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Emperor Asmaa
South and St Johns
01 Jan 2030 · 7 nights · Red Sea, Egypt
Only 2 Spaces left
The Emperor Asmaa, a renowned Red Sea liveaboard, is a popular choice among groups seeking an affordable yet high-quality diving holiday. With its routes spanning both the northern and southern Red Sea, departing from Hurghada and Marsa Alam, it offe ...
The Emperor Asmaa, a renowned Red Sea liveaboard, is a popular choice among groups seeking an affordable yet high-quality diving holiday. With its routes spanning both the northern and southern Red Sea, departing from Hurghada and Marsa Alam, it offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore the Red Sea's underwater wonders in an intimate setting. The Emperor Asmaa can comfortably accommodate 18 divers across its 9 twin cabins. Each cabin is equipped with an ensuite bathroom, air conditioning, and a safe for your personal belongings. For added comfort, two towels per guest are provided. The liveaboard also features four upper deck cabins, offering a premium experience. Please consult with your travel advisor for information about the upper deck supplement at the time of booking. The communal spaces on the Emperor Asmaa, including the saloon and dining area, are decorated in light, airy shades, creating a relaxing atmosphere. These areas are equipped with a TV, DVD player, and audio equipment for your entertainment. As long as there is a telephone signal, free Wi-Fi is also available. For those who enjoy soaking up the sun, the Emperor Asmaa boasts a large covered sun deck with a bar area, as well as an open fly deck for sun worshippers. As with all Emperor boats, nitrox is available free of charge, subject to availability on board. Tek divers can also be accommodated with prebooking, although gas and kit hire charges will apply. The dive deck is spacious, providing ample room for everyone to prepare for their dives. With the Emperor Asmaa, you can look forward to a diving holiday that combines comfort, convenience, and unforgettable underwater adventures.
The Red Sea is an all-season diving destination. Its crystal-clear waters boast unbeatable visibility, and marine life thrives year-round. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned diver, the Red Sea offers something extraordinary. High Season (March to November): Ideal months for diving enthusiasts. Water temperatures are comfortable, ranging from 22C in March to 31C in September (especially in the far south). Low season (December to February): Cooler water, quieter dive sites. Mid-summer (July to August): Heat prevails but out on a liveaboard there is always a nice sea breeze.
Click here for more details about Emperor Asmaa This link contains lots of the information you need, pictures, reviews, and other FAQ information. Or call one of our diving holiday experts on +44(0)1483 411590.
The South and St Johns trip takes you to the edges and back again of the southern Red Sea
This trip takes you to some of the best diving the Red Sea has to offer. Here the diving is less arduous so it's a trip for those who want to see the best but have a more relaxed time while doing so. Sailing to the southernmost reefs, you'll depart from Marsa Ghalib Port and dive some sites to the South before sailing overnight to your southernmost point in the St. John's area. Depending on weather, government approval and marine life sightings in recent weeks, we may sail to the southernmost islands of Rocky and Zabargad, or we'll moor instead in the vast reef system of St John's to begin the adventure in the South.
When leaving Marsa Ghalib the route can sometimes take in a dive at Abu Dabab on the first or last day. Often spoilt for choice, your guides will pick sites that they know to be the best for the time of the year and can find excellent alternatives should the weather affect the normal route. Although the distances are long, where possible we travel overnight so, as a 21 plus route, our aim is to get as many dives in as possible at some of the most impressive reefs. Below are some of the highlights.
On the way to Fury shoals, dive Sha'ab 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 before heading further south. At Fury Shoals, dive Sha'ab Claude with its famous swim-throughs and huge porite corals. White tip reef sharks and an anemone 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 populated with glass fish.
St Johns is a vast collection of small reefs offering some of the most remote and rewarding diving in the Red Sea. This incredibly beautiful reef lies a short distance north of the Sudanese border. The reef covers a huge area and many dives would be needed to explore the numerous coral heads and islands. 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, grey reef and silvertip sharks can often 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, Silvertips and Hammerhead sharks.
On the last day as we head back to port, we will try to take in a dive or two on the world famous Elphinstone Reef if weather and diver experience permits us, or we will finish in the Abu Dabab area perhaps with another dive or two closer to Port Ghalib to relax and unwind before your final night in port.
You don't need a minimum number of dives, but you should be comfortable with drift dives, as currents can be unpredictable and strong. If you are an Open Water Diver, some dives are below 18m therefore we recommend having advanced experience or taking your PADI Advanced Open Water course on board to maximise your enjoyment from the trip. Inexperienced and beginner divers may find some dives challenging and may be asked by the Cruise Director to skip dives that are not suitable for their diving experience. All diving is made from zodiacs to give precise entry and exit points.
Click here for more details about South and St Johns contains all the detailed information you need, a full day by day itinerary, pictures, videos, reviews, and other practical information. Or call one of our diving holiday experts on +44(0)1483 411590.
The Red Sea 'Divers' boat with no more than 18 guests on board. As a 21+ DIVES cruise, there's a good chance to enjoy 21 or more dives on a 7-day safari if you choose. Included are all marine park fees, 12lt tank and weights, plus Nitrox is free of charge on board but it is subject to fill availability. You will spend 7 nights on board on a full board basis (twin share cabin) including red wine with dinner. Ask about upgrading to the main deck or upper deck cabins! All trips are fully guided with 2 expert guides
* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking
Please DO NOT book any connecting flights, insurance, or additional parts to this holiday as your trip is subject to availability and will NOT be confirmed until you have spoken with our operators. If you have any requests beyond our normal itineraries please note them in the comments and we will discuss these with you when we call to arrange your holiday.
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