dives and drop-offs, as well as the famous wreck of the Salem Express.

The Salem Express is a dramatic dive. Around 500 people perished in one of the worst marine tragedies of all times. The 100-metre ferryboat was on its way back from Mecca to Safaga after the annual Muslim pilgrimage in December 1991 when it hit the reef during a stormy night and sunk rapidly without giving the crew and passengers the chance to board the lifeboats. It is now home to a thriving underwater life, including a famous resident frogfish, blue-spotted stingrays, angel and butterfly fish. The ship itself is covered in a large quantity of hard and soft corals. It is one of the largest wrecks in the Egyptian Red Sea, roughly the same size as the Thistlegorm.

There is superb wall diving at Panorama, on the south-east of the plateau is a gorgonian and glassfish corner with the whole plateau covered in soft corals and on the south side is an anemone city.

Hal Hal (Middle Reef) is a rarely chosen dive site due to its distance from the coast, which makes it a virgin spot. The north side is a drop off going down to 80 metres and is a perfect location to spot tunas, barracudas, turtles and sharks. The southern side has colourful coral gardens along with some caves and canyons.

Abu Kafan is a 300-metre long, narrow reef offering a plateau at both north and south tips. We normally jump in the water on the north plateau and glide with the frequent strong current southwards along the impressive walls covered with soft and black coral, giant fans and gorgonians.

The Brother Islands are the pinnacles of two undersea mountains rising from the depths of the abyss and are located about 60 miles offshore. Part of the Marine Park Islands National Park, these islands offer stunning wall diving, with the walls being covered in soft corals and forests of gorgonians, creating a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours. They attract a diverse array of marine species and large pelagics. Large tuna, jacks and snappers cruise in the blue, accompanied by occasional hammerheads, silvertips, silky and oceanic white tip sharks and mantas. Even the rare thresher shark can be found here. Sightings of the grey reef shark are almost guaranteed on the North and South Plateaux of Small Brother.

Abu Dabab is six reefs commonly known as "Fathers Steps" or "Fathers Stepping Stones" and as the name suggests a set of fairly shallow reefs ranging from depths of 25 metres to the seafloor. In between Abu Dabab II and III at approximately 15 metres is the wreckage of a small ship sunk after a fire in 2004. The reefs themselves offer colourful coral gardens and an underwater cave system to explore. Pods of dolphins have been known to frequent the area as well as blue spotted rays, Napoleons, giant puffers, box fish, sweetlips, batfish, nudibranchs and more.

Elphinstone is approximately 30km from Port Ghalib; Elphinstone reef is 300 metres long with sheer walls richly covered in colourful pink and red soft corals and elegant red gorgonians descending to around 40 metres. Other areas of the reef have near vertical cliffs, overhangs, small caves and drop offs of up to 100 metres. Elphinstone is known to experience some strong currents attracting many diverse species such as barracuda, angel fish, groupers, Napoleons, morays, reef sharks and great shoals of dogtooth tuna and jacks. Occasional sightings include dolphins, turtles, oceanic white tip and hammerheads sharks.

Daedalus, Fury Shoals and Elphinstone offers some of the best diving in the Red Sea. With less distance to travel than some routes, you have more time to dive these iconic sites and there is less chance of seasickness with shorter sailings and secure moorings.

This trip offers you some of the best diving in the Red Sea and includes Daedalus, Fury Shoals and Elphinstone. With less distance to travel than some routes, you have more time to dive these iconic sites and there is less chance of seasickness with shorter sailings and secure moorings. Depending on prevailing weather conditions your guides will pick sites suitable for night dives outside the Marine Park.

Heading first to Fury Shoals, we may dive around the Marsa Alam area or perhaps dive Sha'ab Sharm with its wall dives and white tip reef sharks. Oceanic white tips and silky sharks can sometimes be found in the blue and turtles often visit the south side before heading further south. At Fury Shoals, we have more time to explore the vast reef system than other itineraries afford. Of course we will dive the classics such as Sha'ab Claude (a.k.a. Claudio) with its famous swim-throughs and huge porites corals, Malahi with its mazes and friendly turtles and Abu Galawa Soraya with its fantastic coral garden and a wreck of a private sailing boat smothered with glass fish. Sataya with its resident spinner dolphin population is a must for snorkelling between dives, as well as having some good underwater offerings, and on top of that we can spend time exploring less dived sites such as Sha'ab Hamam (Stairway to Heaven), Abu Galawa Kebir with the Tien Hsing wreck, Gota Sataya and if the weather is kind there are some submerged reefs that can be moored on such as Habili Sameh that will blow you away!

Daedalus Reef, a part of the Red Sea offshore Marine Park, is a large, oval reef with a lighthouse and is the furthest offshore reef in the Egyptian Red Sea. Its deep walls and drop-offs offer some of the most spectacular diving to be found. Daedalus has mountainous, pristine, hard coral formations. There is also a strong chance of spotting schooling hammerheads, especially from May to November, and grey reef sharks.

Of course no trip to the South would be complete without stopping at world famous Elphinstone, with its sheer walls covered in soft corals, and likely encounters with oceanic white tip sharks. Depending on the experience of the group and the weather, you may even get the chance to dive it at the beginning and end of your amazing trip!

Vessel Details

Year Built 2003
Total refit 2015
Length 30.0m
Beam 7.0m
Engines 2 x 630 HP MAN
Generators 1 x 38 KW perkins and 1 x 84 KW perkins
Navigation and Communication GPS/Echo Sounder/VHF Marina Radio/Satellite Phone
Water capacity 1 x Aquaset desalination system 5500 litres per day
Entertainment TV/DVD/CD/video media player
Air Compressors 2 x 215 L / hour, 1 x 190 L / hour
Nitrox diving EAB's Membrane filling station
Emergency Equipment Oxygen system and Medic First Aid Kit available
Dive Deck Equipped with 12 litre Aluminium tanks as standard and 15 litre Steel or Aluminium tanks on request. 7m x 7m dive platform.
Dive Computer EUR25
Wetsuits EUR10
BCD EUR10
Regulator EUR10
Torch EUR7
Dive Computer EUR10
Mask EUR2
Boots EUR4

Available Experiences

ITINERARIES AVAILABLE IN THIS DESTINATION

Marcelina

Wednesday, 10 April 2019

Sunrise Marina Resort & Emperor Divers in Marsa Alam

The overall holiday was excellent value for money. Emperor Divers provided an outstanding dive experience on day boat trips to provide some of the most relax dives I have ever encountered at reasonable depths.

Sunrise Marina Resort & Emperor Divers in Marsa Alam

What Our Customers Have To Say

Reviews from our Clients, Journalists, Photo Pro's and our own Experts

Our reviews and blogs are an additional guide to evaluate of the holiday is exactley what you are looking for or not. Some love an Eco-Resort, some love air-con and a flat screen TV, we aim to ensure you get what you are looking for, at great value for money.

Emperor Asmaa - Red Sea Diving!

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M Fletcher

Jackson Reef

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

Most northerly of the reefs of Tiran and the northern limit of day boats from Sharm El Sheikh. The wreck of the Lara lies at the northern end. There is superb wall diving along its entire perimeter, with numerous buttresses and gullies. Sightings of sharks, turtles and other big fish are not uncommon and you will find a huge diversity of different corals and sponges as well as clouds of trigger fish, masked puffers and banner fish. At the point you may be lucky and spot a Hammerhead in summer.

  • Min Dives: 9
  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 25m

Thomas Reef

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

Between Gordon and Woodhouse reefs, smaller round reef with walls plunging deep and fully covered with soft coral, gorgonians and colourful fish life. It is almost possible to circumnavigate this reef in one dive. The east wall plunges dramatically to great depths with a mass of brightly coloured soft corals. The west wall is darker with overhangs and caves but is a great drift dive with sightings of Trevally and Tuna in the blue and schooling reef fish close to the reef.

  • Min Dives: 9
  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 20m

Ras Mohammed

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

Ras Mohammed peninsula separates the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba. Currents flow out of both gulfs and bathe Ras Mohammed in rich nutrients, which assure plentiful and varied marine life. At Shark Reef and Yolanda wreck, many fish species can be found: groupers, barracuda, batfish, Napoleon wrasses, blue-spot stingrays and a special treat, crocodile fish. It's an amusing and memorable site to see groupers swimming around a huge mountain of toilets at the bottom of the sea.
Really several dive sites, Ras Mohammed has earned itself a reputation as one of the top diving areas in the world, here at the tip of the Sinai where the vast bodies of water, the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba meet has created an ecosystem like no other and wall diving is at its very best.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 18m

Shark and Yolanda Reefs

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

When divers think of Sinai, they think of Shark Reef and Yolanda. The two reefs are actually the twin peaks of a single coral seamount rising just off the Ras Muhammad coast, separated from the mainland by a shallow channel.
Shark Reef, the easternmost of the two, boasts a sheer wall dropping to well past 50m (164ft) along its northeast and eastern sides, giving way to a steep reef slope as the reef proceeds southwest toward Yolanda. A shallow saddle lies between the two reefs at 18 to 20m (60-65ft). A second shallow patch lies south of Yolanda. This second flat patch is the site of what remains of the Yolanda, a wrecked freighter. The ship itself slipped into the deep in 1986 after a severe storm, but much of its cargo remains, incongruously strewn across the reef.
Coral is excellent, with good if sparse growth on the wall sections and dense coral gardens on the shallower flat areas. Big pelagics and schooling fish swarm these reefs in the thousands. The Most impressive concentration is on the wall at Shark Reef. On the reef, hundreds of different reef fishes can be spotted as can moray eels of a meter (3ft) and bluespotted and blackspotted stingrays.

  • Min Dives:
  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 27m

Shab El Erg

Hurghada , Red Sea

The most northerly site for day boats out of Hurghada. A huge horseshoe shaped reef offering many dive sites on all sides. The north point can be home to Mantas in season. The lagoon is dotted with ergs and is renowned for sightings of the resident dolphin community; divers have previously spent up to 30 minutes with dolphins here.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

Abu Dabab

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

A collection of 7 reefs. Offers sheltered diving in rough weather conditions. Popular overnight location due to close proximity to the famous Elphinstone reef with a very good chance to see Spanish dancers on the night dive. Many swim caves. Often sightings of reef sharks on the southern outer reefs.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

Elphinstone Reef

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

The sheer walls of this great reef plunge steeply into the blue, richly decorated with soft corals, sponges, gorgonians and fans. Sharks often swim by the spot to feed on the abundant reef fish population. The northern plateau is home to schooling hammerheads with frequent sightings of oceanic white tip sharks.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

Daedalus Reef

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

A huge round reef with a lighthouse more than 40 miles away from the coast, features an excellent opportunity for spotting big pelagics including manta rays. All around its steep walls you will see an extreme variety of fish and coral. Good chance to see schooling hammerheads on the northern point. Strong currents possible.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

Abu Galawa Soraya

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

The northern edge of the 'Fury Shoal' group, this reef has a fantastic hard coral garden, and a wreck of a private sailing boat on the western side which is packed with glassfish.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

Shaab Claude

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

Famous for its large labyrinths of swim throughs. Huge porite corals and a resident napoleon. Often white tip reef sharks and a very nice anemone and clownfish settlement on a small pinnacle a little off the reef to the south.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

Rocky Island

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

Tiny rock emerging a few feet out of the water, it offers one of the most incredible underwater scenarios of the whole Red Sea. Steep walls falling into the deep blue, currents, soft corals and a great abundance of pelagics and all kinds of fish.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

St Johns Reef

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

This incredibly beautiful reef lies Approx. 40km North of the Sudanese border and 20km south of Zabargad . The reef covers a huge area and many dives would be needed to explore the numerous coral heads and islands that make up this extensive area.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

Thistlegorm

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

The Thistlegorm was discovered in 1956 by Jacques Cousteau and is probably the most famous wreck in the world. It sank in 1941 when it was hit by a German bomb that blew a hole in the port side, igniting tank ammunition that was in the hold. The explosion ripped the roof of the ship backwards, rather like opening a tin of sardines.
The stern section of the wreck lies almost horizontal to the sea bed; the remainder of the wreck is nearly upright. Inside the wreckage, tyres, tanks, motorbikes, Bedford trucks, waders and wellington boots can be seen. Penetration is possible around the bridge and blast area. The large propeller is still in position and the guns on the stern are in excellent condition.
Artillery litters the blast area. A bath tub can be seen towards the bow and a toilet near the stern. The sea life is impressive with possibility of seeing tuna overhead the resident turtle. Expect this to be very busy, especially once the day boats have reached it; it is likely to be chaos both on the surface and under the water.

  • Min Dives: 9
  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 31m

Abu Nuhas

Hurghada , Red Sea

Abu Nuhas is a large triangular shapped reef. Shaab Abu Nuhas means father of brass and it got the name because of all the brass that went down with the shipwrecks.

The reef is located just to the north of Shadwan Island and this area is covered with wrecks. The wrecks are located on the north side of the reef with the main ones being the Giannis D, the Carnatic, the Chrisoula K and the Kimon M.

  • Min Dives: 9
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 25m

SS Thistlegorm

Hurghada , Red Sea

The Thistlegorm was discovered in 1956 by Jacques Cousteau and is probably the most famous wreck in the world. It sank in 1941 when it was hit by a German bomb that blew a hole in the port side, igniting tank ammunition that was in the hold. The explosion ripped the roof of the ship backwards, rather like opening a tin of sardines.
The stern section of the wreck lies almost horizontal to the sea bed; the remainder of the wreck is nearly upright. Inside the wreckage, tyres, tanks, motorbikes, Bedford trucks, waders and Wellington boots can be seen. Penetration is possible around the bridge and blast area. The large prop is still in position and the guns on the stern are in excellent condition.
Artillery litters the blast area. A bath tub can be seen towards the bow and a toilet near the stern. The sea life is impressive with possibility of seeing tuna overhead the resident turtle. Expect this to be very busy, especially once the day boats have reached it; it is likely to be chaos both on the surface and under the water.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

Rosalie Moeller

Hurghada , Red Sea

Rosalie Moller sank in the 1940's. She was hit by a bomb. Penetration is accessible as the cracks are huge, but it is not necessary as the significant parts of the wreck are visible from the outside.
The prop and rudder are still in good condition. The deck is in good condition and very clean. The sea life is amazing, with glassfish that can be seen by the deck and reef sharks that can be spotted.

  • Min Dives: 9
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 25m

Salem Express

Hurghada , Red Sea

A Ferry carrying pilgrims returning from Mecca, sank in 1991 after hitting the reef at night. 600 victims perished in one of the greatest marine tragedies of all time. Divers are asked to dive the wreck considerately with respect for the great loss of life and penetration of the wreck is forbidden.
The propellers make an impressive sight and the covering of hard corals now colonising the wreck show the power of the ocean to make new life out of this tragedy. Fish life is now abundant and the funnels of the wreck with large "S" and the name on the bow are clearly visible. The site is reasonably sheltered and is not exposed to strong current and can be dived at all levels from 12m to 30m.

  • Min Dives: 9
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 30m

Brother Islands

Hurghada , Red Sea

The offshore islands in this area have recently been reopened for diving after a long closure by the Egyptian Government and have been designated as a Marine Park. Now suitable moorings are installed for dive boats visiting this area. The Brothers are really the tops of two undersea mountains these islands rise from the depths, the coral clad walls do offer outstanding diving with plenty of big fish action due to there remote location some 80km offshore.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

Fury Shoals Reef System

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

Fury Shoals is a group of dive sites offering a variety of coral pinnacles, lagoons, drop offs and fast drifts.

Here you will have the opportunity to see hammerhead sharks, silvertip sharks, white tip reef sharks, grey reef sharks, bumphead parrotfish, turtles, spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, surgeonfish, jacks, tuna, reef fish, colourful coral and sponges.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

Straits of Tiran

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

The Straits of Tiran offers divers a choice of 7 dive sites, the Gordon reef, the Jackson reef, the Laguna reef, Million hope wrecks, the Tomas reef, the Woodhouse reef and Zingara. All these dive sites offer divers top quality diving with some sites offering maximum depths up to 100 metres.

  • Min Dives: 9
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 100m

Shag Rock

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

Shag Rock is a large circular reef with two small wrecks on it. The Carina is a broken up wreckage of a 19th Century steamship that you drift past quickly. The kingston is another 18th century steamship, but is more intact than the Carina is. The reef makes quite a good dive with lots of branching coral, butterfly fish, yellow goatfish, sweet lips and sea cucumbers.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 16m

Shaab Sharm

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

Shaab Sharm is a large and kidney shaped reef with a vertical sloping wall at its south and east sides and plateaus at both ends. The plateau is said to be the top of a huge undersea volcano. There is also a cave system at more than 50 meters of depth, but this is for technical divers only. Currents can be strong so pay attention to the place where you will be picked up. The best places to dive are the southern and south-eastern sections of the reef, where the plateau is overgrown with hard and soft corals. Here divers will see shoals of barracuda, snappers and groupers. It has beautiful soft corals, forests of black coral and huge gorgonian fans. Snappers, unicorns, morays and turtles are not uncommon as well. Enjoy this fantastic dive site where a lot can still be explored.

  • Min Dives: 9
  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 40m

Giannis D

Hurghada , Red Sea

This Greek freighter hit the reef in April 1983 and over the course of two weeks slowly broke into two parts and sank. She is the most dived wreck in the area, laying in 24 metres and leaning to port with a fully intact stern section and an impressive engine room packed with glass fish.

The bow is very interesting too but is a long swim out. She is a great wreck for penetration but beware of disorientation due to the angle at which she lays. Be wary of the many lion fish and scorpion fish that call this wreck home and watch out for the strong surges in and around the wreck in rough weather.

  • Min Dives: 9
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 24m

Carnatic

Hurghada , Red Sea

The Carnatic is a British P & O steamer which struck the reef in 1869 and sank the next day as the weather worsened. She was a passenger and mail ship and is sometimes known as the ‘wine’ wreck for the numerous bottles once found in the holds; sadly not many now remain to be seen. Rumour has it that she sank with forty thousand pounds sterling of gold bullion, much of which was never recovered. The wreck lays in 29m and now the whole hull is draped in multicoloured soft corals and the inner areas are full of glass fish complete with red mouthed grouper sentinel. One davit supports a beautiful table coral. The wreck is now home to large grouper, octopus and morays and jacks and tuna cruise overhead.

  • Min Dives: 9
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 29m
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