citizen science expedition - Red Sea

July 5 - july 12, 2025

Dive into Citizen Science with Submerge & Reef Check in the Red Sea

Embark on an extraordinary adventure aboard the My Turquoise boat, exploring the mesmerizing underwater world of the Red Sea. This trip isn't just about diving — it's about making a difference. Partnering with Reef Check, a renowned non-profit organization dedicated to ocean conservation, we offer a unique blend of top-notch dive travel and citizen science. Contribute to vital ocean science efforts while experiencing some of the best diving the Red Sea has to offer.

highlights

• World-Class Diving: Explore the vibrant reefs and diverse marine life of the Red Sea.
• Expert Guidance: Learn from and work alongside accomplished marine biologist Dr. Ahmed Shawky PhD during the entire trip.
• Impactful Storytelling: Dive and connect with Linden Wolbert, Justin Lutsky and Abbey Blake who will be documenting your citizen science training, exploration and accomplishments throughout the voyage. We look forward to learning with you!
• Reef Check EcoDiver Certification: Learn to identify key indicators of fish, invertebrates, and substrates to assess coral reef health by collecting data for coral reef management and conservation and become a fully certified Reef Check EcoDiver.
• CoralWatch Training: Learn to quantify coral health and bleaching using the CoralWatch Health Chart.
• Marine Mammal Observation: Learn to professionally monitor whales, dolphins, and other marine mammals to help reduce the negative impact of operations on marine wildlife.
• Underwater Laser Photogrammetry: Learn about this unique tool to measure the body length of marine megafauna without disturbing the animals.
• Citizen Science: Participate in meaningful conservation work with Reef Check.
• Luxury Accommodations: Relax in comfort aboard the My Turquoise boat.
• Community and Connection: Share this incredible experience with like-minded divers.

meet your guides

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.

July Averages (Hurghada) - High Temp: 99°F • Low Temp: 82°F • Sea Water Temp: 81°F • Daylight Hours: 13.5 • Sunshine Hours: 11.5 • Rainy Days: 0 • Precipitation Totals: 0.0 in

my turquoise

Your Home at sea

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.

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/Submerge) • Hull: steel • Decking: teak • Compressors: 3

ACCOMMODATIONS

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 guess what? That’s exactly what Seasick has selected. The North Route (aka the Wrecks and Reefs Route) is a complete and simple route, matching all diving levels. The sailing from Hurghada is short and pleasant, reaching the furthest dive sites in about two hours.

Depth: 10' - 130' • Visibility: 65'-100'+ • Currents: Nonexistent - Light • Skill Level: Beginner - Advanced • Water Temp: 78°F-82°F • Dive Sites: 250+

route

WRECKS AND REEFS ROUTE (NORTHERN ROUTE): the North Route is diverse — a lil’ of this and a lil’ of that. It includes a catalog of attractions, avoids long overnight runs (boat repositioning), and is suitable for all levels of diving experience. Guests will dive the Ras Mohammed National Park and the Straits of Tiran, visit a living WWII museum at the wreck of Thistlegorm, and explore spectacular wrecks like the Dunraven, Giannis D, Carnatic, and the Kingston. The remainder of the route features reef dives in pristine sites like Small Crack or Shag Rock. And for some bigger animal action, there is the possibility (no guarantees) to snorkel with dolphins. Being face to face with a pod of blowholes is something special.

STRAITS OF TIRAN

The Straits of Tiran are a submerged ridge that rises from a 1000'+ depth and extends from the southeast point of Sinai to the island of Tiran. It is basically a passage between the Gulf of Aqaba and the main basin of the Red Sea, forming an area of strong tidal currents. The reefs are famous for the quality of their coral, abundant sea life, and oceanic animal sightings.

GORDON REEF: A circular reef with a large sandy plateau and prominent shipwreck. Since 1983, the wreck of the Lullia has sat atop the reef making her a superb landmark. Very suitable for check dives on the South Plateau and also some super nice drift dives along the east and west walls.

THOMAS REEF: Thomas is the smallest of the four reefs of Tiran, and if conditions are calm, it is possible to circle around the entire reef. There are no moorings, so all dives are drift. In the blue there is always the possibility of finding large pelagic fish cruising by and even hammerhead sharks.

JACKSON REEF: Considered the best reef in the area due to the coral quality, loads of marine life, and encounters with pelagic creatures. It is a round reef with vertical walls and a shallow coral garden on the west side. Continually swept by strong currents (sometimes extremely strong), Jackson Reef is great for wild drift dives. During the summer months, hammerhead sharks reside in the northern area.

RAS MOHAMMED NATIONAL PARK

ANEMONE CITY, SHARK REEF & YOLANDA REEF: Anemone City hosts dozens of huge anemones each with a variety of clownfish and damsels. While crossing over the walls of Shark Reef possible sightings include sharks, tuna, red snapper and more. The dive continues in the shallows with parts of the Yolanda freighter ship which struck the reef and gave it its name. Among the debris, there is a large collection of toilets and the remains of the captain’s BMW. The area around the wreck is home to lionfish, blue-spotted stingrays and moray eels.

RAS GHOZLANI: Consists of table coral covered pinnacles (that’s a mouthful) in different shapes and sizes, Gorgonian fans and soft corals. The pinnacles are teeming with Anthias and other colorful reef fish.

Straits of gubal

S.S. THISTLEGORM: One of the world’s most famous wrecks, it is located in Shaab Ali, about 30 miles from Sharm El Sheikh. It was sunk by German aircrafts in October 1941 and later discovered by Jacques Cousteau. It offers spectacular dives with its sunken cargo of trucks, cars, motorcycles, locomotives, weapons, ammunitions, wagons, aircraft wings, boots, and more.

ULYSSES: The cargo ship is 310' long. On August 16th, 1887, she ran aground on the reef and finally sank four days later, with much of her cargo. She lies at a depth of 92' and only her stern remains intact.

THE BARGE: The old barge lies at a max depth of 46' (super chill dive). Residents include moray eels, lionfish, stone fish, crocodile fish, angel fish, and possibly Napoleon wrasse.

CARNATIC: The British cargo ship, sunk in 1869, is at a max depth of 85'. This beautiful and very authentic old ship lies on her port side, and her wooden beams and internal structures are covered in soft corals and glass fish. Her bow and stern are intact, yet the mid ship has disappeared. Barrels and a few broken wine bottles are all that remain of her cargo.

GIANNIS D: The Greek cargo ship lies at a depth of 78', with her whole mid ship completely destroyed yet her bow and stern, which lies on a 45-degree angle, are intact. Her cabins, helms room and common quarters have been cleared up to permit safe dives through the ship.

KINGSTON: On February 22nd, 1881, the Kingston sank while transporting a cargo of coal. Only the stern of the ship remains intact, but the corals and number of fish that reside on her make it a worthy dive.

SMALL CRACK: A shallow corridor with table corals, grape corals, soft corals, stag corals and sponges. In the corridor there are residents like an enormous Hatchet fish family and yellow tail barracudas.



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.

but wait, there's more!

Jordan before diving and a Nile river cruise + Cairo after diving. Choose one, choose both (after all, no employer will care if someone takes 25 days of PTO to tour the Middle East). Seasick and Submerge are finalizing the package details and the optional extensions will be announced in March (links and pages aren’t active). Estimated cost for each additional week: $3,000 (not a good idea to stay at cheap accommodations and use budget vendors in these countries, hence the cost). Notify Seasick to be added to the list(s).

JORDAN

Don’t know much about Jordan? Probably should. Just google “Petra” — that’s all that needs to be said. Add in two nights out at Wadi Rum sleeping in a bubble hotel (literally each room is a giant bubble with clear roofs to stargaze from bed). Then wrap things up with three days relaxing at the Dead Sea (ya know, just the lowest point on the surface of the Earth, no biggie).

NILE RIVER CRUISE + CAIRO

Cleopatra. Moses. The Great Pyramid of Giza. The Sphinx. The Nile. Chariots and hieroglyphics. Discover the land of legend and lore. The land of antiquities. The land of King Tut. This is the ultimate opportunity to explore Egypt. The custom two-part package includes a four-night Nile river cruise, hot air balloon ride over Valley of the Kings, Luxor (not Vegas people), a regional flight from Aswan to Cairo, three nights in a 5-star Cairo hotel, the Egyptian Museum (the GEM too if it’s open), local bazaar tour, and a private Egyptologist!