Sanganeb, Shaab Rumi, the incredible wreck of the Umbria, Precontinent 2… Fly to the preserved reefs in the south of the Red Sea.
Less frequented than in Egypt, the warm and clear waters of Sudan will delight all diving enthusiasts. They are home to many rare or endangered species, such as bumphead parrotfish, Napoleon wrasse, or turtles. A true paradise for sharks, it notably hosts hammerhead sharks, silky sharks, whitetip reef sharks, and grey reef sharks. Starting in spring 2017, Diving Attitude offers to discover the Sudanese waters during a cruise aboard the Atlantis. Many dives are scheduled during which you will have the opportunity to explore the magnificent and intact reefs of Suakin, or the wrecks of the Umbria and Precontinent 2 – the underwater house project of Commander Cousteau and his crew.
The tours
The southern itinerary (1 week) : south of Port Sudan, the Suakin archipelago is surrounded by many small islands. Its seabeds, rich in corals and particularly favored by sharks, are described as among the most preserved reefs in the world. The first site visited is Jumna, an impressive crack and canyon reef offering one of the world’s largest gatherings of scalloped hammerhead sharks. Night moorings are done at Sha’ab Ambar, an unusual reef with a central lagoon, the perfect place to observe dogtooth tuna, nurse sharks, whitetip sharks, as well as rays. The reefs of Keary, Logan, and Peshwâ, further east, are distinguished by their soft coral walls. Finally, the cruise heads north with the site of Sha’ab Rumi and its large lagoon, where Precontinent 2, the underwater habitat in which, in 1963, Cousteau’s men lived between 10 and 25 meters deep, is located. The adventure ends beautifully with a dive on the Sanganeb reef and its famous lighthouse, followed by the exploration of the Umbria wreck, sunk in 1940 by its captain, covered with numerous sponges and soft corals.The Grand South itinerary (from 10 to 15 days) : spend a few more days and explore, in addition to the dives mentioned previously, reefs and islands near the border with Eritrea, heading towards Abu Aisa, Dahrat Qab, Darraka, Ed Domesh, Qab Miyum, Ed Dak, and Dahrat Abid. Very few people visit these places, so they remain perfectly preserved and astonishingly rich.
In practice
Cruise on the Atlantis in Sudan : March, April and May 2017.The boat and diving : the Atlantis, 38 m long and 8 m wide. 30 aluminum 15L tanks and 15 aluminum 12L tanks.Water temperature : 26°C in winter and 33°C in summer.Time difference : +1h in summer, +2h in winter.Formalities : passport valid for the duration of stay. Plan for 2 blank pages for the visa, which is mandatory. The passport must not have an Israeli stamp.Accommodation capacity : 24 passengers.For more information about stays and rates : divingattitude.com
Margot Harty