Emperor Fleet - Cruise Itineraries

Great Island Cruise (from Marsa Ghalib Port & Safaga)

The Brothers - Daedalus Reef - Rocky, Zarbagad - St John's - Fury Shoals - Elphinstone

Note: 50 logged dives required by Egyptian Law

Take a tour of some of the most beautiful reefs in the Red Sea. First stop is the Brother Islands, the pinnacles of two undersea mountains rising from the depths of the abyss and are located about 60 miles offshore. Part of the Marine Park Islands National Park, these islands offer stunning wall diving, with the walls being covered in soft corals and forests of gorgonians, creating a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours. They attract a diverse array of marine species and large pelagics. Large tuna, Jacks and Snappers cruise in the blue, accompanied by occasional Hammerheads, Silvertips, Silky and Oceanic White Tip Sharks and Mantas. Even the rare Thresher Shark can be found here. Sightings of the Grey Reef Shark are almost guaranteed on the North and South Plateau of Small Brother.

For the wreck diver, the wrecks of the Aida II, an Egyptian supply vessel, and the Numidia, a cargo ship, lie on the walls of the Big Brother. Both are covered in a rich growth of soft and hard corals. Marine life includes a family of Napoleon Wrasse and Grey Reef Sharks.

Daedalus Reef, also part of the Marine Park, is a large, oval reef with a lighthouse and is the furthest offshore reef in the Egyptian Red Sea. Its deep walls and drop-offs offer some of the most spectacular diving to be found. Daedalus has mountainous, pristine, hard coral formations. There is also a strong chance of spotting schooling Hammerheads, and grey reef sharks.

Travelling overnight to Rocky Island and Zabargad. Rocky is a small island with deep wall dives all around. Hammerheads can often be seen at the northern tip. Manta rays, Grey Reef sharks and White tip Reef sharks can be encountered around the whole island. Dusk drift dives are ideal at the stunning coral slopes of Zabargad Island.

The last stop south is St Johns which consists of a vast collection of small reefs offering some of the most remote and rewarding diving in the Red Sea. Habili Ali offers giant gorgonians and black corals along with Grey Reef and Silvertip Sharks. Lucky divers may also see Hammerhead sharks on the western side. Habili Gafar is a mass of soft corals teaming with shoals of Snappers, Butterfly Fish and Barracudas. Mantas, Oceanic White Tip, Grey Reef and Silvertip Sharks can be seen in the blue depending on the season. Gota Kebir is a massive reef, famous for its tunnels and south plateau where Jacks and Barracudas can be seen and the occasional Manta. The tunnels are ideal for novice cave divers.

Gota Soraya is rated as possibly one of the best wall dives in the Red Sea, with overhangs and cracks in the reef wall full of Glass Fish and Sweepers and an abundance of corals, Grey Reef, Silvertip, Oceanic White Tip and sometimes even Hammerheads.

Elphinstone is the last reef to visit, with its sheer walls covered in soft corals, offers a likely encounter with Oceanic White Tip sharks depending on the season.

Additional dive sites maybe included to break up the travelling. These are challenging dives with strong currents, so not for inexperienced divers. Long overnight travel is required.

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Scheduled Trips - Great Island Cruise

Please note: Special offers are in in red. Suites can not be booked online, please email info.safaris@emperordivers.com to book. Marine Park fees 99 Euro paid locally.
To Book: Select your trip below and then click "Book"	Updated: 16 May 2008