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2 WEEK GREAT ISLAND TOUR:
Brother Islands, Daedalus, Rocky,
Zabargad, St Johns, Fury Shoal and Elphinstone
The Brother
Islands are the pinnacles of two undersea mountains
rising from the depths of the abyss and are located
about 60 miles offshore. Part of the Marine Park Islands
National Park, these islands offer stunning wall diving,
with the walls being covered in soft corals and forests
of gorgonians, creating a kaleidoscope of ever-changing
colours. They attract a diverse array of marine species
and large pelagics. Large tuna, Jacks and Snappers
cruise in the blue, accompanied by occasional
Hammerheads, Silvertips, Silky and Oceanic White Tip
Sharks and Mantas. Even the rare Thresher Shark can be
found here. Sightings of the Grey Reef Shark are almost
guaranteed on the North and South Plateaux of Small
Brother.
For the wreck diver, the wrecks of the Aida II, an
Egyptian supply vessel, and the Numidia, a cargo ship,
lie on the walls of the Big Brother. Both are covered in
a rich growth of soft and hard corals. Marine life
includes a family of Napoleon Wrasse and Grey Reef
Sharks.
Daedalus Reef,
part of the Marine Park, is a large, oval reef with a
lighthouse and is the furthest offshore reef in the
Egyptian Red Sea. Its deep walls and drop-offs offer
some of the most spectacular diving in the Red Sea.
Daedalus has mountainous, pristine, hard coral
formations. There is also a strong chance of spotting
schooling Hammerheads, Grey Reef Sharks and Oceanic
White Tip Sharks.
Further south are the spectacular
overhangs and deep walls of Rocky Island and the
abundance of soft coral and spectacular coral pinnacles
at Zabargad. St John's is a beautiful reef system which
lies approx. 40km north of the Sudanese border and 20km
South of Zabargad.
St Johns
is a vast collection of small reefs offering some of the
most remote and rewarding diving in the Red Sea. Habili
Ali offers giant gorgonians and black corals whilst Grey
Reef, Silvertip and schools of Hammerhead sharks might
be found on the west side. Habili Gafaar is a mass of
soft corals teaming with shoals of Snappers, Butterfly
Fish and Barracudas. Mantas, Oceanic White Tip, Grey
Reef and Silvertip Sharks can be seen in the blue. Gota
Kebir is a massive reef, famous for its tunnels and
south plateau where Jacks and Barracudas can be seen and
the occasional Manta. The tunnels are ideal for novice
cave divers.
Gota Soraya is rated as possibly one of the best wall
dives in the Red Sea, with overhangs and cracks in the
reef wall full of Glass Fish and Sweepers and an
abundance of corals, Grey Reef, Silvertip, Oceanic White
Tip and Hammerheads.
At Fury Shoal,
dive Shaab Claude and its famous swim-throughs and huge
porite corals. White Tip Reef sharks and an anenome
and clownfish settlement can be seen a little off the
reef to the South. Abu Galawa Soraya has a fantastic
coral garden and a wreck of a private sailing boat
packed with glass fish.
Wadi Gamal, with its
flowing banks of hard yellow and green soft coral,
resident angel and butterfly fish and in the right
season huge schools of placid jack and tuna visit the
area.
Further north, you
will pass by Shab Sharm, with its wall dives and White
Tip Reef Sharks. Oceanic White Tips and Silky Sharks
can sometimes be found in the blue and turtles often
visit the South side.
Elphinstone Reef
has sheer walls plunging steeply into the blue,
decorated with soft corals, sponges gorgonians and fans.
Sharks feed here on the abundant fish population and the
southern plateau is home to Oceanic White Tip sharks.
Note: Minimum of 50 logged dives
required and no night dives permitted in the Marine Park
area by Egyptian Law. These are challenging dives, with
strong currents, so not for inexperienced divers. Long
overnight sailing is required in order to meet the
itinerary. All the dive sites are subject to weather
conditions. Only two dives and one night dive are
achievable on some days due to the travelling distance.
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