Fury Shoals is home to some of the largest and most spectacular hard coral formations you will find in the Red Sea. And now with the Fury and Friends itinerary, you can spend more time diving and less time travelling! Departing from Hamata means you are only a short sail away from the many reefs that make up this divine reef system. If you are looking for a relaxing itinerary with world class reef dives that is suitable for all experience levels, then look no further!
The Fury Shoal area is one of the gems of the Southern Red Sea. Many of the dive sites have a maximum depth of around 25m with hard coral reefs rising up to the surface. Yet each reef has its own distinctive highlight. Sites such as Shaab Claude and Abu Galaway Soraya have become famous for the superb hard coral gardens, home to reef fish, clown fish and camouflage fish. There are two small wrecks to explore at Abu Galawa Soraya and Abu Galawa Kebir. The easy and safe cavern penetrations at Shaab Claude are great fun. Malahi makes an unusual dive as you literally lose yourself between the cracks in the reef, snaking around the pinnacles. Here you can find napoleons and clouds of bait fish swirling around. Go on the hunt for pelagics over the drop off at Maksour. Or simply see if the dolphins are at home in Sataya. No two dives are ever quite the same!
The Fury and Friends itinerary is open to all experience levels and will suit anyone that loves reef diving! Or if you simply have always wanted to spend longer in this luscious part of the Red Sea. This is a varied itinerary with plenty of opportunity for night diving too. Indeed, you can complete up to 25 dives over the course of this itinerary but with the small amount of sailing you need to do, it is also a very relaxing itinerary with time to enjoy the scenery and sunshine.
Emperor Asmaa is popular with groups, as an affordable Red Sea liveaboard, delivering high standard liveaboard holidays to both the northern and Southern Red Sea, from Hurghada and Marsa Alam. She offers genuine value for money to... MORE
Scuba Travel have regular departures of the Fury and Friends itinerary throughout the year
Embarkation
Emperor Asmaa departs from Hamata Port, about a 2 hours land transfer from Marsa Alam
Trip Duration
All of our Fury & Friends trips run for 7 nights with 7 nights spent on board your liveaboard.
There are normally 4 dives a day (3 day dives + 1 night dive) apart from on your first and last day.
On Asmaa there are usually 24-26 dives on an average week but this can vary.
All liveaboard itineraries are subject to various unpredictable changes including weather conditions and changes in local Government approval. Whilst our boat operators make every effort, we cannot guarantee diving at specific sites. In adverse weather conditions, the guides and captain of the boat will have the final decision about which dive sites to visit to ensure that the safety of guests, staff and boats is not compromised in any way.
Arrival
Once you have been picked up from the airport you will be met and taken to your transfer bus for your journey down to Hamata port, where you then embark. If you are making your own way to the harbour we ask that you not board before 20:00 There will be a full welcome briefing on arrival and you can set your kit up. If you have prepaid any rental equipment this will be given to you on arrival. There is then your first dinner and you can settle in for the evening. The boat will not leave harbour on this first night.
After the boat permissions are sorted, the boat will depart the next morning and the check dive around Wadi Lahmi will be made. You will have a full day diving on the first day but the boat may return to port to pick up late arriving guests on some trips.
A normal Fury and Friends itinerary will dive at the following areas but the exact dive sites and order will vary week by week depending on what people enjoy, where the best sightings have been and reflect diver experience levels. Highlights include
Wadi Lahmi, Abu Galawa Soraya & Abu Galawa Kebir
Wadi Lahmi is actually a reef system within the wider Fury Shoal area and home to 2 of our favourite dive sites - Abu Galawa Soraya and Abu Galawa Kebir. It is also where you will find the only 2 wrecks in this area!
Abu Galawa Soraya is shaped like a doughnut with a spectacular hard coral garden in the middle. In fact, many divers simply spend their dive exploring this shallow lagoon. Macro sightings are most usual here but also look out for octopus hiding in the coral towers. Outside the hard coral lagoon are pinnacles drenched in soft corals. Keep your eyes open for white tips that skirt around the reef about 20m deep. This is where you will also find the wreck of a small sail yaght, listing to one side. This is a photogenic wreck and if you peep inside, there are often swirls of glass fish playing.
The sister wreck and reef at Abu Galawa kebir is a small Tien Hsing Chinese tug boat the runs up into the shallows. You can dive this site many ways. Either focus on the wreck, now smothered in small hard corals and home to many macro species. Or you can take the zodiac to the outer edge of the reef and gradually work your way back towards the boat. There are tunnels to explore and the south plateau is well worth a dive. Or why not do it all! The beauty of this itinerary - you have the time to really experience all that Fury Shoal has to offer.
Shaab Claude
Shhab Claude is always a popular dive and arguably the best hard coral formation in the region. The west side especially is photogenic. The reef is alive with small reef inhabitants but dolphins and turtles are also seen regularly here. The pinnacles at the north mark the upper limit of the reef and you even see occasional zebra sharks here. If you prefer you can concentrate on the extensive cavern system that runs through the entire reef. At an average depth of less than 8m you can safely explore the wandering cavern paths without worry. Light streams in from above and skittish rays dart across the sand.
Shaab Maksour
Shaab Maksour is a long thin reef reminiscent of Elphinstone. Early morning dives on either the north or south plateau can yield shark, turtles or even big ray sightings. The north plateau is a steep drop off and great drift dive. The south plateau is more sheltered from the currents and the soft coral pinnacles are a great way to spend your dive after you have looked for big stuff in the blue.
Shaab Sataya
Shaab Sataya is situated at the very south of Fury Shoals, this huge natural lagoon is formed by a massive reef (shaab) rising from the depths. There are several dives you can do around this one reef. There are steep drop offs along with pelagic sightings and protected pinnacles smothered in soft and hard corals. But the real stars can be the huge pods of spinner dolphins that frequent here, meaning Sataya has become the Dolphin House of Hamata. Further to the south there is an unusual dive over the remains of some Roman amphora lost to the sea many moons ago.
Disembarkation
You will normally leave the boat after breakfast on your last day and be transferred to the Zabagad Berenice Resort for the day. Your final transfer will take you to the airport for your return flight home.
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