Red Sea
THE SOUTHERN RED SEA AND SUDAN
The Red Sea With a Difference
Season: January-June, September-December.
Visibility: 20-30 metres
Water Temperature: 22-29°C
White-tip Reef Shark. (Royal Evolution - Simon Rogerson)
First explored by Hans and Lotte Hass in the 1950s and then by Jacques Cousteau in his famous boat, Calypso, the Red Sea is a classic destination for all divers. Rich with coral, laden with fascinating wrecks, populated by an incredibly diverse fish population including the ‘big boys’ of the sea, Manta Rays and sharks, the deep south of the Egyptian Red Sea and coastal Sudan offers some of the best diving in the world.
Leave behind the hordes of day boats and over-dived reefs of the northern Red Sea as you head south through southernmost Egypt’s and coastal Sudan’s finest dive sites and enter the world of the hammerhead and the Manta Ray. Explore some fantastic wrecks, visit Jacques Cousteau’s ‘underwater world’ and float through grottoes and around coral-covered pinnacles. Fish life is here in profusion and you will enjoy your reunion with your old friends: batfish, sweetlips, Napoleon Wrasse, lionfish, anthias, glassfish, triggerfish, cuttlefish and anemonefish, not to mention rays and sharks. Maybe the amazing and beautiful Oceanic White-tip Shark will just glide by in search of food …Sudan has much for the diver to enjoy.
South of the port of Marsa Alam, the southernmost town of any size on the Egyptian Red Sea coast, is Fury Shoal, part of which is famous for its coral pinnacles and swim-throughs with some healthy, large and colourful coral heads. Here you will see some classic images, with colourful anthias darting over the corals and inquisitive pufferfish peeping out of recesses. St John’s Reef lies about 138 nautical miles north of the Sudanese border and is a collection of small reefs, coral pinnacles and drop offs where some swift drift diving offers encounters with sharks, tunas and jacks.
Just 20 nautical miles from the coast of Sudan is Sanganeb Reef, consisting of a northern and a southern plateau. The North Plateau is famous for the British-built lighthouse that marks its location, as well as the reef wall with its visiting sharks, jacks and barracudas. At the end of the plateau those ‘bison of the sea’, the noisy Bumphead Parrotfish, may be encountered, and maybe, in the deep waters, a school of Scalloped Hammerheads may be found. At the surface there are also interesting encounters to be had, and perhaps a pod of dolphins will enjoy a visit to the boat and the chance to see some snorkeling humans. The South Plateau has superb soft and hard corals and is a good place to see Grey Reef Sharks. The shark list can be very good here and can include Scalloped Hammerhead, Silky Shark and even an occasional Oceanic White-tip Shark, while Manta Rays are fairly regular visitor
It is at Sha’ab Rumi that Jacques Cousteau conducted his famous Conshelf II underwater living experiments, where five men spent more than a month underwater to study the effects of long-term underwater stays. The remains of the 1963 expedition structures, called Precontinent II, are still on the site and it is possible to dive the Cousteau constructions and also see the remains of the shark cages that were used.
Hans Hass named the wreck of the Umbria as one of the world’s finest wrecks and most wreck-enthusiasts will be in agreement. In World War II the Red Sea was an important route linking British-controlled Egypt and Sudan to the British colonies and dominions in Asia and Australasia. On the day Italy declared war on Britain the Umbria was just 20 miles from Port Sudan and heading for the Italian colony of Eritrea. The Umbria’s crew scuttled the boat when the captain heard that Italy had entered the war, denying the Allies her cargo of bombs and guns. The 153m long wreck now lies on the sea bed, listing at a 60 degree angle; its precious cargo is still onboard - 360,000 aircraft bombs weighing 5,510 tonnes!
The Blue Belt (or Toyota Wreck) lies upside down on a slope, and contains a cargo of cars, trucks, tractors and spare parts, in depths of 10-36 metres. It is possible to enter the wreck through a gap in the hull and work upwards, but the coral-encrusted remains of the cars, tyres, lights, steering wheels and other spare parts are perhaps more fascinatin
The small island of Dahret Abid, 20 miles north of Eritrea and around 30 miles east of the Sudanese shoreline lies at the point where a reef wall slopes down to the watery depths, so, if the current permits, the first part of the dive will usually be spent hanging in the blue keeping a lookout for the school of Scalloped Hammerheads that is often hanging around the area. At around 30 metres is a small collapsed balcony where many schooling reef fish can be found. The wall here has black coral and some highly photogenic Long-fin Batfish.
The Suakin group of islands in the southern region of coastal Sudan are scattered over a vast area. Beneath the waves, coral heads grow from the reef and reach towards the surface. Many of these coral heads, known as ‘habilis’, are just a couple of metres below the surface and attract an marine life in vast quantity. It is these habilis and a number of tiny islands which cause the fast flow of water and attract huge numbers of fish. The southern Red Sea has always been a magnet for divers seeking shark encounters, and sharks are still here to be seen. There are well-recorded encounters with the elusive Great Hammerhead, with elegant Oceanic White-tips, sleek Silkys, huge Tigers and other ‘wish-list’ sharks, though there is little doubt that there has been a steep decline in the shark population worldwide and the southern Red Sea sharks have suffered at the hands of man in the same way.
Add to this a variety of swim-throughs, beautiful coral gardens, shallow lagoons and the habilis, in combination with the almost-ever-present current, and it is easy to see why the reef fish are here in profusion. Great Barracudas, Black-fin Barracudas, Napoleon Wrasse, Bumphead Parrotfish, triggerfish, Spotted Sweetlips, fusiliers, surgeonfish and anthias occur here, many species in profusion. At any time it is worth gazing around on these dives, not just to look for approaching sharks, but to watch for the silhouettes of cruising Manta Rays, gentle giants that often seem to seek out divers, and turtles resting on the reef or nipping up for a quick slurp of air.
A minimum diving qualification of PADI Advanced (or equivalent) and a minimum of 50 logged dives are a pre-requisition for joining Royal Evolution cruises.
ROYAL EVOLUTION
The arrival of Royal Evolution brought luxury-grade liveaboard diving to the Southern Egyptian Red Sea and Sudan. With the latest safety and navigation equipment, and built for long-distance cruising, Royal Evolution has already established an enviable reputation for catering for diving enthusiasts and underwater photographers who not only want first-class diving and photographic facilities but also a level of service, safety and creature comforts which are second to none.
The 39-metre Royal Evolution carries a maximum of 24 passengers in 12 en-suite, air-conditioned cabins, each with a sound system, small ‘bar’ fridge, DVD player, TV, Marine satellite receiver (which allows guests to connect to international news and events), and safe. Of the four Main Deck Cabins, two have a queen-sized bed and two have twin beds which are ‘disabled-friendly’. The Main Deck Cabins have superb picture windows through which one has lovely sea views. Eight Lower Deck Cabins on have two twin beds side by side. The crew offer superb service at all times and pride themselves on working towards making sure your diving holiday is the best you have ever had.
The dive deck features air and Nitrox filling stations along with storage facilities for each diver and crew member. There is a camera station for the storage of underwater photographic and video equipment, complete with two air guns for drying. There are two hand held showers, and two fresh-water rinse tanks for diving gear as well as hanging racks for wetsuits.
The shaded upper sun deck has plenty of outdoor sofas, chairs and sun-loungers for relaxing after the dive. Soaking in the Hot Tub/Jacuzzi is a great way to get warm if you have the post-dive shivers! When diving is over for the day, why not enjoy a drink at the bar? The fully air-conditioned dining area on the main deck has seating for all 24 guests at individual tables. Also on the main deck is a bar and lounge area with comfortable seating for all guests. There are coffee tables and light tables along with a sound system, TV/VCR system (connected to a home theatre audio system) and a marine satellite receiver. There is a DVD and video library along with a selection of books and magazines for those relaxed moment.
Royal Evolution sails from Port Ghaleb, Marsa Alam for 13 nights cruises from September to June (all cruises include an additional night in an hotel in Marsa Alam). Two itineraries are offered on Royal Evolution. There is a standard Sudan itinerary and a Sudan Deep South itinerary, which also includes the Suakin group of islands. Please contact our office for details of sailing schedule
Price: from about £2046 for the standard Sudan itinerary; from about £2164 for the Deep South Suakin area (Sudan/Eritrea border) itinerary. Includes; airport/hotel transfers; 13 nights cruise on Royal Evolution on a twin/share basis with full board, including water, tea and coffee and some soft drinks; 12 full days of diving (up to 4 or 5 dives per day, including night dives, plus one or two dives on last day); 1 night half-board (dinner and breakfast) accommodation at Marina Lodge Hotel, or similar, Marsa Alam before the cruise; Egypt entry visa. In addition, there is a local taxes and Sudan entry visa charge of about £283 (subject to change) which must be prepaid. There is an extra charge for Nitrox, payable on board.
Single Occupancy Supplement: If you are travelling alone and are willing to share a twin cabin with a fellow passenger of the same sex you can avoid paying any supplement. If you prefer to have a cabin (and hotel room) to yourself a 65% supplement applie
FLIGHTS: from about £376 to Marsa Alam. There is a direct flight from London Gatwick to Marsa Alam every Wednesday.
Royal Evolution. (Royal Evolution)
