| Red Sea, Sharm, 28 June - 6th July '12 |
PACKAGE INCLUDES FREE NITROX!
DATES: 28th June - 6th July '12 * Photo gallery & trip review
Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, the Red Sea resort for scuba diving, snorkeling and family fun, it is the jewel of the Sinai, with history going back thousands of years. One of Egypt's top holiday destinations, Sharm el Sheikh is situated on the southern tip of the Sinai peninsual, Egypt. With the Red Sea on one side and the mountains of Mount Sinai on the other. The northern Red Sea offers arguably the best diving in the world!
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DAHAB EXTENSION
Dahab offers a fantastic opportunity to relax after the busy diving schedule on the Liveaboard. The bay is lined with small shops & restaurants overlooking the sea. The snorkelling & diving in this area is spectacular including the famous Blue Hole, Canyon and Islands. Other activities include Quad Biking, Camel Desert Safari, Mount Sinai and St. Catherine’s Monastery Tour, White & Coloured Canyons etc. Dahab is located away from the hustle and bustle of Sharm-el-Sheikh making it a very relaxing and affordable extension to your holiday.
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PACKAGE INCLUDES
* Return international flights from Johannesburg to Cairo
* Return domestic airfares from Cairo to Sharm el-Sheikh
* All transfers and transportation scheduled in Egypt
* Liveaboard: 6 Day / 6 night’s accommodation on luxurious Liveaboard
* Unlimited diving on only the best dive sites in and around Ras Mohammed National Park, also including
the famous Thistlegorm, Sha’ab Abu Nuhas and Gubal wrecks
* Hire of weights and 12L aluminium tanks.
* Ras Mohammed Park fee
* Breakfast, lunch and dinner
* All teak, coffe, bottled water, snacks & soft drinks
* Hotel in Sharm-el-Sheikh: 1 day use hotel room in Sharm-el-Sheikh
* Harbour/Hotel/Airport transfers
PACKAGE EXCLUDES
* Add on return flights to Johannesburg if required
* Airport taxes: R1 900 (subject to change without notice)
* Hire of dive equipment other than tanks and weights (15L Cylinder – 40 Euros)
* Nitrox fills (6 Euro per fill, Prepaid unlimited package – 60 Euros)
* Visa processing cost @ R350 per passport
* Liveaboard service charge (50 Euros – divided amongst crew)
* Personal travel, baggage and diving insurance (Group Policy – R240)
* Lunch dinner & drinks in Dahab and Cairo
Please note the following: An additional admin fee of R300 per person will be levied for any breakaways to this itinerary.
TOUR ITINERARY
Day 1: Saturday
Check in at 18h00 at Johannesburg International airport for flight to Cairo. Flight departs Johannesburg at 21h45. Flying time approximately 8 hours. Dinner and breakfast is served on board the plane.
Day 2: Sunday
Arrive in Cairo airport at 06h30 and transfer to the transit lounge for the domestic flight from Cairo to Sharm-el-Sheikh departing at approximately 09h00. Met at Sharm-el-Sheikh airport on arrival at approximately 10h00 and transferred directly to live-aboard. Once Port clearance has been obtained, live-aboard departs from Sharm-el-Sheikh. The luxury live-aboard offers 5* service, exceptional cuisine, a friendly crew and unlimited diving opportunities. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily and tea, coffee, soft drinks, snacks and bottled water are freely available on board.
Day 2 - 7
Unlimited diving on only the best dive sites in and around Ras Mohammed National Park, also including the famous Thistlegorm, Sha’ab Abu Nuhas and Gubal wrecks.
Day 8: Saturday
Check out of Liveaboard after breakfast and transfer to a day use hotel in Sharm-el-Sheikh, ideally situated in the heart of Naama Bay close to the beach, restaurants and shopping areas. Spend the day relaxing and exploring Sharm-el-Sheikh before transferring in the evening to the airport for your flight to Cairo.Optional Cairo Day Tour: Fly to Cairo in the morning where you will be met and assisted at Cairo airport and transferred to a day-use hotel room at a 5 Star Hotel. Depart for guided tour of Pyramids & Sphinx. Return to hotel after tour. Lunch and dinner are at own cost. Depart for airport in the late evening to check in for return flight to Johannesburg.
Day 9: Sunday
Arrive at Cairo airport and transfer to the transit lounge for the International flight to Johannesburg. Flight departs Cairo at 02h40 in the morning. Dinner and breakfast are served on the flight. Arrival time in Johannesburg approximately 09h40.
TOUR ITINERARY FOR DAHAB EXTENSION
Day 8: Saturday
Check out of live-aboard after breakfast and transfer to Dahab (approx 1 hours drive). Check in at hotel on a bed and breakfast basis.Shore and boat diving can be arranged at the dive centre at the hotel and there is excellent snorkelling, numerous restaurants and small markets within the village. (Shopper’s paradise)
Day 9 & 10: Sunday & Monday
Spend time at leisure in Dahab. Overnight on a bed and breakfast basis.
Day 11: Tuesday
Option 1:
Spend day at leisure and transfer to Sharm-el-Sheikh in the evening to catch flight departing 22h15 and arriving in Cairo at 23h10.
Option 2:
Transfer to Sharm-el-Sheikh airport in the morning to catch return flight to Cairo.Met and assisted at Cairo airport and transferred to a day-use hotel room at a 5 Star Hotel. Depart for guided tour of Pyramids & Sphinx. Return to hotel after tour. Lunch and dinner are at own cost. Depart for airport in the late evening to check in for return flight to Johannesburg.
Day 12: Wednesday
Check in for flight to Johannesburg. Flight departs Cairo at 02h40 in the morning. Dinner and breakfast are served on the flight. Arrival time in Johannesburg approximately 09h40.
DIVING
Diving takes place from the Straits of Tiran in the North to Ras Mohamed in the South and the Egyptian mainland of Hurghada. Visits to the Gulf of Suez will take you to the wrecks of Dunraven, Thistlegorm and the area of Abu Nuas. The clear blue waters between Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada hide some of the Red Sea's biggest surprises, such as stunning reefs and mysterious shipwrecks, as well as the legacy of the maritime trade that has flowed through the region for millennia. The reefs of this region are as rich in history as they are in natural beauty.
Reefs are covered in fish life and some reefs are so shallow that these can even be viewed from the surface. The corals come to within 1 meter from the surface and then continue down into the depths. Most of the fish life is the smaller reef dwellers as opposed to the pelagic life, but if you look into the blue the big stuff is there.
One of the real highlights of diving in this region are the well-preserved, accessible shipwrecks that litter the seabed across the entrance to the Gulf of Suez. At least six major wrecks lie in easy reach of Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada. There are 19th century mail steamers, modern cargo ships and historic spice traders lying on the bottom of this stretch of sea, all waiting to be explored.
It's alsoworth mentioning that the Red Sea is very salty so expect to carry more weight than you would imagine necessary with your warm water kit.
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CLIMATE
Tempered by sea breezes from the gulfs of Suez and Aqaba, temperatures are mild in winter and blazing hot in summer, often reaching 40 degrees (104 F) or more. Rainfall is minimal and limited to the winter months. Beware of the danger of fierce sunlight and cover up, using a good sunscreen.
CONDITIONS
Seasonal temperature variation is quite similar to that found in southern Sinai. Water temperatures range from the upper twenties (80s F) in the summer to winter lows as cold as 19 to 20 degrees (66-68 F). You may be comfortable enough in just a swimskin in summer, particularly if you normally dive in cold water. Conversely, in the wintertime, some locals use drysuits! A 3mm (0.12in) or even a 5mm (0.20) wetsuit would not be out of order for most of the year.
As autumn progresses to winter, the prevailing northerly winds in the area change. Long swells pushed by the south wind have the entire length of the Red Sea to build up, and by the time they reach the Straits of Gubal, they can be pretty powerful. Conditions are rarely so bad that diving is impossible, but the boat ride can get rough, particularly since so many of the sites in the area are on open-sea reefs. If you suffer from seasickness take a good supply of motion-sickness tablets.
DESERT SAFARIS
Make your visit to Sharm El Sheikh something really special! Desert Safaris are the best way to experience the mystery of Desert. There are specialised desert safari packages and tour itineraries available for those interested in desert adventure travel. Enjoy camel and buggy safari in the dawn and witness the panoramic view of the sunrise over the mountains.
LOCAL DIVE ETIGUETTE
It is important that every diver does his or her bit to preserve the reef environment. Please note that the whole area is protected and no touching or breaking of coral, feeding of fish, fishing, wearing of gloves or little rings is allowed; offenders are liable for prosecution.
For enquiries, quotes or bookings, contact Lynne on:
Email:
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or
Cell: (+27) 83 463 2163 or (+27) 71 569 1342
