If you are looking for the very best in dive comfort and excitement, it's hard to beat a Liveaboard holiday to the Red Sea! Over the years, Oceandivers have had numerous adventures to many of the great dive sites and for 2023 we are planning ahead and will spend a week visiting the most famous reefs and wrecks of the Northern Red Sea.
The MV Emperor Asmaa is designed with the diver in mind, comfortably accommodating 20 divers in 12 twin-berth cabins (4 x Upper Deck), all ensuite with individual air conditioning. There is a large dive deck and sun deck. NITROX is free, as is red wine with dinner and of course fantastic food is standard. The trip will be led by Willie Siddall from Oceandivers and at least 2 professional guides will help you get the best out of the stunning Red Sea dive sites you'll visit.
This itinerary presents the best of both worlds, where you visit famous wrecks in the northern Red Sea along with some stunning reef diving.
The famous horseshoe shaped reef of Shaab El Erg is a perfect example of the reefs on offer on this cruise with its beautiful hard coral garden and the chance to see dolphins.
Abu Nuhas has four well-known wrecks: Giannis D, Carnatic, the Chrisoula K ('tile wreck') and the Kimon M ('lentil wreck'), all offering spectacular dives and plenty of fish life.
In between wreck dives you will also visit the reefs of the Straits of Gubal, Gulf of Suez and those to the north of Hurghada. A variety of deep walls and hard coral gardens with an abundance of reef fish make them well worth a visit.
Night dives can be superb as Gubal Island offers protected anchoring for the night. A small wreck at 8-10 metres makes for a spectacular night dive with lionfish, scorpion fish and its resident giant moray eel as well as the wreck of the Ulysses. Next onto the Kingston lying at Shag Rock, the Carina lying close to Sha'ab Ali and the Dunraven at Beacon Rock.
Ras Mohamed lies on the southernmost tip of the Sinai and is one of the best kept National Parks in Egypt with waters full of nutrients, steep walls going down to a depth of 1000 metres attracting a large amount of big fish and earning itself a reputation as one of the top diving areas in the world. Whilst here, you may have the chance to dive at Shark Reef; a sheer wall falling into the blue, as well as the wreck of the Yolanda
Jackson Reef, locally named the 'Aquarium', is Tiran's most popular dive with the 'Jackson Drift' being Sharm's' fastest and most exhilarating drift dive past a stunning wall bursting with prolific coral growth. Occasionally, in the summer months, a school of scalloped hammerheads can be seen. Thomas Reef gives you plunging walls covered with soft coral, gorgonians and colourful fish life. The west wall is darker with overhangs and caves full of glassfish and sweepers. A night dive at Gordon Reef promises various species of coral, small nudibranchs hidden in the crevices and the soft corals and a chance to see white tip reef sharks, eagle rays, octopus and different types of eel such as moray, peppered and gold edged morays.
Finally the most famous wreck in the Red Sea, the SS Thistlegorm, at Shaab Ali and including a night dive on Thistle. The Thistlegorm was sunk in 1941 after being bombed by the German Luftwaffe while on a mission to deliver a cargo of ammunition and other war materials to the British troops in North Africa.
From here the boat heads back towards Hurghada.
All dives sites are subject to divers' experience and weather conditions.
This trip will be led by Willie Siddall who will guide you through all the necessary procedures on land and sea.
2nd to 9th June - What's included:
Land transfers from Hurgada to MV Emperor Asmaa
7 Nights full board accommodation (sharing) - MV Emperor Asmaa
6 Days diving approximately 18 dives to the Northern Wrecks and Reefs
Flights are not included in the costs and will need to be purchased seperately
Extras: tourist VISA €20.00 aproximately
Optional rest day at Bela Vista Hotel and Resort inc Lunch €18.00