Cousteau’s favourite dive sites (2019 appointments)

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

Photo Adventure Scuba Cruise in Sudan!

Diving Holiday and Photo Workshop in Sudan, Red Sea. Deep South Sudan to Eritrean border, 14 nights onboard AndromedaExperience something new with us!

Diving Holiday in Sudan
The World’s most Inspiring Photo Adventure Vacation!

Our adventures offer you a chance to combine a spectacular vacation with a wonderful creative learning experience. Whether you are a beginner, an enthusiast, or a professional, we invite you to join us on a truly amazing photographic adventure of a lifetime. May all who come as guests… leave as friends.

Daniel Selmeczi underwater photographerSign up now for an amazing, fully immersive photography workshop in an exotic locale with award-winning photographer Daniel Selmeczi who knows these waters, guides you to all the best spots, gives you feedback, critiques your work and helps you edit your new travel portfolio along the way.

Date: May 18 – June 01, 2015
Route: The Best of and the Deep South of Sudan
Port: Port Sudan

TRAVEL
We arrange the Sudanese visa for all our guests. The usual travel to Port Sudan is through Dubai.

This trip is recommended only to advanced divers.

2 – week Deep South tour plan
Day 1: 1. Sanganeb South / 2. Shaab Jibna / 3. Shaab Ambar (night dive)
Day 2: 1. Shaab Ambar South Plateau / 2. Keary Reef / 3. Logan Reef / 4. Shaab Ambar (night dive) Day 3: 1. Protector Ree / 2. Protector Reef / 3. Preserver Reef / 4. Preserver Reef (night dive)
Day 4: 1. Bara Musa Saghir / 2. Karam Masamirit / 3. Karam Masamirit / 4. Masamirit (night dive) Day 5: 1. Karam Masamirit / 2. Masamirit / 3. Masamirit / 4. Masamirit (night dive)
Day 6: 1. Ghab Abi Island / 2. Dahrat Qab Island / 3. Dahrat Qab Island / 4. Dahrat Qab Island (night dive) Day 7: 1. Dahrat Qab / 2. Dahrat Qab / 3. Dahrat Qab / 4. Dahrat Qab (night dive)
Day 8: 1. Miyum / 2. Qab Miyum / 3. Dahrat Qab / 4. Dahrat Qab (night dive)
Day 9: 1. Dahrat Abid / 2. Dahrat Abid / 3. Dahrat Qab / 4. Dahrat Qab (night dive)
Day 10: 1. Dahrat Ed Dak Hilat / 2. Ed Domesh Shesh Island / 3.Shaab Loka / 4. Shaab Loka (night dive) Day 11: 1. Shaab Loka / 2. Bara Musa Kebir / 3. Shaab Tawil / 4. Shaab Tawil (night dive)
Day 12: 1. Nakhalat Pinnacle / 2. Pender Reef / 3. Shaab Ambar / 4. Shaab Ambar Lagoon (night dive) Day 13: 1. Shaab Jibna / 2. Sanganeb South / 3. Umbria

Reserve your spot now at info@cassiopeiasafari.com!

A look into the scubalife onboard Andromeda in Sudan:

https://sudan-diving.com

Our Sudan fall season has officially started!

Great anticipation preceded our first week in Sudan this fall especially since this was going to be our first week-long Deep South tour in Sudan in the fall. We have travelled this itinerary in the spring many times and we were curious what it was going to be like down south close to the Eritrean border a few months later. What can we expect? What can we see? What is the weather like? How is the visibility? How warm of a sea can we jump into?

Sunset in SudanAir temperature: average 36C
Water temperature: 30-31C all the way to 40m
Visibility: varying from moderate to excellent
Tour dates: October 6-13, 2014
Itinerary: Sudan – Deep South
Boat: Andromeda

Mantas, even in groups, are a common sight, especially in the Northern region. But the South is not lagging behind either. 🙂 We were met by a world of gorgeous corals and insanely rich marine life. At the end of the dives, we almost had to force the divers out of the water!

Silky shark in the sudanese red seaOh, and since this is a true expedition and discovery tour, true to it, we have discovered a brand new site – Farsa Andromeda! 🙂

The schools of dolphins escorting our boat, sharks, brilliantly coloured corals, schools of fish packed by the hundreds in each school, magical sunsets, endless tranquility and smooth waters helped everybody soon forget the rush of civilization left behind.

Dolphins in the Sudanese Red SeaThe group this week was just as colourful and vibrant as the sights below the water but the week was spent in perfect and jolly harmony. Thank you for diving with us!

Group photo AndromedaTIP OF THE WEEK:
After a couple of our guests had planned on staying in Sudan after the safari and doing some sightseeing, we must emphasize that the Sudanese visa we issue you is valid

– only for the Red Sea State which is the Port Sudan area and
– only for the duration of the safari.

This visa is not valid for any areas outside of Port Sudan or for any periods before or after the safari.

In case someone wishes to do further travelling in Sudan outside of the safari period, please inform us about these plans in advance. In this case, the visa would have to be acquired from the local Sudanese Embassy.

Diving cruise AndromedaSchedule of the week:

Tuesday:
1. Shaab Ambar lagoon – check dive
2. Shaab Ambar South
3. Night Dive

Wednesday:
1. Dahrat Abid
2. Dahrat Abid
3. Darraka
4. Darraka – night dive

Thursday:
1. Habili Dahrat Abid
2. Quab Miyum
3. Habili Dahrat Abid

Friday:
1. Dibsel
2. Dibsel
3. Protector

Saturday:
1. Protector
2. Farsa Andromeda (a new site we have discovered! 5*)
3. Jibna
4. Umbria – night dive

Sunday:
1. Umbria
2. Umbria

https://sudan-diving.com

2 weeks in the Deep South of Sudan

The 2-week Deep South tour is perfect for those who have already been to Sudan and wish to see even more and for those who would like to be part of a true adventure. This is a unique itinerary, sailing all the way South to Dahrait Abid, close to the Eritrean border and including such sites as Masamirit, Barra Mussa Kebir, Keary, Pender, Logan and Protector Reefs, Shaab Ambar and Umbria, among others.

Diving cruise Sudan Deep South
The untouched and barely discovered sites hide marvellous marine life and tremendous sharks galore. There are only a couple of liveboard ships sailing to this Southern region of the Sudanese Red Sea, making this a truly exclusive and one-of-a-kind safari. It is recommended only to advanced divers.

2 weeks in the Deep South of Sudan
Sign up now at info@cassiopeiasafari.com

https://sudan-diving.com