Alia Soul · Egypt · 8 Days / 7 Nights
An 8-day / 7-night southern Red Sea expedition departing and returning to Port Ghalib. The route pushes deep south to the St. Johns offshore reef system and the Fury Shoals, combining pristine coral walls, shark encounters, dolphin lagoons and a grand finale at the legendary Elphinstone Reef. Highlights include Habili Ali, Gota Kebir, Shaab Claudio, Shaab Maksur, Shaab Sataya (Dolphin House), Wadi Gimal National Park and Elphinstone. Recommended for divers with approximately 22+ logged dives.
Port Ghalib, Egypt
Welcome aboard! After arriving and transferring to the marina, you will board the vessel in Port Ghalib. You’ll have time to settle into your cabin, get acquainted with the boat and meet your fellow divers during the welcome briefing. The vessel will depart overnight, sailing south towards the remote reefs.
Good to know: Embarkation and welcome briefing | Cabin check-in | Dinner onboard
Marsa Alam Area, Southern Red Sea
The morning begins with the first dive briefings and one or two check dives at a local reef. These initial immersions are perfect for checking your buoyancy and gear while getting a first taste of the vibrant Red Sea life. Afterwards, the boat continues its long journey south towards the St. John's reef system.
Good to know: Check dives to ensure proper weighting and equipment function | Overnight sailing south
St. John's, Southern Red Sea
Arrive at the legendary St. John's reef system. Today's diving focuses on the area's incredible topography, particularly the famous St. John's Caves (Umm Khararim). Explore a network of shallow, sunlit swim-throughs, tunnels, and caverns adorned with hard corals. The unique play of light and shadow offers incredible photo opportunities, with resident schools of cardinalfish and glassfish hiding in the complex structures.
Dive sites: St. John's Caves (Umm Khararim)
St. John's, Southern Red Sea
Today's dives target the offshore pinnacles of Habili Ali and Habili Gafaar, which rise from the depths and attract big-animal action. The sheer walls are covered in huge gorgonian fans and black corals. Keep your eyes on the blue for encounters with grey reef sharks, and with luck, an oceanic whitetip or passing hammerhead.
Dive sites: Habili Ali, Habili Gafaar
St. John's, Southern Red Sea
Experience more of St. John's diversity at sites like Dangerous Reef and the extensive Abu Basala reef. Despite its name, Dangerous Reef offers a more relaxed profile with an easy-to-navigate layout, great for finding moray eels and squid. A night dive is often possible here, revealing the reef's nocturnal inhabitants.
Dive sites: Dangerous Reef, Abu Basala
Fury Shoals, Southern Red Sea
The boat begins its journey north, stopping at the magnificent Fury Shoals. This vast reef complex is famous for its pristine hard coral formations, creating stunning coral gardens. Sites here are often shallower and offer a completely different feel to the drop-offs of St. John's, with amazing reef tops perfect for colourful, relaxed diving.
Good to know: Exploring the famous coral gardens of the Fury Shoals area.
Elphinstone Reef, Southern Red Sea
The final one or two dives of the trip are spent at the legendary Elphinstone Reef, a long, finger-like reef famous for its strong currents and exciting drift dives. The plateaus at the north and south ends are prime spots for shark sightings, including oceanic whitetips, while the walls are decorated with vibrant soft corals and teeming with anthias.
Dive sites: Elphinstone Reef
Good to know: Final dives before sailing back to port | Wash down and pack equipment
Port Ghalib, Egypt
After a final breakfast on board, it's time to say goodbye to the crew and your fellow divers. Disembarkation takes place in the morning, followed by a transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Good to know: Breakfast onboard | Disembarkation | Airport transfer