Scuba Dive Sudan

Scuba Dive Sudan

Nicolas Remy & Lena Remy take you on a journey to Superb Sudan Scuba Diving

Urchin
Urchin

The Egyptian Red Sea holds some of the worlds’ most dived and photographed coral reefs and wrecks. Many divers would instantly recognize photos of the motorbikes inside the SS Thistlegorm, the shape of the Giannis D cargo ship, and some photographers affectionally name the color of the water you get there “red sea blue”. This has to do with the ease and affordability of travel there: Egypt has long been a very touristic destination (think pyramids, romantic cruise on the Nile river…), no wonder they have been very good at welcoming another type of tourists: scuba divers.

Inevitably, with so many divers visiting, the reefs closest to shore aren’t as pristine as they once were, and in general, I had been hearing “Egypt nowadays isn’t as good diving as 30 years back”. I had also heard “but if you are able to travel to Sudan, you will see what Egyptian diving used to be like!”. Extra research taught me that:

  • Sudan was great for spotting hammerheads
  • The relics of Cousteau’s Précontinent 2 experiment (the underwater “village”) could be visited by divers, in Sudanese Red Sea, and
  • The Umbria, one of the most interesting wrecks to dive worldwide, was only a few miles away from Port Sudan
hammerhead sharks in sudan
hammerhead sharks in sudan

Needless to say, Sudan was high on my diving bucket list. We started our cruise with some relaxed yet fascinating diving at Shaab Rumi reef, 35km away from our departure port (Port Sudan). This is the very place where the inventor of scuba regulators, Jacques Cousteau, submerged several scientific habitats and tools at various depths, creating a mini “underwater village”, to support the “Précontinent 2” experiment, in 1963.

On the sandy plateau at 10 meters depth, Cousteau had installed a habitat called “the Starfish”, which slept 5 scientists for a month, featuring a living room and command center, as well as 4 bedrooms and laboratories. Nearby there were the “Urchin” (a garage, for the exploration submarine “Denise”), as well as a hangar to store tools and underwater scooters. Deeper down the reef, another plateau at 30 meters hosted the second human habitat, which housed 2 scientists for a week.

The Urchin
The Urchin

Most of the village has been removed that the end of the experiment, but fortunately a few relics can still be found: the “Urchin” and underwater scooters hangar on the 10 meters plateau, as well as some shark cages deeper on the reef. Being able to “dive” this pioneer exploration of the underwater worlds was definitely a highlight. The “Urchin” can be penetrated by divers and is in good shape, offering good photographic opportunities. Overall, the surrounding reef was very pleasant to dive too, and this part of Shaab Rumi was protected from currents.

After these emotions-filled, historical dives, we went on to visit several reefs, with a focus on enjoying Sudan’s abundant marine life and especially… finding hammerheads. Being further south than Egypt, it is worth noting that the Red Sea off Sudanese coast is also warmer. Mid-May the temperature in the first 20 meters was between 29 and 30 degrees Celsius, and still a balmy 27 degrees at 40-50 meters depth. Hammerheads like colder water, which meant we had to go deeper than 35-40 meters to see them.

nearby reef wall
nearby reef wall

Since everyone on the boat was keen to have as many encounters as possible with these mighty sharks, we followed a consistent dive plan on most days. We would jump on a RIB for the first dive of the day, have a negative entry nearby a reef wall (including another side of Shaab Rumi, Shab Jibna, Sanganeb), and drop down to 20ish meters, as quickly as possible. Once there, we would follow our guide along the wall, towards the tip of the reef, and then move away from it towards the deep blue, as the hammerhead sharks would not be visible from the reef.

Our guides would then make noises pressing empty plastic bottles, which seemed to get the schooling sharks a tad closer. At times we had maybe 20-30 sharks in sight, a mesmerizing experience! I noticed though the sharks stayed at a distance, and I didn’t experience close-up encounters during this trip (might have to do with the flu which saw me stay in bed for 2 days!). Given the depth and potential currents closer to the reef walls, our group would stay a few minutes with the sharks, and then follow the guide back towards the reef.

lively and colorful reefs
lively and colorful reefs

Then, we would all enjoy the lively and colorful reefs during the rest of the dive, then throw an SMB for the moving RIBs to pick-us up at the end of the dive. Lena and I usually separated from the open circuit divers on this second part of the dives, simply because we didn’t have to ascend to the shallows as quickly as our open circuit buddies. Also, since we never were short on gas, we were allowed an extra 15 minutes in the water (on top of the regular 60) by jumping in with the first RIB, returning with the second.

Most days the second dive followed exactly the same plan as the first one, for extra chances to encounter hammerhead sharks. Given these intense dive profiles, the plan was only two dives per day, with ample time to relax in between. Although we very much enjoyed ourselves, some divers may prefer to not go so deep or spend more time enjoying the colorful reefs in shallower depths, which I am sure the dive operator could accommodate.

Umbria wreck
Umbria wreck

Diving Attitude had kept 3 excellent dives for the very end of our trip, as we made our way back towards Port Sudan, and these were all in and around the Umbria wreck.

After changing hands a few times, the Umbria had become a cargo ship under Italian ownership, and its last journey was a secret mission to supply the Italian troops in Eritrea (then an Italian colony) with war equipment, as Italy was about to join World War II alongside Germany. The Umbria was heavily loaded, mostly with weapons (6700 tons of bombs, detonators and various firearms) but also with 2000 tons of construction equipment, and 3 Fiat trucks to transport the whole cargo.

Umbria wreck dive
Umbria wreck dive

It also loaded 1000 tons of coal and water, to try & dissimulate its military objective. During its journey through the Red Sea, the ship was under close scrutiny from the Briths Royal Navy, and on 10th June 1940, the Umbria’s captain saw no other option than to scuttle the ship, to ensure its precious cargo wouldn’t fall into Allies’ hands. Indeed, Italy had just joined World War II, with a radio announcement by Mussolini on that same day.

The Umbria is an amazing wreck to dive, with great photography potential: it is 153 meters long, with its deepest part at 38 meters (the bow), but most of the interesting artifacts were between 27 and 12 meters. This includes the impressive propeller, gangways, huge engine room, kitchen, canteen, corridors, and several of the holds, were various cargo can be seen, in 10-15 meters of water.

undersea shoal
undersea shoal

Given the sheer size of the wreck, it deserves 3-4 dives to visit everything. I recommend refraining from penetrating the kitchen and some of the corridors on your own, unless you are an experienced cave diver, trained in using a guideline to find your way out. Indeed, the wreck is silty, and lies tilted at about 45 degrees, making it easy to get disorientated. However, our experienced guides made it safe for all, taking turns with small groups of 4, to avoid crowding restricted areas.

Some of the holds though have wide opening and are easy to visit again on your own, including the one were the 3 Fiat trucks. What’s more: with the rebreathers and our boat being stationary for 3 dives, the guides let us stay 30-45mins extra per dive, meaning we spent a total of 5 hours on the Umbria, including 2 hours with the wreck all to ourselves. This allowed for more productive photography, as there were no other divers popping on the photo or stirring up sediment.

reef wall
reef wall

All-in-one, the size of the wreck, its historical significance, abundance of visible artifacts, and the various penetration options are all reasons why the Umbria is considered in the top-10 wreck dives worldwide. If you are into wrecks, it would probably justify a trip to Sudan on its own.

Even if wrecks and historical sites like Précontinent 2 aren’t your thing, the reefs off Sudan’s coast boast healthy hard & soft corals, paired with abundant fish-life, and there is potential for amazing pelagic encounters.

Umbria wreck scuba dive
Umbria wreck scuba dive

Who to dive with in Sudan?

Blue Force Fleet has more than 20 years of experience in diving safaris in the Red Sea, Sudan is an amazing destination and Blue force fleet operate in this region with the brand new and spectacular Red Sea Blue Force 3, making it easier to dive into the best and most inaccessible reefs of the Sudanese waters, with the guarantee of a reliable and experienced operator.

Blue Force Fleet Website 

Email – info@blueforcefleet.com

Article Written By Nicolas Remy

Photo Credit: Nicolas Remy & Lena Remy

For more images from Nicolas and Lena visit their Website, Nicolas & Lena Photography  or follow them on Instagram and Facebook

For more articles and images by Nicolas and Lena try:

Burst mode – Underwater Photography Masterclass

@timpell49
#AskMark Mark great video love your content I recently had my cylinder hydro tested it was filled with air how long can you keep the air in the cylinder before you use it .Also dive shop can drain the air and fill with nitrox?
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The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training or recommendations for every manufacturer. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor or specific requirements from equipment manufacturers.

@timpell49
#AskMark Mark great video love your content I recently had my cylinder hydro tested it was filled with air how long can you keep the air in the cylinder before you use it .Also dive shop can drain the air and fill with nitrox?
#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver

Become a fan: https://www.scubadivermag.com/join

GEAR PURCHASES: https://www.scubadivermag.com/affiliate/dive-gear

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OUR WEBSITES

Website: https://www.scubadivermag.com ➡️ Scuba Diving, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Scuba Gear Reviews
Website: https://www.divernet.com ➡️ Scuba News, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Travel Reports
Website: https://www.godivingshow.com ➡️ The Only Dive Show in the United Kingdom
Website: https://www.rorkmedia.com ➡️ For advertising within our brands
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FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/scubadivermag
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We partner with https://www.scuba.com and https://www.mikesdivestore.com for all your gear essentials. Consider using the affiliate link above to support the channel.

The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training or recommendations for every manufacturer. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor or specific requirements from equipment manufacturers.

YouTube Video UEw2X2VCMS1KYWdWbXFQSGV1YW84WVRHb2pFNkl3WlRSZS41ODI2RjhGOTVBODI2NDE5

How Long Can You Keep Air in a Cylinder? #AskMark #scubadiving

Full List of Dive Shows with Links:
https://divernet.com/scuba-diving/your-worldwide-dive-show-guide-for-2025/

JANUARY 18-26: Boot Düsseldorf (International Boat Show)
FEBRUARY 1-2: Duikvaker 
FEBRUARY 21-23: European Dive Show (EUDI)
FEBRUARY 21-23: Diving Resort Travel (DRT) Show, Malaysia
MARCH 1-2: GO Diving Show (The UK Dive Show)
MARCH 15-16: ADEX Ocean Festival / OZTek Australia
MARCH 28-30: Mediterranean Diving Show 
APRIL 4-6: Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) 
MAY 22-25: Thailand Dive Expo (TDEX)
MAY 31 – JUNE 1: Scuba Show
JUNE 13-15: Malaysia International Dive Expo (MIDE)
SEPTEMBER 6-7: GO Diving ANZ Show
OCTOBER 17-19: Diving Talks 
NOVEMBER 11-14: DEMA Show 

#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver

Become a fan: https://www.scubadivermag.com/join

GEAR PURCHASES: https://www.scubadivermag.com/affiliate/dive-gear 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OUR WEBSITES

Website: https://www.scubadivermag.com ➡️ Scuba Diving, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Scuba Gear Reviews
Website: https://www.divernet.com ➡️ Scuba News, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Travel Reports
Website: https://www.godivingshow.com ➡️ The Only Dive Show in the United Kingdom
Website: https://www.rorkmedia.com ➡️ For advertising within our brands
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We partner with https://www.scuba.com and https://www.mikesdivestore.com for all your gear essentials. Consider using the affiliate link above to support the channel.

The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training or recommendations for every manufacturer. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor or specific requirements from equipment manufacturers.
00:00 Introduction
01:35 Scuba.com Ad
02:35 Duikvaker
03:15 EUDI
04:23 DRT
05:04 GO Diving Show UK
06:24 ADEX OZTek
07:06 Mediterranean
07:34 ADEX
08:21 TDEX
08:51 Scuba Show
09:36 MIDE
10:06 GO Diving ANZ
11:09 Diving Talks
11:58 DEMA

Full List of Dive Shows with Links:
https://divernet.com/scuba-diving/your-worldwide-dive-show-guide-for-2025/

JANUARY 18-26: Boot Düsseldorf (International Boat Show)
FEBRUARY 1-2: Duikvaker
FEBRUARY 21-23: European Dive Show (EUDI)
FEBRUARY 21-23: Diving Resort Travel (DRT) Show, Malaysia
MARCH 1-2: GO Diving Show (The UK Dive Show)
MARCH 15-16: ADEX Ocean Festival / OZTek Australia
MARCH 28-30: Mediterranean Diving Show
APRIL 4-6: Asia Dive Expo (ADEX)
MAY 22-25: Thailand Dive Expo (TDEX)
MAY 31 – JUNE 1: Scuba Show
JUNE 13-15: Malaysia International Dive Expo (MIDE)
SEPTEMBER 6-7: GO Diving ANZ Show
OCTOBER 17-19: Diving Talks
NOVEMBER 11-14: DEMA Show

#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver

Become a fan: https://www.scubadivermag.com/join

GEAR PURCHASES: https://www.scubadivermag.com/affiliate/dive-gear

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OUR WEBSITES

Website: https://www.scubadivermag.com ➡️ Scuba Diving, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Scuba Gear Reviews
Website: https://www.divernet.com ➡️ Scuba News, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Travel Reports
Website: https://www.godivingshow.com ➡️ The Only Dive Show in the United Kingdom
Website: https://www.rorkmedia.com ➡️ For advertising within our brands
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FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/scubadivermag
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/scubadivermag
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We partner with https://www.scuba.com and https://www.mikesdivestore.com for all your gear essentials. Consider using the affiliate link above to support the channel.

The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training or recommendations for every manufacturer. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor or specific requirements from equipment manufacturers.
00:00 Introduction
01:35 Scuba.com Ad
02:35 Duikvaker
03:15 EUDI
04:23 DRT
05:04 GO Diving Show UK
06:24 ADEX OZTek
07:06 Mediterranean
07:34 ADEX
08:21 TDEX
08:51 Scuba Show
09:36 MIDE
10:06 GO Diving ANZ
11:09 Diving Talks
11:58 DEMA

YouTube Video UEw2X2VCMS1KYWdWbXFQSGV1YW84WVRHb2pFNkl3WlRSZS43OTNDNTk0OUNGMDA1MUNG

Upcoming Dive Shows in 2025 #scubadiving #diveshow

US diver Barrington Scott has set a verified Guinness World Record for the fastest time to scuba dive across all seven continents.Cartagena City Council says it is preparing to tighten access to the Cueva del Agua (Water Cave) system in southern Spain, following the death of a 37-year-old female diver there on 18 January. And an underwater habitat builder has just extended the record for longest time spent submerged. 

https://divernet.com/scuba-news/scuba-dash-across-7-continents-brings-world-record/
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/health-safety/spanish-cave-divers-death-prompts-calls-for-controls/ 
https://www.kentucky.com/news/nation-world/national/article299289964.html
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/pod-builder-completes-120-days-under-sea/

#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver

Become a fan: https://www.scubadivermag.com/join

GEAR PURCHASES: https://www.scubadivermag.com/affiliate/dive-gear 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OUR WEBSITES

Website: https://www.scubadivermag.com ➡️ Scuba Diving, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Scuba Gear Reviews
Website: https://www.divernet.com ➡️ Scuba News, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Travel Reports
Website: https://www.godivingshow.com ➡️ The Only Dive Show in the United Kingdom
Website: https://www.rorkmedia.com ➡️ For advertising within our brands
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/scubadivermag
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/scubadivermag
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/scubadivermagazine

We partner with https://www.scuba.com and https://www.mikesdivestore.com for all your gear essentials. Consider using the affiliate link above to support the channel.

The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training or recommendations for every manufacturer. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor or specific requirements from equipment manufacturers.

US diver Barrington Scott has set a verified Guinness World Record for the fastest time to scuba dive across all seven continents.Cartagena City Council says it is preparing to tighten access to the Cueva del Agua (Water Cave) system in southern Spain, following the death of a 37-year-old female diver there on 18 January. And an underwater habitat builder has just extended the record for longest time spent submerged.

https://divernet.com/scuba-news/scuba-dash-across-7-continents-brings-world-record/
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/health-safety/spanish-cave-divers-death-prompts-calls-for-controls/
https://www.kentucky.com/news/nation-world/national/article299289964.html
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/pod-builder-completes-120-days-under-sea/

#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver

Become a fan: https://www.scubadivermag.com/join

GEAR PURCHASES: https://www.scubadivermag.com/affiliate/dive-gear

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OUR WEBSITES

Website: https://www.scubadivermag.com ➡️ Scuba Diving, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Scuba Gear Reviews
Website: https://www.divernet.com ➡️ Scuba News, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Travel Reports
Website: https://www.godivingshow.com ➡️ The Only Dive Show in the United Kingdom
Website: https://www.rorkmedia.com ➡️ For advertising within our brands
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/scubadivermag
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/scubadivermag
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/scubadivermagazine

We partner with https://www.scuba.com and https://www.mikesdivestore.com for all your gear essentials. Consider using the affiliate link above to support the channel.

The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training or recommendations for every manufacturer. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor or specific requirements from equipment manufacturers.

YouTube Video UEw2X2VCMS1KYWdWbXFQSGV1YW84WVRHb2pFNkl3WlRSZS4yNkZBOTQyMkYxQkQyMzc2

Spanish Cave Closed After Fatality #scuba #podcast #news

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