Sinai Classic

Highlights

The all time favorite is covering the world top ten dive top spots such as Jackson Reef, Shark Reef, the World War II wreck of the Thistlegorm, the Dunraven and you have a chance to swim or dive with wild dolphins. A hidden island is waiting too.

You will Dive - Eat - Sleep - Repeat for one week with 20+ dives

Magnificent drift, reef, wreck and wall diving, caves, plateaus and the big blue. Dive into an underwater world that is unique in both variety and the sheer number of species.

To enjoy diving you are an Open Water certified diver with at least 15 logged dives while an Advanced Open Water license and 20 logged dives is mandatory to dive the wreck of Thistlegorm

Itinerary

Sample Itinerary

We do not announce a day by day plan but set up the best plan to cover all sites in the area, avoiding crowded sites and taking weather condition and regulations into consideration.

1. Day  

In the evening, starting from 18:00 H (6 PM) onwards transfer to New Marina (El Wataneya) port and embark. Welcome on board, cabin arrangement and boat briefing. Permission work with port authority, sailing very early next morning.

2. Day to 7. Day

The boat will sail to nearby Temple or Ras Katy for a check dive. The week long safari will cover the area from the Strait of Tiran, Ras Mohamed National Park and the Gulf of Suez which is usual visited first.

The National Park begins at the small bay of Marsa Ghazlani followed by the larger and deeper bay of Marsa Bareika. Continuing along the coast to Ras Za’atar, Jackfish Alley, Eel Garden and Shark Observatory, to the southern end of the peninsula with Anemone City, Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef and ending at the Quay. Because of the geographic position this is a privileged area distinguished to strong massive currents that transport large quantities of plankton and other food that give rise to an extraordinary growth of stony and soft corals and attract large schools of both reef and pelagic marine fauna, over a thousand species in all. Schooling barracuda, jackfish, tuna and many kind of sharks swim in these deep blue waters, especially in summer from June to August, sometimes early September.

The safari will also take you to famous sites like the wrecks of Dunraven and Thistlegorm, Shag Rock and the wreck of Kingston, sail to Shaab Ali where pods of dolphins are common, explore several spots at Sha’ab Mahmouds reef system such as the Small Passage.

Don’t miss the four famous reefs in the Strait of Tiran: Jackson, Thomas, Woodhouse and Gordon Reef, probably the most interesting and richest in marine life. You can choose from several dive sites with superb wall and drift diving. In the afternoon of the 7th day the boat will return to Sharm area.

7. Day evening / 8. Day  early morning

The last night will be spent at or close to port on board the liveaboard. Depending on the itinerary and/or administrative conditions, on week long safaris the last night might be arranged in hotel. This is usually communicated in advance. Depending on your check out and flight time return to New Marina (El Wataneya) port and disembark. Transfer to airport or hotel, disembark till 12:00 H (noontime) latest.

Important Info

You need to be at least an Open Water certified diver and have 15 logged dives. Advanced Open Water level is needed for wreck penetration dives and some of the more demanding sites visited on this safari, mandatory for Thistlegorm are at least 20 logged dives. You must have dived in the last year and recorded this in your log book to join this safari, if needed a Scuba Review is available onboard.

Open Water Divers are able to join night dives if they have previous night dives logged.

This trip is suitable for snorkelers to join and snorkel at allowed sites, however priority is given to diving activities.

The itinerary is an example so if you have a special wish for a certain place in this area just let your dive guide know. Liveaboard itineraries are subject to various unpredictable changes including weather conditions. All dives and especially some wreck dives are subject to divers experience and weather permitted. Live aboard itineraries depend on the Egyptian Government, Coast Guard and/or Marine Police approval. Every effort is made but we cannot guarantee diving at specific sites. The final decision lies with the captain and guide. Safety always comes first!

 

Included

Complementary, shared transfers to/from liveaboard at embarkation/disembarkation times
Transfers are as a round trip in the area of Sharm El Sheikh (from Hotel or Airport)

Accommodation in shared twin berth, double bed cabin or Master Suite according to booking

Full board: 3 meals, starting with dinner on arrival day, ending with brunch on last day
Snacks between meals and after dives - Water, Tea, Coffee and Soft Drinks throughout the day

Fuel surcharge
*) Should an additional and substantial increase be enforced by the government we keep the right to review rates.

3-4 dives per day including Night dives, not on arrival/departure day - 20+ dives are planed
Dive Guide, 12 L Alu Tank DIN/INT, weight belts, weight

Snefro Pearl, Snefro Spirit, Snefro Target, Snefro Love: filling of Nitrox up to 32 % is free for certified divers
*) FREE NITROX: as it is complementary in case of technical problems no refund

Excluded

Your liveaboard is leaving the Aqaba Coast and the area of Sharm El Sheikh.

A Visa to all Egypt (25 USD - 01/2023) is mandatory to join this itinerary. Guests are responsible for checking with an Egyptian Embassy if, for the passport they hold, a visa can be issued on arrival in Egypt. Please also see Evisa service: https://visa2egypt.gov.eg/eVisa/Home King Snefro Fleet does not take any liability for guests that are refused entry to the country due to failure to carry correct documentation.

Mandatory Local Fees (National Park, Environmental & Departure Fees) 90 EUR per person
*) All fees according to local rules and regulations, changes are possible on short or even without prior notice

Courses, Equipment Rental, 15 L Tanks, Twin Sets & Manifolds

Local Alcoholic Beverages, Espresso (if available) – Guest can bring own alcohol and consume after leaving port

Recommended gratitude for the crew and guides per guest: 80 EUR on week long safari

How to get there

Port of Departure: New Marina Sharm El Sheikh (known as El Wataniya, Army Jetty or Port Jerry on Google maps)

Port of Return: New Marina Sharm El Sheikh

Nearest Airport:  Ophira, Sharm El Sheikh International (SSH)

Ferry Service:  Sharm El Sheikh to Hurghada is not working

Bus Service:  regularly from Cairo, Taba, Nuweiba, Dahab (online booking possible with several companies)

Information on complementary transfers:

Only transfer to and from the liveaboard at the given embarkation/disembarkation times in the area of Sharm El Sheikh are included with the liveaboard booking (either from hotel or Airport). Transfer from or to Taba / Dahab are not included.

Transfer are shared transfers, round trip and not private transfers. The actual pick up time might vary as delays could occur while picking up other customers joining the transfer. Guest have to wait at the hotel reception or at the airport pick up point (according to booking, for transfer only meeting point is in front of the arrival hall. Guides are presenting a welcome sign stating King Snefro Fleet and client or/and group name beside the name of the booking travel agency.

We have extreme difficulties collecting guest from public places, restaurants or coffeeshops, places inside pedestrian areas, parking lots, private villas or so-called guest houses. We therefore will not collect from such places, if suitable we will advise a meeting point at the area, otherwise guest will have to make their own way to port.

Call the emergency number only if the pickup delay is greater than 15 minutes. For now, guests departing on an International flight are required to be at the airport at least 3 hours before their flight and 2 hours before a domestic flight.

If you do not want to miss a dive, arrange flight respecting the 24-hour no-fly time, same if your going to altitude (Mountain areas in Sinai, in special St. Catherine) after the last dive!

If arrival transfer information is not provided latest 7 days prior to start date of the trip, guest need to arrange on their own. Any additional cost related to own transfer arrangements  e.g. port entrance fee is not covered by King Snefro Fleet.

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