Discovery II · Egypt · 8 Days / 7 Nights
A Port Ghalib roundtrip deep-south safari diving the vast St. John's reef system, the remote lagoons and swim-throughs of Fury Shoals, the sheltered bays of Wady Gemal National Park and the world-famous shark walls of Elphinstone. The vessel sails directly south on embarkation night to maximise bottom time at sites more than 200 km south of Marsa Alam. Approximately 18–21 dives across 6 active diving days, with the final day reserved for the overnight return transit and morning disembarkation.
Port Ghalib / Marsa Alam reefs
Guests board at Port Ghalib in the afternoon. After the safety briefing and gear setup the vessel moves to nearby Marsa Alam reefs for two check/afternoon dives. Abu Dabbab is renowned for its resident dugong and sea turtles on the sandy seagrass beds.
Dive sites: Sha''ab Abu Dabbab, Sha''ab Sharm West / Habili Ghadir / Sha''ab Marsa Alam
St. John''s reef system
Full day at the northern pinnacles of St. John''s. Habili Ali features giant gorgonian fans and black corals with grey reef and silvertip sharks. Habili Gaafar is a mass of soft corals teeming with snappers and barracudas. Um Aruk is dived both as an afternoon dive and a night dive.
Dive sites: Habili Ali, Small Gotaa / Habili Gaafar, Um Aruk, Um Aruk (night dive)
St. John''s / Fury Shoals
The morning explores St. John''s famous cave-and-tunnel systems — Gota Kebir''s passages are ideal for novice cave diving, with jacks and barracuda on the south plateau. The afternoon transits into Fury Shoals and ends with a night dive at the prolific Sha''ab Sataya South coral garden.
Dive sites: Habili Gaafer / Small Gotaa, Gota Kebir Caves, Paradise Reef, Sha''ab Sataya South (night dive)
Fury Shoals / Wady Gemal
The longest dive day: Fury Shoals delivers swim-throughs, huge porite corals (Sha''ab Claudia) and whitetip reef sharks. Dolphin House at Sha''ab Sataya may offer encounters with the resident spinner dolphin pod. The afternoon moves into the pristine waters of Wady Gemal National Park and closes with a night dive.
Dive sites: Sha''ab Maksour / Sha''ab Sataya South, Sha''ab Sataya (Dolphin House, conditions permitting), Sha''ab Malahi / Sha''ab Claudia, Sha''ab Shelinat, Dahra Wady Gemal (night dive)
Marsa Alam / Elphinstone Reef
Northward transit begins: Sha''ab Sharm East offers wall diving with chances of oceanic whitetip encounters. The afternoon reaches the iconic Elphinstone Reef for the first dive on the north-west plateau, famous for its dense soft-coral coverage. A night dive at Abu Dabbab closes the day.
Dive sites: Sha''ab Sharm East, Habili Ghadir / Sha''ab Marsa Alam / Habili Marsa Alam, Elphinstone NW Plateau, Sha''ab Abu Dabbab (night dive)
Elphinstone Reef
Two morning dives on Elphinstone''s dramatic drop-offs — grey reef sharks patrol the plateau edges and oceanic whitetips cruise the blue water. After diving the vessel begins the long return transit north toward Port Ghalib.
Dive sites: Elphinstone Main Wall, Elphinstone / Marsa Shona (conditions-dependent)
En route to Port Ghalib
Full overnight transit back to Port Ghalib. No scheduled dives; guests relax on the sun deck, complete logbooks and enjoy the crew''s farewell dinner.
Port Ghalib Marina
The vessel arrives at Port Ghalib in the morning. Disembarkation after breakfast and onward transfers to the airport or hotel.