The Big Four

This safari departs from Marsa Alam or Hamata and sails to Rocky Island, Zabargad, St Johns and Elphinstone.

Note: The Egyptian government requires all divers to have a minimum of 50 logged dives and an Advanced Open water diver or the equivalent.
Night diving is forbidden within the marine park area.  This means that it is often only three dives a day.  This came into place due to the fact that the currents can be very strong in this area.

Long overnight sailing is required in order to meet the itinerary. All the dive sites are subject to weather conditions. Only two dives and one night dive(when not in Marine Park) are achievable on some days due to the travelling distance.

On your first day start with Ras Shona, which offers encounters with turtles and scorpionfish whilst, as a second and night dive, Shaab Sharm offers wall dives. White Tips Reef Sharks can sometimes be seen on the plateau.

Travelling overnight to Rocky Island and Zabargad. Rocky is a small island with walls all around. Hammerheads can often be seen at the north tip. Manta rays, Grey Reef sharks and Whitetip Reef sharks can be encountered around the whole island. Dusk drift dives are ideal at the stunning coral slopes of Zabargad Island.

On the third day, dive the wreck of a Russian cargo boat, which is on the east side of the island. This 75m long, intact wreck, provides an alternative to reef diving. If the weather is inclement, then head to St. John´s for a full day of adventure, which is only one hour away with the chance to dive Habili Ali and Habili Soraya.

A variety of sites range from the tiny pinnacle of Habili Gaffar to shallow coral gardens. Manta Rays are here most of the year and Grey Reef sharks patrol the wall dive sites. Caves and caverns make an alternative afternoon dive. Night dives give the chance to see Spanish dancers and hunting Morays.

On the fourth day, the first dive is at St John´s, then onto a second dive at St. John´s caves, a shallow reef riddled with caves and caverns at 7m providing a great exploration dive.

Shaab Maksour offers another wall dive or dive El Malahi with its myriad of channels, caverns and swim-throughs. Shiriniat at Wadi Gamal Island is a shallow reef with plenty of corals and reef life.

An early start to Elphinstone Reef, with its stunning walls of soft corals and the two underwater plateau at either tip, offers the chance to see numerous sharks.