Buddy trip – Reefs & Wrecks – Emperor Asmaa

Diving vacation to: Egypt. Liveaboard itinerary: Reefs & Wrecks

Travel period

November

Features

Boatdiving, Wreck diving

Starting at

8 days from €1290,- p.p

On diving vacation with Diving Association Leeuwarden

Liveaboard date: November 15 to 22, 2024
Spaces left: 2 (lower deck cabin)

Would you like to go on a diving vacation with a friendly group? Then join Dive Club Leeuwarden (Netherlands) this fall. The diving club occupied the entire boat (15 pers) except for 2 spots! Will you go with them?

This diving vacation takes place on the Emperor Asmaa, a fun liveaboard where the focus is on eat-sleep-dive-repeat. The Asmaa sails the Northern Route “Reefs & Wrecks” from Hurghada during this diving vacation.

Reefs & Wrecks
is a popular route known for its various wreck dives. This route includes dive sites Abu Nuhas and the SS Thistlegorm. Abu Nuhas is an uninhabited island known for spectacular shipwrecks such as the Giannis D. The SS Thistlegorm is one of the Red Sea’s most impressive shipwrecks. Between wreck dives, you will also visit the reefs of the Straits of Gubal, the Gulf of Suez and the reefs located north of Hurghada. A variety of deep walls and hard coral gardens with an abundance of reef fish make them well worth a visit.

Flights Dusseldorf – Hurghada €486,- p.p.

We have already committed flights for these last 2 spots, so you are guaranteed: 1. a good rate and 2. that you travel to Egypt already from Dusseldorf with the diving club. Out together…. together at home 😉

The flights, including 20KG of checked baggage:
November 15 – 10:50 Dusseldorf – Hurghada 16:45
November 22 – 17:55 Hurghada – Dusseldorf 11:15

The total price for this trip, including the flights as mentioned above: €1776,- p.p.

This is already the second trip by Dive Club Leeuwarden where they are opening up their trip to other divers to join. About the previous trip, to Zanzibar, Mark wrote a report.

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Average Temperatures

Wetsuit advice for November Reefs & Wrecks Red Sea

What will you experience on this diving vacation?

View itinerary here

November 15 - Trip to Hurghada

In the late afternoon, on the Friday, the Emperor Asmaa will start her itinerary from Hurghada. At the airport, you will be picked up by Emperor’s crew.

In the evening, the Emperor Asmaa departs for the first dive site. Below is an example of the sailing schedule for the route. This sailing schedule may vary due to weather conditions, among other things, or because it is very busy at one dive site, for example. Then the captain throws around the schedule so you get the most out of your liveaboard.

November 16 - Shaab El Erg & Abu Nuhas

We begin the liveaboard quietly with a check dive on the reef of Shaab El Erg. The famous horseshoe-shaped reef of Shaab El Erg is a perfect example of the reefs offered on this cruise with its beautiful hard coral garden and the chance to see dolphins.

The highlight of Shaab el Erg is the underwater sand dune, which stretches for more than a kilometer and is surrounded by pristine coral reefs. The unique shape of the dune is caused by strong currents flowing through the area, and it is home to a variety of marine life, including moray eels, lionfish and scorpionfish.

Then continue today and tomorrow with diving in the Abu Nuhas aldermanic cemetery.

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November 17 & 18 - Abu Nuhas and reefs

The next few days are mostly devoted to wreck diving. Between wreck dives, you will also visit the reefs of the Straits of Gubal, the Gulf of Suez and those north of Hurghada. A variety of deep walls and hard coral gardens with an abundance of reef fish make them well worth a visit.

Abu Nuhas is known for its four famous shipwrecks. Each wreck offers unique diving experiences and is home to an abundance of marine life.

The Giannis D is the most famous of the four wrecks and is a must-visit destination for any diving enthusiast. The ship, which sank in 1983, is now covered in colorful soft and hard coral formations and is home to a variety of marine life, including lionfish, moray eels and groupers.

The Carnatic, which sank in 1869, is another popular wreck at Abu Nuhas. The ship’s wooden hull has long since decayed, but its metal parts and cargo of wine bottles can still be seen on the ocean floor. The site is home to a variety of marine life, including barracudas, trevally and schools of colorful reef fish.

The Chrisoula K, known as the “tile wreck,” is a sunken cargo ship carrying tiles from Italy to Saudi Arabia when it sank in 1981. The site is home to schools of batfish and snappers, as well as barracuda and giant groupers. .

The Kimon M, also known as the “lentil wreck,” is a sunken cargo ship that was carrying a cargo of lentils when it sank in 1978. The site is home to schools of barracudas, trevally and reef sharks, and the ship’s metal structure is now covered in colorful soft and hard coral formations.

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November 19 - Ras Mohammed, Yolanda & Ulysses

We start the day with a swim on the Ulysses. On August 16, 1887, the Ulysses had left Suez and entered the Red Sea. In the early hours she hit the island of Gobal Seghir, in the busy Straits of Gobal. The damage seemed minor at first, and another ship was requested to send help from Suez. The Ulysses was stranded on a coral reef just north of Bluff Point. However, it took until the 20th before help arrived and by then the reef had caused extensive damage to the ship and had to be abandoned. The Ulysses is 91 meters long. The back is at 27 m and bends into the shallow water.

Today, more than 100 years later, the Ulysses is a beautiful dive site. Her deck boards are long gone, opening up her rear section like a giant rib cage. The bow (as shallow as 6 meters) broke and lay battered in the shallow waters.

After this dive, we sailed on to the Kingston located at Shag Rock, the Carina located close to Sha’ab Ali and the Dunraven at Beacon Rock.

We end at Ras Mohamed which lies at the southernmost tip of Sinai and is one of the best-preserved national parks in Egypt with waters full of nutrients, steep walls that go down to a depth of 1,000 meters and attract a large amount of big fish and itself a reputation as one of the best diving areas in the world. While you’re here, you might have a chance to dive at Shark Reef, a steep wall dropping into the blue, as well as the wreck of the Yolanda.

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November 20 - Strait of Tiran

Last night we sailed on to the Strait of Tiran. This is where we dive all day today.

Jackson Reef, locally called the “Aquarium,” is Tiran’s most popular dive, with the “Jackson Drift” being Sharm’s fastest and most exciting drift dive along a beautiful wall bursting with prolific coral growth. Occasionally, in the summer months, a school of scalloped hammerhead sharks can be seen. Thomas Reef gives you deep walls covered with soft coral, gorgonians and colorful fish. The western wall is darker with protrusions and caves full of glassfish and sweepers. A night dive at Gordon Reef promises different types of coral, tiny nudibranchs hidden in the crevices and soft corals and a chance to see white-tip reef sharks, eagle rays, octopus and different species of eels such as moray eels, pepper moray eels and golden eels .

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November 21 - SS Thistlegorm

Finally the most famous wreck in the Red Sea, the SS Thistlegorm, at Shaab Ali including a night dive on Thistle. For most divers familiar with the Red Sea, this iconic wreck needs no introduction. It’s a must-dive on quite a few people’s to-do list, and whether you like wreck diving or not, the Thistlegorm is just incredible. Sank the same way as the “Rosalie Moller” – just 48 hours and a few miles apart – The Thistlegorm is truly one of the best dives in the world. The Thistlegorm carried cargo for the war effort in northern Egypt, and each dive is a visit to an underwater museum, a place in time where the clocks stopped. Locomotives, various ammunition and Lee Enfield rifles, Bedford trucks, Triumph engines and even airplane wings can still be found in the cavernous holds of The Thistlegorms.

From here, the boat sails back toward Hurghada.

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November 22 - Return to Hurghada

Around 10:00, on Friday morning, you will leave the boat. Since your flight is not until later in the day (at 5:55pm), we are looking at day hotel/beach club options in late August/early September. There will still be a small charge for this in due course but that way you won’t be sitting around all day waiting for your flight. Around 15:00 you will be transferred to the airport and fly back to Dusseldorf. Here you will arrive around 10:15 p.m.

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The accommodation

The stay and surroundings

Emperor Asmaa Liveaboard

The Emperor Asmaa Liveaboard is a beautiful ship, which is slightly smaller than usual for liveaboards. It has two decks, a sun deck and a large dive deck. The double cabins and salon are air-conditioned. The 10 cabins are all en-suite and include 2 towels per person. Length: 28 meters. Free Wi-Fi on board.

With 10 cabins, the ship is small in size, making it ideal for groups. Feel free to ask us about the possibilities of renting the entire boat your diving club or group of friends.

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Travel costs

What is included

This diving vacation to Egypt is available from €1776 per person based on two people in one cabin. You can also reserve this cabin for you alone while available. The single cabin supplement is: €650, so then the total price becomes €2426 for 1 person.

Prices are subject to price changes, increases or changing exchange rates. Flights are always based on the cheapest possible booking class.

Want to know more about this diving vacation to Egypt? Get in touch with us!