RED SEA • JUNE 21-28, 2025

After two decades of waiting, watching, and wondering, Seasick and 80+ friends (over four separate groups) finally made it to the Red Sea in the summer of 2022. The diving was good. Really good. Beyond expectations in fact. As the groups explored the northern sites of the Red Sea there were often conversations and questions about what the “south” may be like. Curiosity climaxed after the last group spent the last day of diving in the south (a last-second request was fulfilled by the dive operator). A thresher shark sighting (the kind with the crazy long tail) and an up-close oceanic whitetip encounter assured that Seasick would return one day.

Today is that day.

While the three other Seasick offerings in 2025 will replicate the original Northern Route, this unique charter will head south in search of big animals (some super rare) and less-frequented reefs. Yet, keep in mind that swimming around underwater and seeing cool stuff is only part of the equation for a successful dive adventure in the Middle East. There is still the question of quality accommodations and crew. Diving can be done from a land-based resort, but the best way to experience the Red Sea is by liveaboard. Search “Red Sea liveaboard” and it’s obvious that there are dozens of choices ranging in price, size and quality. Don’t be fooled. A 5-Star rating in this part of the world doesn’t guarantee anything.

Drum roll please. “Introducing the MY Turquoise”. Built in 2021, 5 decks, 17 cabins, and 148' in length, she is a beast! A beast that will serve as the hotel, restaurant, and dive shop for a lucky few.

And the land tours? Let’s just say people were walking around in awe and with their mouths agape (common reaction when exposed to the antiquities for the first time). And for those that have been there, done that, but yearn for more antiquities, there’s a twist. For those who think a Nile River cruise is soooo 2022, Seasick created “Egypt 2.0”, offering two nights in Luxor, two nights in Alexandria, and three nights in Cairo. The goal is to dig a little deeper (pun intended) into the history, culture, and relics of Egypt’s storied past while maintaining the excitement that defines a Seasick trip (rappel inside a pyramid?). And who will be the Egyptian guide? Mo, of course.

RED SEA

The Red Sea is an extension of the Indian Ocean separating the coasts of Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea to the west from those of Saudi Arabia and Yemen to the east. It contains some of the world’s warmest and saltiest seawater due to the areas high levels of heat combined with a severe lack of precipitation. The body of water is connected to the Mediterranean Sea (in the far north) making the Red Sea one of the most heavily traveled waterways in the world, carrying maritime traffic between Europe and Asia (numerous vessels + numerous hidden coral pinnacles = numerous wrecks). The name “Red Sea” has several theories pertaining to its origin, but the common belief derives from the seasonal blooms of algae, which turn the sea a reddish-brown color upon dying off. 

Name: translation of the Ancient Greek Erythra Thalassa (literally ‘Red Sea’) • Location: Between Africa and Asia • Bordering Countries: Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti • Surface Area: 169,000 sq mi • Max Length: 1,400 mi • Max Width: 221 mi • Average Depth: 1,610' • Max Depth: 9,970' • Primary Inflows: Barka River, Haddas River, Anseba River • Primary Outflows: Bab-el-Mandeb Strait

WEATHER AND CLIMATE

The Red Sea receives warm sunshine year-round with little precipitation. The climate is defined as “subtropical desert” which features mild winters and very hot summers (as in cooking falafel on asphalt hot). From mid-May to September it is full blown summer time in Egypt. Temperatures can reach 100°F+ with high humidity. So why visit then? Water temperature silly. In the winter months the Red Sea can dip below 70°F. No joke, it gets super cold. Diving the Red Sea in certain months even requires dry suits for those with low exposure tolerance. Seasick says “no thanks”. Warm water = happiness. Nobody wants to pay thousands of dollars and take a dream vacation to then freeze their hamburger buns off. Thus, when the Red Sea water is warm, consequently it is very warm on land as well. Makes sense. Fortunately, the heat is not oppressive while on the liveaboard. The land tours are a different story.

June Averages (Hurghada) - High Temp: 97°F • Low Temp: 79°F • Sea Water Temp: 79°F • Daylight Hours: 13.75 • Sunshine Hours: 11.5 • Rainy Days: 0 • Precipitation Totals: 0.0 in

MY TURQUOISE

Launched in 2021, the MY Turquoise is one of the finest liveaboard diving boats in the Red Sea. It is elegant, it is comfortable, it is functional. Oh yeah, and it’s sorta massive too. On board guests will find everything needed to enjoy great diving, leisurely surface intervals, and comfortable evenings in and around the waters of the Red Sea.

IMPORTANT: 17 well-appointed cabins can accommodate 34 guests (massive might be an understatement). But don’t fret! Seasick would never cram 34 guests onto this vessel (shame shame for those who do). Rather, Seasick has designed this package as a limited load vessel. This private charter will have only 23 guests! Here is how it works: on the boat’s assorted decks there are six suites, each with double beds. So that’s 12 guests. Then there are another eleven cabins (on the assorted decks) each with two twin beds. So that’s 22 additional guests. Nope. The twin bed cabins will be allocated as single supplement. Yep, only one guest per cabin. So that’s only 11 more guests. 23 guests total. Thanks for the math exercise but what does this all mean? That means more space, more comfort, more personal attention, and more opportunities underwater.

The boat has a very large swim platform, multiple social (or common) areas to chill, an upper deck lounge, an upper upper deck lounge, a sun deck, and three bars (is this a dive boat or a booze cruise?). Oh yeah, it also has a bakery that produces fresh pastries daily. Yum. Don’t forget, a fancy boat is great, but it is the crew that makes a trip special. The MY Turquoise crew have years (some have decades) of experience and will do everything they can to put the group on the action while keeping everyone safe.

Type: Motor Yacht (M/Y) • Year Built: 2021 • Length: 148' • Beam: 30' • Cruising speed: 12 knots • Passengers: 34 (23 for Seasick) • Hull: steel • Decking: teak • Compressors: 3

ADDED BONUS: Another reason why Seasick hand-picked the MY Turquoise (aside from her age, size, amenities, and crew) is her unique layout. Most liveaboards use the lower deck exclusively for cabins and the interior portion of the main deck for communal space — typically a salon (living room) and mess (dining room). Problem is that guests don’t like sleeping on the lower deck. They prefer their cabins/suites to be on higher decks either for safety reasons (no comment) or to avoid excessive noise (engines, generators, anchor chains, etc). The MY Turquoise is designed different. She is designed better. The MY Turquoise’s lower deck is primarily the mess where the group spends limited time eating each day. The view when dining isn’t critical since guests are literally living on a boat in the middle of the sea and can appreciate their surroundings anytime. The lower deck still includes two suites and one cabin for those who seek ultimate privacy. A majority of the group will be on the main deck or higher. Now that’s important.

SUITES + DELUXE CABINS
Suites (6) are located on the Upper Deck, Main Deck, and Lower Deck. Deluxe Cabins (11) are located on the High Deck, Upper Deck, and Lower Deck. Views, window size, and layouts vary by location. Please note: safes, shampoo, and conditioner are not provided.

DIVING

The Red Sea is vast. Extremely vast. As previously stated, at its max, it is 1,400 miles in length. That’s the same distance as Los Angeles to Dallas. As a result, there are many areas to choose from and many routes. For first timers or divers who want the “best of” experience, the Northern Route is typically recommended and is the selected route for the other three Seasick Red Sea 2025 charters. However, the June 21-28 trip is different and includes the Southern Route which is designed for those who have already done the Northern Route or for those who are simply looking for something new, something “less traveled”. The South Route is a diverse and exciting route, matching all diving levels. The sailing from Port Ghalib is short and pleasant, reaching the furthest dive sites in about several hours.

Depth: 10' - 130' • Visibility: 65'-100'+ • Currents: Nonexistent - Light • Skill Level: Beginner - Advanced • Water Temp: 77°F-81°F • Dive Sites: 250+

ROUTE

SOUTHERN ROUTE: talk ‘bout a sick itinerary, this area boasts marine parks, steep walls, plateaus, lush coral gardens, caves, caverns, overhangs, pinnacles, wrecks (less impressive than in the North), and drop offs. But what about the sea life? There are myriads of reef fish, pods of dolphins, rays, turtles, and if luck smiles down upon the group, dugongs. Yeah, dugongs aka sea cows. And potentially reef, hammerhead, thresher and oceanic whitetip sharks. Just never know what will be encountered in these parts.

DAEDALUS REEF: Features pristine hard and soft corals and an amazing variety of marine life. Oceanic whitetip sharks, schooling hammerhead sharks, grey reef sharks, and thresher sharks all reside in this area. Drift dive along deep coral-covered walls while observing pelagic fish such as giant trevally and dogtooth tuna. Daedalus Reef is one of the most impressive dive sites in the Egyptian Red Sea.

ELPHINSTONE REEF: A large sliver of reef around 600' long rich in corals and fish. Featured creatures include: dolphins, barracudas, oceanic whitetips, mantas, and whale sharks.

ZABARGAD ISLAND: Rarely visited due to its remote location, Zabargad Island has some badass diving. Formed by an enormous mountain reaching out of the water (enormous might be a bit of an exaggeration as the peak is only 770' but still taller than the Great Pyramid at 455'), surrounded by a lagoon and healthy reefs, Zabargad hosts a great variety of corals, reef and pelagic fish. The Russian spy ship, MS Khanka, found eternal peace (who writes this stuff) on the reef at 65' yet little is known about the vessel.

SAINT JOHN'S: Located near the northern Sudanese border, Saint John's is a very large reef system that is roughly 13 miles long and 8 miles wide. There are hundreds of worthy dive sites consisting of pinnacles, caves, coral gardens, walls, aquariums, and plateaus. All of which are teeming with life. It is possible to spend a month in Saint John's and discover something new every day.

ROCKY ISLAND: Drops to the abyss with steep walls, overhangs, and a fringing reef that circles the island’s entire perimeter. So what? Well, large pelagic fish love deep water. Just sayin’. At 80' a shelf juts from the reef wall, forming a natural shark theater. The soft corals are particularly beautiful here.

SHAAB ABU FENDERA: A four-mile chain of reefs near the Sudanese boarder, boasting coral pinnacles, bays, canyons, labyrinths, and marvelous gardens.

LITTLE BROTHER ISLAND: Although the island has a magnificent gorgonian forest, anemone city, and lush coral walls, it is famous for one specific fella — oceanic whitetip sharks. Sure, there are plenty of other larger animals to witness and enjoy but within the dive community this is the hot spot to encounter the traditionally elusive shark.

Note: The route and dive sites listed are examples only and are not guaranteed. All dive sites are subject to weather conditions and are at the absolute discretion of the captain and dive guides.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

FLIGHTS + TRANSIT HOTELS

SAMPLE ITINERARY AS OF NOVEMBER 10, 2024
RED SEA

Notes:
• June 19: Depart Los Angeles Airport 4:20pm (Group flight)
• June 20: Arrive Cairo International Airport 11:50pm (Group flight)
• June 20: Guest must make Cairo hotel reservations. Recommended hotel is Le Meridien Hotel Cairo Airport
• June 21: Depart Cairo International Airport 10:00am (Group flight)¹
• June 21: Arrive Hurghada International Airport 11:00am (Group flight)
• June 21: Group transfer included Hurghada International Airport to MY Turquoise 12:00pm
• June 21: Embark MY Turquoise in Port Ghalib 4:00pm - 6:00pm
• June 21: MY Turquoise serves dinner
• June 21: Guests not on Group flight/transfer must provide own airport/hotel transfer to MY Turquoise
• June 21: Airport/hotel to MY Turquoise taxis available for $75-$100
• June 21: MY Turquoise remains in Port Ghalib all night
• June 22: MY Turquoise departs Port Ghalib in morning
• June 27: MY Turquoise returns to Port Ghalib in afternoon
• June 28: Disembark MY Turquoise in Port Ghalib before 6:00am
• June 28: Group transfer included MY Turquoise to Hurghada International Airport 6:30am
• June 28: Guests not on Group flight/transfer must provide own transfer MY Turquoise to airport/hotel
• June 28: MY Turquoise to airport/hotel taxis available for $75-$100
• June 28: Depart Hurghada International Airport 11:40am (Group flight)
• June 28: Arrive Cairo International Airport 12:40pm (Group flight)
• June 28: Guests can stay at Le Meridien Hotel Cairo Airport or in airport lounge
• June 28: Depart Cairo International Airport 8:05pm (Group flight)

¹ Alexandria + Cairo + Luxor June 14-21 Guests check-out Sofitel Winter Palace 12:00pm
• Detailed itinerary and additional information: Alexandria + Cairo + Luxor June 14-21

LOS ANGELES - CAIRO
DEPARTING: THURSDAY, JUNE 19 • RETURNING: SUNDAY, JUNE 28
ESTIMATED COST: $1,650

CAIRO - HURGHADA
DEPARTING: SATURDAY, JUNE 21 • RETURNING: SATURDAY, JUNE 28
ESTIMATED COST: $185

RECOMMENDED CAIRO HOTEL

Le Meridien Cairo Airport Hotel
Inbound: if applicable, dates vary. The recommended Group flights require a Cairo layover (not included in Seasick package)
Outbound: if applicable, dates vary. The recommended Group flights do not require a Cairo layover (not included in Seasick package)
• Le Meridien Cairo Airport Hotel is connected to the Cairo International Airport (CAI) via a skybridge

Room types: Deluxe King or Twin (≈$195 Double Occ including taxes and fees).
Day use rooms may be available. Contact hotel for rates and availability.

RECOMMENDED HURGHADA HOTEL

Jaz Casa Del Mar Beach Resort (All Inclusive)
Inbound: if applicable, dates vary. The recommended Group flights do not require a Hurghada hotel (not included in Seasick package)
Outbound: if applicable, dates vary. The recommended Group flights do not require a Hurghada hotel (not included in Seasick package)

Room types: Superior Garden View (≈$250 Double + ≈$185 Single), Superior Sea View (≈$285 Double + ≈$210 Single), Deluxe Garden View (≈$300 Double), Executive Suite Sea View (≈$495 Double)

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

DEFINITIONS: “Company” is defined as Underwater Exposures, Inc. dba Seasick Productions, incorporated in terms of the laws of California, United States of America. "Company Affiliated Parties" is defined as the Company, its directors, members, partners, employees, agents, consultants, suppliers, and contractors. “Guest” is defined as any person or persons placing a booking (whether provisional or confirmed) with the Company and who contracts with the Company for any of the Services together with his/her spouse, dependents and companions. “Services” is defined as the provision of accommodation, transport, transfers, scuba diving and snorkeling activities, tours or any other activities or services provided by the Company and the procurement by the Company of the provision of accommodation, transport, transfers, scuba diving and snorkeling activities, tours or any other activities or services by any Third-Party Contractors.

GENERAL: Price based on double occupancy group rate. Single supplement, extensions, additional services, and all other items not listed in itinerary are not included. All prices subject to change without notice. A $1,000.00 deposit per person is required with each Guest reservation. Company reserves the right, without advance notice, to make changes or cancellations, in part or in whole, as circumstances dictate. Any deposit or payment made to Company or any representative of Company shows acceptance and acknowledgement of the terms and conditions as stated herein.

CHANGES TO RESERVATIONS: Any request by Guest to amend or change a booking once it has been confirmed, may be accommodated by Company subject to availability. If Company is able to assist, a reasonable administrative fee may be charged. Any such administrative fees shall be invoiced to the Guest and must be settled as per the standard terms applicable to the booking. If the invoice is not paid within such time, Company may construe such non-payment as an act of cancellation on the part of the Guest and the provisions of the cancellation clause shall apply. All reservations, confirmed bookings, and Company’s services are non-transferable.

CANCELLATIONS TO RESERVATIONS: Refund (less cancellation fee) may be issued if reservation is cancelled four months prior to departure date and if another Guest can fill the vacancy. All authorized refunds will be assessed a $1,000.00 cancellation fee. No refund or credit will be made for Services not utilized by Guest. No cancellations shall be accepted within 30 days of trip departure.

FORCE MAJEURE: “Force Majeure Event” is defined as any event which is beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to a national strike, act of war, armed conflict, insurrection, civil commotion, terrorism or the threat of terrorism; any act of God including but not limited to epidemic, pandemic, lightning, earthquake, flooding, fire, cyclone, hurricane, typhoon, tidal wave, storm, volcanic eruption and other unusual and extreme adverse weather or environmental conditions; any event which falls within any of these categories that is suffered by Third-Party Contractors of the Company, who are involved in the receipt or provision of the Services; and or any other cause or contingency beyond the control of the Company. The Company shall not be deemed to be in breach of any of its obligations to Guest due to any Force Majeure Event. If the Company is affected by a Force Majeure Event, it may in its sole and absolute discretion, amend or cancel any of the Services or the remainder thereof, or to make any alteration in route, accommodation, transportation or arrangement in the event of the Services or any part thereof being rendered impossible, illegal or inadvisable.

GUEST INSURANCE: If scuba diving is a Service used by Guest, Company requires Guest to possess a dive accident insurance policy prior to using any of Company’s Services. If scuba diving is not a Service used by Guest, Company requires Guest to possess an international accident and medical evacuation insurance policy prior to using any of Company’s Services. Information on dive accident insurance can be found at the Divers Alert Network’s website: www.diversalertnetwork.org. In addition, Company recommends trip insurance in the event a Guest must cancel the trip. Information on trip insurance can be found at the Divers Alert Network’s website: www.diversalertnetwork.org or the DiveAssure website: www.diveassure.com.

RESPONSIBILITY: Company acts only as agents for the Third-Party Contractors providing transportation, accommodations, diving and other Services. All tickets and vouchers issued constitute the sole contract between the Guest and Company. Company or its representatives shall not at any time be responsible in any way for loss, injury, or damage arising from any Force Majeure Event, act of government, theft, sickness, customs regulations, delay, cancellation error, or any cause beyond its control. Company or its representatives accepts no liability for the consequences of the personal activities of any Guest who is personally responsible for decisions concerning health, safety, fitness for diving and snorkeling, or any other circumstances beyond its control.