Diving safari

M/Y Ocean Dreem

General Specifications:

Launched: August 2000

Length: 27.5 M

Beam: 7.5M

12 Tons of Fresh Water

Diesel: 10 Tons                                    

Speed: 12/14 Knots

Sewage Treatment Unit

Engines:

Main Engines: 2 X 480 HP scanya

Generators:  3 Generators (1 X 85KW – 1 X 60KW – 1 X 25KW)

Accommodations:

Eight Cabins are Located in the Lower Deck, capacity of each is 2 Guests

6 cabins double beds – 1 big cabins 4 beds)

Each Cabin has (1 Locker - 1 Mirror)

Two big bathroom with shower in the hall between the cabins )

Three  Cabins are Located in bridge Deck, capacity of each is 2 Guest

Double bunks

1 Locker

1 Mirror

* The Cabins are not air-conditioned, but the hall way between the cabins is air-conditioned.

Out Door Accommodation:

One large covered sun deck in the bridge area

Second smaller sun deck in front of the bridge

Third sundeck on top of the bridge

Guest Lounge:

One Large Saloon fully air conditioned Situated in the middle deck

Bar with fridge

Music, Video, DVD Player & T.V

Diving Platform and Equipment:

A Transom Area for divers to kit up.

One Marine Compressor K14

Safety Equipments:

Two Life Rafts

Life Jackets

Fire Extinguishers

Medic First Aid Kites for emergencies

Oxygen Tanks

Search Light

Zodiac Navigational Equipment:

Compass

Two G.P.S’s with electronic chart

Eco Sounder and fish finder

One Satellite Phone

V.H.F with D.S.C

s Range

Diving

A minimum of 3 dives a day and a night dive are planned. With the longer days in summer a dusk dive is added to the daily dive agenda if conditions permit. The day starts with coffee or tea and cookies or cake, followed by the first dive. Lunch is served after the second dive. 

Early afternoon the third dive takes place followed by afternoon tea (or coffee) accompanied by cake or cookies. Dinner is served at around 7:30 pm, and is adjusted accordingly if there is a dusk or night dive planned.

A detailed briefing for each dive site precedes all dives. A dive master or an instructor is present on board and guide available for the more advanced dives.

 

Most of the diving will be done from Ribs. The diving will be split into two groups so as to avoid crowd at the dive sites. All efforts will be made to accommodate and tailor the diving agenda around the guests and their needs.  Diving abilities and previous experience will be taken into account in order to offer a unique and pleasurable diving experience for all.

Deep South and St. Johns

Access

These cruises depart from Hamata, or Wadi Lahami and sail the area down to explore the most southern reefs of the Egyptian Red Sea Coast, as St. Johns Reefs, Rocky Island and the fury shoals area.

·         Hamata is a small fishing town located 140 km south of Marsa Alam.

·         Marsa Wadi Lahami is the bay of ecologde Wadi Lahami Village, located10 km south of Hamata.

St. Johns
40km north of the Sudanese border lays the 14 square km group of reef tables and pinnacles known as St. Johns. The vast reef system of St Johns and beyond offers some of the most remote and rewarding diving in the Red Sea.

At this isolated location you have the first sightings of the large bumped head parrotfish. These huge fish are called 'Abu Kharian' by the local Abadi Bedouins.

The fish are so rare and it is believed that there are only 3 places in the world where they were encountered and their sighting carry great significance to the Abadi’s, as is seen as the first sign of approaching the Sudanese waters.

Many sites within St. Johns have yet to be dived, but those which contain a staggering profusion of hard and soft corals, including abundant black corals and pristine gorgonian sea fans and are visited by many pelagic including a variety of sharks.

 

Habili Ali:

Host large stands of giant gorgonians and black corals that decorate its deep walls. Grey Reef, Silver Tip and schools of Hammerhead Sharks might be encountered on the west side. Large schools of Hump-head Parrot fish are abundant in this area.

Habili Gafaar:

Small Habili Reef barely breaks the surface but beneath it is a mass of soft corals teaming with shoals of Snappers, Butterfly Fish and Barracudas can be sighted. Keep an eye out in the blue, as Mantas, Oceanic White Tips, Grey Reef and Silver Tip Sharks can be passing by.

 

Shaab Aiman:

An outstandingly beautiful reef situated in just 15m of water on a plateau. White Tip Reef Sharks gather in the early morning as they hunt amongst the hard and soft coral gardens.

 

Shaab Mahrus:

Possibly is rated one of the best wall dives in the Red Sea, with large caves full of Glass Fish and Sweepers and an abundance of corals including sea whips and gorgonians. The wall is a favorite hangout for Grey, Silvertip, Oceanic White Tip and Thresher Sharks.

Fury Shoals

This remote area offers a sense of exploration and discovery. The hard corals, which make up the Reef topography of the fury shoal, are believed to be the best example in the world. Throughout the entire Red Sea there is no comparable area blessed with the most extensive and remarkable coral forest.

Lahami Reef, Lahami Shabrour, Shaab Maksour, Abu Galawa, Claudia Reef, Playground Reef, and many others offer a diversity of dives such as caves, caverns, wrecks and drop offs.

Lahami (South):

The Dive starts beside a small habili on the east side, descending to 20 meters you cruise across coral gardens, visiting a few pinnacles on the way heading south west, then the landscape changes dramatically into what we call stairway to heaven. A wonderful arrangement of hard corals rising from 18 meters to 6 meters with an archway at the end

Adorn with the best examples of soft corals and some large bushes of black corals.

Abu Galawa – small:

Galawa meaning pools, Abu (father) so any large reef with pools inside is called father of pools. Abu Galawa Small is a wonderful reef with a yacht wreck, which sank 15 years ago to a depth of 17 meters. The hull and coach roof are still intact, inside is home to a variety of sweeper fish. Keeping the reef on the right until you come across a small channel at about 16 meters, this enters into what we call the flower. The bottom is sand and all around is a wonderful arrangement of mountain corals.

Abu Galawa – Big:

The Main feature is a tugboat that sank around 1945, the bow is just under the surface and the stern is at 17 meters it’s nice to see the reef taking over the boat. There is an added feature, in that dive on entering one of the pools to see an upside down jelly fish (Cassiopeia Andromeda), then visiting a wonderful hard coral garden along the reef in the west. There’s also a chance of seeing a couple of large Napoleons

Claudia:

Is a very popular reef, due to a cave system running through the southern part, Depth inside the caves range between 8 to 10 meters and around the reef reaches 20 meters, from the east, west or the south side. Lots of shrimp cleaning stations are found inside the caves, and divers can encounter free swimming moray eels through the narrow passages, and then swim out through beautiful openings shrouded in light rays from the sun. Outside the cave entrances to the south many Napoleons can be sighted.

Maksour:

Meaning, “Cut” or “Broken”, as the south part of the reef looks as if it’s been split down the middle. The Whole reef is surrounded by a drop off; this is a negative entry dive as you want to reach the plateau in the north before the current sweep you out to the blue. Maksour can be a very dramatic dive with strong current (of course there are days where there is no current). Whale sharks, Sharks, Hammerheads and Manta Rays have all been sighted here.

Malahi:

Means play ground. It is called a play ground due to a series of corridors inside the southern side of the reef with depth range between 10 to 12 meters. There are also some small caves and you’re more than likely to see white tips baby sharks sleeping inside. The depth around the reef, from east or west ranges between 20 to 25 meters. Malahi is a rich site with a variety of soft, hard corals and wonderful landscapes prefect for underwater photography.

Just below the Shoal is the 51km peninsula of Ras Banas, steeped in ancient history, that this is the longest peninsula in the entire Red Sea and is where Cleopatra first received Mark Anthony. Ras Banas is fringed with seemingly endless and remarkable hard coral gardens. At Satayah Reef on the north side of Banas is the Atlas, a tanker which was torpedoed in 1940. She lies on her starboard side in 25m.

Satayah:

Is considered to be the biggest reef close to the fury shoals area, and the name dolphin reef is given due to the inhabitant of many different kinds of dolphins. The east side is a dramatic drop off. Thresher sharks and Oceanic sharks have been sighted here cruising alongside the east wall. Reef Sharks, Hammerheads and Manta Rays are frequent visitors to the area.

Divers Experience

A minimum of 50 logged dives are required for Southern cruises, and Egyptian Law requires that divers have a minimum of 50 logged dives for all Marine Park Island cruises.

Diving Equipment

Divers should supply their own diving equipment. Please inform us in advance of any hire equipment requirements. For wetsuits and booties we will need to know your height & build plus foot size. Lead weights and tanks will be provided on the boat.

Food and Drinks

We offer full board accommodation (3 meals a day) with cake or cookies in the early morning and the afternoon. Guests with special dietary requirements should mention this when booking their charter. Soft drinks, water, tea and coffee are available on board at no extra charge.  Beer and spirits are to be provided by the guests and can be purchased at the duty free shop upon arrival at Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada airport on arrival in the country.

Re-compression Facility & medical advise

Please remember that we operate in a remote area, safe diving practice must be applied.

At Ecolodge Marsa Shagra, 90 minutes drive north from Hamata we have Egypt’s newest hyper baric medical centre. Red Sea Seafarer as a member of D.E.C.O. International (Diving Emergency Centre Organisation) offers guests’ insurance valid for 21 days starting from the guests arrival date for a coast of 6€.

The Insurance is mandatory and covers decompression treatment, which includes chamber treatment (incl. HBO sessions if needed), doctor’s fees, diagnosis, as well as equipment and medicines used in treatment.

The Insurance does not cover hospitalisation or any means of transport of the injured person, and this must be taken out by the individual prior to travelling.

The Sea Eagle has comprehensive medical kits and an ample supply of emergency oxygen.

Take great care of minor cuts and scratches as the coral polyps can be aggravated and cuts can easily turn septic. Please inform the crew if you need advice. Dehydration and illness can be avoided by drinking (less beer!!) and more water.

Permissions

For strategic reasons the Egyptian Ministry of Defense may decide to place temporary bans on certain sites, should this happen we will amend your route and provide a different dive itinerary. We will never compromise the guests or the boat by visiting sites we have not been granted permission to dive.

As we make your diving permissions in advance, we must have you passport numbers when you book or as soon as possible after your bookings confirmation.

Proposed Prices

The proposed charter price for one week is 9000€ and includes the following:

• Full board accommodation and last day either onboard or in a hotel

• Water and soft drinks

•  6 days diving minimum of 3 dives p/days and a maximum of 4 with a possibility of a 5^th dusk divein longer summer days except for the last day only two dives

• Transfer from and to Airport

The proposed charter price does not include the following:

·         Deco Insurance

·         Marine park fees