Red Sea Aggressor & Nile River Cruise – November 30-December 12, 2024

Red Sea Liveaboard dates December 30-7 / Nile River cruise December 7-12. Dates do not yet include travel days.

Red Sea Aggressor Liveaboard – November 30-December 11, 2022

Join Steve & Jolene Philbrook on this amazing adventure! The Red Sea is a world class destination! We will be staying on the Aggressor III on the South itinerary. If you like seeing beautiful soft corals, large sealife, and cool wrecks this trip is for you. Below are a sample of some of the dive sites we will be diving!

BIG BROTHER: The Brothers (Big Brother and Little Brother, or in Arabic, ‘El Akhawein’) are two small islands in The Red Sea. They are situated 67 km out to sea from Al Qusayr. Above water, Big Brother features a lighthouse which was built by the British in 1883 and is manned by the Egyptian military. Underwater, there are two wrecks: Numidia and Aida. The walls of Big Brother plunge down into the blue at an almost-vertical angle. Shallow swim-throughs are concealed in the wall on the west side of the site making them fun to discover. Hard and soft corals, including some Gorgonian Fans cover the reef and the ubiquitous Anthias are found in the thousands. Fish of all sizes and species live here, including large pelagic life such as Hawksbill Turtles, Grey Reef Sharks, Thresher Sharks, Longimanus (from October/November), and occasionally, Hammerhead Sharks.

LITTLE BROTHER: Little Brother is, as the name suggests, the smaller of the two islands and is located 1 km to the south of Big Brother. Much like Big Brother, the currents can be strong or not present at all and they often change at a moment’s notice, adding to the adventure and excitement. Deep walls surround the island with a glorious plateau in the north. Here, it feels like diving in an aquarium with a huge variety of marine life including the larger Hawksbill Turtles, Grey Reef Sharks, Thresher Sharks, and Hammerhead Sharks. The ‘Gorgonian Forest’ lies in the south east of the site. Longnose Hawkfish perch on the large Gorgonians, however, their shy temperament means they can be a challenge to photograph!

DAEDALUS: This large reef, also referred to as Abu El Kizan, is found 80 km offshore from Marsa Alam. A lighthouse which was built in 1861 by the British stands tall on the small artificial island in the centre of the reef. Today it is manned by the Egyptian military. Currents tend to be much more predictable here, and divers have an excellent opportunity to spot large pelagic life such as schooling Ham

merhead Sharks, Thresher Sharks which are commonly seen in the north. Manta Rays can be found anywhere (from March – October), and Grey Reef Sharks and Whitetip Reef Sharks patrol the reef walls. Whale Sharks occasionally pass by in the summer months. Broccoli Corals in a range of candy colours grow out from the reef on all sides. There are pristine hard coral formations in the north and east especially, while overhangs are home to schools of Glass Sweepers. The south plateau is covered in yellow Litophyton Arboreum and Pulsing Xenia. The west has two spectacular sights… ‘Anemone City’ is a section of the reef wall which is covered in Magnificent Anemone. Further down to the south west is another section of the wall which is covered in Elephant Ear Coral. In terms of topography, the very north of the reef is concave. Many different fish such as Wrasse, Parrot Fish, Rabbit Fish, and Unicorn Fish congregate on top of the reef in the clear, shallow water.

Elphinstone is a very famous, cigar-shaped reef which sits 6 km out to sea from Marsa Alam. There is a long plateau in the north and south of Elphinstone with the rest of the reef being a steep, colourful wall rich in hard and soft corals. Currents are variable, and can be strong or not present at all. While shark sightings are not guaranteed, the Longimanus cruises in the shallows in the season, and every so often divers encounter Hammerhead Sharks, Grey Reef Sharks, Silky Sharks, and Manta Rays. Barracuda hang in the blue, and Cornet Fish use divers for cover while they hunt the Anthias.

Nile River Cruise – (add on option)

Sail on the beautiful Aggressor Nile Queen® and travel back in time to see the land of the pharaohs that has changed little since they ruled.

Your adventure includes guided tours of Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings,  Hatshepsut Temple and many other ancient sites between Luxor and Aswan. This is truly an Adventure of a Lifetime!

DAY 1:  LUXOR – The Karnak Temple: The large complex consists of many temples and chapel ruins. Luxor Temple:  This beautiful temple is located on the east bank of the Nile River. The inner part of the temple was built by the King Amenhotep III, and the outer part by Ramesses II.

DAY 2 :  LUXOR – Valley of the Kings: This valley contains tombs of the pharaohs including Tutankhamun and is the burial place of the Egyptians of the New Kingdom. Hatshepsut Temple:  This mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut is located beneath the Deir el-Bahari complex, near the Valley of Kings. Valley of the Nobles:  The valley is in an area of the West Bank called Sheik Abd El Korna. The site includes the rock tombs of ancient Egyptian nobles and high officials who served the ancient pharaohs. Colossi of Memnon:  These are the twin stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III standing in the Theban region across the Nile River.

DAY 3:   EL KAB AND EDFU – El Kab:Temple of Nekhbet, as well as a row of fascinating decorated tombs carved into the slope of the mountain. Upon docking, guests embark on a beautiful walk through a small fishing village to visit the necropolis. Edfu: This is among the best preserved of all Egyptian temples. Horse and carriages will take guests to the temple through the bustling city streets.

DAY 4:  GEBERL SILSILEH AND EL BASHIER ISLAND – Gebel Silsileh: After visiting the small temple of Horemheb and walking through the sandstone quarries, where ancient Egyptians cut stone for many of their most famous temples, guests visit a picturesque café to enjoy tea and shisha. El Bashier Island: In the afternoon, the Aggressor Nile Queen visits the island of El Bashier where guests can swim and explore the island. In the evening, guests enjoy a traditional Bedouin barbeque on the island.

DAY 5:  KOM OMBO – After enjoying the temple, guests will visit the new crocodile museum, that includes many mummified crocodiles, attesting to the historic importance of the animals in this region in Egypt. 

DAY 6:  CHECKOUT AND ASWAN – Guest awake to the beautiful sight of the desert closing in on the river at Aswan Bridge.

Pricing:

• Double Occ Deluxe Stateroom:  $TBD
• Double Occ Master Stateroom:  $TBD

Payment Schedule:

• Nonrefundable Deposit:  $500
• 2^nd Deposit:  $1000 May 20, 2024
• Final Balance:  September 1, 2024

Trip Includes:

• RT Airfare from Minneapolis
• Ground Transfers
• 7 nights’ Liveaboard accommodations
• All Meals and beverages on liveaboard
• 20-23 dives (including several night dives)
• 3 nights Hotel accommodations + breakfast
• Unlimited Nitrox (if certified)

Not Included:

• $45 Port Fee (paid onsite)
• $105 Marine Park Fee (paid onsite)
• $25 Egyptian Visa (paid onsite)
• Lunch and Dinner during hotel days
• Single Occupancy upcharge for Hurghada hotel ($175)
• Gratuities
• Dive and Travel insurance

 

NOTE: $500 Non Refundable deposit holds your spot for this trip.  2nd payment due May 20, 2024.  Final payment is due by September 1, 2024. We strongly recommend travelers insurance, ask for details. Land/dive/air prices are payable by cash, check, or credit card. Airfare rates are based on early sign up, future rates are approximate. Due to rising fuel costs, airlines have been imposing additional charges without notice, prices subject to change.