Diving Holidays to Sudan, Red Sea

The profuse and perfectly preserved reefs in Sudan bear witness to the Red Sea at its best. Almost every dive will offer a myriad of schooling fish and a dazzling display of coral gardens. Dense forests of soft corals and some of the world's best hard coral formations act as a Mecca to several species of sharks, barracuda, mantas and a huge variety of reef dwellers.

Wrecks, drop-offs and spectacular caves are just some of the attractions for the serious diver and underwater photographer. Sharks and mantas in unbelievable numbers are encountered in a technicolour marine environment, made all the more dazzling thanks to unsurpassed visibility.

Experienced divers with a keen sense of adventure can embark on our challenging Sudan expeditions. Diving World operates out of Port Sudan on board the MV Sherazade, MSY Elegante and new luxury vessel MY Cassiopeia.

Most of the diving in the Sudanese Red Sea is on coral pinnacle formations rising from great depths. These attract fish life in vast numbers, including large pelagic species. The microclimate created by the mountainous range on either side of the African and Asian continents and the deep active volcanic rift which creates hot currents all year round, makes the Sudanese Red Sea richer in sub aquatic life than any other in the region. The average water temperature is around 27 to 28 degrees centigrade with a winter low of 24 degrees and summer high of 28 degrees.

Accommodation / Liveaboards in Sudan, Red Sea

Accommodation is on board either the MV Sherazade or MSY Elegante and now

New in Sudan MY CASSIOPEIA

MV Sherazade

In the early 1980’s when border restrictions between Egypt and the Sudan were more relaxed, Diving World Red Sea would embark divers on board sailing yachts from Hamata and travel down to Port Sudan.

When politics caught up (as is always the case), operations subsequently were confined to departures from Port Sudan on 1 and 2 week trips. The experience which was acquired from their long standing and unwavering presence from diving the Sudan has now evolved in the design and construction of a state of the art steel hulled vessel built to International ocean going specifications (Bureau Veritas), offering modern navigation and comfort never before available in the Sudan.

The MV Sherazade is operated by a veteran team of crew and Captain, who have made the Sudan their home for over 20 years. At long last we will be can offer one and two week trips diving the remote and spectacular dive sites of the deep south Sudanese Waters, such as shab Ambar, Masamarit, Kazam Mazamarit and Dahret Gharb in the Suakin Archipelago, along with the extended Northern itinerary which takes the better known but no less unique sites such as Wingate Reef (home of the Umbria), Shaab Rumi and Sanganeb, and up to Angarosh including manta point Ma Suadi and more. This is as a result of the vessel design able to withstand ocean going conditions as well as being licensed to International marine safety standards; such as the all important twin exit points from cabins to decks.

Renato and Christina Marchesan have unparalleled knowledge of the dive sites, marine species, their seasonality and divers satisfaction.

Class: International Bureau Veritas
Category: Luxury
Maximum Capacity:  18 Guests
Length: 33 mt ( 108 ft)
Width:  7,80 mt (26 ft)
Draft:    2,50 mt (8,20 ft)
Cruise speed: 12 knots
Fuel capacity: 45.000 lt
Engines: 2 engines Caterpillar 550 hp
Water capacity: 25.000 lt
Desalinators: 300 lt/hr
Generators: 2 x 50 kw each one
Instruments: GPS, Radar, VHF, Echo Sounder, radio SSB
Safety Equipment: oxygen 50 lt tanks , fire alarm and fire protection, fire extinguishers, First aid kits.

INTERIOR:
Cabins: There are 8 cabins below deck. Each cabin has two twin beds, and is accessible from two stairs in the lounge. There are 3 cabins at the front for crew with separate bathroom and entrances. All cabins have individually controlled air conditioning. On the top deck there are two cabins with bathroom for guests, a crew cabin and one for the captain.
Decks: 3 decks protected from the sun, furnished with teak wood, sofas, tables and solarium.

DIVING EQUIPMENT:
Compressors: 1 Bauer 15,6 cubic meters and 1 Bauer 26,4 cubic meters
Tanks: 30 x 15 lt steel, with double valves DIN/INT
Tender: 1 Asso 7,5 mt with Yamaha outboard 225 HP and 25 HP, 2 petrol tanks of 160 lt, WHF,Echo Sounder, GPS Garmin 45 -  1 Zodiac with Yamaha 25 HP.

**The MS Sherazade accommodates up to 18 guests in spacious luxury cabins.

From: QUINTIN HOWATSON [mailto:]
Sent: 12 June 2007 09:12
To: surf@diving-world.com
Subject: RE: Sudan

Just to say thanks for persuading me to try Sudan. It was magnificent,so much better than the Egyptian Red Sea. I have always said that £1500 was too much money for a one week holiday and it is a lot of money but I have to say it was worth it. The Coral is so pristine with so much variety of life and the fish quantity and quality is jut amazing. The only place I have seen better is Palau and it costs about £4000 and 3 weeks to go there. The boat Sherazade is the best liveaboard yet, and as you know I have been on one or two in my time. It is run like clockwork. A very relaxed week so guess I will have to go again next year if I manage to save enough pennies!!! Thanks again and speak to you soon.

Quintin.

MSY Elegante
To discover “Elegante”, means letting yourself conquered by nature, living closely in touch with the Sudanese Red sea . Wide comfortable surroundings and modern equipment will make your holiday unique and exclusive. We have onboard three electric generators and two air compressors to refill cylinders, with electric and petrol engine, these double systems avoid any possible failure for a good result of cruises. Elegante can accommodate 14 persons.

Please visit the MSY Elegante information page for more information by clicking here

Diving holiday programme, Sudan, Egypt (Red Sea)

7 Nights Itinerary for the Sherazade:
1st day: UMBRIA – Check dive + 2 dives

2d day: SANGANEB - South west point and south reef

3rd day: SANGANEB - South west point . SHA'AB RUMI - Cousteau Houses

4th day: SHA'AB RUMI - South point. SHA'AB SUEDI (According to weather conditions) - Reef

5th day: SHA'AB SUEDI& Ma Sharifa- Toyota wreck. SHA'AB RUMI - North point

6th day: SHA'AB RUMI - South point. WINGATE REEF - Reef

14 Nights Itinerary:

1st day: UMBRIA
2d day: SANGANEB
3rd day: SHA'AB RUMI
4th day: TOYOTA REEF
5th day: QITA EL BANNA
6th day: MERLO REEF
7th day: ANGAROSH
8th day: ABINGTON REEF
9th day: MESHARIFA
10th day: SHA'AB SUEDI
11th day: SHA'AB RUMI
12th day: SANGANEB
13th day: WINGATE REEF

For Southern Sudan click here

Guests joining our trips from other destinations pick up our service from Cairo , unless Diving World organizes their flights.

FRIDAY
Fly from London Heathrow Terminal 3 on Egypt Air (Airbus 340 or Boeing 777)
Check in 2 hours prior to take off. Land in Cairo Airport at 0105 hrs
Met and assisted on arrival by our ground agents. Transfer to
Novotel 4* BB, within the airport perimeter.

SATURDAY
Breakfast and check out before 10:00 hrs. Half day Excursion in
Cairo to the Pyramids or Bazaar (optional). Transfer to Cairo Airport for early
Evening flight to Port Sudan on Sudan Airways. Met and assisted on arrival at Port Sudan airport. Transfer to your Liveaboard at the Port (20 minutes from airport).

SUNDAY - SATURDAY
7 Nights Full board on Liveaboard with 6 days & diving (3 dives per day with 2 night dives. Only 2 dives on 6 th day). Diving is as per dive plan with dive guide.
13 days diving on two week trips.

SATURDAY
Breakfast on board followed by morning transfer to Port Sudan Airport
Assited check in for your Sudan Airways flight to Cairo.
Meeting and transfer to Novotel BB. Evening at your leisure.

ELEGANTE ITINERARY

From August  to  November The Elegante 7 nights itinerary includes the reefs of Ras abu Shagara  (Angarosh, Merlo and Abinton) and Mesharifa (Manta point) where you can encounter many mantas due to water plankton.

Itinerary in detail:

- Saturday arrival,boarding, papers permission and boarding taxes.

- Sunday departure to Sha’ab rumi ( about 3,30 hours of navigation)  where there are the follow diving spots: the legendary Cousteau’s precontinent and the wonderful south plateau.

-Monday departure to Shab Suady (about 3 hours) where you can see the wreck of Blu Bell (Toyota’s cargo); departure to Gurna’ reef for to spend the night.

-Tuesday departure to Quita el banna’s reef (about 2,30 hours); departure to Abu Shagara reefs where  you can dive in Merlo reef. Departure to Shambaya for to spend the night.

-Wednesday diving in Abinton and Angarosh and departure (about 2,30 hours of navigation)  to Mesharifa island (Manta’s point) overnight stay.

-Thursday  will be possible to dive in Angarosh or Quita el banna and we start to come back to Port Sudan and we try to make again the dive that was more interesting on the outward journey.

-Friday : Dive in the Sha ab Suady south plateau and Sha’b Rumi.

-Saturday  morning return to Port Sudan.

Diving holiday departures , Sudan, Red Sea