Egypt Itineraries:

Project Shark: Brothers & Elphinstone

The aim of 'Project Shark' is to highlight the global issues facing sharks, with a Red Sea focus, as well as enjoying some of the most spectacular reefs that the Red Sea has to offer.

QUALIFICATION NEEDED: You must be a PADI Open Water diver or equivalent and have logged a minimum of 30 dives to join this safari.

ROUTE: Brothers & Elphinstone

Please note that night diving and snorkelling will only be allowed on some parts of this itinerary as it includes marine parks where this is prohibited.

During this week, divers will experience pristine diving, as well as becoming involved in a fundamental study of one of the world's most unique marine habitats - the Red Sea. The week will involve close encounters with sharks, manta rays and whale sharks (although these sightings cannot be guaranteed!) with the possibility to observe them in their natural habitat and donate vital information to the study.

Founded by our expert dive guide and marine biologist, Elke Bojanowski Ph.D, in her quest to track and collect basic population data on oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus Longimanus), in the Egyptian Red Sea.

Elke began the Longimanus Project in October 2004 and since this date she has been actively collecting underwater photographs and video-clips of the oceanic whitetip for catalogue, review and analysis. Joining the blue o two team in 2007, Elke unifies blue o two's unique panel of expert dive guides; all offering our divers exceptional skills in scuba diving, marine studies and underwater audio-visual production.

The week will offer the opportunity to:

- Learn about the biology and behaviour of sharks within the Red Sea
- Learn and develop skills in marine biological studies; collecting data, species identification and analysing data
- Learn about globally endangered marine species and what we can do as divers to ensure their protection
- Enjoy fantastic diving on some of the most unique Red Sea reefs
- Experience potential close encounters with sharks, manta rays and whale sharks*

Expertly run:

Project Shark is delivered by our team of expert dive guides, who will conduct seminars giving divers the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the biology and behaviour of sharks within the Red Sea. There will also be a chance to learn about globally endangered marine species and what as a diver we can do to aid their protection.

Why join this itinerary?

Encounters with endangered species allows divers to add a greater purpose to their Red Sea holiday, so anyone who has an active interest in the preservation of the marine environment and its inhabitants would enjoy this itinerary. However, important to bear in mind is that as well as learning from experts about marine bio-studies within the Red Sea, divers will enjoy daily diving on very special reefs; Brother Islands and Elphinstone Reefs, as well as Daedalus Reef, St. Johns, Zabagrad and Rocky Islands on allocated weeks, making this an equally enjoyable week for those just wanting to enjoy the diving.

Sample itinerary:

**PLEASE NOTE** the itinerary below is just an example of the route taken and the order and dive sites are not guaranteed. All dives sites are subject to weather conditions and the final route taken is at the absolute discretion of the captain and dive guides.

This sample route is based on the vessel departing from and arriving back to HURGHADA however this itinerary can also be run from and to Port Ghalib and so therefore the order of sites can vary.

Day 1 - Gota Abu Ramada x 3 - overnight sail to Brothers

Day 2 - Big Brother

Day 3 - Small Brother

Day 4 - Small Brother - sail overnight

Day 5 - Elphinstone, Marsa Shouna

Day 6 - Panorama, Abu Hashish

Itinerary highlights:

Big Brother: A 400 metre long island offering fabulous wreck diving and wall diving. The wreck of the Numidia lies on the northern tip between 10 and 80 metres. The north-west side of the island houses the wreck of the Aida. On every section of this reef the wall is covered with corals and life.

Little Brother: Boasts a very high concentration of life within a very small area. Fan coral forests, overhangs, hard and soft corals in a variety of astonishing colours… and of course there are plenty of fish! With regular sightings of hammerheads, thresher sharks, grey sharks and white tip reef sharks, at the right time of year.

Elphinstone Reef: A Red Sea legend. One of the most beautiful reefs, with its north and south plateau's covered in hard and soft corals, this truly is an awesome reef.

Want to go? Check out the Schedules and Prices HERE

Thanks to (Dray Van Beeck) for providing the featured underwater images.