Tag: Dive sites

Cousteau’s favourite dive sites (2019 appointments)

Posted on by Cassiopeia Safari

Many dive sites close to Cousteau’s own heart had since become world-renowned. But which were the great explorer’s top 10 favourites?

  1. Shaab Rumi, Sudan
  2. Sipadan, Malaysia
  3. Cocos Island, Costa Rica
  4. Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand
  5. Aliwal Shoal, South Africa
  6. Vancouver Island, Canada
  7. Blue Hole, Belize
  8. Cozumel, Mexico
  9. Heron Island, Australia
  10. Richelieu Rock, Thailand

It is no surprise that Sudan’s Shaab Rumi made the list, after all, great experiences, and exciting work and discoveries connect him to this site. Marvellous diving and an Academy Award. Jacques Cousteau, also known as the father of scuba diving, not only loved diving in this region of the Red Sea, but he had made several discoveries as well.

Jacques Cousteau, or Captain Cousteau to many, was a world-famous marine explorer who dedicated his entire life to marine discoveries. His main fields of interest bore not only great significance to science, but they also raised the curiosity of the general public. He garnered absolute fame with his underwater experiments he conducted in the beginning of the 1960s. Can man live underwater for a prolonged period of time? As part of his Precontinent II experiment, he spent a month living underwater, which they documented in a film. The film, titled “World Without Sun”, was awarded the Oscar in the category of Best Documentary Feature. It says a lot that of all the seas in the world, he chose the Sudanese Red Sea for his experiment. Though to those who had been to Sudan before, this is a no-brainer. One thing is for certain – Captain Cousteau had definitely managed to place Sudan into the psyche of divers.

Anybody who had dived in Egypt before knows that the Red Sea is an amazing and excellent place for scuba diving. Yet, one cannot simply think that if they had dived in Egypt, they saw everything the Red Sea has to offer. Far from the truth, since the Sudanese Red Sea is exceptional and incomparable. While you dive in the same Red Sea in both countries, the two experiences could not be any different. In Egypt hundreds of liveaboards sail the waters, but in Sudan this number barely reaches ten. The result of which may be that during a liveaboard trip, you see no other boat in sight. Sudan hides the most gorgeous and most pristine coral reefs in the Red Sea that shelter an feed its entire marine life.

This is where you will find the Red Sea’s marine life at its most abundant. Sudan’s warm and crystal clear waters support over 400 species of corals, and over 1,500 species of fish, turtles, and sharks. Large fish live here in large numbers, many of which are rare and even endangered. Here you will always see barracudas, spotted rays, morays, and giant parrotfish, to name a few. The coastal waters of Sudan are also ranked among the top sites for shark lovers. You will encounter grey reef, silky, hammerhead, white-tip, and whale sharks in this region.

If you had a diving bucket list, what would you include? If Sudan is up there, then…

… you should know that the most ideal time for diving in Sudan is between February and May. During these months water temperatures are around 25-28C, and this is when the marine life is at its best and richest. Dive with us on one of our trips:

And now would be a good time to mention that you can visit more of Cousteau’s favourite sites with us, like Mexico (Socorro and Guadalupe).

We are happy to send you further details. Send your inquiries to: info@cassiopeiasafari.com

6 Must-see Dive Sites in Sudan

Posted on by Livia (Volgyesi) Hertelendy

Are you planning on diving in 2014? Here are a couple of ideas where you could… We chose a few from the most beautiful and most exciting dive sites which you must definitely see in the Sudanese Red Sea! The world has already been searched far and wide, not leaving much for the newbie discoverers but luckily there are still a few places that are waiting to be discovered.

1) Darraka – South Sudan
Darraka South Sudan
2) Angarosh – North Sudan
Angarosh North Sudan
3) Masamirit – Deep South Sudan
Masamirit Deep South Sudan
4) Shaab Rumi – North Sudan
Shaab Rumi - North Sudan
5) Dahrat Abid – Deep South Sudan
Dahrat Abid - Deep South Sudan
6) Sanganeb – North Sudan
Sanganeb - North Sudan
Discover Sudan, the diving capital! Read more about Sudan here…

You can easily locate the dive sites above with the help of this map.
Sudan scuba diving map

Our first big announcement in 2014!

Posted on by Livia (Volgyesi) Hertelendy

We have been anxious to share with you the news since we had been getting ready for it for months! We have made the final decision! Due to popular and big demand, both our boats (M/Y Andromeda and M/Y Cassiopeia) will be in Sudan in the first half of 2014!

Something new for our advanced guests!

No need to travel to the other side of the world to discover something new underwater.
Sudan is still fresh and UNTOUCHED!

What is GUARANTEED in the spring?
Hammerhead, reef and grey reef sharks, hump-head parrotfish, dolphins, not to mention gigantic schools of barracuda and the ever-pulsing reef life.

The world’s best dive sites in one place!

We think the most ADVENTUROUS dive sites can be found in Sudan. If you feel differently, feel free to comment here. And you can experience all this still at reasonable rates.

Scuba diving in Sudan

  • Legends come to life: Hans Hass’s dives with sharks, Cousteau’s underwater world
  • Reefs swarming with sharks: Shaab Rumi, Angarosh
  • World-famous wreck: Umbria, lying in her watery grave
  • Sea of soft corals in thousands of magnificent colours

Our actual accomplishments:

  • We have provided diving services to 2,500 satisfied customers
  • from 23 different countries
  • from 4 continents
  • in the past 7 seasons in Sudan
  • during a total of 112 tours and …
  • … 99.5% of the customers would kindly recommend our services to their friends and would return any time.

Shark in Sudan

We arrange everything for you!

We take care of your Sudanese visa, permissions and taxes. If you fly to Port Sudan via Cairo, we arrange your Port Sudan flights, hotel accommodations and transfers, and provide airport assistance for you. In Port Sudan we provide you airport assistance and transfers between the airport and the boat.
You may also fly to Port Sudan via Dubai and you may also add a couple of days of sightseeing in Dubai to your holidays.

You are safe!

Port Sudan is a safe area within Sudan. You are only a 20-minute bus ride from the airport to the boat in the Port Sudan marina. The areas with hot spots are more than 3,000km from Port Sudan. Our captains’, guides’ and crew’s constant presence, and high level of experience and professionalism is always guaranteed. And your safety is further ensured during diving by the diver search and locate security system onboard both our boats.

Our strengths in Sudan:

  • All tours departing directly from the Port Sudan marina
  • 7 different itineraries
  • No extra charge for any dive sites
  • At least 4 night dives per week (except for the last day)
  • Safe diving services
  • Multi-lingual dive guides
  • Membrane Nitrox onboard, 15l tank and scooter rental
  • Competitive price/value ratio

Scooter on Andromeda in the Red Sea

Our satisfied customers:

Cousteau

 

“We have had a pleasant trip and a wonderful cruise on your Andromeda Boat in Sudan.

Thanks a lot for high level services and flexibility demonstrated to assure us a special vacation. Thanks.”

(Italy – Paolo)

 

Shaab-rumi

 

 

“Just a quick note to thank you for organising the Sudan trip.

It was unbelievably well run – from the moment that we arrived until we left. … it was the friendliest and most helpful crew we had ever had.”

(South Africa – Fiona)

Umbria

“One of the best. …the whole of the trip was PERFECT, and in particular I want to emphasis the efficiency of your agent in Cairo. Also your agent in Port Sudan was very efficient. … the crew was very nice and they were very helpful, the food was good, and is important to remark the person of the Dive Master, excellent professional.

…this has been an excellent Diving Aboard Safari and all together with the excellent service it has been one of the best that I have done.”

(Spain – Jose)

If you feel you need to know more about diving in Sudan, read on here

Any questions? Please comment or send us an e-mail.

Scuba diving at Abu Galawa

Posted on by Livia (Volgyesi) Hertelendy

Abu Galawa Soghayr is a crescent shaped reef with a turquoise blue lagoon or pool enclosed within the reef towards its leeward side. Galawa is the name which refers to this turquoise colour of the blue pool. Abu in Arabic means ‘Father’ and Shiwayya means ‘Small’. Therefore a rough translation of this site name would be – Small Father of Turquoise Blue Water.

Location: Red Sea / Egypt / South
Description: Reef / Coral garden / Wreck
Depths: 18 meters

Big Abu Galawa - Red SeaTo the western end of the main crescent shaped reef is a smaller reef piece with gullies and swim-throughs in it. On the southwest side of this is the wreck of small sailboat at the base of the reef, which lies on its starboard side in 18m of water on a sandy sea floor.

Diving the reef is very easy and straight forward.  The anchor points are usually on the southern side of the reef, with a weak current coming in from the north. Follow the western flan of the reef. You will come across a 16m sailing yacht. Origins are disputed, but it is likely to have sunk in the early 80s (based on the coral growth). You can swim into it, but there is not much to see. Follow the reef to the north and you will come automatically to a passage between the reef going south.