Emperor Superior – Reefs & Wrecks
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Reef & Wrecks itinerary on the Emperor Superior
A liveaboard diving vacation in the Red Sea is a great way to explore Egypt’s diverse underwater world. The Red Sea is known for its clear waters and beautiful corals, making it a popular destination for divers around the world. The Emperor fleet sails several ships on the Red Sea. The Emperor Superior sails from Hurghada. Usually, the boat sails the Reefs & Wrecks route. Variations on this route are the Famous Five route and the Get Wrecked route that are occasionally offered.
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.
Best travel time: Diving in the Red Sea can be done year-round. Usually the sea is slightly calmer between September and May, and visibility is best then.
Level of dives: You must be at least Open Water certified. Convenient, but not required, is also to have your Advanced since many dives are under 18m. We recommend you have a minimum of 20 logged dives and you should be comfortable diving in drifts and currents.
Rebreather diving: Emperor supports rebreather divers on all its boats with a rebreather dive package: unlimited sofnolime, cylinders & oxygen. At all times, the maximum dive time is 60 minutes and diving is within recreational limits.
Average Temperatures
Wetsuit advice for the Red Sea
In the summer months a 3 mm is sufficient, but in the heart of winter a 7 mm is wiser. In between, a 5mm will suffice.
What will you experience on this trip?
View itinerary here
Day 1 - Travel to Hurghada
In the late afternoon, on the Friday, the Emperor Superior will start her itinerary from Hurghada. This means you can either arrive in Hurghada on the day itself, or if more convenient one day in advance. Of course, we will find a suitable flight for you. Flying to Hurghada is possible from many airports in europe. Flight time to Hurghada, Egypt is approximately 5 hours. However, the exact duration may vary depending on factors such as flight path, airspeed and stopovers. At the airport, you will be picked up by Emperor’s crew.
In the evening, the Emperor Superior 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.
Day 2 - 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.
Day 3 & 4 - 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.
Day 5 - 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.
Day 6 - 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 .
Day 7 - 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.
Day 8 - Return to Hurghada
Around 10:00, on Friday morning, you will leave the boat. Depending on what time your flight is, we can arrange a day’s hotel. It is also possible to extend your diving vacation with a stay in a (diving) resort or to take a beautiful cultural tour of Egypt. For example, visit the pyramids at Luxor or sail down the Nile on a traditional felucca (sailing ship).
The accommodation
The stay and surroundings
Emperor Superior Liveaboard
The ship, the Emperor Superior Liveaboard, is 36 meters long and belongs to Emperor’s fleet. On board there is room for 25 divers who are accommodated in 13 cabins. Each cabin has its own ensuite bathroom and air conditioning. The lounge and dining area are spacious and also air-conditioned. Also on board is a media player, TV, stereo and Wifi. Furthermore, the ship has 2 sun decks and a large dive deck with platform. Free Nitrox is available on board.
The Emperor Superior liveaboard sails primarily northern routes in Egypt. Emperor’s itineraries include Reef & Wrecks, Get Wrecked and Famous Five. There are a minimum of 2 guides on board.
Travel costs
What is included
This travel package is €1205 per person based on two people in one cabin. The trip can be extended as desired. A number of things are included by default in this travel package.
Prices are subject to price changes, increases or changing exchange rates. Flights are always based on the cheapest possible booking class.
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Included in this trip, from €1205,- p.p.
- 7 Overnight stays in a lower deck cabin
- Accommodation on full board basis
- Return transfers Hurghada - Liveaboard
- Route: Reefs & Wrecks
- Approx. 21 dives
- Nitrox
- VZR, Calamity Fund & Administration fee
Excluding
- Flight
- Visa at Egypt airport
- from €550,- p.p.
- approx. $25.00 p.p.
Optional
Attention! It is important to book the items below in advance. Upon arrival in Egypt, these optional items are often no longer available AND also the prices are higher locally.
- Diving equipment
- Rebreather dive package
- Side Mount 12L
- Twin set 12L
- Twin set 152L
- €205,-
- €250,-
- €55,-
- €85,-
- €100,-
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