Egypt - Saint John’s Reef Liveaboard
Liveboard in Egypt : St John's Reef
An
unmissable itinerary !
With a great variety of different dives, this itinerary is accessible to
any diver with an Open Water Diver certificate or CMAS 1*.
St John's reef offers
a large number of dive sites that look like submarine islands. This set of
reefs lies 200 km South of Marsa Alam, on the tropic of Cancer in the southern
part of the Egyptian Red Sea. Pristine
drop-offs covered with hard and soft corals, gardens of gorgonian sea fans, a
huge variety of pelagic fishes and a visibility of 50+meters is what you will
be thrilled to find there.
The
colourful coral gardens and their pinnacles resting on a sea bed made of white
sand, the anemones and their clown fish, the pelagic fishes slowly cruising the blue : your breath will surely be taken away !
Whether you are an amateur or truly fond of marine biology, a photographer or
video maker, do not search any longer : this itinerary is what you are looking
for !
Itinerary
-
Day 1 Saturday
Our friendly staff will welcome 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 sail for about two hours heading south to reach the dive site called “Gota Sharm” where you will do your second dive.
After dinner, the boat will sail all night long, crossing the Tropic of Cancer on its way, to reach the Saint John's reef area at the break of dawn. -
Day 3 Monday
Saint John's Reef : 3 dives will be organised. The sailing time between the dive sites varies from 30 min to 1h30. The dive sites are carefully selected by your guide according to the weather forecast and the number of boats already moored on the site. For a quiet and peaceful night, you will spend the night moored behind a big reef.
-
Day 4 Thuesday
At sunrise, the captain and his crew will take you to another fantastic dive site of Saint John's reef for another great day of diving.
-
Day 5 Wednesday
One last dive on Saint John's before sailing up north. Halfway between the Saint John's area and the Fury Shoals, we will stop for a mythical dive: the caves of Um Kararim. Then we will reach Sataya (Dolphin House) in the Fury Shoals area. According to your time of arrival and the light, you will have the opportunity to go snorkelling with dolphins. The third dive of the day will either take place at dusk or at night. The boat will be moored on Sataya reef for the night.
-
Day 6 Thursday
If the snorkeling session with the dolphins have not been organized the day before, we will organize it this morning. Then we will go diving on two beautiful reefs of the Fury Shoals area. After lunch the boat will head north for a 5 hour sail to reach the site called “Sheleneyat”. The third dive of the day will either take place at dusk or at night according to your time of arrival. After dinner the captain and his crew will organise a surprise Egyptian event.
-
Day 7 Friday
The boat will sail for 45 min before you reach your first dive site of the day. After breakfast, you will sail north for two hours to reach the Marsa Alam area where you will do your last dive. After the 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 30 min 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 Marsa Alam 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| €1,100 | DUNE - GHANI | 0 / 24 | Fully booked | |||
| €850 | DUNE - JESSICA | 0 / 30 | 1 | Fully booked | ||
| €1,200 | DUNE - GHANI | 3 / 24 | Book now! | |||
| €1,200 | DUNE - GHANI | 24 / 24 | Book now! | |||
| €1,200 | DUNE - JESSICA | 30 / 30 | Book now! | |||
| €1,200 | DUNE - JESSICA | 28 / 30 | Book now! | |||
| €1,200 | DUNE - JESSICA | 0 / 30 | Fully booked | |||
| €1,100 | DUNE - JESSICA | 28 / 30 | Book now! | |||
| €1,200 | DUNE - JESSICA | 24 / 30 | 6 | Book now! | ||
| €1,200 | DUNE - JESSICA | 30 / 30 | Book now! | |||
| €1,300 | DUNE - JESSICA | 30 / 30 | Book now! | |||
| €1,300 | DUNE - JESSICA | 15 / 30 | 15 | Book now! | ||
| €1,300 | DUNE - JESSICA | 0 / 30 | Fully booked | |||
| €1,300 | DUNE - JESSICA | 30 / 30 | Book now! |
Departures for English-speaking groups:
No departure for now
Trip code: 37
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
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.
My local agent
Moustapha Hassan
- a votre service
- Destination
- Liveaboards in Egypt
- Activity
- Coral Gardens Liveboard
- Duration
- 8 days
- Group
- 8 to 30 people
- Code
- 37
- Price
- From €1,100
- Level
- 2/5
- Comfort
- 3/5
- Language(s)
- French / English
Book this trip