Discovery II · Egypt · 8 Days / 7 Nights
The most extreme deep-south route operated on MY Discovery II, combining the offshore volcanic walls of Daedalus with the expedition islands of Rocky and Zabargad, before looping back through Fury Shoals, Wady Gemal and Elphinstone. Rocky Island drops to over 1,000 m and consistently produces sharks, mantas, sailfish and dolphins; Zabargad (Peridot Island) adds volcanic geology to remarkable pelagic action. A Port Ghalib roundtrip covering approximately 18–20 dives across 6 active diving days.
Port Ghalib / Marsa Alam reefs
Afternoon embarkation at Port Ghalib. Two gentle dives at Marsa Alam reefs for equipment checks. Abu Dabbab''s seagrass beds are home to the famous resident dugong and green sea turtles. Overnight passage south-east toward Daedalus.
Dive sites: Sha''ab Abu Dabbab, Sha''ab Sharm West / Habili Ghadir
Daedalus Reef (offshore)
Three dives on Daedalus, one of the most remote and dramatic offshore reefs in the Egyptian Red Sea. A lighthouse sits on the reef top while the walls plummet into deep blue water and regularly deliver oceanic whitetip sharks, scalloped hammerheads, thresher sharks and large schools of barracuda. Overnight passage continues south-east to Rocky Island.
Dive sites: Daedalus Reef — North Plateau, Daedalus Reef — South Plateau, Daedalus Reef — Anemone City / Wall
Rocky Island / Zabargad Island
Two dives on Rocky Island''s elliptical fossil-coral walls, which descend over 1,000 m and are draped with soft corals and giant gorgonians. Sharks, sailfish, dolphins and occasional manta rays are sighted regularly. The afternoon moves to Zabargad — the world''s only source of olivine/peridot — an uninhabited volcanic island with outstanding reef walls and pelagic action.
Dive sites: Rocky Island — East Wall, Rocky Island — South Plateau, Zabargad — Main Reef
Fury Shoals / Wady Gemal
Northward transit through the Fury Shoals archipelago of roughly 20 reefs. Sha''ab Claudia is famous for its cathedral swim-throughs and massive porite coral bommies; Dolphin House at Sha''ab Sataya hosts a large resident spinner dolphin pod. The route transitions into Wady Gemal National Park in the afternoon and closes with a night dive on the pristine Dahra reefs.
Dive sites: Sha''ab Sataya South / Sha''ab Maksour, Sha''ab Sataya (Dolphin House, conditions permitting), Sha''ab Malahi / Sha''ab Claudia, Sha''ab Shelinat, Dahra Wady Gemal (night dive)
Marsa Alam reefs / Elphinstone
Continuing north along the Marsa Alam coast: Sha''ab Sharm East provides dramatic wall diving with whitetip and oceanic whitetip sharks. The late afternoon reaches Elphinstone Reef for the first dive on the spectacular north-west plateau. A night dive at Abu Dabbab rounds out the day.
Dive sites: Sha''ab Sharm East, Sha''ab Ghadir / Sha''ab Marsa Alam / Habili Marsa Alam, Elphinstone NW Plateau, Sha''ab Abu Dabbab (night dive)
Elphinstone Reef (Sha''ab Abu Hamra)
Two morning dives exploring Elphinstone''s iconic steep walls covered in Dendronephthya soft corals. Grey reef sharks patrol the plateaus year-round and oceanic whitetips are frequent visitors. After diving the vessel departs for the overnight transit to Port Ghalib.
Dive sites: Elphinstone Main Wall, Elphinstone / Marsa Shona (conditions-dependent)
En route to Port Ghalib
Full overnight northward transit to Port Ghalib Marina. No scheduled dives; farewell dinner, logbook completion and relaxation on the sun deck.
Port Ghalib Marina
Morning arrival at Port Ghalib. Disembarkation after breakfast, bag collection and onward transfers.