Alia

Africa & Middle East

Sudan

Best time for diving
January to May & September to October, liveaboards operate all year round in Sudan. Hammerhead season peaks from January through April when the sea is at its coolest, while August to October might be the best time for you who want to see mantas. Visibility ranges from 20 meters during the rainy season from May to October to beyond 35 meters during the dry season from November through June.

About temperatures
Air : Sudan experiences mean annual temperatures between 26°C and 32°C, with summer temperatures in the north often exceeding 43°C. Rainfall in Sudan is unreliable and erratic, with great variation experienced between northern and southern regions.
Sea : winter months are between 23°C - 26°C, summer months are between 29°C - 32°C.

Wetsuit Recommendation
In the winter months, a 3 - 5 mm full wetsuit is recommended. In summer months a rash vest or 3 mm shorty wetsuit is recommended.

Diver requirement
Intermediate to Advanced, the Sudanese government requires divers to have logged 50 dives before diving in the country, and AOW certification is a good idea as currents in this region can be strong and some points of interest, such as wrecks and schools of hammerheads, can be deep.
You can find out more information about diving in Sudan here : Africa & Middle East.

Embarkation / Disembarkation
Liveaboards diving in Sudan typically sails from an Egyptian port - Hurghada (HRG), Marsa Alam (RMF), clearing customs at Port Sudan before diving within Sudanese waters begins.

Visa Requirements
Guests need two Egyptian Visa entries, one upon your arrival at the Airport, and the other one upon your arrival back from the Sudan trip. The first Egyptian entry visa you can get on arrival at the International airport. The second one will be arranged & paid onboard. For the Sudan entry Visa, most of the liveaboards will organize for you in advance before arrival to Port Sudan and will be issued & stamped on your passport upon our arrival to Port Sudan.

Vaccinations
The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Sudan: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia, and influenza.

Money Matters
The local currency is the Sudanese pound (SDG). However, since Sudan liveaboard trips start and end in Egypt, you will not need any SDG. The only chance you’ll touch Sudan land is when you decide to visit the lighthouse of Sanganeb reef.

Drones
Drone operations are not regulated in Sudan. Please refer to Drone Laws in Sudan for more details.

Extending your holiday
We offer a range of hotels/resorts, land-based diving packages, and excursions that can be arranged before or after your liveaboard holiday. Just ask us if you need such a service.

Djibouti

Best time for diving
Mid-October to early February is the best time for Whaleshark encounters. During these months, it is common to see many whale sharks including juveniles who stay within the safe confines of the coastline, and massive plankton blooms also attract manta rays. Outside these months, wildlife will back into deeper waters due to the high sea temperature.

About temperatures
Air : winter months are between 24°C - 26°C, summer months are between 29°C - 34°C.
Sea : range between 27°C - 29°C throught out of the year.

Wetsuit Recommendation
Most divers feel perfectly comfortable in a skinsuit or 3 mm shortie.

Diver requirement
Intermediate to Advanced, strong currents is expected in some dive sites.
You can find out more information about diving in Djibouti here : Djibouti.

Embarkation / Disembarkation
The embarkation and disembarkation are both in Djibouti City, guests need to fly to Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport (JIB).

Visa Requirements
All foreigners arriving in Djibouti should have a valid passport (with at least 6 months left before expiry) Visa can be obtained on arrival by all nationalities, valid for one month, and granted on a single entry basis. A tourist visa can also be obtained at the Consulate of Djibouti in your home country.

Vaccinations
If you are visiting Djibouti for longer than 4 weeks, you may be advised to have a booster dose of a polio-containing vaccine if you have not had one in the past 12 months. You should carry proof of having had this vaccination.

Money Matters
The local currency is the Djiboutian Franc (DJF), but Euro is widely accepted. Credit and debit cards are not widely accepted. Where credit cards are accepted, visa cards are often required. ATMs are normally available in Djibouti City but may not accept Mastercard.

Drones
Drone operations are not regulated in Djibouti. Please refer to Drone Laws in Djibouti for more details.

Extending your holiday
We offer a range of hotels/resorts, land-based diving packages, and excursions that can be arranged before or after your liveaboard holiday. Just ask us if you need such a service.

Egypt

Best time for diving
March to May & September to October, however, Egypt can be good for scuba diving any time of the year. The whale shark season occurs from the end of May until the end of July. The plankton blooms bring manta rays in to feed from May to August. From May to July, there is a higher chance to spot schooling of hammerheads in Daedalus, then the hammerheads move to Jackson Reef from July to September. And the turtle nesting season also happens from late May to early July. The Thresher Shark can be best spotted in winter. Grey reef sharks, dolphins, and dugongs can be spotted year-round.

About temperatures
Air : winter months are between 18°C - 25°C, summer months are between 32°C - 40°C.
Sea : winter months are between 20°C - 24°C, summer months are between 27°C - 30°C.

Wetsuit Recommendation
In the winter months, a 5 - 7 mm full wetsuit is recommended. In summer months a rash vest or 3 mm shorty wetsuit is recommended.

Diver requirement
Suitable for all levels depending on which route you are heading to. We do recommend a minimum of 30 logged dives with AOW or equivalent level to enjoy the dives in Egypt.
You can find out more information about diving in Egypt here : Egypt.

Embarkation / Disembarkation
Depending on which route you are heading to, the embarkation and disembarkation can be from Hurghada (HRG), Marsa Alam (RMF), or Sharm El Sheikh (SSH).

Visa Requirements
Most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival at Egypt’s international airports. If you opt for a visa on arrival, you’ll need a passport that’s valid for at least six months from your arrival date, a travel itinerary, and documentation to prove accommodation or any booked tours.

Vaccinations
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if traveling from a country with a risk of YF virus transmission and ≥9 months of age, including transit >12 hours in an airport located in a country with a risk of YF virus transmission. This includes Eritrea, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, and Zambia.1 In the absence of a vaccination certificate, the person will be detained in quarantine for up to 6 days after departure from an area at risk of YF virus transmission. An overview of the countries to which this applies can be downloaded here: Yellow Fever Risk Countries.

Money Matters
The local currency is the Egyptian Pound (EGP), and ATMs are common, especially in the main tourist areas. Major hotels will usually accept payment by credit card. However, smaller hotels may expect cash and hard currency payments (USD/EUR).

Drones
To bring a drone to Egypt and fly it, you need to receive permission from the country’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). If you do not have documentation of authorization, your drone will be confiscated at customs. However, getting permission to fly a drone from the CAA is difficult. Should you somehow manage to get your drone in, the onboarding screening will detect your drone and one of two things will happen: 1. your drone will be confiscated at the point of arrival and stored at the airport. 2. the drone will be detected and confiscated when you are leaving the country and you’ll be sanctioned for bringing an illegal commodity to Egypt. - So don't risk it, and leave your drone at home if you’re planning to travel to Egypt.

Extending your holiday
We offer a range of hotels/resorts, land-based diving packages, and excursions that can be arranged before or after your liveaboard holiday. Just ask us if you need such a service.