ISRAEL RED SEA DIVING

What makes the Red Sea special? Calming and relaxing waters characterize the northern end section of Red Sea. Like diving in your swimming pool, the Red Sea requires no effort. Except that you'll see everything. The Red Sea connects to the Indian Ocean through a narrow strait, yet the minimal transfer of water mysteriously does not deny you breathtaking views of plentiful fish varieties. Higher salinity and water temperatures ranging from 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit year round create quite a capitivating view of coral reefs in this rather enchanting underwater world.

Did you know the the Red Sea was deemed 1989’s Seventh Wonder of the Underwater World (over 1,000 fish species!)? The Red Sea suprises you with many, many fishes.

Our packages include group airfare rates via El Al Israel Airlines. You may book your own air flights and join our Christian tours or diving packages (liveaboard, daily diving or shore diving). Our Red Sea diving packages include the opportunity to visit Israel. Fresh and healthy meals are served. You'll stay in Eilat where Europeans have visited for centuries and largely still visit. We work with Israel's best and largest tour companies to make your trip pleasurable and relaxing. You'll be diving with the region's best dive operator. We'll show you the sea's wrecks, protected coral reefs and wonderful wall diving. We'll provide you a genuinely relaxing diving experience. We can provide you the regions' most professional service--experienced and courteous. We offer continually-refining-services. And your feedback is always welcome. If you've never visited Israel, then now is your chance. Join our tour, dive and visit the Holy Land today. Now is the time. Call (800)841-7007.

About Eilat and the Red Sea
On most tours, you'll stay 5 nights in the beautiful resort town of Eilat (where Europeans play). Eilat is blessed with everything that makes a perfect vacation--beautiful mirror-like sea, lively beaches, seafront bars and restaurants, first-rate hotels, desert treks and camel trips. Flights to Eilat arrive daily at the international airport. There's plenty of things to do in Eilat: visit the famous Underwater Observatory which features a spiral staircase taking you below the water surface to see coral reef life; participate in an underwater photo contest; attend an annual international music festival in February; go on a birdwatching tour; visit an ice museum; go to a nearby shooting range. A side trip to Petra--the red city in the rock--is also available as one of the many optional add-on tours.

With every diving package, you'll also enjoy a day jeep trip to the desert, the Jerusalem Old City, the Sea of Galillee and the holy places. You'll also visit the Dead Sea (world's lowest elevation).

Here are the some of the dive sites:

JAPANESE GARDEN
One of the most resorted sites in the red sea, a beautiful location abundant with hard and soft corals. It is often home to many fish including the very brightly colored Lemon Goby and the Blue Green Puller.

SATIL WAR SHIP
A very popular diving site, the Satil is a missile boat that was sunk in the late 80's and since then has become the home of soft corals, lionfish, parrot fish and others sea creatures. Dolphins also favor this site and if you're lucky you might come in direct contact with them! To the east there is a surface of corals, also known as " Paradise ". To the west is a surface of sea grass.

NEPTUNE'S TABLES
A break in the coral plate forms a table which we fin through at a depth of around 60-75 feet from where we head back through a coral garden.

MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE AND OBSERVERS (MFO)
The dive starts along two desalination pipes that were put there by the Israeli Army in the late 70's. Both pipes start at 15 feet depth and stretch out horizontally, sloping gradually down to 36 feet and 60 feet, respectively. The pipes are around 15 feet apart and over the years have become overgrown with soft corals and small table corals. This has attracted an abundance of fish to shelter around the pipes.

A short swim north from the pipes we find the reef at a depth between 42 and 60 feet with a collection of small pinnacles, coral heads and masses of soft corals blanketing the bottom. The fish life is abundant with Jackfish, Grouper, Parrotfish and sometimes Leopard rays.

RAS EL SHETAN (DEVIL'S HEAD)
One of the best known diving sites in the region. The southern side of the reef starts at 36 feet where we hit the reef plateau covered by an incredible variety of hard corals, then it drops down sharply to a depth of 120 feet in the canyon; it is the home of octopus, puffer fish and moon groupers.

A second dive on the northern side of the reef reveals a completely different structure. Swimming straight out from where we set up the equipment, we descend over a patch of sea grass and a beautiful coral garden looms in front of us. It is a coral garden full with colorful and healthy coral blocks. The table corals are impressive ranging in size from a few inches to 9 feet in diameter. Along with various other hard and soft corals it has often been likened to a "Japanese garden", home to many fish including the very brightly colored Lemon Goby and the Blue Green Puller.

PHAROAH'S ISLAND
Pharaoh's Island, also called Coral Island or Geziret Faroun, lies 8 kilometers south of Taba and 750 feet off the coast. The Phoenicians were the first to make use of this island's fine natural harbor during the 10th century B.C. to foster trade with Egypt .

The southern side of the reef starts at 36 feet where we hit the reef plateau covered by an incredible variety of hard corals and drops down sharply to a depth of 40 meters in the canyon; it is the home of octopus, puffer fish and moon groupers. This scenery leaves fantastic memories.

It is a coral garden full with colorful and healthy coral blocks. The table corals are impressive ranging in size from a few centimeters to 9 feet in diameter.

RAS MAMLACH
Situated in the Abu Galum National Park, this reef starts at about 36 feet, with a beautiful coral garden and on to a steep wall that bottoms out at 210 feet plus. Beautiful fan and table corals covered with soft corals and the intensive blue of the Gulf of Aqaba create a fantastic picture. The variety of the underwater life opens a new world; Barracudas, Jackfish, Groupers and much, much more. Two dives are not enough to see everything!

RAS MOHAMMED
Definitely a site for several dives, Ras Mohammed has earned itself a reputation as one of the top diving areas in the world. Here at the tip of the Sinai Desert , where the vast bodies of water (the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba ) meet, an ecosystem like no other has been created and wall diving is at its very best.

JACKSON REEF
At the reefs of Tiran , the wreck of the "Lara" lies at the northern end. There is a superb wall diving along its entire perimeter, with numerous buttresses and gullies. Sightings of sharks, turtles and other big fish are not uncommon and you will find a huge variety of corals and sponges as well as clouds of Trigger fish, Masked Puffers and Banner fish. In the summer, at this site, you may be lucky and spot a Hammerhead!

THOMAS REEF
Situated between Gordon and Woodhouse reefs, this is a smaller round reef with walls plunging deep and fully covered with soft coral, gorgonians and colorful fish life. It is almost possible to circumnavigate this reef in one dive. The east wall plunges dramatically to great depths with a mass of brightly colored soft corals.

SINKERS
During the seventies the Israeli Navy decided to place a large mooring buoy just off the beach, but unfortunately the water was deeper than expected and they dropped the 75 feet chain in 105 feet of water. The buoy disappeared under the surface and since then it hangs suspended at a depth of 24-36 feet. Slowly circling the big chains, you'll admire the wonderfully-colored, soft corals that cover the whole length up to the buoy. Schools of blue Fusilier fish continuously shoot up and down at full speed as they are chased by jackfish. As you reach the buoy itself it's hard to focus on one thing because there is so much fish including Glass Fish, Damsels and Banded Boxer Shrimps.

BROTHER'S ISLAND
You will need to take the 7 night Ocean Master liveaboard option for this much-hailed southern Red Sea adventure dive. Located south of Sharm El Sheik, this site requires a minimum of 50 logged dives to participate. Night diving is not permitted.

YOUR ITINERARY

Day One: Arrive at Ben Gurion airport. Transfer planes and fly to Eilat where you will be met at the airport by the Ocean Master Specially Selected dive operator. Take a short tour of this lovely beachside town or visit one of the many local attractions. Stay one night in a first class Eilat hotel.

Day 2-8: You'll board one of the most luxurious and technologically advanced liveaboards in the Red Sea. Your 7 night liveaboard Sinai Peninsula diving adventure inlcudes Brothers Island, Ras El Shetan, Ras Mamlach, Jackson Reef, Ras Mohammed, Coral Island (up to 120 feet deep canyon of incredible coral varieties and impressively-sized table corals will be memorable), Japanese Garden (home to the brightly colored Lemon Goby and the Blue Green Puller), Neptune's Tables (break in the coral plate 60-75 ft deep) and the Satil (late 80s misslie boat wrecks).

Day 9: You'll leave Eilat and visit the famous Dead Sea--the lowest point of earth (1,200 feet below sea level)--where you'll relax (and float) in highly saline water. Here you'll enjoy a healthy reatreat in minerals and mud in a pollen-free environment!. You'll take a trip to Masada, board a gondola, then explore the desert on camel-back where traditional Bedouin food and hospitality await you. Overnight stay in Ein Gedi.

Day 10: You'll visit Jerusalem (Old City): Mount of Olives; Church of All Nations; Tomb of David at Mt. Zion; Room of the Last Supper; Temple Mount (entrance to the mosques not included); Western Wall; Via Dolorosa; the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Day 11: We'll begin the day with a visit to the reconstructed Jewish Quarter, walk through the Cardo, the original Roman street and see the amazing remains of the massive wall built by King Hezekiah. See the important excavations taking place at the Western Wall and the Southern Temple Staircase. On to the Temple Mount , where Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac. See the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque that now stand there. Visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and continue on to the scale model of Jerusalem as it looked in the first century A.D. End the afternoon at Golgotha (Gordon's Calvary ) and the empty Garden Tomb. You'll drive north via the Jordan Valley. Overnight stay in Tiberias.

Day 12: Visit Beit She'an to see the expansive excavations taking place at this ancient Roman Decapolis city. Stop at Gideon's Spring where Gideon selected his soldiers to do battle against the Midianites. Continue driving south to Jericho, oldest known walled city, for a view of Mt. Temptation and Mt. Nebo, from where Moses looked upon the land that flowed with milk and honey. Overnight stay in Tiberias.

Day 13: You'll visit the Sea of Galilee for a 1/2 boat ride-- not just an ordinary one but an unforgettable, beautiful, absolutely soul-soothing scenic experience on this most famous body of water. Traditional fish lunch is highly recommended for lunch. In the afternoon, visit Capernaum, Nazareth, Mt. of Beatitudes and the Jordan River. Overnight stay in Tiberias.

Day 14: Time permitting, you'll visit Old Jaffa, the traditional home of Simon the Tanner and the port from which Jonah sailed. Then transfer to Tel Aviv airport. Our guide will assist us with check-in procedures. Fly to New York

The above itinerary includes:

6 nights first class hotel accomodations (double occupancy)
Breakfast and dinner is included
Airport transfers and porter fees
Luxury air-conditioned bus transportation
Government-licensed guided tours to Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, and the Sea of Galilee
7 nights luxury liveaboard (meals, snacks and non-alcoholic beverage are included)
6 days of diving including use of tanks, weights (up to 4 dives a day weather permitting)
Optional one free trial day rental of an Ocean Master Deep Limit regulator or Knight Pro BC.

Rates are based on double occupancy. Rates do not include traveler’s or diving insurance, personal expenses, gratuities, alcoholic beverages, or non-Ocean Master rental gear. Nitrox is available at an additional charge and must be requested and pre-arranged.

For a 3 night luxury liveaboard option, deduct $750. For information about the liveaboard, click here on liveaboards.

Single supplement is $90 per night. Optional tours are also available (i.e. an excursion to Petra, Cesearea historical sites diving). Diver certification packages are available. Non-divers and children may travel with divers. Visas are not required if holding a U.S. passport however your passport must not be expiring within six months of the trip dates. Check-in procedures: you must arrive at the airport no less than three hours before departure. For further information, call the Israeli consulate office in your area or go to www.goisrael.com

Rates may vary. Prices are also subject to change due to foreign exchange rate fluctuations. Taxes and fees for travel between the United States and Israel are included. Price does not include fuel surcharges and 7.5% U.S. Excise Tax, if applicable. Quoted price does not include the following taxes, fees and charges that may apply to your travel itinerary: * U.S. Excise Tax of $15.40 for each international arrival and departure in the U.S. * Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs) of up to $18.00 per roundtrip. * September 11th Security Fees of up to $10 per roundtrip. One way travel may incur fees in excess of $5. * Each arrival in the U.S. is subject to U.S. inspection fees of up to $17.50. * Non-U.S. government ticket taxes, fees and airport charges may add up to $160 per ticket. * A $50 fee will be charged for paper tickets. Itinerary is subject to change and may include additional charges.

Select from the following tours:

Shown above is the Eilat Marine Center since 1999.

OUR TRAVEL SERVICES

We offer high quality, experienced group travel arrangements, specializing in Israel Red Sea diving tours. Ocean Master is a designated tour operator of the Israel Ministry of Tourism. Our accomodations are Dan Panorama hotels. We group-book your flights on El Al Israel Airlines. We've been in the travel business for over 25 years. You may join one of our many tours or, if you're a group leader (travel agent, dive store owner or scuba dive instructor), you may travel (at a discount!) with your group on your customized itinerary. When you travel with us you automatically become a member of the Ocean Master World Dive Team. Travel agents will continue to receive credit as you join us on future scuba diving tours. Our itineraries are designed to cater to highly discerning travelers, providing the utmost experiences in diving, the land's culture, great food, and pre-screened, pre-interviewed tour services.

We provide high quality scuba diving tour packages including:

Flight arrangements, accomodations, airport transfers;

specially-selected dive sites (we try to avoid common destinations offered on the internet and by dive shops);

hand-picked dive operators;

professionally-licensed tour services (for side trips);

exclusively-contracted dive resort accomodations;

special discounted group airfares;

rental gear benefits as an elite Ocean Master World Dive Team member;
 

For individual travel, we're here to assist you with any of your travel arrangements. We look forward to booking your next trip.