EMPEROR ECHO I 250 EURO DISCOUNT I 2021 I SIMPLY THE BEST I RED SEA

OUR BOAT

The Emperor Echo is 31 meters long and makes incredible diving safaris in the Red Sea all year round. Fully refurbished in 2018 it is a great value liveaboard; ideal for groups. It has a large choice of main and upper deck cabins. Brand new contemporary saloon and restaurant.  

Emperor Echo operates from the ports of Hurghada and Marsa Ghalib, carrying out the most interesting routes of the Egyptian Red Sea, including itineraries in the remote south sea, special programs of sunken ships and special programs of sharks.

OUR CABINS

The Emperor Echo has a capacity for a total of 25 divers, accommodated in 13 cabins, 6 doubles and 1 individual. On the upper deck is the Suite and 2 doubles, on the main deck 3 doubles and on the lower 6 doubles and the single cabin. All cabins have air conditioning, private bathroom with shower and two towels. Each room has air conditioning and with accessories such as bathrobes, two towels for the cabin and a towel for the cover.

AMENITIES

Emperor Echo has a large dining room and a lounge with TV and stereo. Among the social areas there are 2 terraces, an outdoor lounge with bar, and an interior living and dining room decorated with taste. 

FOOD ON BOARD

A relaxing meal prepared with care and style is the best way to remain full of energy for the rest of the day. The delicious food is made every day to satisfy the hunger of the divers, you will be offered a choice of Chef prepared meals served Buffet style. Soft drinks, tea, coffee and water are provided as well as red wine with being served with Dinner. Beer and other wines are available for a charge.

DIVING WITH US

The boat has services for diving: a spacious diving platform, areas dedicated to rinsing cameras and FREE Nitrox for certified divers and a program of up to 4 dives a day, depending on the selected route .. There are also 2 expert guides for the dives.

The itineraries include the famous Simply the Best, Southern Sharks, Get Wrecked and Famous Five routes, ensuring you the chance to experience the best the Red Sea has to offer. Among the most populated dive sites of the Red Sea are Ras Mohammed, Thistlegorm Wreck, Elphinstone Reef, St. Johns and Daedalus, among others.

DIVING IN THE AREA

Diving in Egypt is available all year round. The best season is from March to the middle of December. All of these months diving is amazing in this region with water temperatures from 25º-28º. Winter water temperatures (Middle of December to February) are still 23º. There are great discount offers on boats and a minimum number of boats in the area, the dive sites are exclusive to you.

TO KEEP IN MIND ABOUT EMPEROR ECHO

Single Travellers Guarantee: We guarantee same sex cabin sharing on our boats. If we can't 'room' you with someone of the same sex and a cabin is free then we will give you a cabin to yourself with no single room supplement.

Group Discount:

• 4 pay full price - 1 free
• 8 pay full price - 2 free
• 12 pay full price - 3 free
• 16 pay full price - 4 free

Join the liveaboard cruise on Emperor Echo for a diving safari like no other in the Red Sea. 

MOST RELEVANT INFORMATION

• The boat leaves from Port Ghalib and ends at Port Ghalib 
• Attention! The departure/arrival at the marina can change due to the internal logistics of the boat, the bad weather conditions of the previous week or the bad weather forecast.

DEPARTURE AND EMBARKATION

• The nearest airport is Port Ghalib. The best-known and easiest airport to reach is the one in the city of Hurghada (HRG). The nearest airport to Port Ghalib is Marsa Alam Intl. (RMF).
• The transfer from either of the two airports to the boat and from the boat to the airport on the first and last day is included in the price.
• If you arrive in Hurghada and the boat leaves from Port Ghalib, the transfer by land is included and takes around 3 hours.
• If the boat leaves from Hurghada or Port Ghalib, the transfer from the airport Hurghada or Port Ghalib to the boat is 10 minutes.
• Transfers from hotels  to the boat are included as well
• Only two transfers are included, one on boarding day and the other on disembarkation day
• Transfers other days that are not specified here are extras, they cost money and it is not guaranteed that the boat can do them since it is not in the program.
• At the airport or at the hotel, a person carrying a Emperor sign will pick you up (transfers are shared group, there may be a waiting time at the airport, depending on the flights of other passengers, transfer might need to go pick up others clients from hotels)
• The embarkation is the first day indicated on the date the cruise begins and the boarding time is in the afternoon from 5 pm until the early morning - maximum 6 am.
• The boat leaves port in the morning around 8 am to go to the first diving point where a shallow dive to test the diving equipment, surface buoyancy, adjust to each divers' group 

ARRIVAL AND DISEMBARKATION

• The boat arrives at port in the afternoon, this day only 2 dives are done in the morning.
• It is your responsibility to make sure that you are respected 24 hours before flight time after your last dive
• Once the boat arrives at port, you can get off and visit the area if you want to, dinner will be served on the boat, and the night of this day you will sleep on the boat.
• Transfers to the airport will be according to the time of your flights, the maximum time to disembark is at 10:00 am.
• In case of need the boat could give advance notice and of necessity to provide the last night in a 4 * HB hotel, if it was the case, the hotel is paid by the boat and any extra transfer is offered free of charge.

EXTRA INFORMATION

• On the Deep South area is located the Navy base of the naval forces of the Army of Egypt.
• The dive operator routine is to request permission 2 days before the trip. In the case of a ban on navigation in the areas of Zabargad and Rocky, as well as the areas of St Johns and Abu Fendira, the route will be changed to a similar accessible one. Trip compensation and cancellation are not possible.
• Port departure/arrival can be changed due to internal boat logistic, bad weather conditions on previous week or bad weather forecast. In case of changes all transfers are provided to the new marina, cannot be issue of refund or compensations

HOW TO GET THERE

• Pickup times from airports: Hurghada Airport to Hurghada Marina or local hotel: 5:30 pm, 6:30 pm, 11:59 pm (winter) and 5:30pm, 10:30 pm, 11:59 pm (summer); approx. 20-30 mins transfer time Hurghada Airport to Port Ghalib or local hotel: 5:30 pm, 6:30 pm, 11:59 pm (winter) and 5:30 pm, 10:30 pm, 11:59 pm (summer); approx. 3 hrs transfer time Marsa Alam Airport to Port Ghalib or local hotel: 5 pm, 8 pm (winter) and 6 pm, 9 pm (summer); approx. 20-30 mins transfer time Marsa Alam Airport to Hamata Port or local hotel: Tuesday 3 pm, Wednesday 6:30 pm (winter) and Tuesday 7 pm, 9 pm, Wednesday 9:30 pm (summer) ; approx. 2.5 hrs transfer time Midnight transfer is available the evening of embarking Individual pickup times and transfer from/to other airports are possible, charges are applicable

GENERAL INFORMATION

• We require you have a minimum of 20 logged dives for cruises that visit the Wreck of the Thistlegorm and 30 logged dives for cruises that visit the marine parks (Brothers, Zabargad, Daedalus & Rocky).
• To dive with a dive buddy, you must be a PADI Open Water diver or equivalent and be able to complete each dive with your buddy or following your guide.
• On some dives the recommended depth is below 18m therefore advanced or Deep Diver training is advised.
• Many of the dives in the Red Sea are suitable for all levels of divers, however, unpredictable and strong currents are to be expected anytime and anywhere.
• Inexperienced divers may find some dives challenging and may be asked by the Cruise Director to skip dives that are not suitable for their diving experience
• Number of planned dives depending on the weather conditions and the route are around 18 to 21 dives.
• Currents in some areas of this route can be strong.
• No night dives in Marine parks such BDE

PROGRAM

• DAY 1: Arrival and assistance at the airport. Collecting your luggage. At the indicated time, transfer to the port in Hurghada or Port Ghaleb depending the route. Boarding the boat, welcome drink and presentation briefing of the boat and crew (depending on the schedule of flights will be the first day or the next day early morning). Distribution of cabins. Overnight on board. You can take some time this day to prepare your diving equipment.
• The Cruise Director will tell you if you have to make any payment
• DAYS 2nd to 6th  21 are the nº of dives in this trip -DIVING CRUISE "simple the best": Diving trip with full board and daily diving plan. You will dive he most important dive sites of this route.
• DAY 7TH 2 dives in the morning. Afternoon / night, arrival at port. Dinner and accommodation on board. Free time to enjoy the local atmosphere, shopping and / or optional excursions in the area.
• DAY 8 PORT GHALEB: Disembark in Port Ghaleb or Hurghada. Transfer to the hotel or airports

RED SEA DIVE ROUTES

BDE - Brothers, Daedalus, Elphinstone Route

• The golden triangle includes the famous Brothers Islands, Daedalus Reef and Elphinstone Reef. It is a route with a long navigation distance, since all the dive sites are far from the coast.
• The Brothers Islands is the highlight of this route. These two islands are located in the middle of the Red Sea and are a refuge of thousands of species, and the encounter with large pelagic is usually common. Their walls are full of coral, the great currents and the spectacular nature of life, are the great references of these islands, not forgetting the sightings of oceanic whitetip, threshers and grey sharks amongst others. We will also dive in the Numidia wreck that with its almost vertical position and the visibility of the Red Sea, makes this wreck a unique visual spectacle. In this area is also the Aida wreck.
• Our second dive destination will be Daedalus Reef, famous for sightings of hammerhead sharks and large coral formations. Large banks of hammerhead sharks live in the area of the reef and come frequently to feed.
• Finally, we will visit the Elphinstone Reef, which stands a few meters above the surface and whose life surprises and amazes even the most experienced divers. All kinds of pelagics visit the cleaning stations on this reef where their walls are lost in the depth of this sea.

The highlight on the dives

• Oceanic whitetip shark "Longimanus" A very curious shark that approaches divers and that is usually a few meters deep. Giant manta rays come to the island for the cleaning stations.
• Thresher sharks, with their characteristic long fins in the form of a whip, patrol the islands. Banks of hammerhead sharks, sometimes reaching up to 20 specimens. Grey and silky sharks are seen often in the reefs. Whale sharks and tigers sharks are another spectacle you can find. H.H. Numidia - British ship of 107m of length sunk in 1901

INCLUDED

• Full board, included, water, tea, coffee, juices, snacks between meals and after dives, non-alcoholic drinks, red wine with dinner
• Dive guides Nitrox Wi-Fi
• Non-divers are welcome and can rent a free snorkel kit + a € 35 coupon to spend on board.
• Scheduled transfer from / to the airport HRG / local hotel and port HRG or Port Ghalib Transfer scheduled to / from the airport Marsa Alam or local hotel and Port Ghalib
• Port rates
• Fuel surcharges
• Rates of the national park
• Rates of conservation
• Notice: all prices indicated refer to 1 person

NOT INCLUDED

• Visa fee 25 EUR per trip
• 15-liter tanks: EUR 35 per trip
• Flashlight (torch): 57 EUR (per week)
• Full rental equipment including SMB and dive computer: EUR 183 per week
• Courses
• Tips (recommended) 40 EUR per trip
• local beer and wine, alcohol

Private transfers- 

• Transfer from Marsa Ghalib Airport to to Marsa Ghalib Marina (round-trip) -  (for groups of TWO or more): EUR 12 (per person per transfer)
• Transfer from Marsa Ghalib Airport to to Marsa Ghalib Marina (round-trip) - if you are a SOLO traveller: EUR 24 (per transfer)

• Transfer from Hurghada Airport and local hotel to Hurghada Marina (round-trip) -  (for groups of TWO or more): EUR 8 (per person per transfer)
• Transfer from Hurghada Airport and local hotel to Hurghada Marina (round-trip) -if you are a SOLO TRAVELER: EUR 16 (per transfer)

• Transfer from Hurghada Airport or local hotels to Marsa Ghalib -  if you are a SOLO TRAVELLER: EUR 86 (round-trip) 
• Transfer from Hurghada Airport or local hotels to Marsa Ghalib (round-trip) - (for groups of TWO or more): EUR 42 (per person per transfer)

CANCELLATION POLICY

What if I need to cancel my booking?

Your reservation request is obligation free and you can cancel anytime within the first 72 hours. During this time you can easily find matching flights and get answers from our reservations team to any further questions you may have. After you have confirmed and paid for your reservation, the following cancellation policy applies:

• 30% discount will not be refundable
• More than 56 days prior to departure cancellation fee of 50% is charged (or loss of deposit, whichever is greater).
• 56 days or less prior to departure a cancellation fee of 100% is charged
• The above percentages are of the total booking cost, not on any deposit received. 

In case of cancellation the refund will be transferred to your bank account, credit card or paypal account within 10 business days

BEFORE TRAVELLING

• Make sure you meet the requirements corresponding to your nationality and entry into the country you are visiting,
• Make sure your passport is valid at least six months after the date you plan to leave the country
• Diving insurance is mandatory for divers of all ages on all our trips: bring your certificate as proof
• It is strongly recommended to hire travel insurance that is appropriate for the type of diving holidays booked
• Check the electrical standards (such as which plugs are used) in your destination country before travelling and bring the appropriate adaptor if necessary.
• The itinerary and the number of dives are indicative and are subject to weather conditions and conditions: safety always comes first
• All divers must provide their diving certification card
• Diving computers are compulsory
• Local rates, fuel surcharges, distance rates, port fees, etc. may change without notice due to changes in government policy, changes in the price of oil, etc. The changes are beyond our control and the increases must be paid if the boat requests them. We will endeavour to inform you of any changes as soon as possible. A change in these rates does not entitle you to cancel the trip.