Emperor Asmaa · Egypt · 8 Days / 7 Nights
A 21+ offshore-only itinerary that 'goes against the flow', diving the southern Red Sea's icons – Elphinstone, Daedalus, Rocky Island, Zabargad, St John's and Fury Shoals – on the days they are usually quietest. Up to 22 dives by staying out of port the last night, with a mix of pelagic walls, remote pinnacles, dolphin-rich shoals and dramatic St John's caves and tunnels. Port Ghalib to Port Ghalib.
Port Ghalib
Airport pickup and transfer to the vessel for an 18:00 check-in. Welcome briefing, paperwork, cabin allocation and boat orientation, followed by an evening moored in Port Ghalib. The first dive will be a check dive at Abu Dabab the next morning before heading offshore.
Abu Dabab & Elphinstone
Check dive at Abu Dabab to confirm weight and equipment, then an immediate move offshore to Elphinstone. By arriving at the start of the trip rather than the end, the boat enjoys the 300-metre soft coral wall in relative quiet, with east-wall and west-wall drift dives and a long sunset dive on the plateau when conditions allow.
Dive sites: Abu Dabab, Elphinstone East Wall, Elphinstone West Wall
Daedalus Reef
Overnight crossing to Daedalus, arriving before most other boats. Drift dives along the steep eastern wall, the anemone city in the south-east and the north point – the classic spot for schooling hammerheads and grey reef sharks in season.
Dive sites: Daedalus North Point, Daedalus Anemone City, Daedalus East Wall
Rocky Island & Zabargad
Sail further south to Rocky Island, a tiny rock with a sheer vertical wall packed with anthias, cracks and overhangs sheltering soft and hard corals. Afternoon dives on Zabargad's protected sandy slopes, scattered pinnacles and swim-throughs, with turtles and abundant reef fish in the calmer water.
Dive sites: Rocky Island Wall, Zabargad South, Zabargad West
St John's
A full day exploring St John's, the southernmost cluster of reefs in the Egyptian Red Sea. Drift the wall of Gota Soraya with grey reef and silvertip sharks, swim the tunnels of Gota Kebir and the dramatic caverns of St John's Caves (Umm Kharalim), and look for hammerheads at Habili Ali or Habili Gafaar.
Dive sites: Gota Soraya, Gota Kebir, Habili Ali / Habili Gafaar, St John's Caves
Fury Shoals
Moving north into the Fury Shoals reef complex. Cavern and swim-through dives at Sha'ab Claude, the coral gardens and small wreck at Abu Galawa Soraya, and the friendly turtles of Malahi. A snorkel stop with the resident spinner dolphin pod at Sataya is a likely highlight between dives.
Dive sites: Sha'ab Claude, Abu Galawa Soraya, Malahi, Sataya (snorkel with dolphins)
Offshore reefs north of Fury Shoals
Rather than retreating into a sheltered bay, the boat stays offshore for a full day and night programme on lesser-dived sites as it travels north. Reef walls, coral gardens and a guided night dive bring the total close to 22 dives, the most of any Emperor itinerary.
Dive sites: Offshore reefs north of Fury Shoals, Night dive
Port Ghalib
Final approach into Port Ghalib at roughly 07:30, with disembarkation by 09:30. Earliest recommended onward flights are 10:30 from Marsa Alam (RMF) or 13:30 from Hurghada (HRG).