EGYPT - NORTH EXTENDED ROUTE- Red Sea Blue Force 2

RED SEA - “EXTENDED NORTH” ROUTE
 7 nights Liveaboard Diving with 6 days of intensive diving, boarding and disembarking in Sharm El Sheikh
   
Dive Sites: Ras Mohammed National Park, Straits of Tiran, Small Crack, world famous wrecks like SS Thistlegorm, Kingston, Dunraven, Giannis D, Carnatic and much more….

The Extended North Route is the most complete route in the North of the Red Sea and It is considered the best route to discover Red Sea diving. It is a very complete and simple route for diving, matching all diving levels, although we recommend advanced open water level or equivalent. The sailing on this route is very short and pleasant, reaching the furthest dive sites in about two hours. The wide range of dive sites will give you the opportunity of diving amazing reefs like those found in Ras Mohammed National Park and the Straits of Tiran, visiting a living WWII museum at the wreck of SS Thistlegorm, explore spectacular wrecks like the Dunraven; Giannis D, Carnatic, Ulysses and the Kingston and enjoy all the underwater wonders of the Red Sea reefs in pristine dive sites like Small Crack or Shag Rock and the possibility of snorkeling with dolphins.
On this route we offer 7 days liveaboard with  6 full days of diving. The last day is to desaturate nitrogen and do a bit of shopping and clubbing in Sharm el Sheikh.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ROUTE ARE:

STRAIT OF TIRAN
The Strait of Tiran, is actually a submerged ridge that rises from more than 300 meters depth and extends from the southeast point of Sinai until the island of Tiran. It is basically a passage between the Gulf of Aqaba and the main basin of the Red Sea, forming an area of strong tidal currents.
In the Strait we find 4 reefs which are famous for the quality of their coral and abundant sea life.  Large oceanic fauna sightings are typical.

GORDON REEF
A circular reef where there is a large sandy plateau and remains of a shipwreck.
The wreck of the Lullia, lays right atop the reef (since 1983) making her a superb landmark.
Very suitable for check dives on the South Plateau and also some super nice drift dives along the east and west walls. Night dives are spectacular although we can only sleep here when the weather permits.
 
THOMAS REEF
Thomas is the smallest of the four reefs of Tiran, and if conditions are calm, it is possible to circle around the entire reef. There are no moorings on Thomas reef so all dives are made as drift dives.

On the South Plateau we find the Thomas Canyon, an amazing dive for technical divers, a rift  starts at 35 meters and goes down to 96. The walls of Thomas reef are completely covered with soft corals and a lot of Gorgonian Fan Corals and trees of black coral. In the blue there is always the possibility of finding large pelagic fish cruising by and even hammerhead sharks are sometimes seen.
 
WOODHOUSE REEF
Is the longest reef of Tiran long and narrow, ideal for easy drift dives. It is an almost vertical wall which plummets into the deep. It also has an underwater canyon and a couple of caves suitable only for Technical divers. In the canyon area, we can see one of the few red anemones in the area.
 
JACKSON REEF
It is considered the best reef in the area due to the quality of the corals, abundance of wildlife and encounters with pelagic life. It is a round reef with vertical walls and a shallow coral garden on the west side. Continually swept by strong currents, sometimes extremely strong, it´s great for wild drift dives, large fish life encounters and beautiful coral sightings.
During the summer months, small groups of hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) reside in the northern area.
Also on the North side we find remains of the Lara wreck, a cargo ship grounded on Jackson Reef in 1983.

Ras Mohammed National Park

ANEMONE CITY, SHARK REEF & YOLANDA REEF
The most famous dive in Red Sea and considered one of the best sites in the world. We start off at Anemone city, where dozens of huge anemones (Magnificent heteractis) hosting a multitude of clownfish and damsels are to be found. From here we leap into the blue, crossing over the depths below, to the walls of shark reef.

Along the way possible sightings include; sharks, tuna, red snapper and other large pelagic marine animals. From there, the dive continues on to shallower water between the two reefs. Here, you’ll be able to see parts of the freighter ship: Yolanda, which struck the reef and gave it its name. Among the debris, you’ll find a large collection of toilets and the remains of the captain’s BMW. The area around the wreck often houses lionfish, blue-spotted stingrays and moray eels. The entire stretch between the two reefs is strewn with rocks overgrown with coral, as well as lots of coral on the sides of the reef, which contrast nicely with the white, sandy bottom. The shallow water, the light reflecting off from the bottom and colorful reefs make this a photographer’s paradise.

JACKFISH ALLEY
The traditional dive starts off with a cave at 5 meters which is actually a swim through coming out at a depth of 9 meters. The cave is covered with small gorgonian fans and a crack on the roof allows the rays of sun through. From here we swim on to a long Sandy Alley that gives the name to this site; it was originally named Fisherman's Bank, due to the large amount of jack fish found here. You can see barracuda, tuna and all the usual Red Sea residents here. The dive finishes at the end of the sandy alley where most people are on 50 bar.

RAS GHOZLANI
Ras Ghozlani is a beautiful dive site with lots of interesting things to see and discover. You start off on a sandy slope at a depth of around 6 meters which slowly descends to the drop-off found at around 25 meters. Tons of pinnacles in different shapes and sizes distract us with their fauna and coral during the whole dive. The pinnacles are covered with Table corals, big Gorgonian fans and healthy soft corals in many different colors. The pinnacles are teeming Anthias and other colorful reef fish. Another part of dive site, houses a small anemone city of Magnificent hecteractis anemones.
 

Straits of  Gubal

S.S. THISTLEGORM
The worlds most famous wreck, it is located in Shaab Ali, about 30 miles from Sharm El Sheikh.
It was sunk by German aircrafts in October of 1941 and later discovered by Jacques Cousteau. It offers some of the most spectacular dives in the world, with its sunken cargo of trucks, cars, motorcycles, locomotives, weapons, ammunitions, wagons, aircraft wings, boots…. Normally a minimum of two dives are made on the wreck, one outside, visiting the propeller, anti-aircraft gun and locomotives and another one going through all its decks and holds. It is highly recommended to use Nitrox on this dive.  If possible, we can make a spectacular night dive on the wreck, and perhaps even get to see the skiddish lantern fish!

ULYSSES
This is a cargo ship, 95 meters long. On the 16th August 1887, she ran aground the reef and finally sank 4 days later, with much of her cargo, reels of cable, yet to be unloaded. She lies at a depth of 28 meters and only her stern remains intact. We start the dive off on the wreck and then let ourselves drift off along the spectacular reef wall.
 
THE BARGE
Perfect as a third dive, or a night dive. This old barge lies at a maximum depth of 14 meters, there is no information as to what boat it was or what its doing here.
The area is teeming with life, huge moray eels contrast with tiny salt and pepper eels, whilst the sides of the barge are covered in lion fish, stone fish, crocodile fish, angel fish flutter here and there, butterfly fish and trumpets galore and every now and then a large Napoleon wrasse. 
 
 CARNATIC
A maximum depth of 26 meters will permit us to dive on this British cargo ship that went down in 1869.   This beautiful and very authentic old ship, lies on her port side, and her wooden beams and internal structures are covered in soft corals and glass fish. Her bow and stern are intact, yet the mid ship has disappeared. Barrels and a few broken wine bottles are all that remain of her cargo.
 
GIANNIS D
This Greek cargo ship was transporting wood. This is a magnificent dive, especially for photographers and wreckies who will be able to dive through her engine room, which is home to innumerable glass fish. The boat lies at a depth of 24 meters, with her whole mid ship completely destroyed yet her bow and stern, which lies on a 45º angle, are intact. Her cabins, helms room and common quarters have been cleared up to permit safe dives through the ship.
 
KINGSTON
On the 22nd of February 1881, she hit against the reef at full steam, transporting her cargo of coal. This dive is very simple, being that only the stern of this ship remains intact. Yet the amazing table corals and amount of surgeon fish that reside on her, make it an amazing dive.
 
SMALL CRACK
One of the best reef dives of the area. The entrance to a quiet lagoon, we leave the boat inside the protective reef and journey out thru this slim passage way on the rib, using the tidal current to push us back to our vessel at the end of the dive. The corridor is quite shallow but it´s like diving thru a small aquarium. Hundreds of acroporas (Table corals) grape corals, soft corals, stag corals and sponges, line the passage. In the corridor there are permanent residents like an enormous Hatchet fish, different sorts of yellow tail barracudas and a big variety of reef fish.

ROSALIE MÖLLER
This World War II wreck, lies almost completely intact on the sea bed (there are still pots and pans lying on the burners in the galley). Measuring 105 meters in length, she is home to an amazing amount of Red Sea critters, yet very few divers have had the pleasure to visit this wreck. She sank just two days after the Thistlegorm went down, to the West of the island of Gubal, and rests in 48 meters of water, her top deck rising up between 30 and 34 meters depth. The whole structure of the boat has become a haven for glass fish who try to hide from the continuous feeding of the hundreds of lion fish that also inhabit the wreck.  Marble groupers, large schools of tunas and jackfish and even an occasional giant potato cod, can be found on this site. This dive is unforgettable and definitely a favorite for wreck lovers.
This site is only available to advanced divers and on the Extended North Route.

IMPORTANT: It is mandatory for all divers to fulfill the following prerequisites: Minimum Open Water Diver level or similar (Advanced is recommended), dive computer, torch for night dives (available for rent if reserved previously).

TRAVEL PROGRAM “EXTENDED NORTH ROUTE”
Saturday: SHARM EL SHEIKH – LIVEABOARD DIVING CRUISE
Meet & Assistance at the airport in Sharm El Sheikh by our staff at the airport. Transfer to the jetty. Embarking from 20:00 hrs onwards. Welcome cocktail, boat and crew introduction. Cabins distribution. Dinner on board.

Sunday to Friday: LIVEABOARD DIVING CRUISE “NORTH ROUTE”
Liveaboard diving cruise on full board basis (including water and soft drinks) and 6 days diving, up to 4 dives per day. Some of the highlights of the route are the Straits of Tiran, National Park of Ras Mohamed and wrecks like Thistlegorm, Giannis D, Carnatic, Ulysses, Dunraven, Kingston and more.

Saturday: SHARM EL SHEIKH
Disembark in Sharm El Sheikh before 12:00 hrs. Transfer to the airport.