- Gallery
- Includes & Excludes
- Itinerary
- Liveaboard Details
- Diving Highlights
- Optional Extension
- Destination Information
INCLUDES:
- All scheduled transfers
- 7 Nights’ accommodation on the luxurious Liveaboard
- Day use room in a 4-5 * hotel on an all-inclusive basis
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Snacks
- All tea, coffee, bottled water & soft drinks
- FREE UNLIMITED BEER
- Unlimited DIVING
- Nitrox
- Hire of 12L Tanks & Weights
- Marine Park Fee and Fuel Levy
- Port Fees
- Reef Taxes
EXCLUDES:
- Airport Taxes (Approx. R7,500.00)
- Dive equipment other than tanks & weights
- 15L Cylinder – €45
- Onboard Service Fee – €100 per person (Divided amongst crew)
- Insurance (Approx. R1,125.00)
OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS
- Cairo Day Tour: R3,500.00 per person sharing
CABIN UPGRADES:
- Sun Deck Twin Cabin (2): R1,250.00 per person for the week
- Sun Deck Double Cabin (1): R1,250.00 per person for the week
WHERE IS THE RED SEA
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden.
Itineraries
DAY 1
DEPART JOHANNESBURG
Check in at Johannesburg International airport at 18h00 for your flight to Cairo departing at 21h45. Dinner is served onboard.DAY 2 - 7
CAIRO | HURGHADA | LIVEABOARD
On arrival in Cairo at 05h35, stay in transit for your flight to Hurghada. Met at Hurghada airport on arrival and transfer to the resort to unwind and relax before moving onto your final destination to embark on the liveaboard. Once there you will step into your luxurious cabin and unpack to unwind for the week. Soon after that you will be submerging yourself into the warm, crystal clear waters of the Red Sea with its wonderful sea life. Once the check in procedure is complete i.e. dive gear unpacked, safety briefings complete & all guests on board the Liveaboard will depart. In the event of late arrivals, the Liveaboard may return to port after the check dive to collect remaining guests or alternatively only depart the following day. The luxury Liveaboard offers 5* service, exceptional cuisine, a friendly crew and unlimited diving opportunities. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily and tea, coffee, soft drinks, beers and bottled water are freely available on board. The Brother Islands, the tops of two undersea mountains rising from the depth, can be explored while diving the Red Sea about 50 nautical miles off-shore, near the town of Quseir. The Aida II, an Egyptian supply vessel and the Numidia, a cargo ship, lie on the walls of the Big Brother and can be explored on this Red Sea diving safari. Daedalus Reef is a big oval reef with a lighthouse and its perimeter of walls offers some of the most stunning diving in the Red Sea. The thresher shark, an oceanic species, as well as the magnificent Whale shark, occasionally spotted close to the reef. Elphinstone, a truly legendary Red Sea diving reef where you can expect the unexpected.Day 8
HURGHADA
After 2 morning dives, you will return to the port. The evening can be spent shopping and exploring, dinner is provided on the Liveaboard where you will overnight.DAY 9
TRANSFER TO HOTEL
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cairo departing at 09h10. On arrival, you will transfer to your hotel for day use on an all-inclusive basis. Spend the day at leisure before transferring to the airport for your flight to Johannesburg departing at 23h45.DAY 10
ARRIVE IN JOHANNESBURG
Arrive in Johannesburg at approx. 07h10.DECK / CABIN SPECIFICATIONS: m/y CONTESSA MIA
Cabins: 12 (8 Lower Deck Twin | 2 Upper Deck Double, 2 Upper Deck Twin)
M/Y Contessa Mia can accommodate 24 pax in 2 double rooms and 10 twin cabins. It has two salons providing its guests with bigger rooms, a relaxing salon on the main deck equipped with a top-notch audio and video system as well as a dining area on the upper deck with a magnificent 360 degree view of the open sea. The half shaded sundeck is an idea place to relax and enjoy the cool evenings while the top deck offers a perfect tanning spot for sun lovers.
Diving Highlights and Bucket List Dive Sites
BROTHER ISLANDS (BIG & SMALL BROTHER)
One day is spent diving the Brother Islands, two undersea mountains rising from the depths, about 100 kilometers off-shore. Known for its magnificent wall diving and shark sightings, the islands are now strictly controlled and the number of divers is limited – a definite must on any southern Red Sea itinerary.
THE AIDA II
An Egyptian supply vessel and the Numidia, a cargo ship, lie on the walls of the Big Brother and if the current allows, can be explored on this safari.
DAEDALUS REEF
This marine park consists of a big oval reef with a lighthouse and its perimeter of walls offers some of the most stunning diving in the Red Sea. Hammerheads, Threshers and Oceanic Whitetip sharks, as well as the magnificent Whale Shark are occasionally spotted close to the reef.
ELPHINSTONE
A truly legendary Red Sea diving reef where you can expect the unexpected, with its north and south plateaus and walls covered in soft corals. Southern Oceanic White tips, Hammerheads and grey reef sharks can also be spotted here on a regular basis
R 3,500 p.p. sharing
Day 9/Saturday: Check out of liveaboard in the morning of day 9 and transfer to the airport for a morning flight to Cairo. You will be collected in an air-conditioned vehicle and taken for a tour of the Pyramids, Sphinx & Civilization Museum with an English-speaking Egyptian guide (includes lunch). Transfer to the Hotel to freshen up before continuing to the airport for your flight back to JNB departing at approx. 23h45.
INCLUDES
• Scheduled Transfers
• Sphinx & Pyramids
• Civilization Museum
• Entrance Fees
• Lunch
• English speaking guide
• Day use room at a 4 - 5 Star Hotel
EXCLUDES
• Cairo Tour Service Fee: €10 p.p.
LANGUAGE
The official language is Arabic, however English is widely spoken.
TIME ZONE
Same time as South Africa.
CLIMATE
Temperatures in Egypt vary considerably from winter to summer.
Ave. Temps: April: 23°C ; May: 27°C ; June: 31°C; July/Aug: 35°C; Sep: 30°C; Oct: 28°C
WATER TEMPERATURE
The Red Sea is warm enough to visit throughout the year, with an average water temperature of 19°C, even in December and January. This goes up to an 29°C average in the summer months, making the sea’s shallow parts as warm as bath water. A 3mm wetsuit is most commonly used.
POWER SUPPLY
Charging facilities are available for lights and cameras, standard 220/240 volts with round 2 pin sockets, similar to SA Cell phone chargers. All batteries and necessary spares should be taken along.
STAYING IN CONTACT
There is WIFI onboard, however please note, it is not guaranteed as it may be unavailable for long periods and intermittent at times due to location and other conditions. You will be Able to buy a local sim card either at a booth at the airport or you can ask they transfer driver to stop at a data and cell service provider en route to the liveaboard to purchase one.
WHAT PAYMENT METHOD IS ACCEPTED
Latest Exchange Rate: EGP 1 = ZAR 0.79 (Oct 2022).
The recommended currency is Euro €1 = R18.14 (Oct 2022)
Credit cards are accepted at all major establishments, but please note that an extra charge (between 2,5% and 5%) can be levied with each transaction. Travellers Cheques are NOT widely accepted.
DRESS CODE
Liveaboard: dress code is extremely casual i.e. Shorts, t-shirts, swimming costumes.
Resorts and Public Areas: Casual and Smart Casual in Hotels.
Religious Sites: Women are expected to wear a long skirt and long-sleeve blouse.
WHAT NOT TO BRING
Drones are not permitted
PHOTOGRAPHY
There is usually an additional charge to take photographs/video footage when entering various tourist attractions. Photographing harbours, airports, military installations and military personnel are prohibited.
DIVING
- Certification must be presented as well as a log book and dive insurance
- Safety: Chamber in Hurghada, Sharm-el-Sheikh & Dahab
- Please be sure that your dive insurance is comprehensive & up to date before departing on your diving trip.
- Always follow safe diving practices at all times.
- Alcohol Consumption: If alcohol is consumed in between dives by an individual then they will be required to refrain from diving for the remainder of the day
- Flying After Diving: A minimum surface interval of 18 hours must be allowed prior to flying or going to altitude
