Sudan Red Sea (Port Sudan & north)

WARNING: Sudan has been in armed conflict since April 2023 and the UK FCDO and the US State Department advise against all travel; Port Sudan, the usual embarkation port, was struck by drones in May 2025. The listed trips may not run at all, so treat this region as reference data, not a recommendation. In peacetime the Sudanese Red Sea is a quiet, shark-rich liveaboard destination: Sanganeb, the Red Sea's only atoll and part of a UNESCO World Heritage property, the Umbria wreck at Wingate Reef (scuttled in 1940 with a cargo of bombs and Fiat vehicles), the remains of Cousteau's Conshelf II underwater village at Sha'ab Rumi, and the northern walls of Angarosh, Merlo and Abington with hammerheads, grey reef and silvertip sharks. Almost all diving is done from boats leaving Port Sudan or Egypt's Port Ghalib.

Facts

• Security: Security: armed conflict has been under way in Sudan since April 2023 (army vs RSF). The UK FCDO (updated 11 May 2026, still current on 29 Oct 2026) advises against all travel to Sudan; the US State Department rates it Level 4 'Do Not Travel' (15 Oct 2025) and cannot give consular help there. Port Sudan was hit by RSF drone attacks in May 2025 (airport, fuel depots); its airport runs limited flights and may close again after further attacks. Liveaboard trips here may not operate, and travel insurance can be invalid if you travel against official advice.
• Best season: Roughly Mar–Jun and Oct–Nov; hammerheads mainly Jan–Apr, mantas at Mesharifa Aug–Nov. Many liveaboards cut back departures Jul–Sep (heat)
• Water temperature: About 24–26 °C in winter, up to 29–30 °C in summer
• Visibility: About 10–35 m; lower near Port Sudan harbour (Umbria 10–20 m)
• Getting there: Liveaboard only: boats leave Port Sudan (PZU) or Egypt's Port Ghalib. Port Sudan airport runs limited flights and has been attacked by drones; one operator that used to run Sudan trips says it stopped because there was no safe way to reach the boat
• Experience: Operators typically ask for Advanced Open Water and 50 logged dives on longer routes; deep walls, currents and wreck penetration
• Fees: Visa, port and marine-park fees are paid on arrival in cash: e.g. EUR 187 government taxes for 7 nights (DUNE) or EUR 220 + 70 (Blue Force, historical); visa USD 145–155

Season

• Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov
• Acceptable: Jan, Feb, Jun, Dec
• Poor: Jul, Aug, Sep
• Water temperature: 24–30 °C

Sources differ slightly: Bluewater says liveaboards run year-round and the dry season (Nov–Jun) has better visibility; PADI says Mar–Jun and Oct–Nov are best and many boats cut departures Jul–Sep. Hammerheads mainly Jan–Apr (Nov–Apr at Sha'ab Rumi), mantas at Mesharifa Aug–Nov. Because of the war, actual departures are uncertain.

Dive sites (13)

Northern reefs

• Abington Reef – 5–30 m, advanced
• Angarosh Reef – 10–55 m, advanced
• Blue Belt (Toyota) Wreck – Sha'ab Su'adi – 15–70 m, advanced
• Merlo Reef – 5–50 m, advanced
• Qita El Banna – 5–50 m, advanced
• Shambaia (Gota Shambaia) – 3–15 m, beginner

Sha'ab Rumi

• Cousteau's Conshelf II (Precontinent II) – 5–40 m, intermediate
• Sha'ab Rumi South – 5–65 m, advanced

Dungonab Bay

• Dungonab Bay – Mukkawar Island (marine park) – 2–30 m, advanced

Sanganeb Atoll

• Sanganeb – North Point – 5–60 m, advanced
• Sanganeb – South Plateau (lighthouse) – 5–55 m, advanced

Port Sudan & Wingate Reef

• Umbria Wreck – 5–38 m, intermediate
• Wingate Reef East – 3–50 m, intermediate

Operators (3)

• DUNE Liveaboard – Sudan (Alia) – liveaboard, Port Sudan marina
• Blue Force Fleet (Sudan trips – stopped) – liveaboard, Port Sudan (former Sudan route); now Egypt
• SeaShell Sudan (SeaShell Tourism) – dive centre, Port Sudan

Routes (3)

• South: Suakin a Taste of Adventure – 8 days (DUNE)
• Deep South – Sudan, 12 days (DUNE)
• Central & North route, 7 nights (Blue Force – historical, stopped)

Security: armed conflict has been under way in Sudan since April 2023 (army vs RSF). The UK FCDO (updated 11 May 2026, still current on 29 Oct 2026) advises against all travel to Sudan; the US State Department rates it Level 4 'Do Not Travel' (15 Oct 2025) and cannot give consular help there. Port Sudan was hit by RSF drone attacks in May 2025 (airport, fuel depots); its airport runs limited flights and may close again after further attacks. Liveaboard trips here may not operate, and travel insurance can be invalid if you travel against official advice. Site positions are approximate (community-sourced) and for orientation only, never for navigation. Sudan has no usable rescue or recompression infrastructure for visitors: dive only with a licensed operator and verify everything with the operator and your government's advice.