Simply the Best is exactly that - simply the best scuba diving of the Egyptian Southern Red Sea. The itinerary focuses on the reef systems of the Brothers and Daedalus, which together make up the Northern Marine Park and the steep wall dives of Elphinstone. The Egyptian Marine Parks are protected areas and places of magnificent beauty underwater. The lighthouses have warned passing ships throughout the years of the dangers that hide beneath the waves but for divers this is a playground. Drift dives, daring drops offs, pelagic encounters and even wreck dives. Dive after dive, Simply the Best is a a fine addition to your log book and a must see itinerary for your next Red Sea liveaboard holiday
Simply the Best lives up to its formidable reputation. Diving here can be unpredictable and you never know what is passing in the blue. After a check dive local to Marsa Alam, the Brothers is always your first big wall stop off. Sailing overnight means you can wake up to be where the action is. Little Brother is the stage for adrenalin fuelled shark diving, whilst Big Brother sports the highlights of the Numidia and Aida wrecks. Another overnight journey and you are whisked to Daedalus Reef. Daedalus is a huge triangular chunk of a reef, whose vertical drop offs rival the Brothers. Giant hard coral structures sprawl the walls and schooling hammerheads are frequently found off the northern point (spring). Currents pulse over a garden of splendid anemones, whose damsel residents dart between tentacles. Rounding off the week is Elphinstone reef, completing a trio of unparalleled wall dive destinations. Elphinstone has earned a reputation in recent years as the place to see oceanic white tips (Sept - Jan). Manta pass over the northern plateau, together with grey reef sharks. Barracuda, snapper and tuna are staple spots on all sites.
Simply the Best is an advanced itinerary and best suited to divers that are comfortable on wall dives, with boat diving and drift diving. Diving can be fast paced and an SMB is essential. Photographers are advised to to bring a wide angle lens, but macro life is also rich and plentiful. The Marine Park islands are remote and the lighthouse crews at Brothers and Daedalus. are always pleased to offer visitors a glass of hot tea. The reefs descend to great depths and the warm waters suit technical divers. Night diving is prohibited in the Northern Marine Parks. An adventurous itinerary, why not undertake the journey to these remote locations and see for yourself just how great the reward is when you get there.
Royal Evolution
Royal Evolution will dive the above areas but in a slightly different order. Trips typically start at Ras Disha and Middle Reef before sailing to the Brothers. 2 days will be spent at the Brothers before heading onto Daedalus. A full day is spent there and then you move onto Elphinstone for a day. Giftun and Abu Ramamd are the final dives if the boat is returning to Hurgada and not Port Ghalib.
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Scuba Travel have regular Simply the Best itineraries that depart during the year - this is a great year round itinerary.
Embarkation
Hurricane and Royal Evolution will depart from Port Ghalib in Marsa Alam
Sea Serpent departs from Hurghada
The first and last day's diving can vary depending on your embarkation/disembarkation points.
Trip Duration
All of our Simply the Best trips run for 7 nights with 7 nights spent on board your liveaboard. Royal Evolution will usually offer 6 nights on board and 1 night in a hotel but please do check at the time of booking.
There are normally 3 day dives apart from on your first and last day. Night diving is prohibited whilst at the Brothers although there will normally be at least 1 night dive during the week. There are around 18 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 taken to the port to board your liveaboard. If you are making your own way to the harbour we ask that you not board before 18:00. 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 will be made.
A normal Simply the Best 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.
The Brothers
The two Brothers are quite different in character. Head to Big Brother and you find the breath taking wrecks of the Aida and Numidia. Great dives for recreational and technical divers. The south plateau doubles as a thresher shark cleaning station early in the morning. See if you can find the resident turtle or play with the rabbit fish around the jetty.
Over on Little Brother the diving is all about the sharks, especially greys which hang about on the north tip. Watch closely and you might see one come in to be cleaned. The wall dives on both sides are excellent with a range of sea fans to admire. Move to the south plateau and you find grey reefs, tuna, barracuda and rainbow runners zipping about. A big napoleon lives here along with a large stone fish in one of the shallow overhangs. A massive manta is sometimes seen in the deep. And depending on the season silky sharks and oceanic white tips are usually seen in the vicinity of the boat moorings.
Daedalus
Daedalus is a huge toblerone triangle shaped reef with many dives on offer. The north tip is the best place to hang out for hammerheads and then drift down the walls. The west wall in particular is another great place to literally bump into the odd hammerhead as there are several cleaning stations. The east wall is home to the anemone city, with a narrow band of splendid anemones and clownfish sprawling down the reef. The south plateau is a brilliant boat dive with chances to see reef sharks, huge barracuda and tuna racing on the edge of the drop off. and camouflage fish on the plateau itself. The hard corals are simply spectacular too and worth investigating in their own right - loads of macro especially flabellinas.
Elphinstone
Elphinstone is one of the big name reefs in the Southern Red Sea. It is a slim and relatively small reef with dramatic walls and a plateau at each end. You can do several dives here (weather permitting). Head out to look for hammerheads on the north plateau before drifting along the magical wall (the clouds of anthias are vast!). A friendly trumpet fish will often shadow divers as you make your way down the wall. The southern plateau is where oceanic white tips hang out during the later half of the year. You must watch your depth and currents carefully on Elphinstone as conditions can be variable.
Royal Evolution
Royal Evolution will dive the above areas but in a slightly different order. Trips typically start at Ras Disha and Middle Reef before sailing to the Brothers. 2 days will be spent at the Brothers before heading onto Daedalus. A full day is spent there and then you move onto Elphinstone for a day. Giftun and Abu Ramamd are the final dives if the boat is returning to Hurgada and not Port Ghalib.
Disembarkation
You will normally leave the boat after breakfast on your last day and be transferred to a hotel for the day. Your final transfer will take you to the airport for your return flight home. Please do speak to the travel consultant at the time of booking to confirm the exact last day arrangements as it can vary.
We would be more than happy to help you. Our travel advisors are at your service to help you.
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