SUDAN - Suakin Itinerary “A Taste of Adventure”


Let's go!


The south-Sudan itinerary starts from Port-Sudan and goes down along the coast of the Red Sea to Suakin. It is an invitation to adventure with the discovery of the exceptional and rarely visited sites of Suakin.In addition to the great Sudanese classics, this itinerary is perfect for the thrill-seeking divers.We frequently see many dolphins during the navigations (spinner, bottlenose and Risso dolphins)The richness of the fauna will amaze you: hammerhead sharks, grey reef sharks, silky sharks as well as schools of small barracudas, jackfish and humphead parrotfish. This itinerary includes all top 3 Sudanese dive sites: Sha'ab Rumi and the vestiges of Cousteau's Pre-Continent 2 expedition, Sanganeb Marine Park and the world-famous shipwreck of the Umbria. 

Minimum number of dives : 50 logged dives in a natural environment.
Minimum diving level : CMAS 2*or PADI AOW+ Deep or PA40 or supervised by an authorized member of your club.

Itinerary

  • Day 1 Friday

    Friday Arrival at Port Sudan's International Airport.
    25 min bus ride to go to the marina.
    Welcome briefing.
    Cabin attribution.
    Document checking (diving card, logbook, insurance etc.)
    Payment of marine taxes and visa;
    Installation of your diving equipment.
    Small briefing about life on board and safety instructions.

  • Day 2 Saturday

    Saturday The Nemo will leave the marina early in the morning to reach the first dive site of the week.
    Wake-up call at about 7:00am and breakfast. Your guide will introduce the crew. Then you will have your first briefing for the “check” dive on a site called Sha'ab Ambar East. The guides will tell you everything you need to know about the diving safety instructions and environmental protection.
    After the dive, you will sail to the second dive site of the day : Sha'ab Ambar South.
    The boat will spend the night in a lagoon where a pod of spinner dolphins lives. Before dinner, the guide will give you a presentation on the sharks of the Red Sea.

  • Day 3 Sunday

    Sunday The boat will leave the lagoon during the night to head towards 3 different dive sites : Kerry's reef, Nahalat or Logan and Sha'ab Ambar south. We will spend another night in the lagoon.

  • Day 4 Monday

    Monday On that day we will start going down to the very famous dive site of Sha'ab Rumi. After a first dive chosen by your guides, the boat will sail for 1h30 to Quita El Banna and its steep drop-offs. It will then sail for another 4h30 to reach Sha'ab Rumi and moor there. The last dive of the day will take place among the vestiges of Cousteau's Pre-Continent 2 expedition.

  • Day 5 Tuesday

    Tuesday The first two dives will be on Sha'ab Rumi's southern reef-flat where you will encounter all the species the Sudanese waters are famous for. A night dive on Pre-Continent 2 will be proposed.

  • Day 6 Wednesday

    Wednesday It is not uncommon to do the first dive of the day on Sha'ab Rumi's southern reef-flat
    Then the Nemo will leave the site and sail for 1h30 to reach Sanganeb Marine Park and dive on the northern part of the reef. Between the dives you will have the opportunity to visit the 50m-high lighthouse and admire the panoramic view. The last dive of the day will take place on the southern reef-flat.
    You will then sail one last time towards Windgate Reef where you will spend the night.

  • Day 7 Thursday

    Thursday For this last day at sea, two dives on the famous shipwreck of the Umbria will be on the menu.
    After the last dive, you will rinse your diving equipment and go back to the marina.

  • Day 8 Friday

    Friday A visit of Port-Sudan in a traditional tuk-tuk (typical motor taxi) will be proposed (no obligation, of course) : 30€/tuk-tuk (3 passengers).
    Divers who do not wish to do the visit can stay on board but will have to vacate their cabin for the cleaning of the boat.
    Bus transfer to the airport.

The itinerary description of this liveaboard safari is only informative as these itineraries shall be adapted to weather conditions, currents and the divers' levels.

Dates & prices

Departures for French-speaking groups:

No departure for now

Departures for English-speaking groups:

No departure for now

Trip code: 93

Included

The beginning of the liveaboard service starts with the dinner on the 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 flights’s schedules.
All the costs that might ocurred before and after the beginning of the service are the responsibility of the customers (Day use, meals, hotel night…) 

Important notice : Our prices can be modified without notice during the season, in particular in the event of increases in taxes, fuel, or variations in exchange rate.    

1 week Liveaboards (6 days and 7 nights on board) 
  • 6 days full board (includes tea, instant coffee, water and soft drinks)
  • 7 nights on board in a shared double cabin (single cabin available with an extra fee)
  • 16 dives package divided from Sunday to Friday with a 12 L tanks (DIN or INT), and weights (w/o the belt). 
  • Nitrox is free of charge. 

10 Nights liveaboards (11 days and 10 nights on board)
  • 11 days and 10 nights on board in a shared double cabin (single cabin available with an extra fee) full board (includes tea, instant coffee, water and soft drinks)
  • 25 dives package with a 12 L tanks (DIN or INT), and weights (w/o the belt). 
  • Nitrox is free of charge. 

11 Nights liveaboards (12 days and 11 nights on board)
  • 12 days and 11 nights on board in a shared double cabin (single cabin available with an extra fee), full board (includes tea, instant coffee, water and soft drinks)
  • 28 dives package with a 12 L tanks (DIN or INT), and weights (w/o the belt). 
  • Nitrox is free of charge. 

14 Nights liveaboards (15 days and 14 nights on board)
  • 15 days and 14 nights on board in a shared double cabin (single cabin available with an extra fee), full board (includes tea, instant coffee, water and soft drinks)
  • 37 dives package with a 12 L tanks (DIN or INT), and weights (w/o the belt). 
  • Nitrox is free of charge. 

Not included

  • Visa (145$ to be paid upon arrival)
  • Government taxes such as follows : 7 Nights itinerary : 187€ ; 10Nights and 11 Nights itinerary 223€ ; 14 Nights itinerary 250€ (to be paid in cash upon arrival, please kindly provide change)
  • International and domestic flights
  • Cancellation and assistance insurance
  • Rental of diving equipment, diving computer, diving lamps, SMB
  • Diving courses 
  • Assistance and visa delivery
  • 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
  • Tips for the crew (7€ advised per person per day to be given at the end of the stay) and at the discretion of the client.
  • Drinks such as beer, wine, and espresso

Notes

The boats displayed on our schedule can be modified and replace without prior notice by a boat of the exact same category.  

Pre-visa to be filled in when booking and send to our local correspondent  

Information and documents needed to register customers : 

  • A passport valid for 6 months after the return date is mandatory (it has to be shown to customs clearance)
  • Passeport/ID number 
  • Names and first names to be given upon booking
  • Level and number of dives 
  • Flight informations : arrival and departure 
  • Booking requests such as : rental equipment, diving courses, cabin requests
  • Dive insurance

International flights

The arrival and departure city is Port Sudan (airport code PZU)

Terms and conditions


Payment and refund policy


  • For individuals and small group (from 10 pax) a deposit of 30% will have to be paid so that the booking can be confirmed.
  • For Groups and Full charter bookings : a deposit of 10% will 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 group booking (from 10 pax)
  • The balance of the booking must be made 60 days before departure for a full charter booking.
  • Payments on board must be made in cash (Euro, Dollars, or Sudanese Pound) 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 events beyond our control (weather conditions, government decision, diving accident requiring a return of the boat…). Failure to follow a route does not allow an indemnity or a refund of taxes.
  • Non compliance with the program does not allow any 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 (free service).  

Customers are personally responsible for all their belongings from the airport arrival transfer to the moment they return to it. The loss 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 (transfers, diving, liveaboards and hotel services)  

Cancellation fees also apply to Visa 30 days before departure. 

A group consists of at least 10 customers. 

Any cancellation must be notified by a written statement either by e-mail or mail. 

The date of receipt of the mail or cancellation email will define the cancellation fee schedule.

  • 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 from 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 a charter booking 


Cancellation from 90 days before the date of departure : 100% of the total amount of the cruise/stay for any place not sold. 

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

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

If a cancellation applies in a full charter booking less than 90 days before departure, pax leader must find another customer otherwise 100% cancellation fees will apply.


  • 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 from 30 days 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 : 22-seat DUNE boat: 8 participants.

More than 30 days before departure, DUNE reserves the right to cancel, without compensation, a cruise if the number of participants is insufficient.

  • Liveaboard or Journey cancellation and Force Majeure  


Dune reserves its 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, filled with wonderful underwater encounters as well as on board! 

Insurance

Any diver going to Sudan must have a diving/repatriation insurance.

Practical info

Transportation


Airport Welcoming 


Customers will be welcomed by our Sudanese correspondent using a Dune sign to be recognized. Meeting point will be in the arrival hall before customs. Pre-visa or visa must be requested and obtained before your travel.   

Transfers 


All liveaboards take departure from Port Sudan. Passengers will be transferred by minibus/bus to the port where they will embark onboard Dune’s boat.The length of the transfers between the airport and the port is about 20 minutes for Port Sudan’s marina and about 1h30 for Mohamed Ghoul’s marina. 

Last day’s organization 


Upon request, guest will have the opportunity to book a tour of Port Sudan city operated in Tuk Tuk (churches, schools, local markets). This tour includes transportation, private guide and a complimentary drink. This visit is an additional cost to be supported by the guest (around 10€/pers) 

Contact


Contact DUNE SOUDAN : BARRE Axel (MANAGER NEMO AND DUNE SOUDAN) 
Cell : 00 20 10 96 67 64 91 (sudanese number to come)

Reservation Contact : BRANCA Eléonore (COUNTRY MANAGER DUNE) 
Cell : 00 33 (0)6 58 64 60 58

Local Contact : Khalid Saadan Ahmed “Shamkhatour” 
Cell : 00249912321348 

Contact DUNE RED SEA : ZREIK Nathanaël (GENERAL MANAGER DUNE RED SEA) 
Cell : +20.11.22.71.24.97 

Budget & exchange

The local currency is the Sudanese pound (SDG). Make to sure to bring euros in cash for your personal expenses on board. There is no ATM in Port-Sudan, don't expect to be able to withdraw some cash. We advise you not to buy any alcohol in transit or come to Sudan with alcohol in your luggage because it will be seized by Sudanese customs upon your arrival.

Vital equipment


Advices and laws about recreational diving in Sudan 


Sudanese’s legislation  

Limits recreational diving to a depth of 40 meters 
Tech Diving with Confirmed nitrox is limited to 55meters 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 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, justifying the level and number of dives.
  • Logbook in case of training carried out during the cruise
  • Dive computer, Surface Marker Buoy, 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
  • We remind you that the transport of alcohol in luggage is strictly prohibited in Sudan. 

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 

A minimum of 50 dives in open water
CMAS 2*or PADI AOW + Deep or PA40 or supervised by an authorized member of your club.

Passport

You must have a passport (valid for at least 6 months after your return date).
In case of loss or theft you should make a copy of your passport, plane ticket, credit card and diving certificate.
Do not keep the duplicates with the master copies.

Visa

You should fill a pre-visa document before departure. Ask to the Sudan Ambassy in France to get all the information. The pre-visa document has to be send to our local agent. Once at the airport, you will give your passport to our local agent who will stamp your visa. You will leave your passport to our local correspondent and you will get it back when you return.
Cost of visa : $145. Make sure to have the exact amount (to be paid in cash). 
Travelers with an Israeli visa or stamp in their passport will not be allowed on the Sudanese territory (for more information, please contact the Sudanese embassy in your country)

Health information & recommendations

No vaccination certificate is required to this day, but vaccines to protect against yellow fever, diphtheria, tetanus, polio and hepatitis A are recommended.
Take your usual medication plus aspirin and paracetamol, an anti-diarrhea (Diarsed, Imodium, and an intestinal anti-septic (Ercéfuryl), an anti-emetic (Vogalene Lyoc), an anti-inflammatory ointment, adhesive plasters, Biafine.
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Frédéric Jouhanin

My local agent
Frédéric Jouhanin

  • Passionné et bonne connaissance de la mer rouge.
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Destination
Liveaboard in Sudan
Activity
Liveboard Sharks
Duration
8 days
Group
8 to 22 people
Code
93
Price
From €1,050
Level
4/5
Comfort
3/5
Language(s)
French / English

Strengths

Hammerhead sharks and the density of life !
SUDAN - Suakin Itinerary “A Taste of Adventure”

Required level

 50 logged dives in a natural environment
CMAS 2*or PADI AOW + Deep or PA40 or supervised by an authorized member of your club

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