Red Sea Routes
Egypt Red Sea
Red Sea Routes
On this page we have examples of set routes. Other routes are available on request by groups. A group is 6 or more divers and if you are the first to book you can choose the date and itinerary.
All holidays will be on MY Charlotte
a.
Northern Wreck & Reef
Starting in Hurghada, we can head north to Shab Abu Nuhas to dive the Giannnis D, Carnatic & Chrisoula K. Next to Bluff Point to dive the Ulysses, the Barge and in good weather conditions the Rosalie Moller. From here we make the passage over the central channel to the world famous Thistlegorm. Its quite easy to complete 2 or 3 dives on this facinating wreck and not see it all. While over on the east side we can take in the Dunraven & the Kingstone wrecks. We will have enough time to dive a few of the pristine reefs in and around Ras Mohammed like the Alternatives, Little Crack or Shark Yolanda before heading back to Hurghada. The exact route and itinerary depends on weather conditions.
Sataya & Fury Shoals
Fury Shoals comprises of a large system of reefs growing atop of a shallow shelf that stretches 13km off shore to the north of Ras Banus. We will be diving most of the reefs in the area including the famous Sataya (Dolphin House). We plan to be here around mid day when the smaller pods of dolphins congregate to form a huge super pod. It's great fun getting in and out of the ribs snorkelling with them and sometimes they come and play with you.
Deep South & St Johns
Just 10 miles north of the Sudanese border, St Johns reef is the southern most Egyptian reef and one of the best. There are many different dive sites and many more to be discovered. Corals are in mint condition and the fish life thriving. We will also visit the famous St Johns cave system. This is a labyrinth of coral with swim throughs and escape routes to the surface. A facinating place with interesting coral formations and caverns.
Fury Shoals comprises of a large system of reefs growing atop of a shallow shelf that stretches 13km off shore to the north of Ras Banus. We will be diving most of the reefs in the area including the famous Sataya (Dolphin House). We plan to be here around mid day when the smaller pods of dolphins congregate to form a huge super pod. It's great fun getting in and out of the ribs snorkelling with them and sometimes they come and play with you.
North Tour & Brothers
We may start from Hurghada and head south diving the Saleem Express before moving on towards the Brothers. The strong currents on the Brothers bring in big pelagics and encourage the growth of soft coral. Here we will also find the wrecks of the Aumidia & Aidia. From there we can head north to Shab Abu Nuhas to dive the Ginnnis D, Carnatic & Chrisoula K. Next to Bluff Point to dive the Ulysses, the Barge and in good weather conditions the Rosalie Moller. From here we make the passage over the central channel to the world famous Thistlegorm. Its quite easy to complete 2 or 3 dives on the facinating wreck and not see it all. While over on the east side we can take in the Dunraven & the Kingstone wrecks before heading back to Hurghada. Exact route subject to weather conditions.
Fury Shoals & Daedalus
This is the diving holiday if you want a good chance to see Hammerheads. Daedalus is a reef 50 miles from shore with a british built lighthouse. It has steep walls which attract loads of big stuff. On our last three May trips on Daedalus we saw Hammerheads on the first dive! We had six dives on Daedalus and on four we had Hammerhead encounters. To put the cherry on the cake we also saw Manta rays WOW.
Fury Shoals comprises of a large system of reefs growing atop of a shallow shelf that stretches 13km off shore to the north of Ras Banus. We will be diving most of the reefs in the area including the famous Sataya (Dolphin House). We plan to be here around mid day when the smaller pods of dolphins congregate to form a huge super pod. It's great fun getting in and out of the ribs snorkelling with them and sometimes they come and play with you.
Fury Shoals comprises of a large system of reefs growing atop of a shallow shelf that stretches 13km off shore to the north of Ras Banus. We will be diving most of the reefs in the area including the famous Sataya (Dolphin House). We plan to be here around mid day when the smaller pods of dolphins congregate to form a huge super pod. It's great fun getting in and out of the ribs snorkelling with them and sometimes they come and play with you.
Daedalus, Rocky & Zabargad
This is the diving holiday if you want a good chance to see Hammerheads. Daedalus is a reef 50 miles from shore with a British built lighthouse. It has steep walls which attract loads of big stuff. On our last three May trips on Daedalus we saw Hammerheads on the first dive! We had six dives on Daedalus and on four we had Hammerhead encounters. To put the cherry on the cake we also saw Manta rays WOW.
Zabargad is situated 46km southeast of Ras Banas and only a few kilometres from the Sudan border. Liveaboard boats use the island as an overnight anchorage for forays to Rocky. The island is a ship's graveyard with Neptuna, a Swiss run diving liveaboard that sank in 1981, The Khanka Russian freighter, which was a spy ship, on the western side of south bay Kno.
Rocky Islet consists of steep, bare rock rising from very deep water about 6km southeast of Zabargad. It has a reputation for sharks and pelagics. The Northern face is open to the full force of the prevailing winds, so divers are dropped here, then swim east round to the calmer waters of the south to be picked up. The narrow sandy shelf that surrounds the islet is widest at its eastern end where, at 25m, it becomes the place to observe sharks and a wide selection of pelagics.
Rocky Islet consists of steep, bare rock rising from very deep water about 6km southeast of Zabargad. It has a reputation for sharks and pelagics. The Northern face is open to the full force of the prevailing winds, so divers are dropped here, then swim east round to the calmer waters of the south to be picked up. The narrow sandy shelf that surrounds the islet is widest at its eastern end where, at 25m, it becomes the place to observe sharks and a wide selection of pelagics.
Brothers, Daedalus & Elphinstone
This is the diving holiday if you want a good chance to see Hammerheads and other sharks. They can be found on the Brothers Daedalus & Elphinstone. We may start from Safaga and head south diving the Saleem Express before moving on towards the Brothers which is situated 40 miles out. The strong currents on the Brothers bring in big pelagics and encourage the growth of soft coral. Here we will also find the wrecks of the Aumidia & Aidia. Daedalus is a reef 50 miles from shore with a British built lighthouse. It has steep walls which attract loads of big stuff. On our last three May trips on Daedalus we saw Hammerheads on the first dive! We had six dives on Daedalus and on four we had Hammerhead encounters. To put the cherry on the cake we also saw Manta rays WOW. Elphinstone is a reef 300m long and is only 7 miles out but has a wealth of life swimming round it or growing on it. Always a rewarding dive.
The Brothers & Safaga
Starting and finishing in Hurghada, this trip has a bit of everything. There will be little dived reefs which have an abundance of fish life around Safaga plus the atmospheric ferry Salem Express which struck a reef in 1991.
About 40 miles out are the Brothers. These are two small islands in the middle of nowhere. Below the surface the scenery is awesome with plunging walls covered in hard and soft corals. Here you are likely to encounter sharks of all types including Hammerheads. If you are really lucky there could be mantas and dolphins. There is also a couple of wrecks, the Aumidia & Aidia.
POSSIBLE TARGETS
SS THISTLEGORM - EL DOMIAT - EL BAKR – SS ROSALIE MOLLER – SS ZEITETH P&O CARNATIC –
MV ABOUDY
SS SCALARIA – MV KIMON M SS ULYSSES –MV LARA
SS DUNRAVEN – MV MARCUS – MV GHIANIS D SS TURKIA
MV MILLION HOPE – RSS CORMORANT – MV HEBAT ALLAH
SS KINGSTON – BARGE - MV ALASKA
Two other targets may be added later subject to special permission.
One day on the safari will be dedicated to search for the very illusive wreck of the Shillong. A huge cargo vessel 159 meters long sank after a collision on 22nd October 1959.
Port Ghalib to Hurghada
On arrival at Hurghada airport you will be taken to Port Ghalib by bus to start the week on board liveaboard MY Charlotte. This is going to be a leisurely cruise up the coast from Port Ghalib to Hurghada. We will be visiting many pristine reefs on route. One of the biggest is Elphinstone with a good chance to see dolphins and turtles and may be sharks. If the weather is favourable then we could run out the 50 miles to Daedulas, here we are likely to encounter hammerhead sharks and if we are lucky manta rays. Either way we will visit the beautiful Shouna reef and dive the wreck Salem Express and the pretty Panorama reef close to Hurghada.
Tiran Wreck Special
For those who can't make the 10 day wreck hunt a 7 day heavy metal tour spotlighting the starits of Tiran “Spotlight Tiran” wreck with Peter Collings. On board MY Charlotte with owner Paul Cooper.
Million Hope. One of the largest shipwrecks in the world and in only 24 mtrs
Ayaiya Vivia. A rarely dived cargo vesssel in 27 mtrs.
RSS Cormorant, currently the Red Sea’s newest wreck with Bow down at 50mtrs.
Zingara (Kormoron) an old favourite revisited great 3rd dive in only 12 mtrs.
Lara, well her stern section and bridge starts at 27 mtrs covered in soft corals i in the domain of hammerheads and of course the Rosalie Moller
Additional wrecks
truck dump (Thistelgorms cargo), Marcus, Ulysses.
7 nights, food accom, soft drinks, historical briefings, diving,
single 12ltr cylinder, air, twin share, airport transfers.
Port/fuel/marine park fees paid locally on arrival.
Departs Hurghada
You know what to do!!!!!!!!
Northern Wrecks & Tiran
Starting in Hurghada, we can head north to Shab Abu Nuhas to dive the Giannnis D, Carnatic & Chrisoula K. Next to Bluff Point to dive the Ulysses, the Barge and in good weather conditions the Rosalie Moller. From here we make the passage over the central channel to the world famous Thistlegorm. Its quite easy to complete 2 or 3 dives on this facinating wreck and not see it all. While over on the east side we can take in the Dunraven & the Kingstone wrecks. We may have enough time to dive a few of the pristine reefs in and around Ras Mohammed like the Alternatives, Little Crack or Shark Yolanda. We will then head past Sharm and make our way to the striats of Tiran. Here we will have to opportunity to dive the four main reefs Jackson, Gordon, Woodhouse & Thomas. They are wall dives but have different features. Its time now to head back to Hurghada. The exact route and itinerary depends on time and weather conditions.
North Suez Wreck Hunting
On M/Y Charlotte will set sail from Hurghada on a Wreck Hunting Expedition with Red Sea Wreck expert Peter Collings, founder member of the Red Sea Wreck Academy, who will give expert briefings on the little dived wrecks.
During the trip we will be diving wrecks we have already located in the Suez canal area that are rarely dived also spending a lot of time searching for new targets.
The four Wrecks Targets we hope to find:
- MV TIMSFON – A small Egyptian supply vessel of 175 ton ship built in 1957, the MV TIMSFON grounded SW of the Morgan oilfield. The impacted cracked the engine casing and she began to sink .She was taken in tow but later sank in around 32 meters of water.
- MV SMIT LLOYD 10 – A Dutch supply tug built in 1966 in Krimpen. She was 196 feet long and displaced 784 tons. She sank in 25 meters after striking an oil well in September 1978 near the Morgan Oilfield. Her 7 man crew were rescued but the wreckage yet to be found.
- SS SHILLONG – 525 feet long and an 8934 gross ton passanger/cargo ship built in 1984 in the UK has been on our list to find for a long time but recently we had some updated potential location points and we have now been assured by the Hydrographic Department that the ship is definitely still in the Red Sea and has not been salvaged, just waiting for us to find…
- SS Belmore -The SS BELMORE The 99 feet long steam tug sank near Gharib Lighthouse but not alot is known about her.
We also have one more wreck called the MV CHRISTOBAL (MV TANDORA) which we found very recently but didn’t get much time to dive and explore her. She is a Panomanian motor tanker, built in 1945 for the Pan American Oil Company the MV TANDORA, serving the US government for 3 years when she became the MV MARVEL. The 301 feet long ship is sitting in 28 meters of water!
Whats Included: 10 days diving, 12 days on board, full board including soft drinks, transport from and to the airport, 3 dives per day potentially more, free up to 28% Nitrox and free up to 50% Oxygen, a 12lr cylinder and weights.
Start harbour: Hurghada, end harbour: Hurghada
These trips are open to individuals and small groups and more dates to follow.