Discovery I · Egypt · 8D7N
Embark on a captivating journey to Egypt's southernmost Red Sea reefs, exploring the renowned dive systems of Fury Shoals, St. John's, and Elphinstone. This itinerary promises diverse underwater landscapes, from vibrant coral gardens and dramatic wall dives to exhilarating drifts and intricate swim-throughs. Divers can anticipate encountering a rich variety of marine life, including various shark species, schooling pelagics, and magnificent reef dwellers, set against a backdrop of stunning Red Sea topography. Prepare for an unforgettable adventure through some of the region's most remote and rewarding dive sites.
Arrive at Port Ghalib and board the vessel, settling into your cabin. The crew will provide a comprehensive welcome briefing, outlining the week's itinerary and safety procedures as you prepare for departure to the southernmost reefs.
Today's dives focus on the extensive Fury Shoals reef system. Explore Shaab Claude, famous for its impressive swim-throughs and large porite corals. The area is known for sightings of whitetip reef sharks and vibrant anemone and clownfish settlements. Also, visit Abu Galawa Soraya, featuring a beautiful coral garden and an intriguing wreck of a glass-filled sailing boat.
Dive sites: Shaab Claude, Abu Galawa Soraya
Venturing further south to St. John's, a collection of remote and rewarding reefs. Discover Shab Sharm, known for its dramatic wall dives and the presence of whitetip reef sharks, oceanic whitetips, and silky sharks in the blue. Turtles are often seen, and the region boasts flowing banks of hard, yellow, and green soft corals, along with resident angelfish and butterflyfish.
Dive sites: Shab Sharm
Continue exploring the rich dive sites of St. John's, starting with Habili Ali, famous for its giant gorgonians and black corals, where grey reef and silvertip sharks, as well as hammerhead schools, might be encountered. Habili Gafaar offers a magnificent soft coral mass teeming with schools of snappers, butterflyfish, and barracudas. Mantas, grey reef, and silvertip sharks are commonly seen here.
Dive sites: Habili Ali, Habili Gafaar
Today's diving highlights Gota Kebir, a substantial reef known for its tunnels and southern plateau, where jacks and barracudas are frequently sighted, along with occasional manta rays. The tunnels are ideal for novice cave divers. Afterwards, explore Gota Soraya, considered one of the Red Sea's finest wall dives, featuring stunning overhangs, cracks, abundant glassfish, sweepers, and a rich variety of corals, along with grey reef, silvertip, and hammerhead sharks.
Dive sites: Gota Kebir, Gota Soraya
Spend the day diving Elphinstone, an iconic site renowned for its sheer walls adorned with soft corals. This location frequently offers encounters with grey reef sharks circling the plateaus, and oceanic whitetip sharks are often seen here for most of the year, making it a thrilling dive destination.
Dive sites: Elphinstone Reef
Enjoy the final dives of the trip around the Elphinstone area, allowing for continued exploration of its vibrant reefs and potential pelagic encounters. This day provides another opportunity to experience the site's dramatic topography and diverse marine life before returning towards Port Ghalib.
Dive sites: Elphinstone Reef
After a final breakfast on board, prepare for disembarkation in Port Ghalib. Check-out is in the morning, concluding your unforgettable Red Sea diving experience.