Orca Dive Club Logo
Diving Courses

8 Days / 7 Nights - Daedalus/Zabargad/Rocky's

Home / Itineraries 8 Days / 7 Nights - Daedalus/Zabargad/Rocky's

Overview

The classic, challenging Zabargad/Rocky Route, which leads to Egypt's southernmost and most remote islands and combines the famous marine parks. It is a route that requires experience and often good weather conditions due to the long journeys and exposed dive sites.

Check dive in the sheltered bay of Abu Dabab (turtles, dugongs) and further dives at Marsa Trombi (another bay south of Port Ghalib). In the evening, the overnight trip to Rocky Island begins.

This tiny island is one of the most exposed dive sites in Egypt, known for its steep walls, intact coral cover and strong currents. Highlight: High chance of seeing grey reef sharks and silvertip sharks as well as manta rays in the blue water. Night dives are not permitted in the marine parks.

Short trip to the larger neighbouring island of Zabargad Island. The island offers unique geology and more relaxed dives than Rocky. Highlights: exploration of the coral gardens and the wreck of a cargo ship (at a depth of approx. 24 m) in the protected lagoon. Additional dives on the reef slopes of Zabargad. In the evening, the overnight trip back north towards the Fury Shoals begins.

Fury Shoals (a large reef system). Here we visit the best reefs along the way, often Shaab Maksur (offshore reef with steep walls and shark potential) and/or Shaab Claudio (light-flooded coral caves). Final overnight trip back to the vicinity of Elphinstone Reef.

The final highlight: Elphinstone Reef
Dives on the plateaus (north and south), famous for encounters with the oceanic whitetip shark (Longimanus). Return to Port Ghalib.

The time, sites and ports are subject to change at any time without prior notice due to weather conditions or other factors

Boat Schedule

Upcoming trip

    The time, sites and ports are subject to change at any time without prior notice due to weather conditions or other factors

    The Route

    Day 1

    • Start Port Ghalib
    • Arrival by evening
    • Check in
    • Overnight stay at port

    Day 2

    • Check dive Abu Dabbab
    • Marsa Trombi
    • Overnight trip

    Day 3

    • Rocky Island
    • Overnight stay

    Day 4

    • Zabargad
    • Overnight stay

    Day 5

    • Zabargad
    • Overnight trip

    Day 6

    • Fury Shoals
    • Overnight trip

    Day 7

    • Elphinstone
    • Port Ghalib
    • Overnight stay in port

    Day 8

    • Check out

    In the big lagoon of Sataya it is almost impossible not to meet dolphins. A little more luck it needs for Mobulas, the close relatives of the Mantas, who sometimes are likewise go. At the dropoff hammerheads, tiger sharks or Thunas are sometimes observed.

    One of the most famous dive sites at the edge of the Fury Shoals. At the impressive dropoff spectacular encounters with hammerhead sharks, manta rays or even tiger sharks are possible at any time.

    The Elphinstone is among divers a legend. Solitary offshore reef in elevation of about 100 meters. The diversity is huge. Highlights include encounters with Longimanus sharks and - yes to the season - hammerheads. The flow, however, can sometimes be tricky here.

    A very diversified large dive site with many variation possibilities. Overgrown beautiful, rich in fish and always good for several turtle encounters.

    A large system of caverns and caves invites the divers to the most exciting dive sites in the southern Red Sea. Cathedral Illustrative, light-filled halls provide an unforgettable experience.

    Rocky Island is a very small, uninhabited island in the deep south, about 5 kilometres south-east of Zabargad Island and is only accessible by liveaboard.
    It is a small, isolated fringing reef surrounded by deep drop-offs. Its exposed position in the open sea often leads to strong, changing currents, making it an ideal location for drift dives.

    On the south side of the island, the reef slopes gently from 10 to 15 metres, followed by a beautifully overgrown, narrow plateau with bizarrely shaped coral blocks, before turning into a drop-off.
    There is a well-known, relatively intact wreck at the dive site, which starts at a shallow depth (approx. 1 metre) and extends to the sandy bottom at a depth of 24 metres.
    The underwater world is rich with hard and soft corals as well as large fish such as manta rays and hammerhead sharks.

    Book Your Dive Adventure Today!

    Encourage visitors to book their diving trips or training sessions directly.

    Prices & Booking
    boat