8 days / 7 nights – Freediving Nik Linder – North

Overview

This route is an absolute dream for freedivers. Unlike scuba divers, you can experience the silence of the wrecks and the playfulness of the dolphins without the noise of bubbles or heavy equipment. As most of these spots are at a moderate depth of between 10 and 25 metres, they are perfectly suited to freedivers.

Dolphin encounters & coral gardens
Shaab El Erg (Dolphin House): A horseshoe-shaped reef with a shallow lagoon (approx. 10–15m). Schools of spinner dolphins often live here. As a freediver, you have an advantage here: without bubbles, you appear less threatening to the animals and can often interact with them for longer.

Abu Hasheesh: A relaxed entry point near Soma Bay. Ideal for checking your equalisation and keeping an eye out for turtles in the seagrass beds.

The world of wrecks (Abu Nuhas & Thistlegorm)
Abu Nuhas (Giannis D, Carnatic): The ‘ship graveyard’. The Giannis D lies at a depth where, as a freediver, you can see right through the funnels. The Carnatic (an old wooden ship) offers fantastic light effects for underwater photography.

SS Thistlegorm: Probably the most famous wreck in the world. The decks lie at around 15–18m. It’s a challenge due to the current, but seeing the lorries and motorbikes in the holds from a bird’s-eye view is surreal.

Gobal Island: This is where the wreck of the ‘Barge’ lies. It is very shallow and, at night or at dusk, a hotspot for giant moray eels and lionfish.

Drop-offs & Blue Water Action
Ras Mohamed (Shark & Yolanda Reef): Here you can experience the ‘true blue’. The walls drop vertically for hundreds of metres. An incredible feeling of freedom (and a bit of a thrill) hanging right on the edge in the blue water.

Small Giftun & Um Gammar: These spots offer spectacular plateaus and small caves at moderate depths. Visibility here is often phenomenal (30m+).