Location
Sudan is best reached by sailing from the Egyptian border. Spend more time diving and less time travelling! The gateway for our Sudan trips is Marsa Alam airport. This is around 5 hours flying time from Gatwick. Alternatively, you can fly into Port Sudan and board your liveaboard here.
Sudan is a place filled with remarkable encounters. The coral reefs are lush with hard and soft coral gardens, interspersed with large sponges and cascading whip corals. Plateaus, deep pinnacles and coral gardens are shelter and home to schools of reef fish. From tiny clown fish to swathes of snapper, there is plenty to watch. Giant barracuda and even bumphead parrot fish school... if you can take you eyes off the pelagics passing. Sudan is home to hammerhead, grey reef and thresher sharks. All this pelagic action can overshadow the outstanding wreck dive that is the Umbria.
Covid Travel Information
View entry requirements here
Passengers of Sudanese origin may be subject to testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) on arrival. All other passengers, over 8 years old must either hold a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) certificate confirming a negative test result, taken less than 96 hour before arrival; or a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing the passenger was fully vaccinated at least 14 days before arrival.
From 18th March, when you travel to England from abroad you:
do not need to take any COVID-19 tests before you travel or after you arrive
do not need to fill in a UK passenger locator form
do not need to quarantine when you arrive
This applies whether you are vaccinated or not.
It includes people who are transiting through England.
Updated 13SEP 2022
Weather and Climate
In the North of the country, the climate has high daily temperature variations between day and night. December – February ranges from between 25- 30°C. October - November and March – April are around 3-35°C. May – September is between 30-40°C. Water temperature varies from 23°C in February to 29°C in September.
Travel
Flight options
Our 2 week trips to Sudan trips depart from Egypt. As standard our holiday packages are based on flights from London Gatwick, direct to Marsa Alam. For trips departing from Sudan, we can add Turkish Airlines or Emirates flights into Port Sudan. Where possible, we are happy to offer regional departures, in particular Manchester. A supplement may apply for regional departures. Times and any applicable supplements will be confirmed by your travel consultant before you finalise your holiday. Unfortunately, not all regional flight routings are compatible with liveaboard schedules.
If you wish to make your own flight arrangements to Egypt, let us know and we can remove the cost of the international flights from your quote. Please do not confirm any flight arrangements yourself before your holiday is confirmed by us.
Stopovers
As flights are direct between the UK and Egypt, there are no stop over options available.
Arrange before you go
Visa requirements
UK passport holders must complete an application form and return it prior to travel. Your visa will be issued on arrival in Sudan. Current charges will be confirmed at time of booking but can change. You cannot enter Sudan with Israeli entry or exit stamps. Do ensure your passport has 6 months validity from your return date to prevent any issues with immigration. It is your responsibility to ensure your passport is valid and you fulfil entry requirements. Regulations can change: please review current FCO advice: click here
Insurance
Scuba Travel requires all of our customers to have diving insurance. Please make sure that you have appropriate cover for your diving activities.
We also strongly recommend you have travel insurance. It's worth taking out travel insurance once you have paid your deposit to ensure you are covered for unforeseen events and cancellation.
Find out more about our combined dive and travel policy click here
Immunisations
Your covid proof of vaccination must match your passport name and flight ticket name. Please speak to your local GP or check out the latest NHS advice on updating your NHS details or for other travel immunisations: click here
Preparing to fly
Seating
Most flights to Egypt are charter flights. This means seating is allocated at check in. If you are flying with Emirates to Port Sudan, you will be able to check in online with the airline directly using your booking reference.
Check in
Charter airlines do not enable online check in for flights to Egypt. You must print your ticket coupon prior to travel. Do ensure you leave up to 3 hours, especially over busy travel periods.
Lounge
An airport lounge is a great way to start your holiday or to while away flight connections in comfort. Scuba Travel works with Lounge Pass to offer a huge range of affordable airport lounges around the world.
click here
Parking
Prebook your airport parking to save money! If you have a long way to travel, why not also look at booking an airport hotel. These aren't as expensive as you might think.
click here
What happens when I arrive?
Our Sudan trips depart from Egypt. Our representative will be waiting either airside around the baggage carousel or in the arrivals hall. They will be holding a board with either Scuba Travel, your destination or your name on it. If you have prepaid for our visa service, you will be given your visa on arrival.
If you have any issues at all locating your rep, please contact us. We have an emergency contact, manned by a member of the team here in the UK. Call 0044 7747 488 002. We will be able to help your rep locate you in the airport.
Transfers
Airport transfers are always included in your liveaboard package when using our flights. Our representatives will advise where to find your transfer outside of the airport. We try to keep transfer times as short as possible, with most being no more than 30mins travel time from the airport to the boat/hotel.
If you have made your own flight arrangements to land in Egypt, please confirm at the time of booking if airport transfers are included or available at an additional cost
Departures
At the end of your holiday, your return transfer details will be advised locally. There is currently no departure tax leaving Egypt.
Info
Tipping
Tipping is entirely at your discretion. We do not make recommendations as to how much to tip. Should you wish to leave a tip for the guides and crew, it should reflect the level of service you have enjoyed.
Currency
You will only be able to pay your fees and taxes for Sudan in cash in USD, EURO, English pounds, or EGP. The yacht accepts cash, Visa and MasterCard. (no personal checks or travelers’ checks)
Phone coverage
Email is not available, however, there is a satellite phone available for incoming/outgoing calls for a US$ 4 fee. Wi-fi is
only available when the yacht is at port or in the Port Ghalib Marina and at Port Sudan.
Plugs and electricity
The voltage aboard the yacht is 220v and the plug sockets around the boat will accept American plugs.
Extras
Hire equipment
A full line of Rental gear is available aboard including regulators, BCDs, Dive Computers, and Night Lights (wetsuits not available)
Extras
Several diving specialty courses are offered onboard including Nitrox, Advanced Open Water, UW Photography, Master Diver and more
Souvenirs
There is a mini-boutique onboard with assorted t-shirts, and miscellaneous items.
Nitrox/Gas
13 night trips - 140 euro 12lt or 180 euro 15lt - This includes all Nitrox fills at 32% for certified Nitrox divers. Proof of certification required.
Payments
Deposits and Balances
A typical deposit for your Royal Evolution liveaboard package will be 25% of the trip cost. Your final balance will be due 100 days before travel.
Ways to pay
We accept mastercard and visa debit or credit cards. If you would like a pay by link to complete check out via email please let us know and it can be set up for you. We do not take AMEX.
All non sterling card payments and UK business debit cards will be subject to the 3% surcharge.
Alternatively, you are welcome to pay via bank transfer. Overseas bank transfers must add £8 to the sterling total to cover international handling fees.
We are not able to accept PayPal transactions or personal cheques.
Group Payments
If you have booked as part of a group, you can still call and pay directly without needing to go via your group leader. Please have your trip reference number to hand to help us locate your holiday as quickly as possible. You will receive a transaction receipt - your group leader will forward your ATOL certificate and booking confirmation
Discounts
Repeat Guests
Are you one of Scuba Travel's repeat customers? Over 60% of our customers trust Scuba Travel to book their next diving holiday, time after time.
And we believe you deserve a huge thanks for your ongoing support over the years, which is what our repeater discount is all about! Travel with us again in either 12 months or 24 months and you will qualify for a discount. That's all you have to do. No forms, no numbers to remember, no fuss, just a good honest price reduction.
5% off for repeat customers travelling with Scuba Travel within 24 months
Repeat discounts are not cumulative and cannot be applied to special offer prices
Included
13 nights in a lower deck twin cabin on a full board basis (twin share)
Soft drinks, water, tea, coffee and a limited selection of local beer and wine
12ltr tank, air fills, weights and all diving
Transfers from Marsa Alam airport are included. Transfers from Hurghada airport will carry a surcharge.
Excluded
International flights from the UK or airport transfer (from Marsa Alam or Hurghada airports)
Rental kit hire, nitrox and any private guiding services can be prebooked but are paid on board. Additional alcohol, on board souvenirs are settled at the end of your trip.
Fuel surcharge of €660/person for all Sudan trips & €760/person for Suakin trips. A supplement of €505/trip for Sudan local taxes, port fees, Marine parks & return Egypt entry visa. Sudan entry visa US$260/person for all Nationalities & US$310/person for American Nationalities.
Returned from Suakin 2 week trip on the 9th May. I had a superb time. Lovely comfortable, spacious boat. Fantastic, attentive crew. The food was excellent and the diving spoiled me for anywhere else. Lots of hammerheads, Silky sharks and pristine reefs. I was the only diver from England but everyone on board was very accommodating for my lack in speaking other languages and I made some lovely new friends. I will definitely be going again.