Red Sea Eco-expedition
For children over 15 years old and adults
2023. July 20.-27.
Location
egypt, red sea
Departure – arrival:
From Marsa Alam (Port Ghalib)-
to St. Johns Island and back
Zabargad – touching Dolphin house
Gota Kebir is a massive reef, famous for its tunnels and south plateau, where jacks and barracudas can be seen and the occasional manta. The tunnels are ideal for novice cave divers.
Gota Soraya is rated as possibly one of the best wall dives in the Red Sea, with overhangs and cracks in the reef wall full of glass fish and sweepers and an abundance of corals, Grey Reef, Silvertips and Hammerhead sharks.
St Johns is a vast collection of small reefs offering some of the most remote and rewarding diving in the Red Sea. This incredibly beautiful reef lies a short distance north of the Sudanese border. The reef covers a huge area and many dives would be needed to explore the numerous coral heads and islands. Habili Ali offers giant gorgonians and black corals whilst grey reef, silvertip and schools of hammerhead sharks might be found on the west side. Habili Gafaar is a mass of soft corals teaming with shoals of snappers, butterfly fish and barracudas. Mantas, grey reef and silvertip sharks can often be seen in the blue.
Accommodation: Emperor Echo Yacht
Program:
Led by marine biologist Dr. Ahmed Shawky, PhD and biologist and ecologist Karáth Emil MSc:
15 marine monitoring programs: Marine biology, Coral Reef Surveys, Fish Identification, Coral Bleaching, Coral Transplantation, Shark Ecology, Marine Mammals Observations, Spinner Dolphin Behavioural Ecology, Dugong Conservation, Stranding Response of Marine Megafauna on a Shore, Sea Turtle Underwater, Sea Turtle in Nesting Ground, Photo Identification of Marine Megafauna, Laser Photogrammetry, and Seagrass Abundance.
The team also participates in the “Great Annual Fish Count“
PADI dugong (sea cow) conservation program: On December 10, 2022, the IUCN updated the conservation status of the East African dugong from endangered to critically endangered. Therefore, we pay more attention to this program. Little information is available on the sea cow Dugong dugong inhabiting the African coastline of the Red Sea. This study aims to gather ecological information on the populations of this species in the protected area of Wadi El-Gemal. This includes their distribution, habitat description as well as the anthropogenic threats they are facing. Individual features will also be described using photo ID technique. Therefore, in this work, we will evaluate the most appropriate conservation strategies using estimates of population size, distribution, and threats.
PADI marine explorer qualification
It aims to teach divers how to survey different marine ecosystems and organisms to collect data that will be used to conserve these species.
PADI marine biology certification
Its purpose is to expand divers’ knowledge of marine biology, as well as to explain the appropriate diving techniques necessary for responsible interaction.
REEF Check eco diver certification
Getting to know and using the “Reef Check” program in collecting the data necessary for the preservation of coral reefs. We learn about Reef Check’s surveys and collect data for their global database.
Included in the price:
15 marine monitoring programs with lectures
6 days of diving (with 2-3 dives per day, including night dives)
Dive guides
12 liter bottles
Free Nitrox, weights
Environmental taxes
Marine National Park Fees and Port Departure Fees
Accommodation in 2-bed cabins (lower deck)
3 meals a day
Afternoon snacks
Unlimited drinking water, soft drinks, tea, coffee, a glass of red wine with dinner
Transfer (Hurghada Airport – Port Ghalib)
Price of the Eco-expedition: 1650 EUR/person
2023. Advance payment required (advance: 20% – non-refundable)
The price does not include:
Visa: 25 USD
Alcoholic beverages
Tips
Equipment rental
Flight ticket (Budapest – Hurghada)
Important informations:
Application age: min. 15 years old
Open water diver certification required (OW1)
Knowledge of English is an advantage, as the lectures are held in English (but of course we help with translation)
It is possible to rent complete diving equipment for 170 Euro/person (diving lamp not included).
The use of a diving computer and a diving signal buoy is mandatory!!! (it is also possible to rent)
The training package includes: T-shirt, hat, notebook, pen, pin, high quality printed outline, brochure, fish identification card, underwater data sheet and whiteboard, and CoralWatch table.
The tour starts with 8 participants
