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
22/04/2023	29/04/2023	€1,200	DUNE - GHANI	16 / 24	2	Book now!
06/05/2023	13/05/2023	€1,200	DUNE - GHANI	11 / 24		Book now!
13/05/2023	20/05/2023	€1,200	DUNE - NEMO	0 / 22		Fully booked
20/05/2023	27/05/2023	€1,200	DUNE - GHANI	9 / 24		Book now!
27/05/2023	03/06/2023	€950	DUNE - GHANI	7 / 24	4	Book now!
03/06/2023	10/06/2023	€1,100	DUNE - GHANI	11 / 24	2	Book now!
17/06/2023	24/06/2023	€1,100	DUNE - NEMO	21 / 22		Book now!
15/07/2023	22/07/2023	€1,100	DUNE - GHANI	21 / 24		Book now!
29/07/2023	05/08/2023	€1,100	DUNE - GHANI	11 / 24	6	Book now!
02/09/2023	09/09/2023	€1,100	DUNE - GHANI	24 / 24		Book now!
30/09/2023	07/10/2023	€1,200	DUNE - GHANI	12 / 24		Book now!
07/10/2023	14/10/2023	€1,200	DUNE - GHANI	6 / 24		Book now!
28/10/2023	04/11/2023	€1,200	DUNE - GHANI	0 / 24	9	Fully booked
02/12/2023	09/12/2023	€1,100	DUNE - GHANI	9 / 24	15	Book now!
09/12/2023	16/12/2023	€1,100	DUNE - GHANI	21 / 24		Book now!
16/12/2023	23/12/2023	€1,100	DUNE - GHANI	24 / 24		Book now!
23/12/2023	30/12/2023	€1,100	DUNE - GHANI	24 / 24		Book now!
30/12/2023	06/01/2024	€1,100	DUNE - GHANI	24 / 24		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

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
Duration: 8 days
Group: 8 to 30 people
Code: 37
Price: From €1,100
Level: 2/5
Comfort: 3/5
Language(s): French / English

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