Red Sea Boats Holidays / Sudan Route

Transcription

1 Andromeda was completed in 2009, following the same design as M/Y Cassiopeia. She is a 40m long steel liveaboard with 2 powerful engines and stabilisers for a comfortable diving trip. She has been working in Sudan for the past 4 spring seasons. There are 13 en-suite double cabins with twin and queen-bed accommodations. The spacious, elegantly designed cabins are perfect for relaxing and there is plenty of storage space for all the equipment. The same extensive upper sun deck provides shaded areas for reading and spending time in the fresh sea air as well as uncovered areas with sun beds and cushions for sunbathing. There is more lounge space on the upper deck, in front of the salon and in front of the captain s bridge with a great view onto the sea ahead. Diving preparation is made easy and comfortable by the large dive deck and the extensive diving platform, perfect for groups entering the water at the same time. Showers on the platform are available to rinse off and there is also storage for the camera equipment. The shisha room is a must here too. It is the most popular corner on the boat. Original Egyptian shisha is available to enjoy along with some hot tea and coffee. The Arabian music and the Oriental feeling will leave the guests with memorable experiences.

2 SUDAN: A SHORT INTRODUCTION Anyone who has ever been diving in Sudan, has never returned disappointed. There are the untouched coral reefs including the world famous Shaab Rumi where Cousteau conducted his experiments on how man could live under the water. There is also the wreck of Umbira, a 150m long WWII ship that sank in quite shallow waters, making her easy to dive. The number of boats in Sudan offering diving safaris is about 8-9 (in Egypt there are hundreds), so during the diving tours divers do not meet other boats and do not have to fight for space underwater with other divers. The dives are only for the group and the sites can be enjoyed without the crowds. Sudan is mostly famous for its sharks, schools of barracuda, untouched coral reefs and mainly in the south, for the large schools of hammerheads. On the last day of the tour when the boat sails back to the harbour, the guests can visit the island of Suakin, which was once the main port city in the Red Sea. Today it is a white virtual ghost town, famous for its houses built from coral bricks. TRAVEL We arrange the Sudanese visa for all our guests. The usual travel to Port Sudan is through Dubai.

3 SUDAN SAFARIS: 2-WEEK DEEP SOUTH 2 WEEKS IN THE DEEP SOUTH 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. 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. Possible dive sites: Sanganeb, Shaab Jibna, Shaab Ambar, Keary Reef, Logan Reef, Protector Reef Preserver reef, Bara Musa Saghir, Karam Masamirit, Ghab Abi Island, Dahrat Qab Island, Qab Miyum, Dahrat Abid, Dahrat Ed Dak Hilat, Ed Domesh Shesh Island, Shaab Loka, Bara Musa Kebir, Shaab Tawil, Nakhalat Pinnacle, Pender Reef, Umbria Times of the safari tours: May and June 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 OPTIONAL TOURIST PROGRAM ON THE LAST DAY dive) On the last day of the tour when the boat sails back to the harbour, Day 8: 1. Miyum / 2. Qab Miyum / 3. Dahrat Qab / 4. Dahrat Qab (night dive) the guests can visit the island of Suakin, which was once the main Day 9: 1. Dahrat Abid / 2. Dahrat Abid / 3. Dahrat Qab / 4. Dahrat Qab (night port city in the Red Sea. Today it is a white virtual ghost town, dive) famous for its houses built from coral bricks. (The EUR 25 / person Day 10: 1. Dahrat Ed Dak Hilat / 2. Ed Domesh Shesh Island / 3.Shaab program lasts 3 hours.) For more information please contact our Loka / 4. Shaab Loka (night dive) sales manager. 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

4 Rates are only valid for M/Y Cassiopeia and M/Y Andromeda. Diving is only permitted with a valid diving certificate and diving insurance. Non-diver boat rate is minus EUR 30 from the individual boat rate. Sailing is confirmed with minimum 14 paying guests. Accommodations in the salon or sisha room with all other regular services included.) Boat rates include 7 (14) nights full-board accommodations onboard in double cabins Boat rates do not include Airplane tickets Buffet-style meals 3 times a day and fruits and snacks Mineral water, tea, coffee (Nescafe), unlimited soft drinks (Cola, Fanta, Hotel stays in Dubai Transfers Sprite) Minimum 2 dive guides Visas and airport/tourism/government taxes Single-cabin surcharge: 30% of the individual boat rate Diving: - 1st day: 2 day dives and 1 night dive - 2nd 5th days: 3 day dives and 1 night dive per day Alcoholic beverages (limited supply) Equipment rental (upon request, limited supply) - 6th day: 2 day dives (returning to the marina after the second dive) Note: In case long navigation is required or because of bad weather 15l steel tank rental: EUR5/tank/day (upon request, limited supply) Nitrox: EUR5/tank or EUR80/person/week (max.32% O2) conditions, dive schedule may be limited or some dive sites may become unreachable. It is always the captain s decision keeping in mind Satellite phone use: EUR3/minute Personal expenses the safety of the guests, crew and boat. One 12l aluminum tank / guest, weights Lost towel fee: EUR10 /towel, lost weight fee Bakshish (tip to the guides and crew, EUR50 /person / week Boat permissions Shisha (waterpipe) onboard in the Arabic cafe recommended) Touristic programs Bed linens and towel use Wifi where coverage is available Travel and diving insurance All other expenses not mentioned above Sudanese Expenses Sudanese Expenses include: Rates: (mandatory): According to Sudanese visa EUR231 / person / week present Sudanese Passport registration fee in Sudan EUR294 / person / 2 weeks Government regulations, Tourism fee Sudanese agent fee valid untildecember, (administration, Port Sudan airport assistance and transfers) 2013 and subject to change. Dubai Mandatory: Optional: sevices: (arrangements Dubai-Port-Sudan-Dubai flights UAE visa (according to UAE regulations) by the tour operator) (on Mondays) (by Emirates Airlines or Hotels stays Transfers Touristic programs

5 Sudanese visa: IMPORTANT NOTES The Sudanese visas are prepared for the guests in Port Sudan in advance, before the start of the tours. For arranging the visas, the copies of the guests passports must be sent to us by at the time of booking and no later than 2 weeks before the tour. The copies of the visas will be sent to the tour operators to forward to the guests to be printed out and be ready in Dubai at the Port Sudan check-in. Passports: The passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the departure date from Sudan. There must not be any stamps or visas from Israel in them. They must have 2 empty pages side by side for the Sudanese visa. Insurance and qualification: All divers must have valid diving certificates (min. OWD) and valid diving insurance (including decompression sickness coverage) and must present them to the guides onboard in order to be permitted to dive. Non-diving guests must also have valid travel and health insurance in order to be able to take part in the tours. The insurance information (insurance company name and policy number) must be sent to us by no later than 1 week before the start of the tour. Guest list: The guests names and passport copies must be sent to us by at the time of booking but no later than 2 weeks before the start of the tour. Itineraries/harbours: Itineraries are agreed upon before the tour. The planned itineraries, the choice of dive sites and the number of dives may be amended due to unfavourable weather conditions. (Ie. In case of very windy weather on a Deep South tour, the itinerary may be changed to Ultimate if conditions are not suitable or dangerous.) It is always the captain s decision keeping in mind the safety of the guests, the crew and the boat. Alcohol: Alcoholic beverages and pornographic materials (including images of people dressed in an acceptable way by European standards but not acceptable in Sudan) are strictly prohibited to take into the country. Drinking and being intoxicated in public is forbidden. Travellers go through strict and thorough customs checks in Port Sudan. Equipment: Diving equipment and spare parts are available onboard for emergencies and for rental in limited numbers. All divers must bring their own full gear. Requests for equipment and 15l tank rental must be sent to us by no later than 1 week before the tour. Other: Equipment and 15l tank rental, Nitrox use and other purchases onboard may be paid in cash (in EUR) onboard before the end of the tour. We are unable to provide any services on loan. There is a safe onboard. It is strongly recommended that guests place their valuables and documents in the safe at the start of the trip for safe keeping. The guides should be asked to provide access to the safe. We cannot accept responsibility for any items not kept in the safe. These are the responsibility of every individual guest. All necessary and regularly taken medications should be brought by the guests. No filming or photographing is allowed at the Port Sudan airport and various parts of town. Cameras will be confiscated if taking pictures where it is forbidden. Guests are kindly asked to respect the culture of the local people and dress appropriately. When in town, people should be fully clothed (in shorts, skirts, tops). Payment terms: A booking is confirmed by the payment of a deposit (30% of the total booking rate) and the signing of the contract.

6 The final balance (70%) must be paid no later than 60 days before the start of the tour. In the event all outstanding amounts due for the tour are not paid by the start of the tour or no valid proof of bank transfer is provided, the booking will be considered to be cancelled and no amounts already paid will be refunded. The boat rate and the Sudanese expenses are due in full and in advance. All other expenses (equipment rental, Nitrox use, purchases, bakshish, etc. onboard) may be paid in cash (in EUR) onboard before the end of the tour. In view of the unstable economic situation in Egypt, provided that the increase in the prices of gasoline and/or diesel exceeds 20% of the rates in effect at the time of the date of the Boat Rental Contract, Red Sea Boats Holidays has the right to amend the boat rates accordingly. Dubai: If not flying with Emirates Airlines, travellers must re-check their luggage for the Port Sudan flight when arriving in Dubai in Arrivals at the Dnata transfer desk. There may be a fee. Guests may need to change terminals. UAE visa may not be required if travellers do not leave the airport and their onward flight is within 24 hours of their arrival to Dubai. Check with your local UAE embassy or consulate. Check-in for the Port Sudan flight is 3 hours before scheduled departure.