St John's Reef (Marsa Ghalib - Marsa Ghalib)

DUNE Titan · Egypt · 7 nights

Duration
7 nights
Embarkation
Port Ghalib, Egypt
Disembarkation
Port Ghalib, Egypt
Dives
Approximately 17 dives in total

About this route

Explore the vibrant southern Egyptian Red Sea, a renowned destination for pelagic encounters and rich coral formations. This itinerary covers diverse reef systems, from the famous Daedalus Reef to the remote St. John's and Fury Shoals, offering a variety of dive experiences. Expect to discover magnificent marine life, including various shark species, schooling fish, and stunning reef topography. The trip promises an adventure through some of the Red Sea's most celebrated dive sites.

Regions on this route

St. JohnsElphinstoneDaedalusFury ShoalEgyptRockyZabargad

Highlights

Daedalus

Daedalus Reef is a large, isolated reef located far offshore, famous for its impressive wall dives and the high probability of spotting large pelagic species, particularly hammerhead sharks. Strong currents often characterize the dives, offering exhilarating drift experiences along its vibrant coral walls. A lighthouse marks this remote and spectacular dive site.

  • Isolated offshore reef
  • Hammerhead sharks
  • Strong drift currents

Elphinstone

Elphinstone Reef is an iconic offshore reef known for its dramatic drop-offs and potential encounters with oceanic whitetip sharks and hammerheads. The currents here can be strong, making it a thrilling drift dive. Its deep walls are adorned with soft corals and gorgonians, attracting a wide array of marine life.

  • Dramatic drop-offs
  • Shark encounters
  • Vibrant soft corals

Fury Shoal

Fury Shoal is a collection of beautiful reefs in the southern Red Sea, offering a variety of dive sites suitable for different experience levels. It is particularly known for its stunning hard and soft coral formations, vibrant reef fish, and the famous 'Dolphin House' (Sataya), where divers can often encounter spinner dolphins. The area provides excellent opportunities for both reef exploration and pelagic sightings.

  • Beautiful coral gardens
  • Dolphin encounters
  • Diverse reef fish

Rocky

Rocky Island is a small, uninhabited island with exceptional diving around its perimeter. Its walls plunge deep into the Red Sea, covered in pristine corals and attracting a rich diversity of marine life. Currents can be strong, bringing in pelagic species such as sharks and tuna. The site offers dramatic underwater landscapes.

  • Pristine coral walls
  • Strong currents
  • Pelagic sightings

St. Johns

St. John's Reef is a renowned diving area in the southern Red Sea, celebrated for its pristine reef systems and diverse topography. It offers a variety of dive experiences including wall dives, drift dives, and magnificent coral gardens. The area is known for excellent visibility and abundant marine life, including pelagic species.

  • Pristine reef systems
  • Diverse topography
  • Pelagic encounters

Zabargad

Zabargad Island is a large, picturesque island surrounded by a fringing reef and several dive sites. It is known for its diverse topography, including walls, pinnacles, and a beautiful lagoon. The area offers opportunities to see turtles, reef sharks, and a wide array of colorful reef fish amidst its healthy coral ecosystems. There are also some interesting wreck dives around the island.

  • Diverse topography
  • Healthy coral ecosystems
  • Wreck diving

Requirements

  • CertificationOpen Water
  • Minimum logged dives20
  • ExperienceDivers should have prior experience with drift diving and strong currents, as the Red Sea can feature challenging conditions.

Shore excursions

  • Enjoy the Dune Touch Event, an exclusive onboard evening event featuring cultural entertainment and culinary experiences.

Good to know

  • Diving certifications and logbooks must be presented upon boarding.
  • A 45-minute bus transfer is arranged from the airport to the marina.
  • Guests are advised to check luggage restrictions for food items.

Day-by-day plan

  1. Day 1: Embarkation – Port Ghalib

    Upon arrival at Port Ghalib, guests will be transferred to the marina for boarding the liveaboard. After settling into cabins and a welcome briefing, there will be time to prepare diving certifications and gear for the week ahead. The boat will remain in the marina overnight.

  2. Day 2: Gota Sharm – Reef Exploration

    The day begins with breakfast and an important dive briefing to ensure everyone is ready for the exciting week ahead. After a short sailing period, the first dive will take place at Gota Sharm, a site known for its vibrant reef structures. Two dives are planned at Gota Sharm, offering opportunities to explore its diverse marine ecosystem. The evening will conclude with dinner and an overnight sail towards St.

    Dive sites: Gota Sharm

  3. Day 3: St. John's Reef – Night Diving Opportunity

    Today focuses on the spectacular St. John's Reef, an area celebrated for its extensive reef systems and rich biodiversity. Three dives are scheduled, with the possibility of an additional night dive, offering a unique perspective on the nocturnal marine life. The specific dive sites within St.

  4. Day 4: St. John's Reef – Further Exploration

    Continuing to explore the St. John's Reef area, the day offers more opportunities to discover its hidden gems. Divers will enjoy another fantastic day of diving, exploring various sites known for their stunning coral gardens and diverse inhabitants. Specific dive locations will be chosen by the captain and dive guides to maximize conditions and marine life encounters.

  5. Day 5: St. John's & Fury Shoals – Dolphin Encounters

    The morning begins with two dives in the St. John's area before sailing north towards Sataya, a renowned dolphin house in the Fury Shoals. This area is famous for its resident spinner dolphins, offering excellent opportunities for snorkeling with them. The third dive of the day will take place in daylight, at dusk, or as a night dive, depending on conditions and preferences.

    Dive sites: Sataya (Dolphin House)

  6. Day 6: Fury Shoals & Sheleneyiat – Diverse Reefs

    Today's diving focuses on two beautiful reefs within the Fury Shoals area, providing a chance to explore more of this diverse region. After lunch, the liveaboard will head north for a six-hour sail to the site known as Sheleneyiat. The third dive of the day can be either a daytime dive or a night dive, depending on the captain's discretion and local conditions. The Fury Shoals are characterized by their diverse coral formations and abundant reef fish.

    Dive sites: Sheleneyiat

  7. Day 7: Marsa Alam – Final Dives & Departure Preparation

    The day begins with a final dive in the Marsa Alam area, offering one last opportunity to experience the underwater beauty of the Red Sea. After the dive, guests will have time to rinse their gear and prepare for departure. The boat will sail for approximately two hours back to the Marsa Ghalib marina, with an estimated arrival time of 2:00 PM. Guests can enjoy local activities in the Marsa Alam area before their departure.

  8. Day 8: Disembarkation – Port Ghalib, Egypt

    After breakfast, guests prepare to leave the vessel in Port Ghalib, Egypt with disembarkation Check-out at 10:00 AM. The crew assists with departure arrangements and onward airport transfers where applicable.

Upcoming departures

  • 2027-05-01 – 2027-05-08from 1,362 USDBook

All routes of this liveaboard

About the vessel

DUNE TitanDUNE TitanEgypt
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