Scuba Holidays |
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4th June |
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C-Life Ltd invite you to an exclusive
weeks diving holiday in Marsa Alam (5km from Marsa Alam International Airpot built
2001), is the paragon of
the paradisiacal seafronts in Egypt on th Red Sea coast. Marsa
Alam is the gateway to the exciting Southern Red Sea and its
myriad pristine reefs. Included in
your package is; |
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Dive Upgrades done in Resort
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Iberotel Coraya
Beach 5 Star Resort sits on the Coraya Bay with an 800 metre stretch
of beach.
Entertainment Restaurants
& Bars Night & Day
Bar Margherita Bar Palmito Bar Dar-El-Hawa Zuzu's Bar Coraya Divers
operate
from the hotels purpose built dive school which is situated in
Coraya Bay. A European managed dive school with a range of courses
including PADI, SSI and CMAS being taught on a daily basis. Go Diving
Package
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Built in typical Nubian style the lush gardens contrast beautifully
with the surrounding desert. The bay itself is just 10 minutes
north of the airport and Port Ghalib. The 364 rooms have either
sea or garden views. (Sea view upgrade @£75) Each is fully
air-conditioned, en-suite, hairdryer, refrigerator, safe, telephone,
satelite TV with a balcony or terrace. Breakfast is served in
the main restaurant, while there’s also a selection of bars
& al a carte restaurants. There are two swimming pools and
a gymnasium.
The
dive center is ideally situated on the beach with an excellent
house reef on its doorstep. 
Then
north plateau drops down to around 50m. Strong currents can run
through this dive site which bring in numbers of white tip, grey
reefs, occasional hammerheads and of course most famous for the
Oceanic white tip. 
As well as the big palegics
there is plenty to see on the reef walls. Anthias, squirrel fish,
masked butterfly fish, scorpion fish, cornet fish and napoleon
wrasse all inhabit the reef. At the south plateau there is a
deep archway at 55m. Threshers are often seen around the arch.
The diving here typically
takes place between 10-15m on the southwest tip of the main reef.
There is a fantastic network of caves and tunnels and a carpet
of seagrass that hides moray eels, leopard groupers, goatfish,
lionfish, masked butterflyfish and more including Dennis the
Dugong at one of the shore dive sites.
nights in a superior
twin garden view room on a B&B basis with a 5 day diving
package (6 house reef dives and 4 boat dives) including the hire
of tanks and weights, transfers to/from your hotel and international
flights from UK to Marsa Alam and FREE nitrox. |
Other Things to do from Marsa Alam |
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The desert: ferociously blazing,
deeply silent, apparently empty. Majestic and imposing in its
simplicity. The sea: crystalline, with its million hues of blue,
its fertile, healthy marine life, unpolluted, a triumph of nature.
A holiday in the area isn’t complete without a visit to
the desert, whether to a natural location; to one of the unexpected,
hidden historical sites scattered throughout this crossroad of
civilisations that has been for centuries the Red Sea, or to
the natural marvels of the sea itself. In Marsa Alam, many excursions
can be done to some outstanding sights. Here is a selection of
the most interesting places in the area. Ancient Emerald Mines - The emerald is the oldest known gemstone. Uniquely green in color and widely used in jewelry, emeralds were prized and cherished as symbols of eternity and power during antiquity. It is believed that Egyptian Pharaohs began mining emeralds in the mountainous area in the Eastern Desert southwest of Marsa Alam.  Later identified as the Cleopatra Mines or Mons Smaragdus (Emerald Mountains), the area became the most famous mining complex throughout the ancient world. The mines at Wadi Gimal, Wadi Sikeit, Wadi Nuqrus and Gebel Zabara were energetically exploited during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. The mines were also worked during later centuries until left deserted after the Spaniards discovered emeralds in Columbia in 1545. Today the ruins of the Zabara and Sikeit mining settlements are still evident as well as the remains of temple structures and some old caved in mine sites. |
Bir Umm Fawakhir - A little
to the north of Wadi Hammamat in the central part of the Eastern
Desert lies a Byzantine gold mining settlement from the fifth
and sixth century known today as Bir Umm Fawakhir. Around 1,000 Coptic Christians lived in this town of some 200 buildings. The gold extracted from the surrounding mountains was washed and transported to the Nile Valley for refining. Bir Umm Fawakhir's largest mine extends horizontally approximately 100 meters into the mountain and is about two meters high. Today, you can visit the site and examine the neatly laid out buildings and the ancient inscriptions etched into granite boulders at the towns guard posts. |
Mons Claudianus - In the parched desert between the
Red Sea and the Nile lies the fascinating ruins of a Roman settlement.
For over two centuries, from 68 AD to 282 AD, Mons Claudianus
used the surrounding mountains to produce high quality columns
and building blocks of grey granite known as granodiorite for
the sole purpose of beautifying imperial Rome. Today, you can
witness these magnificent objects in the Pantheon, in Hadrian's
Villa and in the unfinished Temple of Venus. The largest and best-preserved Roman site in the Eastern Desert, Mons Claudianus, was once home to one thousand quarrymen and soldiers. You can still see remnants of the fortress, dwellings, workshops, stables, baths, broken granite columns and slabs. One column is an impressive 16 meters long and 2.4 meters wide, weighing 209 tons. Mons Claudianus is definitely well worth a day trip from Hurghada, Safaga or Quseir. |
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Quseir Fortress - This Ottoman fortress in the town
center of Quseir is certainly worth a visit. It was built in
the 16th century during the reign of Sultan Selim to protect
trade links with India. Napoleon's troops occupied the fortress in 1799, fortifying it with cannons mounted high on the walls. They also added a new viewing platform. A few years later, British forces ejected the French after a fierce battle and added a new gate to the fortress. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 led to the decline of Quseir and its fortress.  Recently, restoration work on the fortress has been completed. Cannons are once again pointing seawards from their original gun ports. The viewing platform was also restored with the help of illustrations from the Déscription de l'Égypte that had been commissioned by Napoleon. The fortress now houses the new Visitor Center containing displays on local history, archaeology and culture of the surrounding region. |
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The Temple of Seti
I at Kanais - Located in
Kanais, east of Edfu along the desert road to Marsa Alam, lies
a small rock-cut temple built by Seti I (1305-1290 BC). Unfortunately, you will only be able to view the entrance of the temple. The chamber inside the cliff, which has magnificent drawings of Seti I slashing at his enemies and offering a gift to the god Amun, is closed to the public to protect it against defacement.  Not far from the temple there is an ancient well. Superb rock art from pre-dynastic times about 6000 years old up to the period of Seti I decorate the wadi's steep walls with rowing boats, dancing goddesses, long-horned gazelles, fat hippos and hunting scenes. Closer to the main road are the remains of a Roman fort; an indication of how important this area was in ancient times. |
Wadi Hammamat - About midway between Quseir and Qena
is the legendary Wadi Hammamat. Through this valley runs an ancient
road, the shortest from the Red Sea to the Nile. Hundreds of
rock inscriptions adorn the wadi's walls. Some drawings, like
the ancient Egyptian reed boats, date back to 4000 BC. What made Wadi Hammamat famous during antiquity was the Bekheny stone; a beautiful green ornamental rock that was considered sacred. The stone was actively quarried from Pharaonic until Roman times for the production of bowls, statues and sarcophagi. A large number of Bekheny stone monuments have been found in pyramids, graves and temples of these periods. Today you will not only marvel at the rock drawings of the distant past, but you can also admire the ruins of the quarries, mines, fortresses, watchtowers and wells that lie scattered along this principal route. |
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Myos Hormos - Two thousand years ago Myos Hormos
was the Roman Empire's principal gateway to India and East Africa.
Only recently have archaeologists been able to identify the exact
location of this ancient port, just eight kilometers north of
Quseir. The Marsa Alam
area is a place rich in historical sites and natural beauty.
Your hotel will be able to organise for you guided or non-guided
visits to some of these sights. Here is a selection of interesting
excursions from Marsa Alam. |
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Outbound - Departing from Gatwick to Marsa Alam; Airline Thomsonfly inc 25Kg luggage Allowance TOM 3071 departs Gatwick North on 6/8/08 at 10:15 to arrive Marsa Alam at 17:35 |
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Return - Returning from Marsa Alam to Gatwick; TOM 3072 departs Marsa Alam on 13/8/08 at 18:35 to arrive Gatwick North at 22:10 |
FREE 32% NITROX ALL WEEK
Included: Tanks, weights, belt, guide and transfer
between boat / hotel. Flights are with Thomson and offer a 25kg Luggage Allowance. Visa forms and confirmation of the flights will be sent in return. NOTE:- Full balance required 2 months before departure i.e 9th April. It is the sole responsibility of the passenger to pay in full by this date. If cancelling it is your responsibility to find an alternative passenger to take your place, or loose your money. Additional costs may apply with name change on documentations. The Balance is due Wed 9th April 2008 Minimum diver qualification; Open Water Diver Specialy courses can be taught on this trip such as Deep, Wreck, Enriched Air, Peak Performance Bouyancy, Boat, Drift and many more. Please request information. |
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