Duration
7 days
Cabins left
20 / 20
Capacity
20 divers
Operator
MY Destiny
Included
Mandatory surcharges
Optional extras
Certification
AOWD or equivalent
Min. dives
50 logged
Check-in
16:00–16:00
Check-out
10:00–10:00
When the lighthouse on Abu Kizan (its Arabic name) was built in 1863, no one could have imagined what lay beneath the surface at this hotspot. The reef gained its fame due to its large population of hammerhead sharks. The good news: the school is persistent and always present. The bad news: they aren't always visible, as they patrol depths inaccessible to recreational divers. Daedalus is the reef of unlimited possibilities – anything that's anyone in the Red Sea can pass by here. Sightings of thresher sharks are no longer uncommon. Along with the Brothers Islands and a few dive sites in the Philippines, Daedalus is a guarantee for encounters with these beauties with their distinctive tail fins. The gentle giants also love this spot. Several manta ray sightings and whale shark encounters elevate this dive site to a top-class position worldwide. However, the dive site also demands a certain level of diving skill. Strong, constantly changing currents are a daily occurrence and precisely why they are so popular with marine life. Knowing how to deploy a buoy is mandatory here! Even descending into open water without seeing a reef can make some divers feel uneasy. However, this is quickly forgotten once the first horned creatures are spotted and the diver has to clear their mask for the first time because water got in from their big grin. The southern plateau is more tranquil. From a depth of 20 meters, a gently sloping plateau forms, dotted with numerous ergs. Groupers, moray eels, and Napoleon wrasse abound on the plateau. Turtles bask among the many soft corals. Depending on the season, oceanic whitetip sharks and silky sharks can be found gathering beneath the safari boats.
Welcome to the deep south of the Red Sea. Zabargad (Arabic: El Gubal) Zabargad owes its name to the 235-meter-high mountain on the small island 71 kilometers off the Egyptian mainland. Mining was once carried out on the island, as it was believed to have abundant sapphire deposits. Even today, the island exhibits lively activity on the water's surface, though not man-made. Zabargad serves as a breeding ground for numerous turtles once a year. An unnamed shipwreck lies on the northeast side. The 70-meter-long vessel rests at a depth of 24 meters. The entire stern section is remarkable for its intact superstructure; stairs, railings, davits, portholes, hatches, and the bridge make it a picture-perfect wreck. On the southeast side, numerous caves can be found in the upper reef area, where, with a bit of luck, nudibranchs and flatworms can be discovered. The mysterious disappearance of the Neptuna: On the west side of Zabargad, alongside beautiful hard coral gardens, divers can explore the remains of the safari boat "Neptuna," which mysteriously sank and vanished here in 1981. The Neptuna had previously served as a minesweeper and later became one of the first safari boats in the Red Sea. On April 29, 1981, serious navigational errors during the relocation of the boat to a different anchorage caused the "Neptuna" to collide with the reef and sink stern-first into the depths within a very short time. Now we come to the mysterious part: The wreck has been considered lost ever since. Isolated remnants of the disaster, such as a generator, several suitcases, a radar unit, and a diving cylinder, can be found on the sandy bottom at a depth of approximately 24 meters. Since the reef steepens only gradually at this point, the safari boat couldn't have slipped any further into the depths, so the Neptuna must have found its final resting place somewhere nearby. Thus, one of those mysteries the Red Sea still holds... Just one nautical mile further on: Rocky Island Rocky Island (or simply The Rock) is a truly unassuming little island. Its walls drop steeply and are adorned with a stunning array of soft corals, gorgonians, sponges, black corals, and sea fans. It teems with life: snails, longnose hawkfish, shrimp, and much more will delight any diver's macro photography. Rocky is often subject to strong currents, which magically attract hammerhead sharks, manta rays, dolphins, and other marine life to feed.
Arguably the most famous dive site in all of Egypt, Elphinstone owes its name, "Red Rock," to a red rock formation on the mainland that sailors once used as a navigational aid. The approximately 600-meter-long, spindle-shaped reef lies just 9 kilometers off the Egyptian coast and is a popular spot for daily dives offered by various dive centers and a highlight at the end of any dive safari. Despite the high volume of diving activity, the underwater inhabitants are undeterred. Elphinstone is renowned for its high concentration of oceanic whitetip sharks (also known as longimanus). Nowhere else on the planet is the probability of encountering one of the largest shark species so high. Some females can reach a size of up to 3 meters. Elphinstone is a drop-off reef with a northern and southern plateau. The steep walls plunge hundreds of meters into the deep blue – an eerie yet beautiful contrast to the reef's many colorful coral species, especially the purple and pink soft corals and graceful red gorgonians – their tentacles swaying in the strong currents. Depending on the prevailing current (usually from north to south), the dive begins at the northern plateau. Experienced divers start very deep at the level of the erg to increase their chances of spotting hammerhead sharks. They then drift southwards at a reduced depth. The dive ends in open water with a deployed surface marker buoy, waiting for the oceanic whitetip sharks and completing the safety stop – which can be extended if the first rounded dorsal fin is spotted and there's still enough air in the tank. However, one should keep an eye out for the blue water throughout the dive. Bottlenose dolphins, manta rays, marlin, whale sharks, and other shark species can pass by at any time. Halfway to the southern plateau, you'll usually encounter a huge, resident Napoleon wreck. He's not shy around divers and often looks them straight in the eye or gives them a friendly nudge. For technical divers, the sarcophagus, also known as the archway, is interesting and accessible. Legend has it that an Egyptian pharaoh is buried here. Even in low light, the shape of a sarcophagus is recognizable, and it's covered in coral. The archway begins at approximately 52 meters and ends at 62 meters; you'll need the correct air mixture in your tank to reach it. Also on the northern plateau...Technical divers have a good chance of encountering hammerhead sharks. The breach at the northern plateau is no less spectacular. Shortly before the erg, at about 50 meters, you'll find three large sea fans marking the entrance to the breach. From there, the dive continues at a depth of approximately 48 to 53 meters, traversing the entire northern plateau. This lies well below the depth limit for recreational divers and should only be attempted with the necessary technical training and the correct air mixture. The exact route and dive sites are weather dependent and may deviate from the planned route.
Price per person
€1,499
All taxes included
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