Egypt - Northern Reefs and Ras Muhammad Liveaboard

Liveboard in Egypt : Northern Reefs and Ras Muhammed

Passionate about history or wreck lovers ? This safari is made for you !

It is accessible to any diver with an Open Water Diver certificate or CMAS 1*. You will discover shipwrecks over a century old, warships, including the legendary wreck of the SS Thistlegorm. All these wrecks lie between 10 and 30 meters below the surface.

You will dive the wonderful Ras Muhammad National Park (480 km2 of sea and desert). This park is home to an extraordinary fauna and has one of the most beautiful coral ecosystems on the planet with more than 150 different coral species.

Itinerary

Day 1 Saturday

Our friendly staff welcomes you at the airport. Bus transfer from the airport to the marina. You will, then, be attributed a cabin and discover the boat.
Day 2 Sunday

After breakfast, your guide will tell you everything you need to know about your programme of the week, safety recommendations and, more generally, your life on the boat. Your diving certifications, logbook and insurance will be checked before leaving the marina. The boat will then sail to the first dive site, 30 minutes away from the marina.
Your guide will give you a detailed briefing about your first dive.
After lunch you will do your second dive in the area of Hurghada.
You will then keep sailing north to reach the El Gouna area where you will spend a quiet and peaceful night moored behind a big reef.
Day 3 Monday

Arrived the day before on site, you will do your first-two wreck dives in the morning. After lunch you will do the third dive of the day. Upon request, a night dive may be added. For a quiet and peaceful night, you will spend the night away from the waves, moored behind a big reef. This programme may be subject to change according to weather conditions.
Day 4 Thuesday

You will do your first dive of the day in the early morning. After breakfast you will sail for two hours to cross the Gubal strait and reach the eastern shores of the Sinai. Two other dives will be proposed in this area. Upon request (and according to the site and weather), a night dive may be added.
Day 5 Wednesday

On that day you will do a minimum of two dives on the world-renowned wreck of the SS Thistlegorm, discovered by Cousteau in the 50s. You will then sail to the eastern side of the Sinai Peninsula to reach Shaab Mahmud dive site. One more dive will be proposed in this area. Upon request (and according to the site and weather), a night dive may be added. You will spend the night away from the waves, moored behind Shaab Mahmud reef.
Day 6 Thursday

At the break of dawn, the boat will sail to the Ras Muhammad Marine Park where you will dive twice on the dizzying drop-offs among thousands of colourful fishes. After lunch, the boat will start heading south. The third dive will either be done on a beautiful coral garden or on a shipwreck. Upon request (and according to the site and weather), a night dive may be added. This programme may be subject to change according to weather conditions.
Day 7 Friday

The last two dives of the week will take place in the Hurghada or Safaga area (according to the marina of return). Stunning drop-offs await you to end the week properly. After the last dive, you will have the possibility to rinse all your diving gear on the diving deck at the rear of the boat before sailing for less than an hour to the marina. The estimated time of arrival is 2:00 PM (your guide will tell you all about the leisure activities you can book in the Safaga or Hurghada area to spend an entertaining Friday afternoon).
Day 8 Saturday

Departure from the boat will be after breakfast or according to your flight and transfer schedules to the airport or hotel.

Important notice

This program may be subject to changes according to the conditions.

Dates & prices

Departures for French-speaking groups:

From	To	Price / pers.	Boat	Places	Options	Booking
08/07/2023	15/07/2023	€1,000	DUNE - NEMO	17 / 22	2	Book now!
26/08/2023	02/09/2023	€1,000	Bateau Confort 1	21 / 24		Book now!
02/09/2023	09/09/2023	€1,000	Bateau Confort 1	19 / 24		Book now!
16/09/2023	23/09/2023	€1,000	DUNE - GHANI	0 / 24		Fully booked
16/09/2023	23/09/2023	€1,000	Bateau Confort 1	7 / 24		Book now!
30/09/2023	07/10/2023	€1,100	Bateau Confort 1	14 / 24	1	Book now!
07/10/2023	14/10/2023	€1,100	Bateau Confort 1	4 / 24		Book now!
21/10/2023	28/10/2023	€1,100	Bateau Confort 1	0 / 24		Fully booked
28/10/2023	04/11/2023	€1,100	BATEAU CONFORT 1	1 / 24		Book now!
11/11/2023	18/11/2023	€1,100	Bateau Confort 1	0 / 30		Fully booked
11/11/2023	18/11/2023	€1,100	DUNE - GHANI	0 / 24		Fully booked
25/11/2023	02/12/2023	€1,000	DUNE - NEMO	4 / 22	12	Book now!

Departures for English-speaking groups:

No departure for now

Trip code: 53

Included

The beginning of the Liveaboard service starts with the dinner on Saturday evening the day before the departure of the trip and ends the day after the boat has returned to the marina with breakfast on board (check out 10:00AM) according to the different flight’s schedules.

All the costs that might incurred before and after the beginning of the service are the responsibility of the customers (Day use, meals, hotel night…)

1 week Liveaboards (6 days and 7 nights on board)

Airport-boat transfers (outward) and boat-airport (return)
6 days full board (includes tea, instant coffee, water and soft drinks)
7 nights on board in a sharing double cabin (single use with extra fee available)
Services fees.
For the 7th night, Dune reserves its right to accommodate guests in a 3* hotel with half board in a double or triple room to share. (drinks not include)
2 or 3 dives per day divided from Sunday to Friday with a 12 L tanks (DIN or INT), and weights. DUNE Red Sea reserves the right to limit this number of dives depending on: external events, weather conditions, diving level constraints, physical condition of the diver... without any compensation being claimed.
Nitrox is free of charge and cannot be subject to any complaint especially in case of possible failure of the compressor.
Government taxes

Not included

International and domestic flights
Cancellation and assistance insurance
Drinks such as beer, wine, and espresso
Rental of diving equipment, diving torch, SMB, computer…
Diving courses
Supervision by a diving instructor for OWD and Cmas** beyond 20m
Visas and assistance
Extras nights or day use before and after the liveaboard
Transfers airport/hotel or hotel/airport in case of day use before and after the liveaboard
Additional activities at the end of the cruise
Marine park taxes

Notes

Liveaboards planning and boat organization

The boats displayed on our schedule can be modified and replace without prior notice by a boat of the exact same category.
Departures and arrivals Marinas may be changed without notice depending on Dune’s schedule and other constraints.
Arrival marinas may be modified during the week of the liveaboard according to the boat schedule.

Information and documents needed to register customers :

A passeport or an ID card (This has to be checked according to the customer nationality) valid for 6 months after the return date is mandatory (it has to be shown to customs clearance)
Names and first names to be given upon booking
Passeport/ID number
Level and number of dives
Flights informations : arrival and departure
Booking requests such as : rental equipment, diving courses, cabin requests
Dive insurance

* If DUNE has to redo the cruise departure authorizations, due to the communication (by the diver or by the agency) of an incorrect passport number during registration, € 30 (corresponding to the authorization change price ) will be re-billed to the diver or agency concerned.

Terms and conditions

Payment and Refund policy

For individuals and small group (less than 10 pax) A deposit of 30% will have to be paid so that the booking can be confirmed.
For groups (more than 10 pax) and Full charter bookings : a deposit of 10% wil have to be paid so that the booking can be confirmed
The balance of the booking must be made 30 days before departure for an individual booking or a small group booking (less than 10 pax).
The balance of the booking must be paid 60 days before departure for a group booking (more than 10 pax) or full charter.
Payments on board must be made in cash (Euro, Dollars, or Egyptian Pounds) or CC (excluding tips payment). Please be warned, 3% of bank charges will be added for payments in CC.
The itinerary can be modified during the trip because of external event beyond our control. Failure to follow a route does not allow an indemnity or a refund of taxes
Non-compliance with the program does not allow an indemnity or a refund of taxes. (ex : number of 16 dives not reached because of the weather, insufficient dive level…)
Changes of boat or marinas do not allow an indemnity.
A possible failure or the EANX compressor do not allow an indemnity.

Customers are personally responsible for all their belongings from the airport arrival transfer to the moment they return to it. The loss or the damage of their personal belongings due to negligence or oversights cannot allow any recourse against Dune.

Important notice : Our rates may change without prior notice during the season generally because of : increasing of taxes, fuel, or exchange rates fluctuation

Cancellation policy

Cancellation fees apply to all services provided by DUNE. (Cruise, transfer and hotel service)

Cancellation fees also apply to visas 30 days before departure.

A group is made up of 10 clients minimum.

Any cancellation must be notified in writing (email).

The date of receipt of the cancellation mail or email will determine the schedule of cancellation fees.

Cancellation conditions for individual bookings

Cancellation from 60 to 31 days before the date of departure: 30% of the total amount of the cruise / stay.

Cancellation from 30 to 21 days before the date of departure: 50% of the total amount of the cruise / stay.

Cancellation less than 20 days before the date of departure: 100% of the total amount of the cruise / stay.

Cancellation conditions for group bookings (from 10 participants)

Cancellation from 90 to 61 days before the date of departure: 30% of the total amount of the cruise / stay.

Cancellation from 60 to 31 days before the date of departure: 50% of the total amount of the cruise / stay.

Cancellation less than 30 days before the date of departure: 100% of the total amount of the cruise / stay.

Cancellation conditions for charter subscriptions

Cancellation less 90 days before the date of departure of the boat: 100% of the total amount of the cruise / stay.

In case of cancellation of customers on a charter boat rate, the price may change to a group price if the departure of the boat is more than 90 days on written request (email) by the manager of the file.

Any charter must be signaled during the confirmation of the file by a comment in the file (FC + name of the group)

In case of cancellation of customers on a charter boat rate, within 90 days of departure.

The person responsible for the file finds other participants at the charter rate to replace the participants who have canceled, or the cancellation fees will be applied at 100%.

Cancellation conditions for a full charter

Cancellation from 90 to 61 days before the date of departure of the boat: 50% of the total amount of the cruise / stay.

Cancellation from 60 to 31 days before the date of departure of the boat: 75% of the total amount of the cruise / stay.

Cancellation 30 before the departure date of the boat: 100% of the total amount of the cruise / stay.

The minimum number of participants to guarantee the departure of a cruise depends on the total capacity of the boat and if it is a chartered one.

DUNE boat with 22 seats: 8 participants

DUNE boat with 30 seats: 18 participants

Rental Boat: 16 participants

At more than 30 days of departure, Dune reserves the right to cancel a cruise without compensation if the number of participants is insufficient.

Liveaboard or Journey cancellation and Force Majeure

Dune reserves the right to cancel a stay of cruise for reasons of force majeure such as natural disaster, epidemics, war, strikes, riots, etc… Dune declines all responsibility for events such as injury, death or destructions of personal belongings due to acts of war, insurrections, military actions, revolutions or exceptional weather/seismic events, that would occurred beyond its control.

Any unpredictable and insurmountable event that would happen beyond Dune’s control constitutes a case of force majeure. If this case occurs, this will be notified to the customer as soon as possible. Due to natural disasters, revolutions, wars, or state decisions, the customer cannot claim any compensation if the trip is shortened or cancelled. This would apply as well for all that may keep the customer to benefit some of the services.

The closure of roads, airports, train stations, marinas and the removal/suppression of trains, plans, boats decided by the carriers, administrations and official authorities are not on the behalf of Dune and will not allow any indemnities.

All Dune Red Sea‘s team remains at your disposal for any other information needed. We wish all the divers and incredible journey, fill with wonderful underwater encounters as well as on board !

Contact : Bruno Del Gallo (Operating Liveaboard Manager)

Phone : +20 (0)1119710933

Mail : bruno.cruise@dune-world.fr

Contact : Nathanaël Zreik ( Manager General Dune Red Sea)

Phone : + 20 (0)11 22 71 24 97

Mail : nathanael.zreik@dune-world.com

Practical info

Transportation

Airport Welcoming

Customers will be welcomed by a Dune correspondent using a Dune sign to be recognized. It is usually outside the arrival hall, after luggage collect and custom clearance. You have the possibility of getting an airport assistance with visa issuance for an extra fee.

Transfers

For the liveaboards with departures and arrivals at Marsa Alam and/or Hurghada airport, customers will be transferred by bus to reach the marinas where they will board Dune boat or chartered boats by Dune.

For the long journeys starting from Hurghada airport (Ras Galep 200 km – Marsa Alam 250km, Hamata 450km), customers might have to wait other participants in order to gather several transfers. Water and snack will be provided in that case.

Indicative lengths for transfers between airports and departures ports :

Hurghada airport/ Safaga marina: 45 minutes (North, Brothers)Hurghada airport /Ras Galep Marina : 3h (Brothers, Deadalus, Zabargad, St John’s).

Hurghada airport /Marsa Alam Marina : 4h (St John’s, Fury Shoal, Sud and Dolphins)

Marsa Alam airport/Ras Galep Marina : 15 minutes

Marsa Alam airport /Marsa Alam Marina: 1h

Day Use :

The Booking of a « day use » in a hotel (use of hotel facilities, beach and swimming pool, bath towel….) is highly recommended in the following cases :

1 – Arrival in the morning the first day (check-in on board from 14H)

2- Late return flight the last day (check-out of the boat at 10am)

3- If one of this situation happens, the customer will have to pay an additional transfer

Booking of a day use is an extra fee for the customer.

Budget & exchange

Local currency is the Egyptian Pound (EGP).

You can paye by credit card and/or in euros.

Cashmachine are available in the airport and in all the cities next to the Red Sea.

Be carreful with the bank charges.

Vital equipment

Advices and laws about recreational diving in Egypt

Egyptian’s legislation

Limits recreational diving to a depth of 40 meters (without decompression stop)

Tech Diving with Confirmed nitrox is limited to 55meters depth

Tech diving with normoxic trimix is limited tp 70 meters depth

Tech diving with hypoxic trimix is limited to 110 meters depth

Diver’s obligations

Medical certificate allowing the practice of scuba diving (mandatory document must be less than a year old)

However, we strongly recommend a medical certificate issued by a federal doctor or a sports doctor, especially for people over 70, people suffering from a chronic pathology or needing to be assessed or assessed, or in case of a previous diving accident. The medical certificate must specify: the number of dives per day, the maximum depth and duration authorized.

If this medical certificate is not issued, a medical history questionnaire will have to be completed on site by the diver. DUNE Red Sea reserves the right to limit the number of dives, duration and depth of the diver (without any compensation being claimed)

Any medical treatment must imperatively be notified to DUNE Red Sea when making the reservation request.

Dive cards, and diving logbook justifying the level and number of dives
Logbook in case of training carried out during the cruise.
Dive computer, SMB, and a surface way of signalization (lights and/or sound device)
Valid dive insurance (if not insurance can be purchased on board, insurance is mandatory)
Passport copy to be given on board

Dune’s diving instructors are responsible on board the boats. They might have to forbid some dives in case a customer do not gather the level and/or technical skills to be able to do it. This decision can be made for the safety of the customer but also for other divers.

Required Dive level

The Marine parks liveaboards ( Brothers, Daedalus, Zabargad…)

A minimum of 50 dives with a CMAS 2** or AOWD is mandatory

A CMAS 1* with 50 dives logged can go on a Marine park itinerary if he is willing to train as an AOWD in the beginning of his week on board .

North and South Liveaboards (St John’s, Abu Fendira, North…).

A minimum of 20/30 dives with CMAS 1* or OWD is mandatory. He will have to be supervised by certified CDWS dive guide (the diver will have to pay an extra fee for underwater supervision)

All courses that would need vertical technical exercises are forbidden (except on Safaga itinerary or Dolphin Trip)
CMAS 1* or OWD trainings are prohibited (except on the Safaga or Dolphin Trip)
All training is provided by a DUNE instructor certified CDWS (Chamber of Diving Water Sports) in accordance with local Egyptian regulations.

Material

We rent diving gear (BCD, regulator etc.). If you wish to rent equipment, please let us know in advance in order to provide for it on board. Hence, we highly recommend that you take your own equipment (except tanks and weights).

To ensure the best possible unfolding of your diving liveaboard safari in Egypt :

Fins and mask
BCD / Stabilizing jacket
Regulator with octopus
Air gauge
Dive computer
Surface marker / Deco buoy
Visible or audible means of signaling (mirror, whistle...)

The water temperature in Egypt is about 26°C

Nevertheless, we recommend the use of a one-piece or shorty 3-5mm wetsuit.

Weights are at the divers' disposal during their stay.

Diving gloves and knives are forbidden in the Red SeaA hook is not necessary.

12L tanks are made of aluminum with a single DIN valve.

Adaptors are available on board for yoke regulators.

15L tanks are made of steel with a single or double DIN valve.

Helpful equipment

Gear, in case:

Mask strap
Fins strap
Other battery for your computer
Thin rope

Medicine

No vaccination certificate is compulsory to this day, but a vaccine to protect against polio and tetanus are recommended.

Take your usual medication plus aspirin and paracetamol, an anti-diarrhoea (Diarsed, Imodium), and an intestinal anti-septic (Ercéfuryl), an anti-emetic (Vogalene Lyoc), an anti-inflammatory ointment, adhesive plasters, a treatment for sea-sickness (Mercalm).

Passport

You must have a passport (valid for at least 6 months after your return date) or a national identity card. In case of loss or theft you should make a copy of your passport, plane ticket, credit card and diver certificate.

Do not keep the duplicates with the master copies

WARNING : UPON YOUR ARRIVAL ON BOARD, YOUR GUIDE WILL ASK YOU TO SUBMIT A COPY OF THE PASSPORT OR NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD YOU USED FOR YOUR BOOKING.

Your diving documents and diving medical certificate that is less than 12 months old will be checked on your first day on the boat

Visa

To enter Egypt, you must have a visa (valid for one month). You can obtain it from the Egyptian Consulate or upon your arrival in Egypt at the desk provided for that purpose. It costs $25.

DUNE provides a lost luggage assistance, flights confirmation and VISA for 31€.

Weather

Egypt has a hot and dry climate with temperatures ranging between 17 to 25 degrees in winter and 30 to 40 degrees in summer.

Water temperature varies between 21 to 23 degrees in winter and 26 to 30 degrees in summer.

Best time of the year to go to Egypt is from March to November.

Since it may be a little chilly at night in spring and autumn, it is advised to take a sweater and a beanie to protect your ears from the wind.

Topography

Egypt has two parts :

Lower Egypt (in the north) corresponds to the least elevated part of the country.

Upper Egypt (in the south) corresponds to the most elevated part of the country.

A river, the Nile, flows through the country and Egypt's agriculture benefits from its fertile banks.

It is also bordered by two seas :

The Mediterranean Sea in the north
The red Sea in the south.

Thanks to the diversity of the underwater flora and fauna, you will leave Egypt with unforgettable memories.

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Destination: Liveaboards in Egypt
Activity: Coral Gardens Liveboard Shipwrecks
Duration: 8 days
Group: 12 to 30 people
Code: 53
Price: From €1,000
Level: 2/5
Comfort: 3/5
Language(s): French / English

Egypt - Northern Reefs and Ras Muhammad Liveaboard

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